We all know that Sal Mineo was mentioned umpteen times on LITB. Most recently in Mother's Day Composition and Beaver, the Model. Well found this on IMDB.

In 1957 at the height of Mineo's career, Bob Hope made an announcement on a TV special that due to it being Sal Mineo's birthday the next day there would be no school in the Bronx. It was just a joke but many kids thought it was true and didn't show up. Bob Hope made a retraction that it was just a joke and to stay in school.

(http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000543/bio?ref_=nm_ql_dyk_2#trivia)