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#Lucy Gets Jack Benny's Account
hitchell-mope · 1 year
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This is like bloody Gringotts
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monyathome · 1 year
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Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Collectable The Lucy SHow 3 Episodes On 1 VHS Tape Never Played.
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papermoonloveslucy · 7 years
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Lucy Gets Jack Benny’s Account
S6;E6~ October 16, 1967
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Synopsis
When the bank needs to find unique depositors, Lucy sets out to convince notorious miser Jack Benny to become a customer.  But first, they have to build a vault secure enough to satisfy Benny.  
Regular Cast
Lucille Ball (Lucy Carmichael), Gale Gordon (Theodore J. Mooney), Roy Roberts (Mr. Cheever)
Mary Jane Croft (Mary Jane Lewis) does not appear in this episode.  
Guest Cast
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Jack Benny (Himself) was born on Valentine’s day 1894. He had a successful vaudeville career, and an even greater career on radio with “The Jack Benny Program” which also became a successful television show. His screen persona was known for being a penny-pincher and playing the violin. His theme song was “Love in Bloom.”  Benny was a Beverly Hills neighbor of Lucille Ball’s and the two were off-screen friends. Benny previously appeared on the series as Harry Tuttle (a Jack Benny doppelganger) in “Lucy and the Plumber” (S3;E2) and did a voice over cameo as himself in “Lucy With George Burns” (S5;E1). He later appeared on three episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”  Benny and Ball appeared on many TV variety and award shows together. He died in 1974.
Gladys (voice on the intercom), six Native Americans in full war paint, and Irving the gorilla, all go uncredited. It is possible, however, that actor George Barrows was inside the gorilla costume. Barrows played gorillas in three previous “Lucy Show” episodes.  
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The episode was filmed on September 15, 1967.
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The script, written by Milt Josefsberg and Ray Singer, won an Emmy nomination in 1968, the only writing nomination of the entire series. The episode was so popular with viewers that it was included in “The Lucy Show” rerun series presented on CBS in prime time every summer through 1971.
Lucy proposes that the bank go after unique accounts like the Queen of England or the King of Thailand or Mickey Mouse (“Put your money where your mouse is!”). Lucy calls Benny “the Maharajah of Beverly Hills” because he doesn't trust banks and keeps all his money in his home.
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The scene at Benny's home begins with him practicing the violin, but when the doorbell rings he stops 'playing' and the music continues. Before answering the door, he shuts off the stereo and says “I'll be right back Jascha.”  Jascha Heifetz (1901-87) was a Russian-born musician considered him to be the greatest violinist of all time.
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In Benny's home there is an autographed photo of Bob Hope prominently displayed.  At one point the camera actually nudges a few inches mid-shot in order to get the photo in the frame. Hope had a cameo the first time Benny appeared on the series in “Lucy and the Plumber” (S3;E2). Throughout their careers, Hope and Benny would appear on each others programs and even did two films together.  In the episode, Benny describes Hope  as “one of his fans.”
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Benny says he used to have a polar bear named Carmichael. On Benny's radio show he often referred to a pet polar bear named Carmichael, voiced by Mel Blanc. Blanc did the voice of a parrot in The Fuller Brush Girl (1950) starring Lucille Ball.  He will also lend his voice talents to a 1969 episode of “Here's Lucy.”  Coincidentally, Carmichael was Lucille Ball’s surname in her previous sitcom, “The Lucy Show.”
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Seeing a photo of Jack Benny in the navy Lucy asks if he was in the Korean War. Benny takes one of his famous long takes and then says “bless you!” Benny actually served in World War I, often entertaining the troops with his violin. The Korean War started in 1950 and ended (unofficially) in 1953. 
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Lucy also spots photos of Benny with two presidents. Benny met several times with President Harry S. Truman and also met John F. Kennedy in 1962.    
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Lucy recognizes a photo of Rochester. In 1937, Eddie Rochester Anderson began playing Rochester Van Jones, Jack Benny's valet, on his radio show “The Jack Benny Program.” Anderson became the first Black American to have a regular role on a nationwide radio program. When the series moved to television, Anderson continued in the role until the series ended in 1965.
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When Lucy admires a cast photo of Benny's old television show, Benny says he often sees Dennis Day and sometimes “trips over” Phil Harris (right), a reference to Harris' persona as a lush. In “Lucy and Joan” (S4;E4) Joan (Joan Blondell) says she’s been in pictures so long she saw Phil Harris take his first drink. Harris was a bandleader who became a comic radio star as a Jack Benny sidekick in the 1930’s. Although his fondness for bourbon was largely a creation of the Benny's writers, Harris played the part to the hilt. Dennis Day (left) appeared for the first time on Benny's radio show in 1939 and remained associated with him until Benny's death in 1974. He was introduced as a young, naïve boy singer – a character he kept through his whole career.
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There is a flirtatiousness between Benny and Lucy that ignores the fact that Benny was married to Mary Livingstone. Lucy even proposes that she and Benny go out on a date. Curiously, Livingstone is nowhere to be seen at the home (nor are any servants, but perhaps that is due to Benny's frugality).  
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Jack Benny gets entrance applause in his second scene, indicating the episode may have been shot out of sequence to accommodate the unusual settings.  
Benny tells Mr. Mooney his social security number is 1.  Benny says his father's name is Mortimer and his mother's maiden name is J.P. (Judith Priscilla) Morgan. In real life Benny's birth name was Benjamin Kubelsky and he was the son of Meyer Kubelsky and Emma Sachs.  
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Benny says he has a tattoo that says “J-E-L-L-O” because “in those days sponsors were hard to get.”  In 1934, General Foods, the makers of Jell-O and Grape-Nuts, became the sponsor strongly identified with Benny for 10 years. The Jell-O jingle spelled out the name of the gelatin desert product.  
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The Westland Bank's new Benny vault is 300 feet down. Lucy notes that due to its subterranean location, the vault is “smog free.” This the third mention on the series of the Los Angeles smog problem. It was previously joked about in “Lucy and Tennessee Ernie Ford” (S5;E21) and “Lucy Meets Sheldon Leonard” (S5;E22).   
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The vault is equipped with land mines, a guillotine... 
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knife-throwing wild Indians (who demand overtime)... 
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a pool filled with piranha...  
“Piranha fish? What a picnic they'd have with Jackie Gleason. You know, by the time he could say, 'Away we go,' he'd already be gone.” Lucy has done Jackie Gleason's famous “away we go” exit move several times on the series. Gleason himself will make a cameo appearance on the 1968 “Here's Lucy” episode that features Jack Benny.
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snapping turtles... 
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Irving the gorilla (who is managed by Benny)...
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and a pit of quicksand. Milt Josefsberg, writing in his book, The Jack Benny Show, talks about the episode's quicksand effect: 
“For the quicksand routine, we had to build a small special elevator in this hole. The floor around it was raised about a foot via a small sloping wall, and the entire area was then filled with lukewarm water. Then this small lake was covered with a dark sawdust-like material, a couple of inches thick, which floated on the surface, giving it the appearance of solid ground. As Lucy and Jack walked into this pit, the slightly sloping walls made them seem to sink. When they reached the ‘elevator hole,’ they stood still, the machinery was turned on, the elevator went down, and they slowly began to sink from view. Because the machinery powering the elevator sat beneath it, the floor could only descend four or five feet. When Lucy and Jack felt the elevator stop as it reached bottom, they were almost shoulder high in the gooey mixture, but now they slowly bent their knees, giving further illusion that they were going to disappear into a bottomless pit.”
The effect almost doesn't happen. Benny was apprehensive about being able to stay on his feet, and Ball had an attack of claustrophobia. However, both got through the scene like professionals.
The quicksand effect cost Desilu $25,000, the most expensive television episode at the time. Lucille Ball later commented, “I don’t mind how expensive a gag is, as long as it gets a good laugh!”
Callbacks!
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Piranha ate Lucy's purse in “Lucy Gets the Bird” (S3;E2).
Blooper Alerts!
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When Benny bars the door to show Lucy the secret entrance to his vault, the doors make a metallic clinking sound as they are secured. When Benny goes through the secret passage, the sound happens again, causing Lucille Ball to look around wondering what the noise was.
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“Lucy Gets Jack Benny’s Account” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5 
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oneboxofmatches · 3 years
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All You Need to Know About Matchups!
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This account is solely for matchups for several different fandoms. That means requests for imagines, oneshots, headcanons, etc. will NOT be taken.
Here are some basic things to know about requesting a matchup!
Unless otherwise specified for a certain fandom, a request yields one romantic pairing AND one friendship pairing as well as information on why I think you work well with the individuals I choose. Of course, if you only wish to receive either just the romantic matchup or just the friendship matchup, just let me know!
You can request matchups for several different fandoms at once! For each fandom you request, I will match you up with one romantic partner and one friend unless you request differently.
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SHOWS
The 100 (6)
Good Omens
The Good Place (3)
Lucifer (4)
On My Block
Parks and Recreation (4)
Prodigal Son (1)
Sherlock
Space Force
Supernatural (14)
The Walking Dead (8)
MOVIES
Clueless
The Greatest Showman
Harry Potter -- Unless specified in request, will entail 2 sets of matchups as a student (Golden Trio and Marauders eras respectively)
The Hunger Games
Marvel Cinematic Universe -- Unless age is specified, underage characters will NOT be available for romantic matchups
BROADWAY
Anastasia
Beetlejuice
Carrie (2012 Off-Broadway)
Hadestown
Hamilton
Les Misérables
The Phantom of the Opera
Six
VIDEO GAMES
Detroit: Become Human
Red Dead Redemption 2
What’s below the cut?
