#Elroy Schwartz

[papermoonloveslucy]

Lucy, the Superwoman

S4;E26 ~ March 21, 1966

Synopsis

When a heavy computer falls on Mr. Mooney's foot, Lucy has a rush of adrenaline to lift it up. From then on, she has super-strength and wreaks havoc with her new-found power. Lucy the superwoman is then brought into a lab to be examined by scientists.  

Directed by Maury Thompson ~ Written by Elroy Schwartz

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carmichael), Gale Gordon (Theodore J. Mooney), Mary Jane Croft (Mary Jane Lewis)

Guest Cast

Robert F. Simon (Dr. Robert F. Simon) had a ten year run on Broadway (1942-52), in which he cut his teeth as actor and stage manager in everything from drama to musical comedy. He served as understudy to Lee J. Cobb as Willy Loman in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. He was seen with Lucille Ball in the 1960 film The Facts of Life and in a 1963 episode of “The Greatest Show on Earth.”

Parley Baer (Dr. Davis) previously played MGM’s Mr. Reilly in “Ricky Needs an Agent” (ILL S4;E29) and the furniture salesman Mr. Perry in “Lucy Gets Chummy with the Neighbors” (ILL S6;E18). This is the fourth of his five appearances on “The Lucy Show.” He also made two appearances on “Here’s Lucy.” He is perhaps best known for his recurring roles as Mayor Stoner on “The Andy Griffith Show” and Doc Appleby in “The Dukes of Hazzard.”

Herb Vigran (Mr. Vigran) played Jule, Ricky Ricardo’s music agent on two episodes of “I Love Lucy” in addition to playing movie publicist Hal Sparks in “Lucy is Envious” (ILL S3;23). He was seen in the Lucy-Desi film The Long, Long Trailer. He played the role of the baseball umpire (and eye doctor) in two previous episodes. He will be seen in just one more episode of “The Lucy Show.”  

Jack Perkins (Terrible Tony, a Wrestler) was a stuntman and actor often cast for his ability to play drunk. He also has quite a few credits as a brawler and a bartender. This is his last episode of “The Lucy Show.”

Lucy claims to have seen Terrible Tony on television. 

Joel Marston (George Denton, Reporter for the Daily Gazette, above left) previously appeared as the supermarket clerk in “Lucy and Joan” (S4;E4). Marston was an internationally known dog breeder and proprietor of Starcrest Kennels in California. This is his final appearance on the series. He retired to Jacksonville, Florida, where he became a water aerobics instructor.

Eddie, the Daily Gazette photographer, is uncredited.

Robert S. Carson (Coach from the US Women's Olympic Team) played bank employee Mr. Potter in “Lucy Saves Milton Berle” (S4;E13) and “Lucy at Marineland” (S4;E1). He was a busy Canadian-born character actor making the fifth of his six appearances on the series. He also made five appearances on “Here’s Lucy.”

Natalie Masters (Woman from Whamo Breakfast Cereals, below) was seen as a saleswoman in “Lucy Bags a Bargain” (S4;E17). She played private eye “Candy Matson” on the radio series of the same name, which ran on NBC from 1949 to 1951. This is her last appearance on “The Lucy Show.” 

John Perri (Man from Full-of-Pep Vitamins, above center) was previously seen as a supermarket checker in “Lucy and Joan” (S4;E4). He was seen on Broadway in The Boy Friend (1954), the musical that introduced Julie Andrews. This is his final appearance on “The Lucy Show.”

Joyce Perry (Lab Secretary) makes the first of two appearances on the series. She was also a screen writer, receiving Emmy nominations for “Days of Our Lives” and winning a WGA (Writers Guild of America) Award in 1975 for “Search for Tomorrow.”  

Sid Gould (Sid, Computer Deliveryman) made more than 45 appearances on “The Lucy Show,” all as background characters. He also did 40 episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” Gould (born Sydney Greenfader) was Lucille Ball’s cousin by marriage to Gary Morton.

Bennett Green (Computer Deliveryman #2) was Desi Arnaz’s stand-in during “I Love Lucy.” He does frequent background work on “The Lucy Show.”

Gould and Green have no lines as the Deliverymen. The two also played Deliverymen in “Lucy the Robot” (S4;E23) delivering the very large box containing Lucy as Major Fun Fun.  

Alberto Morin (Bank Employee, uncredited) was born in Puerto Rico, and appeared in some of Hollywood’s most cherished films: Gone with the Wind (1939), Casablanca (1943), and Key Largo (1948). He was Carlos, one of Ricky’s “Cuban Pals” (ILL S1;E28) and the Robert DuBois in “The French Revue” (ILL S3;E7). His many background appearances on “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy” were all uncredited.

Hazel Pierce (Bank Employee, uncredited) was Lucille Ball’s camera and lighting stand-in throughout “I Love Lucy.” She made frequent on-camera appearances on the show. She was also an uncredited extra in the film Forever Darling (1956).

One other uncredited performer plays a bank employee who comes to Mr. Mooney's aid when the computer falls on his foot.

This is the final episode of season 4. Overall, season 4 rated #3 (a 27.7 share) in the Nielsen Ratings, the highest rating of the series thus far. The official DVDs of season 4 (with bonus material) were first released on April 26, 2011.

This is the first of three episodes written by Elroy Schwartz. He was born in Passaic, New Jersey, in 1923 and was the brother of Sherwood Schwartz.  As such, he wrote several episodes of his brother's most popular series: “Gilligan's Island” and “The Brady Bunch.”  

Indeed, the premise of this episode was taken from a script of “Gilligan's Island”!  On the series, the castaways discover cans of vegetables that turn out to be radioactive. Gilligan eats the spinach (the same vegetable that gave Popeye strength) and develops super-human strength. It was aired six months after this episode of “The Lucy Show” - September 26, 1966 - also on CBS. 

