Barbara Werle won the Harvest Moon Ball dance competition which garnered her invitation to dance on The Ed Sullivan Show. She moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in show business career, leaving behind her son John to live with his father John Branca Sr.; at 13, she and her son would be reunited. John Sr. would serve as New York State Athletic Commissioner. John Jr. became a renowned theatrical attorney, who has represented a Who's Who list of acts from the "Doors" to the "Rolling Stones," from Dr. Dre, Alicia Keys, Dick Clark, to Berry Gordy and "the Backstreet Boys." Barbara was sister-in-law of Brooklyn Dodger pitcher Ralph Branca.