A masterlist of characters in each fandom that will be considered for each request (unless marked with an asterisk (*), all characters are assumed to be available for both romantic AND friendly matchups while names marked with an asterisk are only available for friendly matchups). Listed alphabetically by first name.
Don’t be afraid to tell me about a typo!
Any questions? Just want to talk? You can also use the  MATCHUP REQUESTS/ASK ME ANYTHING tab to get ahold of me!
SHOWS
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Bellamy Blake
Clarke Griffin
Echo
Finn Collins
Harper McIntyre
Jasper Jordan
Johnathan “John” Murphy
Jordan Green
Lexa
Lincoln
Marcus Kane
Monty Green
Octavia Blake
Raven Reyes
Roan
Wells Jaha
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Aziraphale
Anathema Device
Crowley
Newton Pulsifer
Mme. Tracy*
Witchfinder Sgt. Shadwell*
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Chidi Anagonye
Eleanor Shellstrop
Jason Mendoza
Michael*
Tahani Al-Jamil
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Amenadiel
Det. Chloe Decker
Det. Daniel “Dan” Espinoza
Ella Lopez
Eve
Dr. Linda Martin*
Lucifer Morningstar
Mazikeen “Maze”
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Cesar Diaz
Jamal Turner
Jasmine Flores
Monsé Finnie
Oscar “Spooky” Diaz
Ruben “Ruby” Martinez Jr.
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Andrew “Andy” Dwyer
Ann Perkins
April Ludgate
Benjamin “Ben” Wyatt
Christopher “Chris” Traeger
Donna Meagle*
Gerald “Jerry” Gergich*
Jean-Ralphio Saperstein*
Leslie Knope
Ronald “Ron” Swanson*
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Ainsley Whitly
Det. Dani Powell
Edrisa Tanaka
Lt. Gil Arroyo
Det. James “JT” Tarmel
Jessica Whitly
Malcolm Bright
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DI Greg Lestrade
Mrs. Hudson*
James “Jim” Moriarty
Dr. John Watson
Mary Morstan*
Molly Hooper
Mycroft Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
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Dr. Adrian Mallory*
Capt. Angela Ali
Brig. Gen. Bradley Gregory*
Dr. Chan Kaifang
Duncan Tabner
Erin Naird
F. Tony Scarapiducci
Kelly King
Maggie Naird*
Gen. Mark Naird*
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Abbie “Bela” Talbot*
Adam Milligan
Alex Jones
Balthazar
Benjamin “Benny” Lafitte
Castiel
Charlene “Charlie” Bradbury
Claire Novak
Crowley
Dean Winchester
Sheriff Donna Hanscum
Eileen Leahy
Ellen Harvelle*
Gabriel
Garth Fitzgerald IV
Jack Kline
Jessica “Jess” Moore*
Joanna “Jo” Harvelle
Sheriff Jody Mills*
John Winchester
Kaia Nieves
Kevin Tran
Lucifer
Meg Masters
Michael “Mick” Davies
Patience Turner
Robert “Bobby” Singer*
Rowena MacLeod
Rufus Turner*
Samuel “Sam” Winchester
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Aaron
Abraham Ford
Andrea*
Beth Greene
Carl Grimes*
Carol Peletier*
Dale Horvath*
Daryl Dixon
Dwight
Enid*
Eugene Porter*
King Ezekiel*
Father Gabriel Stokes
Glenn Rhee
Hershel Greene*
Maggie Greene
Michonne
Morgan Jones*
Negan Smith
Paul “Jesus” Rovia
Rick Grimes
Rosita Espinosa
Sasha Williams
Tara Chambler
Tyreese Williams
MOVIES
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Cher Horowitz
Dionne Davenport
Josh Lucas
Tai Frasier
Travis Birkenstock
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Anne Wheeler
Charity Barnum
Jenny Lind
Lettie Lutz*
Phillip Carlyle
Phineas “P.T.” Barnum
W.D. Wheeler
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Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody*
Albus Dumbledore*
Arthur Weasley*
Cedric Diggory
Cho Chang
Draco Malfoy
Fleur Delacour
Fred Weasley
George Weasley
Ginevra “Ginny” Weasley
Harry Potter
Hermione Granger
James Potter
Lily Evans
Luna Lovegood
Minerva McGonagall*
Molly Weasley*
Neville Longbottom
Nymphadora Tonks*
Oliver Wood
Remus Lupin
Ronald “Ron” Weasley
Rubeus Hagrid*
Severus Snape
Sirius Black
Viktor Krum
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Cinna
Effie Trinket*
Finnick Odair
Gale Hawthorne
Haymitch Abernathy*
Johanna Mason
Katniss Everdeen
Peeta Mellark
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Anthony “Tony” Stark -- Iron Man
Dr. Bruce Banner -- Hulk
Carol Danvers -- Captain Marvel
Dr. Christine Palmer*
Clint Barton -- Hawkeye
Drax the Destroyer*
Edward “Ned” Leeds
Gamora
Groot*
Harold “Happy” Hogan*
Dr. Henry “Hank” Pym*\
Hope van Dyne -- Wasp
Sgt. James “Bucky” Barnes -- Winter Soldier
Col. James “Rhodey” Rhodes -- War Machine
Loki Laufeyson
Luis*
Mantis*
Dr. Margaret “Peggy” Carter*
Cdr. Maria Hill*
May Parker*
Lord M’Baku
Michelle “MJ” Jones
Nakia
Natasha Romanoff -- Black Widow
Nebula*
Col. Nicholas “Nick” Fury*
Okoye
Peter Parker -- Spider-Man
Peter Quill -- Star-Lord
Agt. Phillip “Phil” Coulson*
Pietro Maximoff -- Quicksilver
Rocket*
Samuel “Sam” Wilson -- Falcon
Scott Lang -- Ant-Man
Shuri
Dr. Stephen Strange
Steven “Steve” Rogers -- Captain America
King T’Challa -- Black Panther
Thor Odinson
Valkyrie
Virginia “Pepper” Potts
Vision
Wanda Maximoff -- Scarlet Witch
W’Kabi
Wong*
Yelena Belova
Yondu Udonta*
BROADWAY
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Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov
Dimitri Sudayev
Gleb Vaganov
Countess Lily Malevsky-Malevitch*
Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna*
Vladimir “Vlad” Popov*
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Adam Maitland
Barbara Maitland
Beetlejuice*
Delia Schlimmer
Lydia Deetz*
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Carrie White
Christine “Chris” Hargensen
Susan “Sue” Snell
Thomas “Tommy” Ross
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Eurydice
Hades
Hermes*
Orpheus
Persephone
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Aaron Burr
Alexander Hamilton
Angelica Schuyler
Elizabeth “Eliza” Schuyler
George Washington
Hercules Mulligan
James Madison
John Laurens
Margarita “Peggy” Schuyler
Maria Reynolds
Marquis de Lafayette
Philip Hamilton
Thomas Jefferson
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Cosette
Enjolras
Éponine Thénardier
Fantine
Insp. Javert
Jean Valjean
Marius Pontmercy
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Carlotta Giudicelli*
Christine Daaé
Erik “The Phantom”
Mme. Giry*
Meg Giry
Raoul de Chagny
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Anna of Cleves
Anne Boleyn
Catherine of Aragon
Catherine Parr
Jane Seymour
Katherine Howard
VIDEO GAMES
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Carl Manfred*
Chloe
Det. Chris Miller*
Connor
Elijah Kamski
Lt. Hank Anderson*
Capt. Jeffrey Fowler*
Josh
Kara
Leo Manfred
Lucy*
Luther
Markus
North
Rose Chapman*
Simon
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Abigail Roberts
Arthur Morgan
Beau Gray*
Charles Smith
Daniël “Dutch” Van der Linde
Eagle Flies
Hosea Matthews*
Javier Escuella
Johnathan “John” Marston Sr.
Josiah Trelawny
Karen Jones
Kieran Duffy
Leonard “Lenny” Summers
Marion “Bill” Williamson
Mary-Beth Gaskill
Micah Bell
Molly O’Shea
Penelope Braithwaite*
Rev. Orville Swanson*
Sadie Adler
Sean MacGuire
Simon Pearson*
Tilly Jackson
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hitchell-mope · 1 year
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Holy shit
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hitchell-mope · 1 year
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Jack Benny’s hilarious.
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hitchell-mope · 1 year
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They’re all nuts.
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papermoonloveslucy · 4 years
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THE GOLDEN TOUCH
January 17, 1951
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“The Golden Touch" is a modern re-telling of the King Midas story with Jack Benny and his friends as King Midas and his court. It was directed by Robert F. Mansfield, written by Robert Hugh O’Sullivan and with Harry Zimmerman as the composer / conductor. 
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“Family Theater” was a weekly half-hour dramatic anthology radio program which aired on the Mutual Broadcasting System (MBS) from February 13, 1947, to September 11, 1957. The show was produced by Family Theater Productions, a film and radio studio extension of the Family Rosary Crusade founded by Father Patrick Peyton as a way to promote family prayer. The motto of the the Holy Cross Family Ministries is, "The family that prays together, stays together." 