The idea of a sudden onset of super-human strength (aka ‘Hysterical Strength’) was a familiar trope on television, but based on real-life anecdotes, mostly about parents lifting cars to rescue their children. Comic book artist Jack Kirby claims he saw a woman lift a car off her baby, which inspired him to create the Incredible Hulk, whose first appearance was in 1962.

On the same evening this episode first aired (March 21, 1966), ABC broadcast the last new episode of  “Ben Casey” starring Vince Edwards.  Edwards did a cameo in “Lucy Goes to a Hollywood Premiere” (S4;E20, above). “Ben Casey” was filmed at Desilu Studios. The series finale was directed by Marc Daniels, who had directed 39 episodes of “I Love Lucy” from 1951-53. 

“The Lucy Show” was replaced for the summer (July-September 1966) by the fourth season of “Vacation Playhouse,” an anthology series of unsold TV comedy pilots. One was titled “Where There's Smokey” starring Gale Gordon as a Fire Chief. The pilot was completed in 1959 but not aired until August 1, 1966. When the pilot wasn't picked up, Gordon took the role of Mr. Heckendorn, the landlord on “Make Room for Daddy,” also filmed at Desilu. On August 29, 1966, “Vacation Playhouse” aired “The Two of Us” starring “Lucy Show” cast members Mary Jane Croft (Mary Jane) and Barry Livingston (Arnold Mooney).  

When Mr. Mooney is getting a computer in his office, Lucy wants to ask it for dating tips. Mr. Mooney replies that it is a computer, not “Dear Abby.” Dear Abby is an advice column founded in 1956 by Pauline Phillips under the pen name ‘Abigail Van Buren’ and carried on today by her daughter, Jeanne Phillips. In 1965, CBS aired a radio version of Dear Abby’s column.  Lucille Ball also had a CBS radio series at the time. 

In this episode, Lucille Ball's hairstyle (probably a wig) has longer bangs and sides. This could be to cover the 'lift tape' (a sort of non-surgical face lift) that she wore on camera starting around this time.

To decide where to put the computer in the office, Mr. Vigran feeds it a punch card. Punch cards were widely used through much of the 20th century in the data processing industry. The IBM 12-row / 80-column punched card format came to dominate the industry. Many early digital computers used punched cards as the primary medium for input of both computer programs and data. While punched cards are now obsolete as a storage medium, as of 2012, some voting machines still used punch cards to record votes. 

When Lucy lifts the computer the second time (just to prove she can), she gets a round of applause from the studio audience!  This happens again when she lifts the desk in her apartment.  Apparently the audience completely invests in the silly premise that Lucy has developed super human strength.  

When Lucy inadvertently crushes the can of tomato juice, she says in a childlike voice: “Boy, it sure doesn't look like tomato juice!”  In the 1960s “Wow, it sure doesn't taste like tomato juice!” was the advertising slogan for V8, a beverage manufactured by Campbells. 

V8 got its name from the fact that it originally contained the juice of eight different vegetables. It was first marketed in 1933 and is still sold today. 

Lucy swats a fly with a rolled up magazine and breaks a support column in half. This is the same column that muscular Frank Winslow broke in half when he was startled awake and went into a karate chop in “Lucy and the Sleeping Beauty” (S4;E9). The column in “Lucy, the Superwoman” is much narrower than the one seen above.

When Lucy breaks the blood pressure machine causing a spurt of liquid into the air, Mr. Mooney shouts “Thar she blows!” "Thar she blows" is what the lookout on a whaling ship would shout when seeing a whale surface and blowing air out of its blowhole.

When Lucy sneezes and blows the paperwork off the shelves, Mr. Mooney says “Now I know why they name hurricanes after women.”  In 1953, after a brief two-year period of using the Greek alphabet, meteorologists began using female names for hurricanes. In 1979, after much pressure from women's groups, male names were integrated into the naming. Hurricanes now alternate between male and female names.

Lucy's twenty foot standing broad jump and hurdle stunts were accomplished by speeding up the film and putting Lucy on wires.  

It is likely that most of the lab scenes were shot without a studio audience due to the nature of the stunts involved. Also telling is that after Lucy does her first ‘flight’ the studio audience does not applaud, as they had for the much simpler stunts earlier in the show. 

Examples of Lucy's super human strength:

She lifts Mr. Mooney off his feet into the air when helping him up

She breaks the return carriage off her typewriter

She staples a document and breaks off the end of her desk

She closes a file cabinet drawer which smashes a hole in the wall

She rips the doorknob off Mr. Mooney's office door and then rips the door off as well

She closes her apartment door with a kick and splits it in two

She squeezes her grocery bag and collapses a can of tomato juice and cans of vegetables

She tears the door off her refrigerator

She squeezes 6oz of juice from a 3oz orange

She pulls the bottom off an ice cube tray

She swats a fly and breaks a pillar in half

She empties a full glass of cranberry juice in one sip

She saws through a table when cutting a slice of roast beef

She brings a professional wrestler to his feet with a handshake

She causes paperwork to fly off the shelves with a sneeze

She breaks a blood pressure machine

She kicks a tray into the air when her reflexes are tested

She nearly deafens the doctor when she talks into his stethoscope

She pitches an iron shot put ball through a glass window pane and a brick wall

She jumps twenty feet in her first attempt at the standing broad jump

She hurdles in the air over three men who are bending over

Callbacks!

Mary Jane says that the TV reporters are calling Lucy “Superman with prettier muscles.”  In 1957, Lucy Ricardo pretended to be the man of steel in “Lucy and Superman” (ILL S6;E13).

Lucille Ball also used wires to ‘fly’ as the Witch in “Little Ricky’s School Pageant” (ILL S6;E10). 

And again in “Danny Thomas’s the Wonderful World of Burlesque” aired just a few months before this episode of “Here’s Lucy”. 

Lucy operated a similar massive gray computer that was located in the bank lobby at the start of “Lucy and Bob Crane” (S4;E22), although neither she nor Mr. Mooney mention it in this episode.

