<P> The restaurant closed its doors for good on New Year's Eve in 1962; however, the exterior of Romanoff's can be seen in the 1967 Fox film, A Guide for the Married Man . Romanoff himself also plays the maitre'd in a sequence in the film in a studio recreation of the restaurant's interior . </P> <P> Romanoff is referenced in 1941's Hellzapoppin', the film version of the famous Broadway musical revue . In the film, Mischa Auer plays a "real Russian prince who is pretending to be a fake Russian prince ." Although he is penniless, his deception gets him invited to high - society parties, where he can sponge off the guests and gorge himself on the food . He tells a fellow Russian expatriate, "Better that everyone should think I am a fake Russian prince . If they knew I was a real Russian prince, the novelty would wear off, and nobody would want me!" </P> <P> At an early point in the original 1947 version of Miracle on 34th Street, a doctor expresses the opinion that Kris Kringle is of no harm to anyone despite his insistence that he is Santa Claus . In a reference to Romanoff, the doctor compares Kringle to a well - known restaurant owner - whose name escapes him at the moment - who insists that he is a member of the Russian royal family, but is otherwise quite normal . </P> <P> Romanoff was one of several guest stars on "The Jack Benny Program" radio show on 8 January 1950, titled "Drear Pooson Fluffrys Party And Is Stood Up By His Date". The episode featured Benny and other regular cast members attempting to solve a murder that had taken place at the Romanoff's in Beverly Hills . The episode is perhaps better known for having one of the longest laughs in the history of the series, based on a spoonerism of the name "Drew Pearson", and quick thinking by the writers to incorporate the flub later in the program without telling Benny . </P>

Man who thought he was a russian prince