#Victor Romito

[papermoonloveslucy]

GINGER ROGERS COMES TO TEA

S4;E11 ~ November 22, 1971

Directed by Coby Ruskin ~ Written by Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Davis

Synopsis

Ginger Rogers leaves her purse in a movie theatre where she's gone incognito to see one of her films for the first time. Lucy and Harry discover the purse and hope to get to meet the star in person by inviting her to tea.

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter), Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter)  

Guest Cast

Ginger Rogers (Herself) was born Virginia Katherine McMath in Independence, Missouri on July 16, 1911, just one month before Lucille Ball.  As a singing and dancing actor, Rogers was mainly know for her partnership with fellow singer / dancer Fred Astaire in ten films. It was said that “Ginger did everything that Fred did, except backwards – and in heels!” During the 1930's Lucille Ball did five films with Rogers, whom she considered a mentor.  By the 1970s Rogers had entered semi-retirement.  Lucie Arnaz has said that Rogers may have been a distant cousin of Lucille Ball's.  She won an Oscar in 1940 for Kitty Foyle, a rare dramatic role. Rogers died in 1995.  

William Lanteau (Spike, Ginger Rogers' Secretary) first appeared with Lucille Ball in The Facts of Life (1960). In addition to an episode of “The Lucy Show,” Lanteau did four episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”  He is best remembered for playing Charlie the Mailman in the play and the film On Golden Pond (1981).

Lanteau wears a toupee and eyeglasses for the role. 

Shirley Anthony (Theatre Patron, uncredited) makes her second screen appearance and the first of her 13 episodes of “Here's Lucy.”  

Anthony is sitting in the first row on the far left.  

Joan Carey (Theatre Patron, uncredited) is one of the few performers to appear on “I Love Lucy,” “The Lucy Show”, and “Here’s Lucy.” She also served as Lucille Ball’s camera and lighting stand-in. 

Carey is sitting in the first row on the left aisle. 

Bob Harks (Theatre Patron, uncredited) Extra, stand-in, and double Bob Harks was born on September 20, 1927. Harks appeared in his first film in 1968 and was seen in the background of Mame (1974). In 1970 he popped up on his first television show and was seen in more than a dozen episodes of “Here's Lucy.” He died at age 83 in 2010.

Harks is sitting in the third row on the second seat from the right aisle. 

Eugene Jackson (Theatre Patron, uncredited) gained fame as Farina’s older brother, Pineapple, in six of Hal Roach’s “Our Gang” serials (1924-25). He appeared with Lucille Ball in the 1963 film Critic’s Choice as well as an episode of “The Lucy Show.”  He was seen in a previous episode of “Here’s Lucy” guest-starring Sammy Davis Jr.

Jackson is sitting in the last row on the right, third seat from the aisle. 

Victor Romito (Theatre Patron, uncredited) was seen as the Bartender in “Lucy Meets John Wayne” (TLS S5;E10). He also appeared in four episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”  Romito was an extra in the 1960 Lucille Ball / Bob Hope film Critic’s Choice.

Romito is sitting in the third row on the left aisle. 

The other Theatre Patrons are played by uncredited background performers.

This episode was filmed without an audience due to an imminent actor strike. As a result, the canned laugh track is noticeably missing Gary Morton's usual loud guffaws. The episode was filmed in mid-July 1971 with only two days of rehearsal as Lucille Ball wanted to make sure it was completed before the strike. The strike was averted when the Actors Guild signed a three-year contract on July 14, 1971.

During the 1930s, newcomer Lucille Ball was coached by Ginger Rogers' mother, Lela, at the little theatre on the RKO lot. Inspired by this Lucy also mentored young actors at a little theatre when she bought the studio for Desilu.

At the start of the episode, Harry is looking to hire party staff for an (unseen) client named Mrs. Metcalf.  Metcalf was the surname given to the Fire Department Captain played by Patrick McVey in “Lucy and Viv are Volunteer Firemen” (TLS S1;E16), also written by Madelyn Davis and Bob Carroll Jr. 

Instead of working late, Lucy tells Harry that she wants to go to a Ginger Rogers Film Festival. They are showing Tender Comrade (1943) and Flying Down To Rio (1933), two films made at RKO, which eventually became Desilu.  

Lucy claims to be Ginger Rogers' biggest fan alive, seeing every picture she's ever made, some of them several times. This is a claim made by Lucy Carter about most celebrities, as well as by Lucy Ricardo and Lucy Carmichael.

In the office, Harry and Lucy improvise singing and dancing to “Cheek to Cheek” a song written by Irving Berlin in 1935 for the Fred Astaire / Ginger Rogers movie Top Hat.

Trying to impugn the taste in films of the mystery woman (a disguised Ginger Rogers), Lucy tells her to try back next week and they might be showing Beach Blanket Bingo.  This was the fourth of the light comic films set on the California beach starring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello.  It was released in 1965. Two years later, Avalon appeared (not as himself) in “Lucy and the Starmaker” (TLS S6;E4).  He will also play himself on “Here’s Lucy” in 1973.  

According to the hotel key in her purse, Ginger Rogers is staying at the Bel-Air Hotel.  This is probably meant to be the Hotel Bel-Air, located just outside Beverly Hills and Westwood. Hotel Bel-Air has regularly housed celebrities including Robert Wagner, Judy Garland, Bette Davis, Lauren Bacall, Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Jimmy Stewart, Audrey Hepburn, and Grace Kelly, who frequented the hotel so regularly she had a suite named after her. 

Rogers tells Lucy she has done 73 movies. Rattling off some of Rogers' hits, Lucy adds a sugar cube to Ginger's tea for each title: Top Hat, Roberta, Flying Down To Rio, Follow the Fleet, Shall We Dance, and The Barkleys of Broadway. When Lucy realizes she's put six lumps of sugar in Ginger's tea, Rogers says she only wanted Top Hat and Roberta (two lumps).  