Fast Forward!

In 1972, Harry Carter also gets a computer installed in the office to help with the workload in “Lucy’s Replacement” (HL S4;E19). 

Mrs. Carmichael wants to ask the new computer for dating tips like it is a mechanical Dear Abby. Two years later, Lucy Carter consulted a computer for dating tips in “Lucy the Matchmaker” (HL S1;E12).

The desk that Lucy Carmichael lifts with ease will turn up again as set decoration for Harry Carter’s Home in “Lucy’s Wedding Party” (HL S3;E8) in 1970. Lucy Carter dusts it, but doesn’t lift it! 

Blooper Alerts

Keep Jiggling, Viggie! When the computer is first installed, Mr. Vigran has a bit of trouble getting the second dolly out from underneath the computer so it can fall on Mr. Mooney’s foot.  After a few seconds of jiggling, it comes free. 

Desk Work! When Lucy lifts the desk in her apartment, the track for raising it off the ground can be seen underneath, despite being painted the color of the wall.

Super-Strong Sweet Tooth! Lucy comes home from work holding a shopping bag and 5 pink bakery boxes. Why does a woman living alone need five boxes of baked goods?  The boxes were a familiar item on the show and the Desilu props department must have had quite a few in stock!  Also, if Lucy went shopping on her way home, why doesn’t she have any stories of the mayhem she must have caused in the stores to tell Mary Jane when she comes over?  

I’ve Got A Beef! When Lucy picks the roast beef up off the floor, we can see that the roast has been glued to the plate! 

At the lab, Dr. Davis asks Lucy if she’s ever had any accidents. She says that except for fender benders, she hasn’t. She must have forgotten that she suffered a blow to the head and got amnesia just two years earlier! 

“Lucy, the Superwoman” rates 2 Paper Hearts out of 5

[tumsozluk]

Ernest "Bud" Ness Jr. - Pioneer of Bemidji

Ernest “Bud” Ness Jr. – Pioneer of Bemidji

Ernest “Bud” Ness, 92, of Bemidji, MN died Friday August 26, 2022 at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 7, 2022, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Cass Lake. A moment of sharing will take place from 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji and one hour before the service at the church. Ernest Elroy…

[chronicrift]

The OSI Files: File 008 - THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN - "Little Orphan Airplane"

"Little Orphan Airplane" Airdate: February 22, 2018 Written by Elroy Schwartz Directed by Reza Badiyi

  Synopsis: Steve travels into a war torn African country to retrieve spy film.  But he discovers that he is bringing back more as the pilot who took the pictures is alive and being kept safe by two missionary nuns.

  John is joined by artist and longtime fan Jerry Lange and Geek Radio Daily's Billy Flynn to discuss this fifth episode of the series.  They discuss the great dialogue used in this episode, the enthusiasm in Greg Morris' performance, and how this should have been the pilot episode for the show.  Plus, Jerry shares his Discovision disks and explains how this was the only home video release of either show for some time in the 80s and we play a Guest Starring themed game of This or That.

  It's the return of the podcast as a Facebook Live show.  Join us Friday nights at 9:30EST as we discuss an episode of THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN's first season with two fans as well as featuring commentary from our viewers.  This audio will be available shortly after in the OSI Files feed.

    BIONIC OPERATIVES

  Billy Flynn - The Wonderful Billy Flynn brings the funny each week on Geek Radio Daily! His daytime alter ego is mild-mannered (well, that part is a stretch) radio station personality at WLEE in Virginia.   He actually gets paid to sit on his butt and run his mouth! His “edumacation” is from UNC-Wilmington, the Columbia School of Broadcasting, and University of Phoenix. When he is not gracing the podcasting airways with his comedic stylings, you can find Billy Flynn on Xbox Live (flynn71), rockin’ out on Guitar Hero or Rock Band, watching movies, reading comics, working out, or posting on the forums at geekradiodaily.com (ding!).

  Jerry Lange - Based in Buffalo, New York. My personal and client works are created using traditional media including pencil, ink and watercolor and digital software Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and Indesign. I try to bring a dramatic visual narrative to my work through a mix of loose and tight media application and mark making technique. Website

Check out this episode!

[abriefingwithmichael]

The Six Million Dollar Man 3.8

Larry Csonka, Carl Weathers. Departure from formula. Light and fun.

This episode - written by Kenneth Johnson and Elroy Schwartz (who wrote for a lot of sitcoms) - is very different to the usual SMDM fare. Lee Majors directed.

Nothing happens for the first twenty minutes! It’s just Steve and his football-star buddy Larry hanging out, and joshing each other. The two actors have an easy chemistry and these scenes (particularly the bowling) are amusing.

Once the bad guys make their move (a kidnapping) it doesn’t take Steve very long to figure out what might be going on and find a way to track down his friend. A nice reminder that Steve is smart as well as strong/fast.

The final third of the episode finds Steve a captive with his friend. Since the bad guys are fueled by a resentment of the football star they’ve kidnapped, Steve gets them angry enough to compete in a football game. Silly? Yes, but perfectly in keeping with the light, breezy tone establish at the start.

This episode is exactly what it appears to be. A hit show in it’s third season, having fun with itself, breaking from formula and casting a big-name athlete for a guest shot. Taken on those terms, it’s a fun hour.

7/10

[papermoonloveslucy]

EVE PLUMB

April 29, 1958

Eve Aline Plumb was born April 29, 1958, in Burbank, California, to Flora June (née Dobry) and Neely Ben Plumb. She has one sister, Flora, and a brother, Ben She is best known for playing middle daughter Jan Brady on the sitcom “The Brady Bunch” (1969-74).  She reprised the role on numerous reunion series and films, including “The Brady Brides” (1981) and “A Very Brady Christmas” (1988).