Although the program had no commercial sponsor, Father Peyton arranged for many of Hollywood's biggest stars to appear including James Stewart, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Raymond Burr, Jane Wyatt, Charlton Heston, Bing Crosby, Jack Benny, Gene Kelly, William Shatner, and Chuck Connors. 
A total of 540 episodes were produced. The program featured not only religious stories but half-hour adaptations of literary works such as A Tale of Two Cities, Moby-Dick and Don Quixote.
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Synopsis ~ Lucille Ball is the hostess and Jack Benny stars as the King obsessed with his gold and counting it. The Queen and her daughter get a Genie to sort the King out. The Genie grants the King one wish and the King tells the Genie that he can always use more gold and asks that everything he touches will turn to gold. Of course this seems exciting at first until he turns the Queen and his daughter in to solid gold.
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The program was repeated on May 23, 1951.  
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King Midas is popularly remembered in Greek mythology for his ability to turn everything he touched into gold. This came to be called the golden touch, or the Midas touch. 
CAST
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Jack Benny (King Midas) was born on Valentine’s Day 1894. He had a successful vaudeville career, and an even greater career on radio with “The Jack Benny Program” which also became a successful television show. His screen persona was known for being a penny-pincher and playing the violin. Benny was a Beverly Hills neighbor of Lucille Ball’s and the two were off-screen friends. Benny appeared on “The Lucy Show” as Harry Tuttle (a Jack Benny doppelganger) in “Lucy and the Plumber” (TLS S3;E2), later did a voice over cameo as himself in “Lucy With George Burns” (TLS S5;E1), and played himself in “Lucy Gets Jack Benny’s Account” (TLS S6;E6). He was seen in four episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” Benny and Ball appeared on many TV variety and award shows together. He died in 1974, a few weeks after taping “An All-Star Party for Lucille Ball.”
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Lucille Ball (Hostess) was concurrently starring in her own radio comedy “My Favorite Husband” having starred in films from 1933.  In the fall of 1951, Ball and her husband Desi Arnaz launched their iconic television series, “I Love Lucy.”  After her divorce from Arnaz in 1960, Ball starred in two subsequent television series’ - “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy.” After a series of TV specials, she did one more series in 1986, which was not successful. She died in 1989. 
Ted de Corsia (Harvey Benson, Reporter from The Daily Telegram) was an actor in touring companies and on radio before making a memorable film debut as the killer in The Lady from Shanghai (1947). De Corsia's New York street demeanor and gravelly voice assured him steady work playing street thugs, gang leaders or organized-crime bosses. On radio he starred in the CBS series "Pursuit" (1949-50). Two years before he was heard on an episode of “My Favorite Husband” with Lucille Ball.
Barbara Eiler (Princess Imogene) started acting as a teenager and appeared regularly on the radio programs “The Life of Riley,” “A Day in the Life of Dennis Day,” “The Fabulous Dr. Tweedy” and “Glamor Manor." She did a 1948 episode of “My Favorite Husband” with Lucille Ball. 
Eleanor Audley (Queen Midas) played Lucille Ball’s mother-in-law on “My Favorite Husband.” She would later play Eleanor Spalding, owner of the Westport home the Ricardos buy in “Lucy Wants To Move to the Country” (ILL S6;E15) in 1957, as well as one of the Garden Club judges in “Lucy Raises Tulips” (ILL S6;E26).
Alan Reed (Matthew the Butler / Tony the Cook) is probably best remembered as the voice of Fred Flintstone. He started his acting career in 1937. He acted opposite Lucille Ball in a 1963 episode of “The Lucy Show” (ILL S1;E25). In 1967, he made an appearance on the Desi Arnaz series “The Mothers-in-Law”. He died in 1977 at the age of 69.
Reed uses an English accent as Matthew and an Italian accent as Tony.
Verna Felton (Molly, Kitchen Help) received two Emmy nominations for her role in the Desilu series “December Bride,” playing Hilda Crocker from 1955 to 1959. She did two episodes of “I Love Lucy,” including playing Lucy’s stern maid, Mrs. Porter. Felton voiced many characters for Disney.
Felton uses an Irish accent as Molly.
Howard McNear (Ipsuda, Magician) played Mr. Crawford, Little Ricky’s music teacher on “I Love Lucy.” McNear went on to play Floyd the Barber on “The Andy Griffith Show” from 1961 to 1967, filmed on the Desilu backlot. He was also seen in Lucy and Desi’s 1953 film The Long, Long Trailer.
Frank Nelson (Genie / Mr. Gene Blue) was born on May 6, 1911 (three months before Lucille Ball) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He started working as a radio announcer at the age of 15. He later appeared on such popular radio shows as “The Great Gildersleeve,” “Burns and Allen,” and “Fibber McGee & Molly”. This is one of his 11 performances on “My Favorite Husband.”  On “I Love Lucy” he holds the distinction of being the only actor to play two recurring roles: Freddie Fillmore and Ralph Ramsey, as well as six one-off characters, including the frazzled train conductor in “The Great Train Robbery” (ILL S5;E5), a character he repeated on “The Lucy Show.”  Aside from Lucille Ball, Nelson is perhaps most associated with Jack Benny and was a fifteen-year regular on his radio and television programs.
Howard Culver (Jake Workman, Ice Man) was best known as hotel clerk Howie Uzzell during the entire run of TV's “Gunsmoke.” On radio he starred in the title role of the Western adventure series “Straight Arrow” which aired on Mutual from 1948 to 1951.   
Tony La Frano (Announcer) was the regular announcer for “Music Depreciation” (1945) and every episode of “Family Theatre” (1947-1957). 
EPISODE
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Hostess Lucille Ball introduces the show, which was broadcast in front of a live audience. Lucille urges listeners to pray together as a family. She then introduces Jack Benny as the King, to great fanfare. 
Instead of Benny, the show opens with Imogene on the telephone of a busy office in the Kingdom of Midas. Harvey Benson, an American reporter, arrives to see the Queen, who thinks he is there for money, but he wants the story of something that happened there recently. She tells the story in flashback...
A month ago, King Midas is at breakfast with his family. Imogene complains about having cornmeal mush for breakfast again, but Midas reasons that they have a 752 pounds of corn (thanks to the foresight of his father), so they must eat it!  
Matthew, King Midas’ butler, suddenly quits after 32 years! He is tired of carrying the King’s gold. He is also tired of the mush. Because of an ancient decree, the help must eat whatever the King eats. 
Imogene and the Queen insist King Midas counts his money too much - 80 million dollars a day!  Once the King is gone, the Queen sends Imogene on a mission to see a magician named Ipusda to buy a genie. 
At Ipsuda’s shop, Imogene has her pick of genies - even ones vacuum packed in cans (only for tourists)!  She buys the blue bottle special for 5 gold pieces - plus a small deposit on the bottle!   Imogene brings the magic blue bottle back to the Queen, who says the magic words: “Genie out and at attention!  Do the chores which I will mention!”  The giggling Genie immediately appears, talking in rhyme, very amused at his own cleverness.  They promise the Genie his freedom if he does as bid.  The Queen whispers the orders to the Genie, without letting Imogene know.
Next morning, Imogene and the Queen introduce Midas to his new servant - the Genie!  At their bidding, he conjures up bacon and eggs. Midas hates the Genie’s rhyming. He asks Midas what one wish he wants more than anything else in the world.  Naturally, he wants more gold. 
The Genie grants him with the skill to turn everything he touches to gold!  The Genie pops back into the bottle. Imogene notices his utensils have turned to gold - then his eggs - then his coffee.  
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Before he can stop himself, he turns his own daughter to gold! Midas demands the Queen bring the Genie back, but she refuses and storms off. 
Midas hears the kitchen servants Tony and Molly arguing in the next room. Tony goes to shake his hand, but he turns to gold! He touches Molly and she, too, turns to gold. 
The ice man arrives and sees the two golden servants. Signing for the ice, the King tries to give him the golden pencil as a tip! Midas explains his problem - everything he touches turns to gold. Jake is about to phone his brother-in-law, Ipsuda, but when he learns that it was the work of a genie, he hangs up. All they can do is wait for the Queen to return to get the Genie out of the bottle! 
Time passes and Jake reveals that the King is not as highly regarded in the Kingdom as he thinks.  The King admits to being money mad. Midas decides to start giving his money away - starting now!
The Queen arrives and she Midas admits that he never wants to see gold again as long as he lives. After accidentally turning Jake to gold during a hug, the Queen summons the Genie to change the King back - in return for his freedom and a good job. The Genie removes the curse. 
Flash forward to the Queen’s interview with newspaper reporter Harvey Benson. Mr. Gene Blue, the president of the relief organization, enters. He makes a joke about his name sounding like “Benson Burners.” He laughs hysterically as the music swells. 
Lucille Ball closes the show by asking if the audience knows how Hedda Hopper makes a hat, comparing it to how scientists make a concoction out of ordinary things to create something incredible: jewels out of sawdust, perfume out of coal tar, medicine out of weeds or mold. She says the power of prayer, just like the ordinary things that create something magical, are there all the time, but must be used to get benefits: the jewel of a happy home life, the perfume of uplifted hearts, medicine for a sick world.
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LUCILLE BALL: “The family that prays together, stays together.” 
Announcer Tony Lo Frano reads the credits and says that next week’s program Walter Brennan and Bette Lynn in “A Star for Helen” with the honorable Frank Walker as host.  