Rogers mentions having a meeting with David Merrick to discuss starring in his new musical. In August 1966 Rogers had taken over the role of Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly! on Broadway produced by David Merrick.  

When Kim returns with photos of Ginger Rogers for the star to sign, she accidentally grabbed a photo of Lassie. Canine star Lassie was the hero of both movies and television. Lassie was first mentioned by Lucy Ricardo in “The Young Fans” (ILL S1;E20) twenty years earlier.  The dog made an appearance in “The Desilu Revue” in 1959. 

Kim, Lucy and Ginger Rogers all dance the Charleston in this episode. Lucy reminds Rogers that she was the Texas State Charleston champion.  A portion of the dance routine was originally choreographed for Lucie Arnaz by Jim Bates on “The Kraft Music Hall” which aired on NBC on February 4, 1970.  It also starred Desi Sr. and Jr. (above).  Bates had taken over for choreographer Jack Baker on “Here's Lucy.”    

After dancing the Charleston with Lucy and Kim, Lucy asks Rogers to do a scene from Kitty Foyle, Ginger’s Oscar-winning role.  Rogers graciously declines, asking Lucy to become a Katherine Hepburn fan instead!

In “The Dancing Star” (ILL S4;E27) Lucy Ricardo got to dance with another one of her idols, Van Johnson.  Johnson and Ginger Rogers had starred together in 1945's Week-End at the Waldorf.  Irving Bacon (who played Ethel’s father, Will Potter) was also in the MGM film.

I Had A Dream!  The passage of time while the theatre patrons are watching Flying Down To Rio is marked by the use of a wavy screen and harp glissando, techniques that usually indicate a dream sequence, not the mere passage of time.

Where Do I Live? Lucy gives her home address as 4863 Valley Lawn Drive. Both Harry and Lucy have given this address as their own in previous episodes.

"Ginger Rogers Comes to Tea” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5

Ginger Rogers shows just what a good actress she was here, despite just two days rehearsal.  Not having a studio audience didn’t bother Ginger, who was at home on a closed set.  William Lanteau (Spike) creates an interesting secretary character - borderline gay but never over-the-top (except for that bad toupee).  Although many might site the dance sequence with Lucy and Lucie as the highlight, I prefer watching Ginger Rogers the actress - especially in her disguise at the film festival!  

[adondeirhoy]

National Recording Registry Inducts Classics by Dr. Dre, Cheap Trick, Whitney Houston, the Village People, etc.⁠ ⁠ SAVE this post so you can come back to the info again⁠ ⁠ Follow us at @pontikmedia in ALL social media ⁠ ⁠ #Entertainment, #Music, Fashion, Concerts, #Trends & #Lifestyle News - Pontik® ⁠ ⁠ The full 2020 National Recording Registry list:⁠ ⁠ 1. “Whispering” (single), Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra (1920)⁠ 2. “Protesta per Sacco e Vanzetti,” Raoul Romito (1927)⁠ ⁠ 3. “La Chicharronera” (single), Narciso Martinez and Santiago Almeida (1936)⁠ ⁠ 4. “Arch Oboler’s Plays” episode “The Bathysphere.” (Nov. 18, 1939)⁠ ⁠ 5. “Me and My Chauffeur Blues” (single), Memphis Minnie (1941)⁠ ⁠ 6. The 1951 National League tiebreaker: New York Giants vs. Brooklyn Dodgers — Russ Hodges, announcer (Oct. 3, 1951)⁠ ⁠ 7. Puccini’s “Tosca” (album), Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Angelo Mercuriali, Tito Gobbi, Melchiorre Luise, Dario Caselli, Victor de Sabata (1953)⁠ ⁠ 8. “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh” (single), Allan Sherman (1963)⁠ ⁠ 9. WGBH broadcast of the Boston Symphony on the day of the John F. Kennedy assassination (1963)⁠ ⁠ 10. “Fiddler on the Roof” (album), original Broadway cast (1964)⁠ ⁠ Continues in first comment ..... (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-N1hHpBYfx/?igshid=txiq6y5qxyow

[divertidaletras]

ANÁLISE CRÍTICA DE ARTIGOS/TCC SOBRE A CARTA DE PERO VAZ DE CAMINHA E SERMÃO DA SEXAGÉSIMA.

                                                                              Indira F. Soares RA - T2372A-7

                                                            Juliana de Matos Romito RA – C52750-5

                                                      Lucas Matheus P.L.V. Montes RA – C7375C-3

                                                                         Rafael Júnio Silva RA – C67CIG-0

O primeiro artigo analisado é sobre a carta de Pero Vaz de Caminha, um artigo apresentado pela UNICAMP. O titulo do trabalho já apresenta um impacto, chamando a atenção do leitor, fazendo com que você se pergunte o porque seria o “Redescobrimento do Brasil”. A autora começa a destrinchar o seu enredo de uma forma voltada mais para arte (pintura), citando apenas dois pintores que foram norteados pela carta para elaborar suas obras. Logo em seguida a autora registra o quão importante foi à publicação desta carta, para que o povo pudesse imaginar, com todas as informações narradas, como era esta terra desconhecida, o Brasil, foi o primeiro registropelos portugueses em encontro aos índios. A obra abaixo foi feita a partir do imaginário de Victor Meirelles com ajuda do Manuel de Araújo Porto-Alegre, um representante do movimento Romântico, retratando a primeira missa no Brasil propagando a identidade da nação.Essa obra juntou todas as situações citadas na carta, à chegada dos portugueses pela praia, o primeiro contato com o povo indígena, a mistura dos povos, cores, roupas, uma floresta rica e crenças.

