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papermoonloveslucy · 2 years ago

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CURTAIN UP!

Lucy On Stage ~ Act 3

Lucille Ball’s dream was to appear on Broadway. That dream become a reality in 1960, but ended prematurely. if Lucy couldn’t be on Broadway, Broadway would come to Hollywood – on Lucy’s new TV show “Here’s Lucy.”

“A MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA”

“Lucy and Carol Burnett” (1969) ~ Lucy convinces Carol Burnett to star in a benefit to raise money to build a gymanasium at Kim and Craig’s high school. The show is divided into three parts:

PART I - WE GOT NO GYM (Introduction)

“Yes! We Have No Gymnasium” (aka “Yes! We Have No Bananas”) was written by Frank Silver and Irving Cohn from the 1922 Broadway revue Make It Snappy.

Carol does a brief time step to the melody of “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” a song written by Irving Berlin for the musical Annie Get Your Gun.

PART II - WE GOT THE MONEY (a visual lesson in geography)

NEW YORK, NY ~ “The Lullaby of Broadway” was written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin. It was introduced musical film Gold Diggers of 1935 and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The song is now part of the Broadway musical 42nd Street.

ST. LOUIS, MO ~ “You Came a Long Way From St. Louis” by John Benson Brooks and Bob Russell.

SHEBOYGAN, WI - “Mention My Name in Sheboygan” was written by Bob Hilliard, Dick Sanford and Sammy Mysels in 1947. The second verse mentions NEW ORLEANS and the third TEXAS.

PART III - WE GOT OUR GYM (a celebration of physical education)

A marching band plays “Buckle Down, Winsocki” from the 1943 film Best Foot Forward in which Lucille Ball played herself.

Craig sings “You Gotta be a Football Hero (To Get Along with the Beautiful Girls)” by Al Sherman, Buddy Fields and Al Lewis in 1933.

Kim sings “All American Girl” written by Al Lewis in 1932.

A display of gymnastics in which Harry (Gale Gordon) does a cartwheel.

The finale is “Fit as a Fiddle” written by Arthur Freed, Al Hoffman, and Al Goodhart in 1932. In 1952 it achieved fame after being featured in the classic film Singin’ in the Rain.

“THE GENERATION GAP THROUGH THE AGES”

“Lucy and the Generation Gap” (1969) ~ Kim and Craig are in charge of producing the school play. At a loss for ideas, they recruit Lucy and Harry to be in a musical about the generation gap. The show is divided into three parts:

The Roman Era

Lucy and Harry play parents Calpurnia and Caesar. Kim is their daughter Kimea and Craig is their son Craigius. They sing “Kids Are Bugged About Parents” to the tune of “I’m Just Wild About Harry,” a song written in 1921 by Eubie Blake for the Broadway show Shuffle Along.

In The Gay Nineties

Harry plays Ambrose, the father. Lucy and the kids don’t get different names in this segment. The foursome sing “We’ll Just Cut the Old House in Two” which is sung to the tune of “Bicycle Built for Two” aka “Daisy Bell” written in 1892 by Harry Dacre.

In The Space Age

Kim wants to go to Jupiter with Spencer. When Lucy refuses because it is an overnight trip, Lucie reasons that Helen’s mother lets her go. Harry points out that Helen’s mother is a robot – and always “well-oiled.” They sing “Kids” a song written by Lee Adams and Charles Strouse for the 1960 Broadway musical Bye Bye Birdie, filmed in 1963.

“IT’S ALWAYS DO-WACKA-DO AT BULLWINKLE U!”

“Lucy the Co-Ed” (1970) ~ Harry's old flame Gloria (Marilyn Maxwell) is in town to help produce a musical for their college alumni. They resurrect a show Harry wrote in 1928 and cast Lucy, Kim, and Craig in supporting roles.