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papermoonloveslucy · 3 years
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TV GUIDE: FOUR DAYS
March 30, 1968
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This is the 19th of Lucille Ball’s 39 TV Guide covers. Ball (and her infant son) appeared on the very first national issue on April 3, 1953. 
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Mario Anthony Casilli (cover photograph) is best known for his work for Playboy magazine between 1957 and 1996. He also did many celebrity portraits for TV Guide. In 1986 he photographed Lucille Ball for “Life With Lucy.”
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[Unfortunately, the remainder of the article was not available.]
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In the New York City area, a syndicated rerun of “I Love Lucy” on Tuesday, April 2, 1968 at 7:00pm was “The Fur Coat” (ILL S1;E9) first aired in December 1951.
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The final episode of “The Lucy Show” had aired two weeks earlier. The episode aired on Monday, April 1, 1968 was “Lucy Gets Jack Benny’s Account” (TLS S6;E6), originally aired on October 16, 1967.
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Lucille Ball’s pose is deliberately reminiscent of Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins in the 1964 Walt Disney film. 
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In “Lucy’s Mystery Guest” (TLS S6;E10), Lucy reports for work dressed like her prim Aunt (Mary Wickes), the underscoring plays “Chim Chim Cheree” from Mary Poppins (1964) and Mr. Mooney remarks “Good heavens, they’ve grounded Mary Poppins!”  In “Lucy Saves Milton Berle” (TLS S4;E14, inset) Lucy dresses as a poor flower seller, which Mr. Mooney calls a “cheesy Mary Poppins outfit” despite if resembling Eliza Doolittle from My Fair Lady.
During this week on television, various syndicated channels across the country also ran the Lucille Ball films The Magic Carpet (1951), Sorrowful Jones (1949), The Fuller Brush Girl (1950), Forever Darling (1956), The Big Street (1942), and The Affairs of Annabel (1938). 
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In April 1968, Lucille Ball would play Mary Poppins in a sketch on the Dinah Shore special “Like Hep.”
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The photo shoot with Mario Casilli also produced this alternate cover shot, which was not used. [property of MPTV]
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papermoonloveslucy · 4 years
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JACK BENNY
February 14, 1894
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Jack Benny was born Benjamin Kublesky in Chicago, Illinois, on Valentine’s Day 1894. He had a successful vaudeville career, and an even greater career on radio with “The Jack Benny Program” which also became a successful television show. Benny was a Beverly Hills neighbor of Lucille Ball’s and the two were off-screen friends. 
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His screen persona was known for being a penny-pincher and for (badly) playing the violin. His theme song was "Love in Bloom" by Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin. He often used the phrase, "Now cut that out!"
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Benny and Ball were first on the same bill in “Stars in the Eye”, a special marking the opening of Television City and including all the CBS stars.  Lucy and Benny did not share any screen time. 
On “Sunday Showcase: A Tribute to Eleanor Roosevelt on Her Diamond Jubilee” on October 11, 1959, Jack Benny, Lucille Ball and dozens of other stars turn out to pay homage to former first lady and humanitarian Eleanor Roosevelt. Arthur Godfrey hosted on NBC.  
On June 24, 1962, Benny and Ball were on hand to quickly wish Ed Sullivan a happy 14th anniversary on “The Ed Sullivan Show” (S14;E41). Lucille Ball enters riding atop an elephant!  
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Another collaboration of the network headlines came in 1962 and 1963, when both “The Lucy Show” and “The Jack Benny Program” were on the CBS schedules. They launched the season with “Opening Night” TV specials. 
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Benny appeared on “The Lucy Show” as Harry Tuttle (a Jack Benny doppelganger) in “Lucy and the Plumber” (TLS S3;E2), on September 28, 1964. 
On October 16, 1964, Benny and Ball played themselves in "Chrysler Presents a Bob Hope Comedy Special: Have Girls - Will Travel." The show was used by RCA to sell color televisions.
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In return, Lucille appeared on “The Jack Benny Program” playing Mrs. Paul Revere, the woman behind the man.  It aired on October 2, 1964. 
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He did a voice over cameo as himself in “Lucy With George Burns” (TLS S5;E1), first aired on September 12, 1966. 
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The feature film A Guide For The Married Man (1967) had plenty of comic performers on the marquee, including Benny and Ball. 
That same year, Benny and Ball provided voice over for a documentary by the United Jewish Welfare Fund titled All About People. 
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He played himself in “Lucy Gets Jack Benny’s Account” (TLS S6;E6), a stunt-filled episode that first aired on October 16, 1967.
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On March 20, 1968, Lucille Ball appeared on “Jack Benny’s Carnival Nights” along with Johnny Carson and Ben Blue. Lucille played an exotic side-show attraction Luscious Lucille, a Woman on a Pier in a silent movie, and Agnes Kubelsky, Benny’s mother!
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He played himself on “Here’s Lucy” three times, starting with the second episode, “Lucy Visits Jack Benny” (HL S1;E2) on September 30, 1968.  The action was set at Benny’s Palm Springs home, which he was renting out as a resort! 
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Ball and Andy Griffith were the main guest stars on “The Tennessee Ernie Ford Special” on November 16, 1968. Benny made a quick pitch for his special “Jack Benny’s Bag” which followed, but did not feature Lucille Ball. 
On December 19, 1968, Ball and Benny joined other stars on “The Dean Martin Christmas Special” in cameo announcements about toys being sent to children’s hospitals. Each cameo was self-contained. 
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On “Jack Benny’s Birthday Special” on February 17, 1969 (3 days after his 75th birthday) Lucille Ball appeared and did patter with Benny as well as played Lucille LaTour in an old West sketch. 
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As “Jack Benny’s New Look” is nearly over, Lucille Ball walks by and says “How dare you do a show without me?” slaps Benny and exits! This walk-on cameo happened on December 3, 1969.
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“Lucy and Jack Benny’s Biography” (HL S3;E11) on November 23, 1970, Benny dictates his memoirs to secretary Lucy, and the episodes come to life for viewers, with Lucy playing all the women in his life, including his wife Mary Livingstone, although Lucille Ball lip synchs to Livingstone’s actual voice!  
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“Jack Benny’s 20th Anniversary Special” on  November 16, 1970, featured Lucille Ball playing the Benny’s maid Janet in a scene with Benny’s real-life wife Mary Livingstone.  Ball receives no screen credit but gets a verbal thank you from Benny at show’s conclusion. Lucy has three lines and 30 seconds of screen time!
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Lucy, Benny, Bob Hope, Dean Martin, George Burns, and Red Skelton, all appeared in the patriotic TV special “John Wayne’s: Swing Out, Sweet Land” which aired on November 29, 1970.
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Benny has a walk-on cameo at the end of “The Unemployment Follies” (HL S3;E22) on February 8, 1971 starring Carol Burnett, his second appearance on “Here’s Lucy”.   
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In “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Jack Benny But Were Afraid to Ask” (March 10, 1971), Lucy plays a chorus girl seduced by movie star Benny. 
“The 23rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards” on May 9, 1971 featured Benny and Ball (who presented an award). 
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His final appearance on “The Lucy Show” was in “Lucy and The Celebrities” (HL S4;E10), on November 15, 1971, had Benny playing himself and imitated by guest star Rich Little! 
The Friars Club celebrates Milton Berle’s 60 years in show business on December 4, 1973. Sammy Davis Jr. hosts with guests Lucille Ball, Jack Benny, Jackie Gleason, Bob Hope, and others. 
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The last public appearance of Jack Benny was roasting Lucille Ball on “The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast for Lucille Ball” aired on February 7, 1975. Benny died weeks after the taping of this special. Dean Martin appeared in a special introduction dedicating the show to Benny’s memory.  
“Age is strictly a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.” ~ Jack Benny
Jack Benny succumbed to pancreatic cancer on December 26, 1974 at age 80 although he never admitted to being older than 39. He was survived by his wife Mary Livingstone, with whom he adopted a child, Joan. 
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papermoonloveslucy · 4 years
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ROY ROBERTS
March 19, 1906
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Roy Roberts was born Roy Barnes Jones  in Dade City, near Tampa, Florida.  He began his acting career on the stage, first appearing on Broadway in May 1931 before making his motion picture debut in Gold Bricks, a 1936 two-reel comedy short released by 20th Century-Fox. 
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He appeared in numerous films in secondary parts and returned to perform on Broadway in such productions as Twentieth Century, My Sister Eileen, and Carnival in Flanders until he began making guest appearances on television series, becoming one of the most recognizable faces on TV. 
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His first time with Lucille Ball was in an uncredited role in Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949). 
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His TV debut came in a 1952 episode of the anthology series “Suspense” titled “The Invisible Killer.” 
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He first worked for Desilu in a 1955 episode of “December Bride” called “The Shoplifter.”  He was also seen in episodes of “The Danny Thomas Show,” “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “My Three Sons” and “The Andy Griffith Show,” all filmed on the Desilu Studios backlot. 
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Roberts joined the cast of “The Lucy Show” at the start of season five, but not as the role he would become known for, bank president Mr. Cheever, but as the Admiral in “Lucy and the Submarine” (TLS S5;E2) in September 1966. 
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In “Lucy’s Substitute Secretary” (TLS S5;E19) he becomes a recurring character on the show as Harrison Cheever, Mr. Mooney’s boss, doing 14 episodes through the end of the series. 