Os artigos "A lição de Barthes: a argumentação em Sermão da Sexagésima: breve análise" e "Argumentação e Persuasão: O Sermão da Sexagésima do Padre Antônio Vieira", materiais utilizados para análise, abordam a linguagem retórica como principal forma de construção para persuadir e convencer o leitor das suas ideias - as do Padre, o sermão é dividido em 10 partes, analisado pela forma da oratória que vinha sendo difundida na Europa na contrarreforma, as missas continham verdadeiras encenações teatrais que visavam aproximar os fieis até mesmo pelo entretenimento e também de técnicas clássicas utilizadas na Grécia antiga, onde o teatro era de grande importância para se difundir ideias através de alegorias. Ambos os textos analisados, afirmam que Padre Vieira tenta - e consegue - convencer o leitor que o causador da frutificação da palavra de Deus não é o pregador, usando elementos que a todo instante provam tal afirmação, o que dá razão para o leitor acreditar em sua tese.O sermão é elaborado em uma linguagem simples para que possa alcançar a aqueles que não usufruem da palavra de Deus, e também é um ótimo elemento de estudo para coerência, estilo e tipos de argumentação, analise de metáforas, paráfrase, pleonasmo e paralelismo. Padre Vieira consegue manusear, conduzir indiretamente, seu leitor a concordar com suas teorias e argumentos utilizando dos elementos apresentados acima e também a verossimilhança que traz a palavra de Deus.

Bibliografia:

PUC.Argumentação e Persuasão: O Sermão da Sexagésima do Padre Antônio Vieira. Disponível em: https://sapientia.pucsp.br/bitstream/handle/14823/1/Dissertacao%20Sangia.pdf. Acesso 21 ago de 2017.

UERJ.A lição de Barthes: A argumentação em sermão da sexagésima: Breve análise.Disponível em: http://www.e-publicacoes.uerj.br/index.php/cadernoseminal/article/viewFile/10915/8606. Acesso 21 ago de 2017.

UNICAMP.Redescobrimento do Brasil: A Carta de Pero Vaz de Caminha (1971) de Glauco Rodrigues. Disponível em: http://www.unicamp.br/chaa/eha/atas/2010/roberta_ribeiro_prestes.pdf. Acesso 21 ago de 2017.

[papermoonloveslucy]

LUCY GOES HAWAIIAN: PART ONE

S3;E23 ~ February 15, 1971

Directed by Jack Donohue ~ Written by Milt Josefsberg, Ray Singer, and Al Schwartz

Synopsis

Harry takes an usual job as a cruise director and recruits Lucy to be his unpaid assistant. Also on board are her kids and her old friend Vivian Jones (Vivian Vance). A shipboard rivalry erupts when Lucy and Vivian are both attracted to the handsome Captain (Robert Alda).

Regular Cast

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

Guest Cast

Vivian Vance (Vivian Jones) was born Vivian Roberta Jones in Cherryvale, Kansas in 1909, although her family quickly moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where she was raised. She had extensive theatre experience, co-starring on Broadway with Ethel Merman in Anything Goes. She was acting in a play in Southern California when she was spotted by Desi Arnaz and hired to play Ethel Mertz, Lucy Ricardo’s neighbor and best friend. The pairing is credited with much of the success of “I Love Lucy.”  Vance was convinced to join the cast of “The Lucy Show” in 1962, but stayed with the series only through season three, making occasional guest appearances afterwards. This is the fourth of her half a dozen appearances on “Here’s Lucy.” She also joined Lucy for a TV special “Lucy Calls the President” in 1977. Vance died two years later.

This is Vivian’s sixth cruise. She is unmarried. 

Robert Alda (Captain MacClay) originated the role of Sky Masterson in Broadway’s Guys and Dolls, winning the 1951 Tony Award. He is the father of Alan Alda of “M*A*S*H” fame. He made one appearance on the “The Lucy Show,” and this is his final appearance on “Here's Lucy.” Alda died in 1986.

Jean Byron (Mrs. MacCLay) is probably best remembered as Natalie Lane, mother of Patty Duke on “The Patty Duke Show” (1963-66) as well as well as Imogene Burkhart on “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis” (1959-63). This is her only appearance with Lucille Ball.

The surname MacClay is a tribute to Lucille Ball's long-time publicist Howard McClay, who also loaned his name to characters on “The Lucy Show.” The end credits, however, spell 'McClay' as 'MacClay.'  

Anita Mann (Wendy) was assistant to the series' choreographer Jack Baker. This (and Part Two) are her only appearances of record on the show. She later choreographed for the Solid Gold Dancers and the Muppets. Mann won an Emmy Award for her work in 1996.  

Mann plays a bikini-clad blonde that Craig befriends aboard ship. Although credited as 'Wendy,' she is not identified by name in the dialogue.

Maurice Kelly (Sailor) was an English-born actor who played a student in “Lucy and Viv Take Up Chemistry” (TLS S1;E26). This is the second of his three appearances on “Here’s Lucy.” He died at the young age of 46 in 1974.

The ship's passengers and crew are played by uncredited background performers:

Nick Borgani appeared with Lucille Ball in the 1937 film Stage Door and in one episode of “The Lucy Show.”  

Paul Bradley made his six appearances on “The Lucy Show” in various roles. This is the second of his two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

George DeNormand appeared in three films with Lucille Ball from 1937 to 1963. This is just one of his many appearances on “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy.”  

James Gonzales was a popular Hollywood extra who first acted with Lucille Ball in the 1953 The Long, Long Trailer. He was previously seen on “The Lucy Show” as Stan Williams in “Lucy Digs Up a Date” (TLS S1;E2). He was seen in more than 20 episodes of “The Lucy Show” and 3 episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

Chester Jones makes the last of his four background appearances on “Here’s Lucy.”  

Paul King makes the third of his five background appearances on the series.  

Victor Romito was seen as the Bartender in “Lucy Meets John Wayne” (TLS S5;E10). He also appeared in four episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”  Romito was an extra in the 1960 Lucille Ball / Bob Hope film Critic’s Choice.