Plumb began appearing in commercials at age 7, and made her TV debut in a an episode of a sitcom titled “My Brother The Angel” aka “The Smothers Brothers Show.”  The series also featured “Lucy” cast members like Shirley Mitchell, Gail Bonney, Barbara Pepper, Jonathan Hole, Charles Lane, Tyler McVey, Alan Reed, Mary Treen, Tol Avery, Jesslyn Fax, Kathleen Freeman, Jay Novello, Ross Elliott, William Fawcett, Chick Chandler, Madge Blake, Eleanor Audley, Mabel Albertson, Roy Roberts, Rolfe Sedan, and Elvia Allman.  The series was created by Aaron Spelling. 

“The Brady Bunch” (1969-74) was a sitcom take on the blended family.  Plumb did all 117 episodes of the series, as well as returning as Jan for some (but not all) of the subsequent TV iterations, including “The Brady Kids” (animated), “The Brady Brides,” and “The Bradys”.  

Lucille Ball had tackled this same territory the year before in the 1968 feature film Yours, Mine and Ours. There were rumors that Lucy was being considered to play Carol Brady, but she opted to employ her own children in “Here’s Lucy” instead.  There was even legal action take against Brady producer, Sherwood Schwartz, regarding intellectual property, but it was settled before it came to court. 

Coincidentally, Sherwood Schwartz, creator of “The Brady Bunch” wrote the play “Mr. and Mrs.” that inspired Lucille Ball’s 1964 TV special of the same. 

Sherwood’s brother Al wrote for “Here’s Lucy” (although not the episode featuring Plumb)... 

and their other brother Elroy wrote a few episodes of “The Lucy Show.”  

In 1972, Plumb became part of the Lucy family - literally - when she played Patricia Carter, Lucy Carter’s niece, in “Lucy and Donny Osmond” (HL  S5;E11) on “Here’s Lucy.”  

In the episode, Young Patricia had a crush on Donny Osmond, while Donny had a crush on Patricia’s older cousin Kim. Plumb filmed this episode simultaneously with “The Brady Bunch” which aired Friday nights on ABC while “Lucy” was seen Monday nights on CBS. This is her only time acting with Lucille Ball.  

Osmond, Bobby Sherman, and David Cassidy were the biggest pop stars for Tiger Beat magazine in the early 1970s. Naturally this “Here’s Lucy” episode got lots of press in the teen magazines.

Coincidentally, over at the Brady home, Jan’s older sister Marcia had a crush on Desi Arnaz Jr. on a 1970 episode of “The Brady Bunch” and Arnaz guest-starred as himself – at the same time as he was playing Craig Carter on “Here’s Lucy.”  

After growing up, Plumb continued to work in television, portraying a teenage prostitute in the NBC television film Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway (1976), and as Elizabeth March in the 1978 miniseries Little Women.

“I'll always be Jan Brady to so many people. I can't escape it, but I can do other things.” ~ Eve Plumb

In the 1990s, Plumb began painting, fashioning for herself a second artistic career. She works out of a studio at her Laguna Beach home.

[papermoonloveslucy]

MARILYN MONROE

June 1, 1926 - August 4, 1962

Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson) was an actress, model, and singer. Famous for playing comedic "blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s and was emblematic of the era's changing attitudes towards sexuality. She was a top-billed actress for only a decade, but her films grossed $200 million by the time of her death in 1962. More than half a century later, she continues to be a major popular culture icon.

"When I was five I think, that's when I started wanting to be an actress. I didn't like the world around me because it was kind of grim, but I loved to play house. When I heard that this was acting, I said that's what I want to be. Some of my foster families used to send me to the movies to get me out of the house and there I'd sit all day and way into the night. Up in front, there with the screen so big, a little kid all alone, and I loved it.” ~ Marilyn Monroe,1962

Lucille Ball never worked with Marilyn Monroe, but meet her in 1953 at Ciro’s Nightclub on Sunset Strip, along with Betty Grable, and Red Skelton. Monroe’s immense popularity permeated Ball’s work none-the-less. 

At the start of “Changing the Boys’ Wardrobe” (ILL S3;E10) the gang is heading to the movies to see “That picture we’ve been trying to get to for weeks with Marilyn Monroe.” The movie is likely Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, which premiered in New York City in July 1953. On November 5, 1953, the same day the episode was filmed, Monroe’s new film How to Marry a Millionaire was released in the US. 

The November 1953 cover of TV and Movie Screen Magazine saw Lucy (in “The Camping Trip”) and Marilyn wearing the dress she wore on the May 1953 cover of Life Magazine promoting Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. 

Also on November 5, 1953, the town of Monroe, New York (60 miles from New York City) was temporarily renamed Marilyn Monroe.

The film later inspired much of the plot of “Second Honeymoon” (S5;E14), Lucy’s failed attempt to make their transatlantic crossing to Europe more than just a working vacation.    

Monroe’s dinner companion turns out to be a seven year-old boy, just like Lucy’s ping pong partner turns out to be young Kenneth Hamilton (Harvey Grant). 

Lucy gets stuck in a porthole just as Monroe did, also draping a blanket around her shoulders so passersby wouldn’t know what was really going on.

The idea for the burlap potato sack dresses in “Lucy Wants A Paris Gown” (ILL S5;E20) comes from Monroe’s real life. 

In 1951 Marilyn Monroe took a series of high fashion photographs wearing a potato sack as a response to a journalist who said that she might look sexier in a burlap sack than her usual fashion choices. 

Lucy first wore burlap at the end of “Mr. and Mrs. TV Show” (ILL S4;E24) as her scary version of a Phipps make-over.

In “Ricky’s Movie Offer” (ILL S4;E5) Lucy and Ethel argue about who looks more like Marilyn Monroe. 

While Lucy has the facial features, Ethel has the blonde hair. 

Fred (hilariously) settles the argument!  

In “Ricky’s Screen Test” (ILL S4;E7) a long list of Hollywood names are dropped in anticipation of hobnobbing with celebrities, including Marilyn Monroe. 