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″Lucy and Tennessee Ernie Ford” (TLS S5;E21) ~ February 27, 1967.  Roberts also did six episodes of "The Beverly Hillbillies” as Bank President John Cushing, a rival of banker Mr. Drysdale. It is very likely that “The Lucy Show” cast Roberts as the much-anticipated Mr. Cheever after seeing him play Cushing. He also appeared on CBS’s other two rural sitcoms, “Green Acres” and “Petticoat Junction,” all as different characters. 
“Lucy Gets Trapped” (TLS S6;E2) ~ September 18, 1967 
“Lucy and the French Movie Star” (TLS S6;E3) ~ September 25, 1967 (starring Jacques Bergerac)
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“Lucy and the Starmaker” (TLS S6;E4) ~ October 2, 1967 (starring Frankie Avalon) 
“Lucy Gets Jack Benny’s Account” (TLS S6;E6) ~ October 16, 1967
“Little Old Lucy” (TLS S6;E7) ~ October 23, 1967 
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“Lucy Gets Mooney Fired” (TLS S6;E9) ~ November 6, 1967 
“Lucy, the Philanthropist” (TLS S6;E11) ~ November 20, 1967 
“Lucy Gets Involved” (TLS S6;E17) ~ January 15, 1968
“Mooney’s Other Wife” (TLS S6;E18) ~ January 22, 1968 
“Lucy and the Stolen Stole” (TLS S6;E19) ~ January 29, 1968 
“Lucy Helps Ken Berry” (TLS S6;E21) ~ February 19, 1968
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“Lucy and the ‘Boss of the Year’ Award” (TLS S6;E24) ~ March 11, 1968 This is Roberts’ final appearance as well as the series finale. 
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Roberts returned to Lucille Ball Productions for five episodes of “Here’s Lucy,” staring with the on-location episodes that opened season two, “Lucy Goes To The Air Force Academy: Part One” (HL S2;E1) ~ September 22, 1969 and “Lucy Goes To The Air Force Academy: Part 2″ (HL S2;E2) ~ September 29, 1969
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In “Lucy and the Astronauts” (HL S4;E5) S4;E5 ~ October 11, 1971. Roberts played Dr. Jamison. 
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“Lucy Goes To Prison” (HL S5;E18 ~ January 22, 1973. Roberts played Warden Maginetti. 
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“Lucy is N.G. as an R.N.” (HL S6;E17 ~ January 21, 1974. Roberts played Dr. Hunnicutt.  The same evening this episode originally aired, Roberts also appeared on “Gunsmoke,” “Here’s Lucy's” lead-in on CBS. Roberts played Mr. Bodkin in 19 episodes of the long-running Western. Like his character of Mr. Cheever on “The Lucy Show,” Mr. Bodkin was a banker. These two back-to-back episodes are Roberts’ last television appearances before his death a year later. In that year, he also starred in two feature films: Chinatown (1974) and The Strongest Man in the World (1975).
Roy Roberts died on May 28, 1975 a age 69. He was married to Lillian Moore from 1947 to his passing. 
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papermoonloveslucy · 4 years
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DENNIS DAY
May 21, 1916
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Dennis Day was born Owen Patrick Eugene McNulty in New York City. He is best known for his professional relationship with Jack Benny, who he first teamed with on radio in 1939, and continued performing with until Benny’s death in 1974. His “Gee, Mr. Benny!” became a well-known catchphrase. He was an Irish tenor, who never performed professionally until Benny gave him his big break at the age of 21. From 1948 until his passing he was married to Peggy Almquist who bore him ten children. 
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He had his own radio show "A Day in the Life of Dennis Day" from 1946 to 1952 with Bea Benadaret in the cast. “I Love Lucy” viewers will remember her as Miss Lewis, Lucy Ricardo’s spinster neighbor. There was an attempt to move the sitcom to television, but the 1949 pilot episode was never picked up for series and the show remained on radio. He was simultaneously appearing on “The Jack Benny Program.”
BENNY: "Dennis, why do you have two horns on your bicycle?" DAY: "Why shouldn't I? I've got two shows!"
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On the “The Jack Benny Program” (1951-65), his character's mother was a tyrant who intimidated Jack. Her name was Lucrezia Day and she was played by Verna Felton. His mother’s real name was Mary Grady. “I Love Lucy” viewers will remember that Felton played Lucy’s domineering maid, Mrs. Porter. 
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Felton also played Day’s TV mother on “The Dennis Day Show” (aka “The RCA Victor Show”; 1952-54). On that show, Day portrayed a bachelor who lives in a Hollywood apartment priced above his income level with hopes of succeeding in show business. In 1953, it was programmed opposite “I Love Lucy” on NBC. Hal March was seen on both series. Other “I Love Lucy” faces on the series included Ida Moore, George O’Hanlon, Hy Averback (who both played Charlie Appleby), Byron Foulger, and Parley Baer.  Day even prevailed upon his sister-in-law actress Ann Blythe, and Jack Benny himself to make an appearance but the show still struggled for viewers. 
Dennis Day Is Called Brave to Buck ‘Lucy’ Show
HOLLYWOOD, Apr. 7 (AP) — Nominated for the bravest man in TV: Dennis Day. “I wouldn’t say I was the bravest,” says Dennis. “Maybe the unluckiest.”  The Dennis Day Show is on at the same time on Monday night as “I Love Lucy.” 
This took real nerve, since “Lucy” has drawn the biggest audience in TV for the past two years. “Believe me, it wasn’t my idea to go opposite Lucy. I wanted to do my show on film. My sponsor, RCA, didn’t want me to. The only way I could get permission was to agree to take the spot opposite Lucy. So I did it. I took a chance and I failed. I think it was a mistake putting such a similar show opposite Lucy. We both have situation comedy. We had good mail from people who said they had switched over to watch us. Once they made the change, they seemed to like our show. But watching Lucy is too great a habit for the majority of viewers. We just couldn't fight it. In Canada, where I don’t have to face Lucy, ours is the No. 1 show.” 
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In 1967, Day appeared on “The Lucy Show” in “Little Old Lucy” (TLS S6;E7) in which he plays an amorous 90 year-old bank president named Cornelius Hetherington Jr. This was quite a departure for Day, who was perennially the boy singer on Benny’s shows, despite his age. 
BENNY (in 1965): “That crazy kid drives me nuts!”
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This is one of the rare times Day plays a character that is not connected to Jack Benny, although Lucille Ball certainly featured Benny on many of her shows. In fact, the previous episode “Lucy Gets Jack Benny’s Account” (TLS S6;E6) Benny mentions Day by name as Lucy admires photos of his radio and television show on his wall.  Did Day come as a ‘package deal’ for Benny’s appearance?   
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Day was just 41 at the time, so was nearly unrecognizable under layers of old age make-up. 
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To escort him to a fancy dress bank affair, Lucy Carmichael dons little old lady garb as Mrs. Abigail Vandermere. She spends most of their date avoiding his advances. 
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Dennis Day’s elderly banker character bears more than a passing resemblance to the elderly banker played by Dick Van Dyke (insert) in Mary Poppins (1964).  
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Two years later, in 1969, Lucille Ball appeared on “Jack Benny’s Birthday Special” which also brought together many Benny’s regulars, including Dennis Day, who surprises him with a gift. 
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Irish tenor Day sings “Cuando calienta de sol” (“Love Me With All Your Heart”) in Spanish (!) while Benny accompanies him on the violin. Day’s voice breaks Benny’s expensive Stradivarius violin just as a soprano’s high trill would a crystal goblet. 
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A year later, Lucille Ball and Dennis Day turned up again for “Jack Benny’s 20th Anniversary Special”. This time, Day and Ball did not share any scenes. Ball appears briefly as the Benny’s maid and Day makes a guest appearance in an airport sketch where he is met by his real-life wife Peggy and their ten children!  
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Day’s last TV appearance was less than a year before his death, in September, 1987, on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. With tears in his eyes, he spoke of his recent diagnosis of Lou Gehrig's Disease, and pleaded with viewers to help support medical research for that and other neuromuscular diseases via their donations.  At the time of his passing he was 72 years old. 
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papermoonloveslucy · 5 years
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“The Lucy Show” ~ Season 6
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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!