Bernard Sell was an English-born background player who made three appearance on the “The Lucy Show.” He was also an extra with Lucille Ball and Bob Hope in their films The Facts of Life (1960) and Critic’s Choice (1963).

This episode was first aired on February 15, 1971, which was Mary Jane Croft's 55th birthday. Although not in this episode, Croft will make her tenth of thirty appearances when the program resumes production for season four.

The final draft of this script is date March 30, 1970. A copy was donated by the estate of writer Milt Josefsberg to the Thousand Oaks Library’s American Radio Archives. 

Coincidentally, March 30, 1970 also saw the first broadcast of an episode of “Mayberry RFD” titled “Aloha, Goober”! In it, Goober’s Mayberry service station is competing to win a trip to Hawaii.  

The title of the episode(s) was doubtless inspired by the 1961 feature film Gidget Goes Hawaiian starring Deborah Walley. Walley would later be a regular on Desi Arnaz series “The Mothers-in-Law” (1967-69). The film also features a character named Lucy (played by Vivian Marshall). 

Originally, the two episodes were to be filmed aboard the actual SS Lurline and on location in Hawaii. When costs proved prohibitive, Lucille Ball Productions had a three-quarter scale model of the ship built on the Paramount lot. At the time, it was the second largest ship ever built at the studio. The sets occupied three sound stages. It even included a real swimming pool! 

These two episodes were a single-camera shoot and filmed without a live studio audience. Establishing shots of the ship and some dockside location shots were also used. 

Hawaii was a favorite getaway destination of the Arnaz family. The Season 3 “Here’s Lucy” DVD contains home movie footage of the family (and friends like Mary Wickes) vacationing together in Hawaii. 

In 2007, Lucie Arnaz remembered their trips to Hawaii fondly: 

"It was before my parents were divorced and the time when they were at their happiest. No arguing, no work to take them away, and they just loved being there and with each other.”

The SS Lurline was a real ship sailing from California to Hawaii for the Matson Steamship line from 1932 to 1963, when it was sold to the Chandris Lines and re-christened the RHMS Ellinis. The Matson Line then brought the Matsonia (first known as the Monterey) out of retirement and re-christened it the Lurline, keeping the historic name alive in their fleet. The Lurline sailed her last voyage under this name in June 1970, before being sold to Chandris and re-christened Britanis. During the 1980s it was briefly the oldest cruise ship in service. The vessel underwent one more name and ownership change before being deliberately sunk in 2000 after nearly 68 years at sea.

The episode incorporates some establishing locations shots of the Lurline departing from San Francisco with the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance. 

There is also a location shot of Lucy standing on the dock taking photographs, although this is probably a double for Lucille Ball. With the distance, the streamers, and the camera in front of her face, it is difficult to tell for certain. 

The final draft of the script for this episode was dated March 30, 1970, ten months before it was aired in mid-February 1971. Because the Lurline sailed for the last time on June 25, 1970, the establishing shots had to have been filmed during April, May or June 1970.  

Harry pronounces Hawaii as 'Havaii' (with a 'v' sound instead of a 'w'). He also pronounces Los Angeles with a hard 'g.' Harry was a linguistic eccentric!  

Lucy says the ideal candidate for the cruise director position will be a combination of Cary Grant, Albert Einstein, Joe Namath, and Bob Hope. Lucille Ball did four films with Bob Hope and he appeared on both “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show.” Football player turned entertainer Joe Namath will guest star in a season 5 episode of “Here's Lucy.” Cary Grant has been mentioned on all of Ball's sitcoms, including the previous episode “Lucy and Carol Burnett” (S3;E22).  

When Vivian burst through the crowd, the production anticipates the home viewers reaction by inserting canned applause!  In previous episodes filmed in front of a live studio audience, this was their natural reaction, so one is used here as well. Even the background actors seem happy to see Viv, a character not seen on the series since “Lucy and Viv Visit Tijuana” (S2;E19) a year earlier. 

Among the many games and sports items that Assistant Cruise Director Lucy carries is Hasbro’s Automatic Bingo, first manufactured in 1969. Bingo is a mainstay of cruise ship pastimes. 

Lucy asks Viv if she is still looking to get married:

VIV: “I dream about orange blossoms so often I sleep with a smudge pot at the foot of my bed.”

Dreams about orange blossoms are said to indicate the search for true love. In orange groves, a smudge pot warms the trees to prevent the fruit from being spoiled by frost and cold weather. 

Lucy convinces Harry to disguise himself as rich southerner Colonel Hamilton Hart to woo Vivian away from the Captain MacClay. Harry's make up and wardrobe are identical to Colonel Harlan Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame!  

A montage of Lucy being kept busy shows her jogging, shooting skeet, playing tennis, and playing ping-pong.  

Jumping overboard may be the most extreme example ever of ‘getting Harry wet’ at the end of an episode.

VIVIAN: “Let me through! Let me through! There's only one person in the whole world who would board ship that way!  It's gotta be... Lucy!”

Boarding ship via the cargo net was a stunt Lucille Ball also did in “Lucy Takes A Cruise To Havana” (LDCH S1;E1) with Ann Sothern at her side - instead of Gale Gordon under her feet!

Another unconventional boarding was in "Bon Voyage" (ILL S5;E13), where Lucy Ricardo missed her sailing for Europe on the S.S. Constitution and was lowered by helicopter to the deck.

Assistant Cruise Director Lucy briefly plays ping-pong with a young boy, just as Lucy Ricardo did on the SS Constitution with Kenneth Hamilton. She first looked for a ping-pong partner by asking an idle bloodhound!

In 1955, Desilu recreated the SS Constitution on their Hollywood sound stage the same way LBP does the SS Lurline in 1971. Both episodes were filmed with the cooperation of the shipping lines, American Export Lines (1955) and Matson Steamship Lines (1970). Both were the most expensive episodes filmed to that date due to construction costs. 