In “Lucy and Harpo Marx” (ILL S4;E28) Lucy wonders if Ethel might pass for Monroe to a near-sighted Carolyn Appleby. After Ethel tries to walk like Marilyn Monroe, Lucy decides that “nobody is that near-sighted!” Fred says that he looks more like Marilyn than either of them! 

In “Lucy and Superman” (ILL S6;E13), the Appleby’s come over for a social evening that Ethel calls “the bore war” because the couples only talk about their children. As the scene opens, Caroline is in mid-sentence talking about a Marilyn Monroe film.

CAROLINE: “...and he picked up Marilyn Monroe, slung her over his shoulder and carried her off!”

Although the title is never mentioned, the film they are discussing is Bus Stop, starring Marilyn Monroe and Don Murray. It was released in August 1956, two and a half months before this episode was filmed.

When “Lucy Does the Tango” (ILL S6;E20), she stuffs eggs down her blouse and Ethel stashes a some in her back pockets. Lucy tells her, “Whatever you do don’t try to walk like Marilyn Monroe,” but the ‘yolk’ is on Ethel when Fred suddenly enters through the kitchen door! 

In “Lucy the Gun Moll” (TLS S4;E25), Lucy plays Lucy Carmichael and Rusty Martin. The name Rusty Martin was probably derived from Lucy’s hair color and the surname of Mary Martin, who introduced the song “My Heart Belongs to Daddy” (music and lyrics by Cole Porter) in the 1938 Broadway musical Leave It to Me. Marilyn Monroe sang it in the 1960 film Let’s Make Love.  In that same film, Harry Cheshire, who played Sam Johnson in “Oil Wells” (ILL S3;E18), played Monroe’s father. Jerry Hausner (Jerry, Ricky’s Agent) and Joan Banks (Reporter Eleanor Harris in “Fan Magazine Interview”) played uncredited supporting roles. 

Lucy and Marilyn shared a leading man in handsome Keith Andes. Andes was Lucy’s male lead in Wildcat on Broadway, and later played was featured on three episodes of “The Lucy Show.”  

In 1952, he played opposite Marilyn in Clash By Night, an RKO picture. 

In “Lucy Gets Ricky on the Radio” (1952), the June 3, 1952 of Look Magazine actually had Lucille Ball and Marilyn Monroe on the cover!  Monroe was promoting Clash by Night, and Desi had written a feature on his wife for the magazine. So Marilyn actually did appear on “I Love Lucy” - if only in a still photo. 

Some Like It Hot (1959) is arguably one of Marilyn Monroe’s most popular films. What does it have in common with Lucille Ball? In 1958, both Lucy and Monroe were depicted at San Diego’s famous Del Coronado Hotel. It is the hotel that the Ricardo’s and Mertzes stay at in “Lucy Goes to Mexico” (LDCH S2;E1) as well as the backdrop for much of the film. Although Desilu filmed establishing footage of the hotel, the cast stayed in Hollywood, while Monroe went on location (as seen above). In “Lucy Goes to a Hollywood Premiere” (TLS S4;E20), Mr. Mooney says he wouldn’t buy a second hand nightie if it had been worn by Jack Lemmon in Some Like It Hot.

The Irving Berlin song “There’s No Business Like Show Business” was sung on “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show.”  Although it was originally from the Broadway musical Annie Get Your Gun (1946), it also served as the title and was performed (by Merman) in the Marilyn Monroe film There’s No Business Like Show Business in 1955. 

In 1952, Marilyn co-starred by Richard Widmark (”The Tour” ILL S4;E30) in the film noir drama Don’t Bother To Knock. The film also featured “Lucy” players Lurene Tuttle (Fine Arts League President), Verna Felton (Mrs. Porter), Gloria Blondell (Grace Foster), as well as Harry Bartell, Olan Soule, Robert Foulke, and Bess Flowers.

That same year, Monroe starred in We’re Not Married! opposite Lucy’s friend and former co-star Ginger Rogers, as well as Eve Arden (”Hollywood at Last!”), Paul Douglas (”Lucy Wants a Career”) and Eddie Bracken (Too Many Girls). 

One of Monroe’s most iconic moments came in March 1962 when she sang “Happy Birthday” as a birthday present to President John F. Kennedy in a public birthday celebration also attended by Lucy’s friends and co-stars Jack Benny, Jimmy Durante, Henry Fonda, Danny Kaye, Shirley MacLaine and Elliott Reid. A year later, Lucy Carmichael also gave Kennedy a present, a sugar cube replica of the White House on “The Lucy Show” with Elliott Reid doing Kennedy’s offstage voice as well as playing a small on-camera role! 

"I never quite understood it, this sex symbol. I always thought symbols were those things you clash together! That's the trouble, a sex symbol becomes a thing. I just hate to be a thing. But if I'm going to be a symbol of something I'd rather have it sex than some other things they've got symbols of." ~ Marilyn Monroe, 1962

Monroe was married (and divorced) three times: 

James Dougherty, Merchant Marine & Policeman (1942-46) 

Joe DiMaggio, Baseball Player (1954-55)

Arthur Miller, Playwright (1956-61)

In “Lucy is Enceinte” (ILL S2;E10), Fred gives Lucy a signed baseball for his future 'godson’. When he asks Lucy to read out the signature, she at first says “Spalding,” the ball’s brand name, but then finds it is signed by Joe DiMaggio.

In “Ragtime Band” (ILL S6;E21), Little Ricky asks his Uncle Fred: 

LITTLE RICKY: “Who’s Joe 'Maggio?” FRED: “'Who’s Joe 'Maggio?’ You talk more like your father everyday.”

In “Sales Resistance” (ILL S2;E17), Lucy compares herself to Willy Loman, the title character in Death of a Salesman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Arthur Miller first produced on Broadway in 1949 and made into an Oscar-nominated film in 1951.  