The musical comedy is set at Bullwinkle University. The cast includes Lucy as Ginger the head cheerleader, Harry as Crazy Hips the football star, Kim (Lucie Arnaz) as Honey, Craig (Desi Arnaz Jr.) as Dead End, Gloria (Marilyn Maxwell) as the Nurse, and Robert Alda as the Dean.

As the curtain goes up, the orchestra plays “You Gotta be a Football Hero (To Get Along with the Beautiful Girls)” written by Al Sherman, Buddy Fields and Al Lewis in 1933.

As Ginger (Lucy) enters, the boys sing “Ain't She Sweet” written in 1927 by Milton Ager and Jack Yellin.

When Crazy Hips (Harry) enters in his football uniform the girls sing “Baby Face” written in 1926 by Harry Akst and Benny Davis.

The students all sing “Buckle Down Bullwinkle” to the tune of “Buckle Down Winsockie” a song written for the film Best Foot Forward (1943) in which Lucille Ball did a cameo as herself.

Ginger, Honey, Dead End, Crazy Hips, and the Dean (Robert Alda) sing “Collegiate” written in 1925 by Nat Bonx and Moe Jaffe.

The musical ends with “Varsity Drag,” a song written by Lew Brown and B.G. DeSylva for Good News, which was seen on Broadway in 1927 and on screen in 1947 when it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song.

“THE HOLLYWOOD UNEMPLOYMENT FOLLIES or HOW TO STARVE IN SHOW BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING”

“Lucy and Carol Burnett Salute Hollywood” (1971) ~ Harry has fired Lucy again, so she visits the unemployment office where she reunites with secretary turned actress Carol Krausmeyer (Carol Burnett) and meets other out of work show biz folk. They decide to put on a show in order to make some dough!

The ensemble sings “Hooray for Hollywood” a song by Johnny Mercer and Richard A. Whiting that was first sung in the 1937 movie Hollywood Hotel.

After a backstage tour of Hollywood memorobilia, Lucy and Carol sing “Chicago (That Toddlin’ Town”) a song written by Fred Fisher and published in 1922.

After a quick costume change, they sing “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” which was composer Irving Berlin’s first hit in 1911.

Kim introduces (through song) Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson doing a tap routine which she joins in.

Four Canadian Mounties sing “Stout-hearted Men,” a song by Sigmund Romberg and Oscar Hammerstein II written for the operetta New Moon in 1927, with film versions in 1930 and 1940. Richard Deacon (also dressed as a Mountie) and Carol Burnett sing “Indian Love Call” by Rudolf Friml, Herbert Stothart, Otto Harbach, and Oscar Hammerstein II written for the 1924 operetta Rose-Marie.

Dressed as Marlene Dietrich, Lucy sings “Falling in Love Again (Never Wanted To)” from the 1930 German film The Blue Angel. Harry plays a World War I German soldier.

The Highhatters introduce Carol as Miss Ruby Keeler and they sing “Shuffle Off To Buffalo” by Al Dubin and Hugh Warren, originally written for the 1933 film 42nd Street.

As the finale, the entire ensemble is dressed in rain slickers and performs “Singin’ in the Rain” written by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown in 1931. It was most famously featured in the film Singin’ in the Rain in 1952. Jack Benny makes a cameo appearance selling umbrellas!

“THE FAREWELL SHOW”

“Lucy Goes Hawaiian: Part 2″ (1971) ~ Lucy and Harry have to put a ‘Farewell Show’ for the final night of their cruise. Viv, Kim and Craig are along to help her to produce a Hawaiian extravaganza.

Dressed as a canary, Vivian sings "Yellow Bird” (aka “Choucoune”) a 19th-century Haitian song composed by Michel Mauleart Monton with lyrics from a poem by Oswald Durand. It was rewritten with English lyrics in the 20th century as “Yellow Bird.”

Kim and Lucy sing “Ukulele Talk” by Ervin Drake, written in the 1920s.