In “Ricky's Hawaiian Vacation” (ILL S3;E22), Lucy Ricardo pulled out all the stops, including recreating island life in the living room in order to get Ricky to take her along on his booking at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu. When Ricky says no, Lucy schemes to go along by winning a TV quiz show with the Mertzes, but in the end they don’t win the trip. We never learn if Ricky actually went to Hawaii or not. 

ETHEL (about the idea of going on a quiz show): “I’d get a pie in my face. She’d get an all-expense cruise.”

It took nearly 16 years, but Lucy and Viv finally got that all-expense paid cruise to Hawaii. But she also did get a pie in the face at the end of the show!  

If being Viv being heroically rescued from a swimming pool while pretending she can’t swim sounds familiar, Lucy Ricardo also did it in “The Hedda Hopper Story” (ILL S4;E21). 

In the 1955 episode, Freddie Fillmore mentioned a former contestant named Cleo Morgan, which was the name of Lucille Ball’s cousin. She was later the producer of these two episodes of “Here’s Lucy” under her married name of Cleo Smith.

On February 18, 1965, the Douglas family on “My Three Sons” planned a "Hawaiian Cruise” (S5;E23), but illness forced the trip to be canceled. Uncle Charley decides if they cannot go to Hawaii, then Hawaii would come to them and he plans a luau in the backyard.  

FAST FORWARD!

In the 1970s and 1980s sitcoms took their cue from Lucy and also traveled to Hawaii. 

Probably the most famous of the shows was “The Brady Bunch”, which aired on ABC in 1972, just a year after Lucy’s trip. It, too, was a two-parter. Coincidentally, Eve Plumb (Jan Brady) also played Lucy Carter’s niece Patricia Carter later on in 1972!  

In 1980, also on CBS, “The Jeffersons” traveled to the 50th state. Instead of two parts, the show increased their stay to four half-hours!  The cast featured an actor named Fred Ball (no relation to Lucille Ball’s brother)! 

Hawaii was mention several times on the short lived “Life With Lucy” (1987). In the first episode, Curtis had just returned from vacationing there and in the second episode guest star John Ritter says that his wife is in Hawaii with the kids. In an un-aired episode, Leonard plans to use his vacation from M&B Hardward to go to Hawaii and lie on the beach. 

“Mama Goes Hawaiian” (1988) was also a two-part episode about a Hawaiian vacation. It starred Lucy’s protege Ken Berry and her pal Carol Burnett’s protege, Vicki Lawrence, as Mama. 

Props! When setting down a large stack of games so she can sit down for a minute, Lucille Ball is so worried that the stack will fall off the deck chair that she keeps her hand nearby to catch them if they do.

Doff Your Hat! When ‘the Colonel’ sits down next to Vivian, he removes his hat and places it on the table. Realizing that this is improper (and that the hat might be in the camera shot) he uses his walking stick to smoothly sweep the hat off the table onto the chair below it. Quick thinking! 

“Lucy Goes Hawaiian: Part One” rates 3 Paper Hearts out of 5

This episode is full of Easter eggs for “Lucy” fans with references to four different episodes of “I Love Lucy.” This feels like a cross between “The Love Boat” and “The Golden Girls.”  The ending with Harry and Viv both jumping overboard into the Pacific Ocean - at night - is a bit far-fetched, even for Lucy!

[papermoonloveslucy]

LUCY MAKES A FEW EXTRA DOLLARS

S4;E6 ~ October 18, 1971

Directed by Coby Ruskin ~ Written by Phil Leslie and Ralph Goodman

Synopsis

Lucy is in desperate need of a raise to balance her budget so she takes desperate measures to convince Harry she deserves it. 

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter), Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter)  

Guest Cast

Gary Morton (Carnival Barker) was a comedian who worked the famed ‘Borscht Belt’ in the Catskills Mountains. He met Lucille Ball shortly after her divorce from Desi Arnaz and they married in November 1961. At her request, Morton gave up his nightclub career and became a producer of “The Lucy Show.” Morton also served as a warm-up comic for the show’s studio audience. He appeared in “Lucy and the Andrews Sisters” (S2;E6) and “Lucy and Sammy Davis Jr.” (S3;E3). Morton passed away in 1999.

The final credits list Morton as “Pitchman”.  

Larry J. Blake (Fireman) first appeared as a Native American Medicine Man in “Lucy the Rain Goddess” (TLS S4;E15). He was an ex-vaudevillian making the fourth of his eight “Here’s Lucy” appearances. 

Jack Berle (Restaurant Patron, uncredited) was the older brother of Milton Berle. This is one of his eleven uncredited appearances on the series.  He previously did two episodes of “The Lucy Show.” 

Joan Carey (Restaurant Patron, uncredited) was one of the few performers to be seen on “I Love Lucy,” “The Lucy Show,” and “Here’s Lucy.” She was also one of Lucille Ball’s camera and lighting stand-ins. 

Charles Cirillo (Carnival Worker, uncredited) played a singing and dancing truck driver in “Lucy Helps Ken Berry” (TLS S6;E21).  This is his last appearance on “Here's Lucy.”

Victor Romito (Carnival Worker, uncredited) was seen as the Bartender in “Lucy Meets John Wayne” (TLS S5;E10). He also appeared in four episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”  Romito was an extra in the 1960 Lucille Ball / Bob Hope film Critic’s Choice.

Walter Smith (Carnival Patron, uncredited) made 13 mostly uncredited appearances on the series.  He also did one episode of “The Lucy Show.”  

The other diners at the restaurant, other carnival patrons, and the two firemen who enter with Larry J. Blake, all go uncredited.

In order to get Harry to give her a raise, Lucy and Kim employ the following tactics:

Flatter him by hanging a portrait of him at the office with the inscription “Our Beloved Founder.”

Take him to lunch at his favorite restaurant where Kim has been forced to take a job waiting tables, despite having no skill for the work.

Hosting lunch for the other secretaries in the building and selling them soft drinks, then returning the cans for the deposit.