Speaking of husbands, Desi Arnaz has something in common with Marilyn Monroe, too. Both of their souses were accused of being Communists by the House Un-American Activities Committee during the 1950s. Both Lucille and Arthur Miller were cleared of charges and their careers continued, although that was not true for many celebrities of the time. 

Monroe died on August 4, 1962. The toxicology report showed that the cause of death was acute barbiturate poisoning. Empty medicine bottles were found next to her bed. The possibility that Monroe had accidentally overdosed was ruled out because the dosages found in her body were several times over the lethal limit.

The character of Ginger, the movie star castaway on “Gilligan’s Island” (1964-67) was described during casting as a combination of Lucille Ball and Marilyn Monroe. Tina Louise had Lucy’s red (ginger) hair and Monroe’s shapely physique. The series also featured Natalie Schafer (Phoebe Emerson) as Mrs. Howell, and Alan Hale Jr. as the Skipper. Hale performed on “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy”. Series creator Sherwood Schwartz was a Lucy fan. His brother Elroy Schwartz actually wrote scripts for Lucille Ball. 

In the 2013 web-series “Ryan & Ruby” both Lucille Ball and Marilyn Monroe are given special thanks for their inspiration. The last name of star and creator Ryan Burton's character is "Carmichael", the same as Ball's character on the "The Lucy Show". In Ryan’s kitchen there are fridge magnets with photos of both Lucy and Marilyn.  

Lucy and Marilyn are street characters at Universal Studios theme parks, their iconic hair and costumes making them instantly recognizable.

The same day Marilyn Monroe was born in 1926, another Hollywood icon with connections to Lucille Ball was also born, Andy Griffith.  To read his birthday blog, click here! 

[papermoonloveslucy]

NATALIE SCHAFER

November 5, 1900

Natalie Schafer was born in 1900 in Red Bank, New Jersey, although some sources say New York City. She is best remembered as Lovey Howell, the millionaire’s wife, on “Gilligan’s Island.” 

Schafer began her career as an actress on Broadway appearing in 17 plays between 1927 and 1959 including runs in Lady in the Dark (1941–42, above), The Doughgirls (1942–44), and Romanoff and Juliet (1957–58).  

In 1941 she started doing films with The Body Disappears��starring Jane Wyman and featuring “Lucy” players Edward Everett Horton and Dick Elliott. 

She re-teamed with Horton for her TV debut in 1948 with an episode of the anthology series “Chevrolet Tele-Theatre”. 

In 1954, Schafer made her only appearance on “I Love Lucy” in “The Charm School” (ILL S3;E15). Lucy and Ethel visit Phoebe Emerson Charm School for a free Beauty Analysis and CQ (Charm Quotient) check-up. Miss Emerson  grades on four points: skin & make-up, hair, voice, and posture.

Lucy and Ethel are then put through an exercise and posture regimen. Sadly, much of the scene was cut in the final edit. Only still photos remain. The week before this episode first aired, Schafer made an appearance on CBS TV’s "Topper” as a character named (coincidentally) Mrs. Vance. 

Two years later Schafer co-starred in Lucy and Desi’s film Forever, Darling (1956) as Millie Opdyke. The film also featured her ex-husband, Louis Calhern and another future sitcom star Nancy Kulp, who also played a maid on “I Love Lucy”. Kulp went on to create the role of bank secretary (like Lucille Ball herself) Jane Hathaway on “The Beverley Hillbillies” on CBS. 

In April 1964, Schafer re-teamed with Kulp as guest-starred on “The Beverly Hillbillies” playing dress shop owner Madame Renee. The episode also featured Tropicana maître ‘d Maurice Marsac. 

In 1960, she was back at Desilu Studios to film an episode of ABC’s  “Guestward Ho!”, a series that was originally supposed to star Vivian Vance.

On September 26, 1964, Schafer first played the role she would forever be identified with, Mrs. Howell on “Gilligan’s Island” appearing in all 99 episodes of the original series (including the un-aired pilot), which completed its run on Boxing Day 1966.  The character of Ginger, the movie star castaway, was described during casting as a combination of Lucille Ball and Marilyn Monroe. Series creator Sherwood Schwartz was a Lucy fan. His brother Elroy Schwartz actually wrote scripts for Lucille Ball.  

Lucille Ball also employed many of the denizens of “Gilligan’s Island”: Alan Hale Jr., Janos Prohaska, Mel Blank, June Foray, Vitto Scotti, Hans Conried, John McGiver, Phil Silvers, Don Rickles, Stanley Adams, Roy Calhoun, Strother Martin, Herb Vigran, John Gabriel, and Sandra Gould. 

Schafer returned to the character for each of its future iterations: 

“The New Adventures of Gilligan” (1974)

“Rescue from Gilligan's Island” (1978) 

“The Castaways on Gilligan's Island” (1979)

“The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island” (1981) 

“Gilligan's Planet” (1982)

In 1972 she did a guest shot on “Mannix”. The series was originally produced by Desilu. In 1971, “Here’s Lucy” featured Mannix (Mike Connors). 

Her final screen appearance was in the TV film I’m Dangerous Tonight, released just months before her death. 

Schafer was married to actor Louis Calhern from 1933 to 1942; they had no children. Calhern had worked with Lucille Ball in The Affairs of Cellini (1934) and Forever, Darling (1956). 

Although her contract included forbid close-ups, she insisted that her obituary disclose her real age. She said she wanted people to say "she was HOW old?!”

Natalie Schafer died in 2001. She was 90 years old. 

[papermoonloveslucy]

“Here’s Lucy” ~ Season 3

A handy dandy guide to helping you find your favorite episode blogs here at Papermoon Loves Lucy. Click on the hyperlinks to be taken directly to that episode’s trivia, background, and bloopers!