Craig does an impression of Don Ho (inset), singing “Tiny Bubbles” by Martin Denny and Leon Pober. It was released in 1966 by Ho and became his signature song.

Lucy and Viv sing the 1957 novelty song “Mama’s Mumu” by Gene Burdette. Harry makes a special appearances as 'Mama’.

The Captain (Robert Alda) sings “Just Keep Your Eyes on the Hands” while Kim dances a seductive hula. The song was written by Tony Todaro and Liko Johnston and was interpolated into the 1956 film The Revolt of Mamie Stover.

The Carters perform “A Hawaiian War Chant,” written by Johnny Noble, a composer who was a native Hawaiian.

“Lucy and Candid Camera” (1972) ~Thinking they are pulling off a Candid Camera stunt, Lucy, Harry and Kim rob the City Bank. The crime is done while performing a Broadway Musical song and dance medley especially written for this episode:

“Stealin' the Jack” aka “Ballin' the Jack” was written in 1913 by Jim Burris and Chris Smith.

“Hello, Dollar!” aka “Hello, Dolly!” is the title song of the 1964 musical of the same name written by Jerry Herman.

“Whatever Lucy Wants” aka “Whatever Lola Wants” is by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross from the 1954 musical Damn Yankees.

“We Got the Money” aka “We're in the Money or The Gold Diggers Song” was written by Al Dubin and Harry Warren for the film The Gold Diggers of 1933. It is now part of the stage musical 42nd Street.

“The Impossible Dream or The Quest” was written by Joe Darien and Mitch Leigh for the 1964 musical Man of La Mancha.

“Please Don't Talk About Us When We Go” aka “Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone” was written by Sidney Clare and Sam H. Stept in 1930.

“Hey Look Me Over” written in 1960 by Cy Coleman for the Broadway musical Wildcat and introduced by Lucille Ball.

“NO ONE HAD AN INHIBITION ABOUT DISOBEYING PROHIBITION”

“My Fair Buzzi” (1972) ~ Kim’s shy and awkward friend Annie Whipple (Ruth Buzzi) comes out of her shell in order to audition for a 1920s revue. The episode title and story of transformation were inspired by the 1956 Broadway musical and 1964 film My Fair Lady, which, in turn, was inspired by George Bernard Shaw’s 1912 play Pygmalion. Both plays are mentioned in the dialogue of the episode.

In a rehearsal hall sequence, Kim performs “El Cubanchero,” one of Desi Arnaz’s biggest hits. It was written in 1947 by Rafael Hernández. When the director tells her that they are only working on the “Speakeasy” sketch, she offers a tap routine while singing “Anchor’s Aweigh,” the march of the United States Navy composed in 1906 by Charles A. Zimmermann.

Kim and Annie are members of the Community Drama Club. Lucy plays Dallas Noonan, a reference to real-life Texas Guinan, one of the first female emcees and speak easy owners. Annie plays Penelope, Harry plays gangster Big Jake, and Kim plays dancer Buttercup.

Buttercup and two flappers appear as ‘The Misstep Sisters’ and tap and sing to “Nagasaki,” a song written in 1928 by Harren Warren and Mort Dixon.

For the curtain call, the band plays “Tiger Rag,” a song that dates back to 1917.

“THE GIRL FRIDAY FOLLIES”

“Lucy Gives Eddie Albert the Old Song and Dance” (1973) ~ When producing a charity show, Lucy asks Eddie Albert to star in it. At the same time, a woman meeting Lucy’s description has been stalking Albert.

The show a show (which raises money to send underprivileged kids to camp) opens with Mary Jane and Vanda taking their final bows as the team of ‘Crime and Punishment’. Harry plays the Emcee.

For the finale, Lucy and Eddie Albert perform “Makin’ Whoopee” written by Gus Kahn and Walter Donaldson. The song was first popularized by Eddie Cantor in the 1928 musical Whoopee!

CURTAIN DOWN on ACT 3

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