Using their life savings to pretend to operate a counterfeiting outfit at the office.

The photograph of Gale Gordon used in both “The Lucy Show” and “Here's Lucy” has returned!  Lucy correctly says that the photograph was taken about ten years ago!  

It was originally a black and white portrait of Gale Gordon as Mr. Mooney on “The Lucy Show” used on posters and billboards when he ran for comptroller in “Lucy Goes Into Politics” (TLS S2;E25). After that it was seen above Mr. Mooney's mantle in his living room.  It then turns up on “Here's Lucy” colorized in “Lucy Goes on Strike” (S1;E16)... 

...and “Lucy Protects Her Job” (S2;E14) where it was impaled on ram's horns. 

It was transformed into Harry's great grandfather in “Lucy Takes Over” (S2;E23).  

Harry says he feels like a gigolo having Lucy pay the check at lunch.  When she asks if he would like to pick up the check instead, Harry sings a few bars of “Just a gigolo, everywhere I go.”  “Just a Gigolo” was a popular song, adapted by Irving Caesar in 1929 from an Austrian tango. It was most famously covered by Louis Prima in 1956.

Harry's favorite waitress at his favorite lunch spot is named Charlotte.  

To help pay the bills, Kim takes a job waiting tables earning forty cents an hour! She could make $10 an hour if she worked topless, a scandalous reference for the normally squeaky clean “Here’s Lucy”!  

Harry says he started working delivering newspapers at 6 years old!  

Clumsy Kim dumps a plate of salad on her Uncle Harry as well as a glass of iced tea!  It is clear that Lucie Arnaz is following in her mother's footsteps.  This fulfills one of “Here's Lucy”'s comic requirements – getting Harry wet.  In this episode, Harry gets revenge when Lucy moonlights at a carnival dunk tank!  They both get soaked while trying to put out a waste basket fire with the water cooler jug!

Lucy says her life-savings is $150. In today’s economy, Lucy has just $950 in the bank! 

Lucy calls the printing press her 'Jolly Green Budget Balancer.'  Harry calls it her 'Private Edition of Fort Knox.'  This is one of several references to The Jolly Green Giant, the cartoon mascot of Green Giant frozen vegetables.  It is also one of many references (usually by Gale Gordon) to Fort Knox, the Kentucky military installation that houses most of the country's gold reserves.  

A carnival was also the setting for “Lucy Misplaces $2,000” (TLS S1;E4) in 1962.  

Gulp! After Lucy comes up from her dunk in the tank, she has her cheeks puffed out looking as if she's about to spit out some water. This would be a typical follow up to the joke itself.  But when Lucy opens her mouth, no water comes out.  It is possible she swallowed it!  

Harry's Old Flame! Even after being doused with water and foam from the fire extinguisher, the waste paper basket fire flares up again. Gale Gordon still tries to set Lucy's employment contract ablaze using a cigarette lighter instead of just the flames in the waste basket.  

Working Girl!  This is not the first time Kim has taken a job, she worked in a boutique in “Lucy's Working Daughter” (S1;E10).

“Lucy Makes a Few Extra Dollars” rates 3 Paper Hearts out of 5

The fun of this episode is the variety of schemes Lucy has to get her raise!  Any episode with Lucy in a carnival dunk tank (with Gary Morton as the barker), can’t be all bad!  Perhaps the comedy might have been helped with one less scheme - giving the others more screen time for Lucy’s antics. 

[papermoonloveslucy]

LUCY AND THE EX-CON

S1;E15 ~ January 13, 1969

Directed by Jack Donohue ~ Written by Robert O'Brien

Synopsis

The Unique Employment Agency sends Rocky (Wally Cox), a reformed safe cracker, on an assignment as a janitor.  When the place is robbed, Rocky is the number one suspect.  Disguised as old ladies, Lucy and Rocky go undercover to catch the real crook.  

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter)

Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter) and Desi Arnaz Jr. (Craig Carter) do not appear in this episode.

Guest Cast

Wally Cox (Rocky Barnett) was probably best known as America's favorite science teacher “Mr. Peepers” (1952-55) on NBC. Cox had played a nervous musician on a 1963 episode of “The Lucy Show.”  This is the first of his four appearances (playing different eccentric characters) on “Here's Lucy.”  He was also a regular panelist on “The Hollywood Squares.”  Cox died in 1973 at age 48.  

Rocky is short for Rockingham.  

Bruce Gordon ('Doc' Morgan) is best known for playing Frank Nitti on the Desilu series “The Untouchables” (1959-63).  He played a version of the character when “The Lucy Show” parodied “The Untouchables” in 1966.  

Doc Morgan is so named because he uses a stethoscope when safe cracking. Bruce Gordon was not related to Gale Gordon.

Irving Benson (Irving) was an ex-vaudevillian Milton Berle hired to appear as a heckler named Sidney Spritzer on his variety shows. This is his only appearance with Lucille Ball.  He died at the age of 102.

Vince Howard (Policeman, extreme left) was much more at home in hour-long crime dramas (like “Mannix” or “Mission: Impossible”) than in sitcoms.  Many of his 125 TV and film credits were as law enforcement officials.  Howard also played a policeman on “Lucy and Mannix are Held Hostage” (S4;E4).  

Larry J. Blake (Policeman) appeared as a Native American Medicine Man in “Lucy the Rain Goddess” (TLS S4;E15).  He was an ex-vaudevillian making the first of his eight “Here's Lucy” appearances.

Some of the patrons of the Seadrifter Café (uncredited) are played by:

Don Anderson was seen in the last two episodes of “The Lucy Show” as well as making three appearances on “Here’s Lucy.”

Victor Romito was seen as the Bartender in “Lucy Meets John Wayne” (S5;E10). He also appeared in four episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”  Romito was an extra in the 1960 Lucille Ball / Bob Hope film Critic’s Choice.