“Lucy Meets the Burtons” (S3;E1) ~ September 14, 1970

“Lucy the Skydiver” (S3;E2) ~ September 21, 1970

“Lucy and Sammy Davis, Jr.” (S3;E3) ~ September 28, 1970

“Lucy and the Drum Contest” (S3;E4) ~ October 4, 1970

“Lucy, the Crusader” (S3;E5) ~ October 12, 1970

“Lucy, the Coed” (S3;E6) ~ October 19, 1970

“Lucy, the American Mother” (S3;E7) ~ October 26, 1970

“Lucy’s Wedding Party” (S3;E8) ~ November 2, 1970

“Lucy Cuts Vincent’s Price” (S3;E9) ~ November 9, 1970

“Lucy, the Diamond Cutter” (S3;E10) ~ November 16, 1970

“Lucy and Jack Benny’s Biography” (S3;E11) ~ November 23, 1970

“Lucy and Rudy Vallee” (S3;E12) ~ November 30, 1970

“Lucy Loses Her Cool” (S3;E13) ~ December 7, 1970

“Lucy, the Part-Time Wife” (S3;E14) ~ December 14, 1970

“Lucy and Ma Parker” (S3;E15) ~ December 21, 1970

“Lucy Stops a Marriage” (S3;E16) ~ December 28, 1970

“Lucy’s Vacation” (S3;E17) ~ January 4, 1971

“Lucy and the 20-20 Vision” (S3;E18) ~ January 11, 1971

“Lucy and the Raffle” (S3;E19) ~ January 18, 1971

“Lucy’s House Guest, Harry” (S3;E20) ~ January 25, 1971

“Lucy and Aladdin’s Lamp” (S3;E21) ~ February 1, 1971

“Lucy and Carol Burnett” aka “The Hollywood Unemployment Follies” (S3;E22) ~ February 8, 1971

"Lucy Goes Hawaiian: Part 1” (S3;E23) ~ February 15, 1971

“Lucy Goes Hawaiian: Part 2” (S3;E24) ~ February 22, 1971

SEASON SUMMARY

Regular Cast: Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter), Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter), Desi Arnaz Jr. (Craig Carter)

Recurring Characters: Vivian Vance (as Vivian Jones), Mary Jane Croft (Mary Jane Lewis)

Celebrity Cast playing Characters: Wally Cox (Gustav Vandermeer),  Carol Burnett (Carol Krausmeyer), Charles Nelson Reilly (Elroy P. Clunk), Marilyn Maxwell (Gloria Pendleton), Robert Alda (Dean Butler / Captain McClay), Jayne Meadows (Laura Trenton), Hayden Rorke (Judge Gibson) 

Celebrity Cast playing Themselves: Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Jack Benny, George Burns, Sammy Davis Jr., Buddy Rich, Vincent Price, Rudy Vallee, Art Linkletter, Johnny Ukulele

Guest Cast playing Characters: Sid Gould, Vanda Barra, Rhodes Reason, Gary Morton, Dick Winslow, Carole Cook, Don Briggs, Bruce Gordon, Lyle Talbot, Mary Wickes, Ruth McDevitt, Herbie Faye, Phil Vandervoort, Jerry Maren, Parley Baer, Richard Deacon

Live Animal Cast: Parakeets (Anthony & Cleopatra), Goat (Willy) in “Lucy’s House Guest, Harry”

There were 24 new episodes

Episodes Written by: Bob Carroll, Jr., Madelyn Davis, Larry Rhine, Lou Derman, Sam Perrin, Ralph Goodman, Martin Ragaway, Milt Josefsberg,  Al Schwartz, Fred S. Fox, Seaman Jacobs, David Ketchum, Bruce Shelly,  Frank Gill, Jr., Vincent Bogert, Phil Leslie, George Balzer

Directed by Jerry Paris, Jack Donohue, Herbert Kenwith, Jack Baker, Coby Ruskin, Ross Martin, Charles Walters

Total Binge Hours: 12 hours (with commercials)

Papermoon’s Full Moon Pick: “The Unemployment Follies” (E22)

Papermoon’s Half Moon Pick: “Lucy and Ma Parker” (E15)

“Lucy Meets the Burtons” (E1) was CBS’s highest rated show on the air for the entire 1970-71 television season. 

Season 3 was #3 in the ratings (up from #6) with a 26.1 share

Season 3 was released on DVD on June 15, 2010

[papermoonloveslucy]

“The Lucy Show” ~ Season 4

A handy dandy guide to helping you find your favorite episode blogs here at Papermoon Loves Lucy. Click on the hyperlinks to be taken directly to that episode’s trivia, background, and bloopers!