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“Lucy Meets the Berles” (S6;E1) ~ September 11, 1967
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“Lucy Gets Trapped” (S6;E2) ~ September 18, 1967
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“Lucy and the French Movie Star” (S6;E3) ~ September 25, 1967
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“Lucy and the Starmaker” (S6;E4) ~ October 2, 1967
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“Lucy Gets Her Diploma” (S6;E5) ~ October 9, 1967
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“Lucy Gets Jack Benny’s Account” (S6;E6) ~ October 16, 1967
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“Little Old Lucy” (S6;E7) ~ October 23, 1967
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“Lucy and Robert Goulet” (S6;E8) ~ October 30, 1967
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“Lucy Gets Mooney Fired” (S6;E9) ~ November 6, 1967
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“Lucy’s Mystery Guest” (S6;E10) ~ November 13, 1967
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“Lucy, the Philanthropist” (S6;E11) ~ November 20, 1967
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“Lucy Sues Mooney” (S6;E12) ~ November 27, 1967
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“Lucy and the Pool Hustler” (S6;E13) ~ December 4, 1967
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“Lucy and Carol Burnett: Part 1″ (S6;E14) ~ December 11, 1967
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“Lucy and Carol Burnett: Part 2″ (S6;E15) ~ December 18, 1967
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“Lucy and Viv Reminisce” (S6;E16) ~ January 1, 1968
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“Lucy Gets Involved” (S6;E17) ~ January 15, 1968
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“Mooney’s Other Wife” (S6;E18) ~ January 22, 1968
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“Lucy and the Stolen Stole” (S6;E19) ~ January 29, 1968
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“Lucy and Phil Harris” (S6;E20) ~ February 5, 1968
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“Lucy Helps Ken Berry” (S6;E21) ~ February 19, 1968
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“Lucy and the Lost Star” (S6;E22) ~ February 26, 1968
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“Lucy and Sid Caesar” (S6;E23) ~ March 4, 1968
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“Lucy and the ‘Boss of the Year’ Award” (S6;E24) ~ March 11, 1968
SEASON SUMMARY
Regular Cast: Lucille Ball (Lucy Carmichael), Gale Gordon (Theodore J. Mooney), Mary Jane Croft (Mary Jane Lewis)
Recurring Characters: Vivian Vance (Vivian Bunson), Roy Roberts (Mr. Cheever), Carol Burnett (Carol Tilford), Joan Swift (Joan Cosgrove), Kasey Rogers (Miss Cavanaugh)   
Guest Cast playing Characters: Jack Bergerac, Sid Gould, Vanda Barra,  Lew Parker, Frankie Avalon, Lucie Arnaz, Barbara Babcock, Doris Singleton, Dennis Day, Mary Wickes, Robert Goulet, Frank McHugh, Jack Carter, Parley Baer, Dick Shawn, Herbie Faye, Phil Vandervort, Jackie Coogan, Edie Adams, Buddy Hackett, Phil Harris, Kasey Rogers, Ken Berry,  Carole Cook, Gary Morton
Guest Cast playing Themselves: Milton Berle, Ruth Berle, Ruta Lee, Jack Benny, Robert Goulet, Richard Arlen, Charles ‘Buddy’ Rogers, Joan Crawford, Sid Caesar
Live Animal Cast: Horse (”Lucy and Robert Goulet” E8), Goldfish
There were 24 new episodes. This is the last season of the series. 
Episodes Written by:  Bob O’Brien, Milt Josefsberg, Ray Singer, Fred S. Fox, Seaman Jacobs, Douglas Morrow, Sam Locke, Joe Rapp
One episode Directed by Maury Thompson, all others by Jack Donohue
All 24 episodes filmed and aired in color
Total Binge Hours: 12 hours (with commercials)
Papermoon’s Full Moon Pick: “Lucy and Carol Burnett” (E14 & E15)
Papermoon’s Half Moon Pick: “Little Old Lucy” (E7)
Season 6 was #2 in the ratings (up from #4) with a 27.0 share (up from 267.2). #2 was the highest the series ever rated. 
“Lucy and Viv Reminisce” (E16) is the only clips show in the series, using five excerpts from season 1 (in black and white) and one from season 3. 
Filmed at Stage 21, Desilu Studios, Hollywood. As of January 1, 1968, Ball sold Desilu to Gulf + Western, thereby relinquishing ownership of the series.  Desilu Studios was renamed Paramount. 
Lucille Ball won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Comedy Series, her second in a row. The series was nominated but lost to “Get Smart.”  Gale Gordon was nominated but lost to Werner Klemperer of “Hogan’s Heroes.”  “Lucy Gets Jack Benny’s Bank Account” (E6) was nominated for writing, but lost to “He & She.” 
Somehow, seven episodes from season six (E1, E2, E3, E4, E6, E7,E8) fell out of copyright protection, allowing them to be reproduced on low-quality, inexpensive videos.
Season 6 was released on DVD on October 9, 2012
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papermoonloveslucy · 6 years
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LUCY: 40 YEARS OF TELEVISION
1968 Part One ~ JANUARY to JUNE 
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A tumultuous year.  Lucille Ball sells Desilu Studios to Paramount, ends “The Lucy Show,” and creates Lucille Ball Productions (LBP) to produce “Here’s Lucy,” starring her real-life children!
"Lucy and Viv Reminisce" (TLS S6;E16) ~ January 1, 1968
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This is the first and only clips show on “The Lucy Show.” It marks the final appearance of Vivian Vance as Viv Bunson. Wrap around scenes were filmed (in one day, without a studio audience) to introduce and conclude the clips, most from season one and in black and white. 
"Lucy Gets Involved" (TLS S6;E17) ~ January 15, 1968
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Lucy moonlights as a carhop at a drive-in restaurant in an episode that features Jackie Coogan (”The Addams Family”) and Lucie Arnaz.  
"Mooney's Other Wife" (TLS S6;E18) ~ January 22, 1968
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Lucy pretends to be Mrs. Mooney to scare off an amorous woman played by Edie Adams. 
"Lucy and the Stolen Stole" (TLS S6;E19) ~ January 29, 1968
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Lucy and Mr. Mooney go shopping for Mrs. Mooney’s birthday and wind up being arrested for possession of a stolen fur stole. Trying to get his money back from the scam artist (Buddy Hackett), Mooney and Lucy are jailed. Filmed on December 7, 1967.
"Lucy and Phil Harris" (TLS S6;E20) ~ February 5, 1968
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Phil Harris (”The Jack Benny Program”) plays Phil Stanley, a piano bar singer and composer with writer’s block.  
"Lucy Helps Ken Berry" (TLS S6;E21) ~ February 19, 1968
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Ken Berry plays Ken Jones, a dance instructor about to default on a loan until Lucy arranges for him to be on a local television show.  Berry was spotted by Lucille Ball performing on stage and offered him a job at Desilu. He made his TV debut in 1960.   
"Lucy and the Lost Star" (TLS S6;E22) ~ February 26, 1968
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The title character was originally intended to be Gloria Swanson, but ended up being played by Joan Crawford. Ball and Crawford clashed during rehearsals. 
"Lucy and Sid Caesar" (TLS S6;E23) ~ March 4, 1968
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Sid Caesar plays himself and a look-alike criminal named Frankie the Forger.  Lucy mentions that she saw Sid Caesar in Little Me and convinces him to sing “Real Live Girl” from the show.   
"Lucy and the 'Boss of the Year' Award" (TLS S6;E24) ~ March 11, 1968
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This is the end of season 6 and the final episode of the series (156 half-hour episodes). The season ended with a 27 share and the show was #2 in the ratings. 
“The Ed Sullivan Show” (S20;E28) ~ March 17, 1968
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Lucille Ball chats with Ed Sullivan onstage. She introduces a clip from her movie Yours, Mine & Ours (which co-stars Henry Fonda). Following the clip, the kids from the film sing the movie's theme song.
“Jack Benny's Carnival Nights” ~ March 20, 1968
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One of Jack Benny’s bi-annual themed specials, this one starring Lucille Ball, Johnny Carson, Ben Blue, and musical guests Paul Revere and the Raiders.  Cameos by Bob Hope, George Burns, Danny Thomas, Dean Martin, and The Smothers Brothers. 
“The Mike Douglas Show” ~ March 29, 1968
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Ozzie and Harriet Nelson were Mike Douglas’s co-hosts. Their guests were Lucille Ball, Vivian Vance, and Neil Diamond. 
“Girl Talk” ~ April 26, 1968
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Host Virginia Graham welcomes Lucille Ball to her talk show, which ran from 1962 to 1970 on ABC TV.
“The Mike Douglas Show” ~ May 6, 1968
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Lucille Ball is guest during “Salute to the Armed Forces Week” with Omar Bradley (on the telephone) and Lt. General Stanley Larsen.
“The 20th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards” ~ May 19, 1968
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Lucille Ball wins her fourth (and final) competitive Emmy Award on a show broadcast on NBC from The Hollywood Palladium.  “The Lucy Show” lost to “Get Smart,” which also earned its star Don Adams (left) an Emmy.  Bill Cosby (right) won for “I Spy.”   "Lucy Gets Jack Benny's Account" (TLS S6;E6) was nominated for its writing.  
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papermoonloveslucy · 6 years
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LUCY: 40 YEARS OF TELEVISION
1967 Part Two ~ AUGUST to DECEMBER
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The sixth (and final) season of “The Lucy Show” kicks off with Milton Berle, Jack Benny, Frankie Avalon, Robert Goulet, and Dennis Day!  In a mutual admiration society Lucy appears on “The Carol Burnett Show” and Carol appears on “The Lucy Show.”  
"Lucy Meets the Berles" (TLS S6;E1) ~ September 11, 1967
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Kicking off the final season with guest stars Milton Berle and Ruta Lee, the writers seem to conveniently forget the Lucy had met Milton Berle several times before!  This episode includes Berle’s real-life wife, Ruth. It is the last episode directed by Maury Thompson but was filmed on June 8, 1967, before the show went on hiatus.
"Lucy Gets Trapped" (TLS S6;E2) ~ September 18, 1967
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This episode was filmed on May 4, 1967. This is the first episode of Season 6 to be directed by Jack Donohue, who directed all of Seasons 1, 2 and 3. In the title, the word “trapped” means to be “trapped in a lie.” This is one of the few episodes with no celebrity guest appearances.
"Lucy and the French Movie Star" (TLS S6;E3) ~ September 25, 1967
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...played by Jacques Bergerac (although his character is named Jacques DuPre). This episode was filmed on May 11, 1967, one of a very few with just four characters. 