Chalky Williams played a police officer (uncredited) in “The Ricardos Go To Japan” in 1959.  He was an uncredited extra in many TV and film westerns, often found sitting on a bar stool.  

The scantily clad blonde waitresses, the taxi driver, and the other Seadrifter patrons are played by uncredited background performers.

For his employment application, Rocky lists his aliases: Riley, Murphy, Shapiro, Agnew, and Smith.

Bruce Gordon introduces this episode on the “Here's Lucy” DVD collection.  He passed away in 2011.  

Lucy sends Mr. Barnett to Parker Import Company for a job as a maintenance man (aka janitor).

Lucy goes undercover as Abigail Throckmorton and Rocky as Lydia Perkins (of the Pasadena Perkins') from the Ladies Civic Betterment Committee.  The mention of Pasadena gets a laugh from the studio audience because of the Beach Boys hit song “The Little Old Lady from Pasadena” (1964) sung by Jan and Dean. Ball and Cox are dressed as stereotypical little old ladies.  

Lucy and Rocky decide to fake getting drunk to gain access to Doc's office, which allows Lucy to deliver the clever line: “Might I have a Mai Tai?” The Mai Tai is an alcoholic cocktail based on rum, Curaçao liqueur, orgeat syrup, and lime juice, and usually adorned with Polynesian-style decorations like paper umbrellas and tropical flowers. Doc says his Mai Tai's have seven different kinds of rum.  

After too many Mai Tais, Lucy drunkenly croons a few bars of “Sweet Leilani,” a song featured in the 1937 film Waikiki Wedding. It won the Academy Award and Bing Crosby's recording of it became one of the biggest hits of 1937. The music then segues into “The Hawaiian War Chant,” a traditional island melody first written in 1860. Lucy dances energetically shaking her maracas – and other body parts.  

When Lucy and Rocky pass out (as planned) Doc says “Irving! Give me a hand with arsenic and old face.” Arsenic and Old Lace was a 1939 Broadway play and 1944 film where two elderly spinsters serve lethal glasses of elderberry wine to unsuspecting older gentlemen and bury them in their basement!

Lucy Carmichael recruited the help of an ex-con safe cracker (Jay Novello, above) to get Mr. Mooney out of a the bank vault in “Lucy and the Safe Cracker” (TLS S2;E5).

Lucille Ball first performed "The Hawaiian War Chant” with Vivian Vance in “Ricky's Hawaiian Vacation” (ILL S3;E22, inset).  She performed it again in “Lucy and Carol in Palm Springs” (TLS S5;E8).  Ball and Vance will sing it again on “Here's Lucy” in “Lucy Goes Hawaiian” (S3;E23, above).  

This is not the first time Lucille Ball has played the archetypal little old lady.  Lucy Ricardo made herself old to ward off the affections of Arthur Morton (Richard Crenna) in “The Young Fans” (ILL S1;E20)... 

...and then again to seal a real estate deal in “The Girls Go Into Business” (ILL S3;E2). 

Lucy Carmichael aged herself in “Lucy Helps the Countess” (TLS S4;E8) and “Lucy and the Soap Opera” (TLS S4;E19) – both times wearing the same costume!  

Mrs. Carmichael also poses as a wealthy octogenarian in “Little Old Lucy” (TLS S6;E7).

Auto Owner? Lucy tells Rocky she doesn't own a car, but in a previous episode Lucy audibly sideswipes the garage when coming home from work – blaming both the wide car and the narrow garage, of course. 

Safe Keeping! A big black safe has been moved into the Unique Employment Agency offices for the sake of the episode's plot. 

Door is Ajar! When Lucy and Rocky enter the Seadrifter Café, they leave the door open. Doors left open or ajar was a frequent occurrence on “The  Lucy Show.”

“Lucy and the Ex-Con” rates 4 Paper Moons out of 5

[papermoonloveslucy]

Lucy and John Wayne

S5;E10 ~ November 21, 1966

Synopsis

Mr. Mooney asks Lucy to deliver some important contracts to the studio, where she meets John Wayne and worms her way onto the set of his latest picture. Naturally, Lucy doesn't behave and causes more trouble than a barroom brawl! 

Regular Cast

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

Guest Cast

John Wayne (Himself / “Tall”) was born Marion Morrison in 1907. He made his film debut in 1926 and rose to become an iconic presence in the Western film genre. He was nominated for three Oscars, winning in 1969 for True Grit. He epitomized rugged masculinity and was famous for his distinctive voice and walk. His nickname ‘Duke’ came from his own pet Airedale. Wayne previously worked with Lucille Ball in a 1955 episode of “I Love Lucy,” also titled “Lucy and John Wayne” (ILL S5;E2).  He died in 1979 at the age of 72.

In the film he is shooting, Wayne's character is named Tall. Wayne was 6'4” and appeared in the 1944 film Tall in the Saddle.

Joseph Ruskin (Joe, the Director) appeared in four of the “Star Trek” series, the first being shot at Desilu. This is his only appearance on “The Lucy Show,” but he also does a 1968 episode of “Here's Lucy.”  

Bryan O'Byrne (Bryan, the Assistant Director) was an actor and (later) acting teacher who appeared in over 200 commercials.  This is his only appearance with Lucille Ball.  

Morgan Woodward (“Pierce”)  was seen on many TV Westerns but is perhaps best remembered as Gibbs on “The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp” (1958-61). This is his only appearance with Lucille Ball.  

Joyce Perry (Joyce, Studio Receptionist) makes the second of her 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.”