“Lucy at Marineland” (S4;E1) ~ September 13, 1965

“Lucy and the Golden Greek” (S4;E2) ~ September 20, 1965

“Lucy in the Music World” (S4;E3) ~ September 27, 1965

“Lucy and Joan” (S4;E4) ~ October 11, 1965

“Lucy the Stunt Man” (S4;E5) ~ October 18, 1965

“Lucy and the Countess Have a Horse Guest” (S4;E6) ~ October 25, 1965

“Lucy Helps Danny Thomas” (S4;E7) ~ November 1, 1965

“Lucy Helps the Countess” (S4;E8) ~ November 8, 1965

“Lucy and the Sleeping Beauty” (S4;E9) ~ November 15, 1965

“Lucy and the Undercover Agent” (S4;E10) ~ November 22, 1965

“Lucy and the Return of  Iron Man” (S4;E11) ~ November 29, 1965

“Lucy Saves Milton Berle” (S4;E12) ~ December 6, 1965

“Lucy the Choirmaster” (S4;E13) ~ December 13, 1965

“Lucy Discovers Wayne Newton” (S4;E14) ~ December 27, 1965

“Lucy, the Rain Goddess” (S4;E15) ~ January 3, 1966

“Lucy and Art Linkletter” (S4;E16) ~ January 10, 1966

“Lucy Bags a Bargain” (S4;E17) ~ January 17, 1966

“Lucy Meets Mickey Rooney” (S4;E18) ~ January 24, 1966

“Lucy and the Soap Opera” (S4;E19) ~ January 31, 1966

“Lucy Goes to a Hollywood Premiere” (S4;E20) ~ February 7, 1966

"Lucy Dates Dean Martin” (S4;E21) ~ February 14, 1966

“Lucy and Bob Crane” (S4;E22) ~ February 21, 1966

“Lucy, the Robot” (S4;E23) ~ February 28, 1966

“Lucy and Clint Walker” (S4;E23) ~ March 7, 1966

“Lucy, the Gun Moll” (S4;E24) ~ March 14, 1966

“Lucy, the Superwoman” (S4;E26) ~ March 21, 1966

SEASON SUMMARY

Regular Cast: Lucille Ball (Lucy Carmichael), Gale Gordon (Theodore J. Mooney), Mary Jane Croft (Mary Jane Lewis)

Recurring Characters: Jimmy Garrett (Jerry Carmichael), Mel Torme (Mel Tinker), Joan Blondell (Joan Brenner), Ann Sothern (Rosie Harrigan, the Countess Frambois), Clint Walker (Frank Winslow), Mary Wickes (Aunt Gussie)

Guest Cast playing Characters: Lucie Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr., Harvey Korman, Sid Gould, Lou Krugman, Keith Andes, Herb Vigran, William Frawley, Dick Patterson, Jack Cassidy, Parley Baer, Eleanor Audley, Gary Morton, Jamie Farr, Doris Singleton, Elvia Allman, Jane Kean, Jan Murray, Reta Shaw, John Banner, Jay North, Vitto Scotti, Robert Stack, Bruce Gordon 

Guest Cast playing Themselves: Jimmy Piersall, Reb Foster, Danny Thomas, Milton Berle, Wayne Newton, Mickey Rooney, Jimmy Durante, Kirk Douglas, Art Linkletter, Vince Edwards, Edward G. Robinson, Dean Martin, Bob Crane 

Live Animal Cast: Dolphin (Splash), Seal, Horse (Oil Well), Foals (Lucy and Rosie), Sheep Dog (Nelson), Cow (Bessie), donkey, faun, calf, goats, geese, turkey, chickens, rabbit, lamb, pigeons (all in “Lucy Discovers Wayne Newton”), Mutt (”Lucy Meets Mickey Rooney”), Basset Hound (Lightning) 

There were 26 new episodes

The location of the show was changed from Danfield, New York, to Los Angeles, California.

Changes: Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) was transferred to a bank in Los Angeles. Lucy Carmichael got a job at this bank.  Although her son Jerry (Jimmy Garrett) made two appearances, her daughter Chris (Candy Moore) was said to be away in college. Vivian (Vivian Vance) remained in Danfield with her son Sherman (Ralph Hart). Viv married and her character was now known as Vivian Bunson.  

Episodes Written by: Garry Marshall, Jerry Belson, Milt Josefsberg, Bob O’Brien, Iz Ellinson, Fred S. Fox,  Edmund Beloin, Henry Garson, Brad Radnitz, Bruce Howard, Henry Taylor, Howard Ostroff, Henry Taylor,  Elroy Schwartz, Hugh Wedlock, Jr., Allan Manings

All episodes Directed by Maury Thompson

All episodes filmed and aired in color

Filmed at Stage 21, Desilu Studios, Hollywood

Location Shoots: Marineland, Palos Verdes, California

Total Binge Hours: 13 hours (with commercials)

Papermoon’s Full Moon Pick: “Lucy Goes to a Hollywood Premiere” (E20)

Papermoon’s Half Moon Pick: “Lucy, the Superwoman” (E26)

Season 4 was #3 in the ratings (up from #8) with a 27.7 share (up from 26.6)

Lucille Ball was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Comedy Series, but lost to Mary Tyler Moore of “The Dick Van Dyke Show”

Season 4 was released on DVD on April 26, 2011

[chronicrift]

The OSI Files: File 005 - THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN - "Population: Zero"

"Population: Zero" Airdate: January 18, 2018 Written by Elroy Schwartz Directed by Jeannot Szwarc

Synopsis: Steve investigates a small town that appears to have had its entire population killed. But when he discovers the real secret and the threat behind it, he must act fast to stop a full scale slaughter.

John is joined by artist and longtime fan Jerry Lange and Geek Radio Daily's Billy Flynn to discuss the first episode of the weekly SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN series, "Population: Zero".  They look at how as a pilot, it hits on just about all cylinders, the fantastic directorial job that Jeannot Szwarc does and the staggering debut numbers this show had for a Friday night mid-season premiere.  Plus, both Billy and Jerry convince John that while an excellent episode, it may not really be one you should a newbie to interest them in the bionic universe and we play a game of Steve, Jaime, or Both.

It's the return of the podcast as a Facebook Live show.  Join us Friday nights at 9:30EST as we discuss an episode of THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN's first season with two fans as well as featuring commentary from our viewers.

  Billy Flynn - The Wonderful Billy Flynn brings the funny each week on Geek Radio Daily! His daytime alter ego is mild-mannered (well, that part is a stretch) radio station personality at WLEE in Virginia.   He actually gets paid to sit on his butt and run his mouth! His “edumacation” is from UNC-Wilmington, the Columbia School of Broadcasting, and University of Phoenix. When he is not gracing the podcasting airways with his comedic stylings, you can find Billy Flynn on Xbox Live (flynn71), rockin’ out on Guitar Hero or Rock Band, watching movies, reading comics, working out, or posting on the forums at geekradiodaily.com (ding!).

  Jerry Lange - Based in Buffalo, New York. My personal and client works are created using traditional media including pencil, ink and watercolor and digital software Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and Indesign. I try to bring a dramatic visual narrative to my work through a mix of loose and tight media application and mark making technique. Website

Check out this episode!