"Lucy and the Starmaker" (TLS S6;E4) ~ October 2, 1967
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Frankie Avalon guest-stars as Mr. Cheever’s nephew, Tommy. Avalon performers “Walking Happy” and “When the Feeling Hits You.” The final draft of the script was dated May 15, 1967.
“The Carol Burnett Show” (S1;E4) ~ October 2, 1967
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Lucille Ball makes the first of her four appearances on “The Carol Burnett Show.” She is the only guest star, so is in the majority of the sketches with Burnett. 
"Lucy Gets Her Diploma" (TLS S6;E5) ~ October 9, 1967
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Lucy didn’t graduate high school because of measles, but this directly contradicts the premise of “Lucy’s College Reunion” (TLS S2;E11) in which she returns to her alma mater Milroy University.  Lucie Arnaz (Patty) met her future husband making this episode. 
"Lucy Gets Jack Benny's Account" (TLS S6;E6) ~ October 16, 1967
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Jack Benny is back, playing himself. The script won an Emmy nomination in 1968, the only writing nomination of the entire series. The episode was so popular it was included in “The Lucy Show” rerun series presented on CBS every summer through 1971. The episode was filmed on September 15, 1967.
"Little Old Lucy" (TLS S6;E7) ~ October 23, 1967
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With Dennis Day (”The Jack Benny Program”) as the ‘little old man’.  
"Lucy and Robert Goulet" (TLS S6;E8) ~ October 30, 1967
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Singer Robert Goulet plays himself and two other doppelgangers. The cast includes Lucie Aranz, Mary Wickes, and Vanda Barra (Lucille’s cousin-in-law), making the first of her appearances on “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy.” 
"Lucy Gets Mooney Fired" (TLS S6;E9) ~ November 6, 1967
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Lucy ‘gaslights’ Mr. Cheever (Roy Roberts) to get Mr. Mooney’s job back, with both Lucille and Gale Gordon adopting a variety of crazy costumes. 
"Lucy's Mystery Guest" (TLS S6;E10) ~ November 13, 1967
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...is her Aunt Agatha (Mary Wickes), a health fanatic who drives Lucy crazy.  This episode was filmed on September 28, 1967.
"Lucy, the Philanthropist" (TLS S6;E11) ~ November 20, 1967
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Lucy helps a hungry old man on a park bench (Frank McHugh), who Mr. Mooney believes is a millionaire in disguise. Is he or isn’t he? 
"Lucy Sues Mooney" (TLS S6;E12) ~ November 27, 1967
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Working from Mr. Mooney’s home, Lucy trips and falls. Mary Jane suggests she see a lawyer (Jack Carter) who promptly insists that Lucy sue Mr. Mooney.  
"Lucy and the Pool Hustler" (TLS S6;E13) ~ December 4, 1967
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To win a ladies-only pool tournament, Ace Winthrop (Dick Shawn) goes undercover as Laura Winthrop. The final draft of the script by was submitted September 22, 1967.  
“Lucy and Carol Burnett: Part 1″ (TLS S6;E14) ~ December 11, 1967
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This is the first of a two part episode filmed on October 26, 1967. This time, Carol Burnett plays airline hostess in training Carol Tilford. 
“Lucy and Carol Burnett: Part 2″ (TLS S6;E15) ~ December 18, 1967
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The second part features Hollywood legends Buddy Rogers and Richard Arlen (Wings) with Lucy and Carol putting on a ‘graduation show’ from air hostess school. The last new episode aired in 1967. 
Also in 1967...
“The Gene London Show” ~ 1967
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A Philadelphia-based children’s program that ran from 1959 to 1977.  The exact date of Lucille Ball’s appearance is not known. 
“All About People” ~ 1967
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A half-hour documentary produced by the United Jewish Welfare Fund. Aside from the cast of Hollywood luminaries providing narration, not much is known about this production. 
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papermoonloveslucy · 6 years
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JACK BENNY’S 20th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
November 16, 1970
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Produced by: Irving Fein, Stan Harris
Directed by: Stan Harris, Paul Heslin
Written by: Hal Goldman, Al Gordon, Hilliard Marks, Hugh Wedlock Jr.
Starring the Cast of “The Jack Benny Program”
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Jack Benny (Himself) was a Beverly Hills neighbor of Lucille Ball’s and the two were off-screen friends. Benny appeared on “The Lucy Show” as Harry Tuttle (a Jack Benny doppelganger) in “Lucy and the Plumber” (TLS S3;E2), later did a voice over cameo as himself in “Lucy With George Burns” (TLS S5;E1), and played himself in “Lucy Gets Jack Benny’s Account” (TLS S6;E6). He was seen in four episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” Benny and Ball appeared on many TV variety and award shows together. He died in 1974, a few weeks after taping “An All-Star Party for Lucille Ball.”
Mary Livingstone (Herself) married Jack Benny in 1927 and the pair remained together until his death in 1974. Initially an actor who appeared on Benny’s radio and television programs, she retired from show business in 1958, at the same time as Gracie Allen, wife of George Burns. Her voice (lip synched by Lucy) was used in “Lucy and Jack Benny's Biography” (HL S3;E11). She died in 1983.
This is Livingstone's first appearance on her husband's television show in fifteen years.
Don Wilson (Announcer. Himself) was a portly man with a deep resonating voice that made him very popular with sponsors in the early days of radio. He teamed with Jack Benny on radio and when Benny made the move to television, Wilson made the move as well, until 1965, when “The Jack Benny Program” ended.
Dennis Day (Himself) was an Irish singer who’s name and career were synonymous with Jack Benny’s, working with the comedian on radio and TV. It was Benny who gave him his big break in 1939 and Benny who kept him employed as a singer and naive comic sidekick. His “Gee, Mr. Benny!” became a well-known catchphrase. Day would play second banana to the comedian until Benny’s death in 1974. Day played an elderly bachelor hunting on a 1967 episode of “The Lucy Show” (S6;E7). Day died at age 72 of Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Day's real-life wife, Peggy Almquist, and his ten children Tommy, Pat, Margaret, Eileen, Danny, Therese, Cathy, Mary Kate and twins Michael and Paul. The childrens' surname was McNulty, Day's birth name. None of the family are credited.
Eddie Anderson (Rochester) was Jack Benny’s valet and sidekick first on radio and then on television. He co-starred with Lucille Ball on “Stars in the Eye” (1952) and one other Jack Benny special in 1969.
Mel Blanc (Sy / Airport Voice) is best known as the voice of Bugs Bunny and other Warner Brothers characters, but had acted with Lucille Ball on radio and in the 1950 film The Fuller Brush Girl. He did some voice dubbing (ADR) on “Lucy Goes To The Air Force Academy: Part 2” (HL S2;E2) in 1969.
Frank Nelson (Ticket Clerk) is the only actor to play two recurring roles on “I Love Lucy”: Freddie Fillmore and Ralph Ramsey. He also appeared as six other characters. He appeared in the first of the "The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hours” as well as a 1963 episode of “The Lucy Show.”
Benny Rubin (Information Desk Clerk) played the snarky Hollywood Bus Driver in “The Tour” (ILL S4;E30). His first “Lucy Show” appearance was in “Lucy and the Runaway Butterfly” (S1;E29) and he was also seen in “Lucy and Viv Open a Restaurant” (S4;E20) in 1964.
Guest Stars
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Lucille Ball (Janet, Benny's Maid) played all of the women in Jack Benny's life (including Mary Livingstone) on her own show in “Lucy and Jack Benny's Biography” (HL S3;E11) which aired just one week after this special. Benny paid tribute to Lucy on “An All-Star Party for Lucille Ball” (1974) just prior to his death. 
Ball receives no screen credit but gets a verbal thank you from Benny at show's conclusion. Lucy has three lines and 30 seconds screen time!
Frank Sinatra (Himself) had appeared on “The Jack Benny Program” in 1951. Benny returned the favor by appearing on “The Frank Sinatra Show” that same year. Sinatra inadvertently appeared on “I Love Lucy” when a clip from his film Guys and Dolls was inserted into “Lucy and the Dummy” (ILL S5;E3) in 1955.  
Sinatra is billed as 'Special Guest Star' in the opening credits.
Bob Hope (Himself) was born Lesley Townes Hope in England in 1903. During his extensive career in virtually all forms of media he received five honorary Academy Awards. In 1945 Desi Arnaz was the orchestra leader on Bob Hope’s radio show. Ball and Hope did four films together. He appeared as himself on the season 6 opener of “I Love Lucy.” He did a brief cameo in a 1964 episode of “The Lucy Show.” When Lucille Ball moved to NBC in 1980, Hope appeared on her welcome special. He died in 2003 at age 100.
Dinah Shore (Herself) was born Fannye Rose Shore in 1916. She was a singer, actress, and television personality, and the top-charting female vocalist of the 1940s. She rose to prominence as a recording artist during the Big Band era, but achieved even greater success a decade later, in television, mainly as hostess of a series of variety programs. She later changed her named to Dinah after her success with the song of the same name. She was famous for blowing a kiss to her audiences (“Mwah!”) at the end of each show. She appeared on “Here's Lucy” as herself in 1971. Her passions were golf, cooking, and painting. Shore died in 1994.
Dean Martin (Himself) was born Dino Paul Crocetti in Steubenville, Ohio, in 1917. He made his screen debut in a short playing a singer in Art Mooney’s band, but his first big screen role was 1949’s My Friend Irma with Jerry Lewis. This began a partnership that would be one of the most successful screen pairings in cinema history. Later, he also worked frequently members of “the Rat Pack”: Frank Sinatra, Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford, and Sammy Davis Jr. His persona was that of a playboy, usually seen with a glass of booze and a cigarette. Martin and Lucille Ball appeared on many TV variety and award shows together and made the TV movie “Lucy Gets Lucky” in 1975. He played himself (and his stunt man double) on “The Lucy Show” on Valentine's Day 1966. He died on Christmas Day in 1995 at age 78.
Martin receives no screen credit but gets a verbal thank you from Benny at show's conclusion
Red Skelton (Western Union Messenger) was born Richard Skelton in 1913. He left school after the third grade to join a traveling medicine show and from there entered vaudeville. His first film was Having Wonderful Time in 1938, which is where he first met Lucille Ball. The pair went on to appear together in Du Barry Was a Lady (1943), Thousands Cheer (1943), Ziegfeld Follies (1945), and The Fuller Brush Girl (1950). Skelton played himself on “Lucy Goes To Alaska” (LDCH 1959). He did two episodes of “The Jack Benny Program” in 1956 and 1958. He died in 1997 at the age of 84.
Skelton receives no screen credit but gets a verbal thank you from Benny at show's conclusion
George Burns (Voice of the Talking Telegram) was born Nathan Birnbaum in New York City in January 1896. He married Gracie Allen in 1926 and the two formed an act (Burns and Allen) that toured in vaudeville. They had their own hit show “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show” first on radio then on CBS TV from 1950 to 1958, airing concurrently with “I Love Lucy.” He appeared as himself on “The Lucy Show” (S5;E1) in 1966 as well as doing a cameo on “Lucy and Jack Benny’s Biography” (HL S3;E11) in 1970. After Allen’s death in 1964, Burns reinvented himself as a solo act. In 1976 he won an Oscar for playing one of The Sunshine Boys. He was also known for playing the title role in Oh, God! (1978) and its 1984 sequel Oh, God! You Devil. Burns and Ball appeared on many TV variety and award shows together. He died at the age of 100.
Burns receives no screen credit but gets a verbal thank you from Benny at show's conclusion
David Westberg (Helicopter Pilot)
Verbal credit from Don Wilson at show's conclusion.
Trained Penguins (courtesy of Sea World San Diego) formerly worked for Jack Benny in “Jack Benny's Birthday Special” (February 17, 1969). 
TRIVIA
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This is the last television show that reunited the entire cast of the Jack Benny radio show. Most of the cast made appearances on Jack Benny's television show as well.
Jack Benny had his own radio program since 1932. He brought the program to television (along with his radio regulars) on October 28, 1950. Jack remained thirty-nine-years-old, kept his money in his basement, and drove his old Maxwell car, just as he had done on radio. The television show ran until 1965. For the first five years, the show aired concurrently on radio and television. The TV program produced 931 episodes. It won an Emmy Award for best comedy show in 1961. 
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In October 1964, Lucille Ball was featured on a program where she played Mrs. Paul Revere. After the regular half hour show was canceled, Benny embarked on a series of bi-annual specials. Lucille Ball appeared on three of these specials.  
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This show was sponsored by Timex.
As always, Jack Benny's theme song is “Love in Bloom.”  
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In the subsequent special “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Jack Benny But Were Afraid to Ask” (March 10, 1971), Phil Harris thinks he's arrived in time for Benny's “20th Anniversary” show, but Benny tells him that it was four months ago.
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Lucy, Benny, Bob Hope, Dean Martin, George Burns, and Red Skelton, all appeared in the patriotic TV special “Swing Out, Sweet Land” which aired two weeks after this special on November 29, 1970.
THE SHOW
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Announcer Don Wilson introduces Jack Benny, live on stage. He gets sidetracked saying how ungrateful Benny is. Jack watches from the wings and finally comes on stage to rebuke Wilson. 
Benny: “You were just supposed to introduce me!” Wilson: “Introduce yourself!” (He walks off)
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After a few opening remarks about his years on television and radio, Benny introduces Dinah Shore, who was also a guest on his very first TV show in 1950. They reminisce about that show. Dinah sings “All of a Sudden My Heart Sings” by Harold J. Rome, Henri Laurent Herpin, and Jean-Marie Blanvillain.
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Dean Martin knocks on Jack's dressing room door to wish him a happy anniversary and dance “The Anniversary Waltz” with him. They sing and dance out the door. The bit lasts less than 30 seconds.  
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After a commercial message from Timex, Red Skelton skips on dressed as a Western Union messenger to give Jack Benny a telegram. He makes Benny laugh when he says “I'm a dreamer, aren't I?” while holding his hand out for a tip. He is on screen / stage for less than a minute.  
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Skelton has delivered a talking telegram from George Burns, which instructs Jack to hold it up to his ear to hear the message.  
Voice of George Burns: “Only an idiot would stand before 40 million people holding a telegram up to his ear.”
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Benny has recruited Rochester to drive him to the airport for his trip to Mexico City. 
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Wondering about the departure time, he asks at the information booth, manned by Benny Rubin. Whatever Benny asks him, his answer is “I dunno.” 
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The ticket clerk is played by Frank Nelson, who greets him with his trademark “Yeeeeeeeeees?”
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At the airport, Benny runs into Dennis Day, his wife Peggy, and their ten (!) children.  
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Rochester gives Benny's overweight luggage to a Mexican man (Mel Blanc) on the same flight. 
In response to everything Benny asks, he says “si”.  The man's name is “Sy”.   He has a sister named “Sue.”  
Blooper Alert! Despite this familiar old “si / Sy / Sue” routine, Benny mistakenly calls Rubin “Sue” then corrects himself saying “si” before Rubin chimes in “Sy”.  
Benny hears hears a flight announcement that says his trip is delayed. Another voice comes on the public address system to say:
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Voice (Mel Blanc): “Attention please. Attention!  Plane leaving at gate five for Anaheim, Azusa, and Cucamonga!”  
This is one of Mel Blanc's earliest routines from the Jack Benny radio show. Instead of a train station, here it is an airport.
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Blanc's voice announces a flight for Alaska and three penguins come toddling toward the gate. These three penguins were also featured in “Jack Benny's Birthday Special” (February 17, 1969), which also starred Lucille Ball, Benny Rubin, Don Wilson, and Dennis Day.
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Bob Hope does a monologue about Jack Benny. Benny joins him onstage and Hope sings “Thanks for the Memory” (his theme song) with special lyrics about Benny's age. In response, Benny sings a few bars of “Love in Bloom” (his theme song) with special lyrics about Hope.
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A helicopter lands in the studio and Frank Sinatra steps out of it! Frank invites Benny to go to the movies after the show. The double feature is The Kissing Bandit (1948) and The Horn Blows at Midnight. The Kissing Bandit is a film starring Sinatra that he loathed. The Horn Blows at Midnight is widely considered Benny's worst film. Sinatra sings “I Get A Kick Out of You” by Cole Porter. Sinatra  substitutes the alternate lyric “Some like the perfume from Spain” instead of “Some get a kick from cocaine.” However, instead of following with “I'm sure that if I took even one sniff” he sings “I'm sure that if I took one look.”
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After a commercial, the scene is set in Jack Benny's home, where Mary Livingston picks up the telephone. It is Jack calling from the studio. He asks her to join him after the show for supper. 
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Mary calls her maid, Janet (Lucille Ball). Ball gets a huge round of applause from the studio audience.  
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Janet reveals that Mary's been on TV the whole time because Jack has hidden a camera behind a painting of Betsy Ross!
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Back in the studio, Benny introduces film clips from his past 20 years. Stars include Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe, Ed Sullivan, Humphrey Bogart, Fred MacMurray, Kirk Douglas, Liberace, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Nat King Cole, Ginger Rogers, Charles Boyer, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Milton Berle, Danny Thomas, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, David Niven, Carol Burnett, Raymond Burr, Johnny Carson, Andy Williams, Rock Hudson, Dan Rowan, Dick Martin,  Tom Smothers, Dick Smothers, Cary Grant, Billy Graham, Lawrence Welk, Dan Blocker, Robert Goulet, and Phyllis Diller.
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Jack Benny thinks ahead to what the next twenty years will bring. Flash forward to Rochester with white hair and a cane answering the door to a bald Don Wilson and a stooped over Dennis Day. A creaky Bob 'Road-To-Medicare' Hope joins them, supporting himself with a walking stick. A gray-haired Dinah Shore comes through the door and blows everyone one of her famous kisses “Mwaah!” The kiss sends her reeling across the room. Jack skips down the stairs energetically, not having age one iota since 1970 and distributes scripts to his ancient co-stars. Even though Jack Benny died in 1974, only four years after this special, he will forever be only 39 on TV.  
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After the last commercial break, Jack takes a moment to thank his co-stars, and all of his viewers throughout the world. The camera pulls back to reveal an unfurled stack of computer printout and Benny starts reading the names of his viewers – alphabetically! “Mr. and Mrs. Tony Ames, Miss Terry Arco, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Aaron, Mrs. Andrew Aaronson...”
This Date in Lucy History – November 16th
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"The French Revue" (ILL S3;E7) – November 16, 1953
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"Lucy Becomes a Father" (TLS S3;E9) – November 16, 1964
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"Lucy the Diamond Cutter" (HL S3;E10) – November 16, 1970
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