Milton Berle (Himself, uncredited) was born Milton Berlinger in New York City on July 12, 1908. He started performing at the age of five. He perfected his comedy in vaudeville, early silent films, and then on radio, before taking his act to the small screen, where he would be proclaimed “Mr. Television” and later “Uncle Miltie.” He hosted “Texaco Star Theater” on NBC from 1948 to 1956. The variety show was re-titled "The Milton Berle Show” in 1954 when Texaco dropped their sponsorship. The program was briefly revived in 1958, but lasted only one season. In 1959 he played himself in “Milton Berle Hides out at the Ricardos.” This is the second of his three episodes of "The Lucy Show,” the first being “Lucy Saves Milton Berle” (S4;E13).  He also did two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” On all but one, he again played himself. He died of colon cancer in 2002.

Berle makes a walk-through cameo appearance with no dialogue.

Kay Stewart (Commissary Waitress) was the subject of a feature story in the first edition of Life Magazine, which focused on the fact that she was apparently the first female cheerleader at a major university (Northwestern). This is her only appearance with Lucille Ball. 

Ed Nelson (Ed Nelson, uncredited) was seen in several episodes of Desilu’s “The Untouchables”.  This is his only appearance with Ball and Wayne. 

Nelson is a married actor friend of Mary Jane’s. He appears wearing a Civil War uniform with an arrow through his chest and sticking out his back. 

Danny Borzage (Accordionist, uncredited) appeared in 13 films with John Wayne from 1939 to 1967.  He also appeared with Wayne on a 1960 episode of “Wagon Train” directed by John Ford.  Both Borzage and Wayne were favorites of Ford's. This is his only appearance with Lucille Ball.  

Victor Romito (“Bartender”, uncredited) makes the first of his two appearances on “The Lucy Show.”  He also appeared in four episodes of “Here's Lucy.” . He was seen as an extra in the 1960 Lucille Ball / Bob Hope film Critic's Choice. That same year he was seen with John Wayne in North to Alaska, and in 1962's How the West Was Won. 

Jerry Rush (Cameraman, uncredited) makes the fifth of his nine (mostly uncredited) appearances on the series. He also did two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” 

Rush can also be seen in the background having lunch in the commissary scene. He wears a white shirt over his red shirt. 

Joan Carey (Script Girl, uncredited, above, lower right corner) appeared as a background performer in many episodes of “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show” also serving as stand-in for Lucy and others. 

The 'Barflys' (aka Stunt Men) are played by:

Jerry Gatlin was an actor and stunt man who later turns up in the Lucille Ball film Mame (1974).  He appeared with John Wayne in 13 films between 1961 and 1975.  

Bill Hart was an actor and stunt man who appeared in three films with John Wayne between 1960 and 1963.  This is his only appearance with Lucille Ball.

Boyd 'Red' Morgan is an actor and stunt man who will also be seen in four episodes of “Here's Lucy.”  He did 11 films with John Wayne between 1956 and 1970.  

Chuck Roberson was an actor and stunt man who played minor roles in many films. He was a stunt double for John Wayne in more than 35 films and television shows. He played one of the firemen who rescues Lucy and Viv from their roof when “Lucy Puts Up a TV Antenna” (S1;E9), four years earlier.

In the commissary, Mr. Simon “a director” (who Lucy mistakes for Burt Lancaster), the studio doctor (who Lucy mistakes for Richard Chamberlain), an actor named Will, and more than a dozen other background players appear – all uncredited.

The episode indulges the old trope that movie actors eat lunch at the studio commissary in full costume and make-up. The commissary is named the Studio Cafe. We are reminded that Mary Jane works at the studio, although which studio is not made clear. Could it be Desilu?

Mr. Mooney dictates a letter to John Wayne about his bank's financial participation in a “film about a war wagon.” Gale Gordon emphasizes the words “war wagon” because that is the actual title of the film, which was released in May 1967. It co-starred Kirk Douglas, who made a cameo appearance in “Lucy Goes to a Hollywood Premiere” (S4;E20). It also featured Chuck Roberson and Boyd 'Red' Morgan who appear as Barflys in this episode.  

Lucy mentions to Wayne that he usually stars opposite Maureen O'Hara, who also had red hair. Ball and O'Hara were both in the 1940 film Dance, Girl, Dance. Lucy also mentions that Wayne is usually directed by John Ford. Ford and Wayne collaborated on 23 films between 1928 and 1963. Ford directed Lucille Ball in the 1935 film The Whole Town's Talking.

Fawning over John Wayne, Lucy mentions his recently released films Cast a Giant Shadow (March 1966), In Harms Way (1965), and the Oscar-nominated The Sands of Iwo Jima (1949).  

Lucy says that Wayne has played characters who've served in every branch of the service and that Bob Hope should play a Christmas show just for him! Lucy's film co-star and friend Bob Hope was known for performing in USO shows overseas during the holidays to entertain the American troops.  Hope had a cameo in “Lucy and the Plumber” (S3;E2).  

In the saloon scene, the accordionist plays “Golden Slippers,” a song penned by James A. Bland in 1879. It was famously used in the 1948 John Ford film Fort Apache starring John Wayne.

In the Studio Cafe, Lucy mistakes a man named Mr. Simon for Burt Lancaster. They both are roughly the same  build.  She then mistakes the studio doctor for Richard Chamberlain, a joke referring to Chamberlain's most popular role as “Dr. Kildare” (1961-66) which ended its run on NBC a few months earlier.  She then mistakes Milton Berle for the janitor.  Berle is oddly dressed in an ill-fitting suit, a straw hat, and has a blacked-out tooth.  He has a bewildered expression on his face, as if he's still in character for a hillbilly movie.  It is unclear how Lucy might mistake him for a studio janitor.

Coincidentally, “The Lucy Show” stunt coordinator was named Jesse Wayne (no relation).  

Callbacks!

John Wayne previously guest-starred as himself on "I Love Lucy" in 1955. The episode was also titled "Lucy and John Wayne” (ILL S5;E2).  

Hanging on the wall in the studio commissary is a black and white headshot of Bob Crane from “Hogan's Heroes” (1964-71), a TV show filmed at Desilu. Crane played himself in a parody of “Hogan's Heroes” in “Lucy and Bob Crane” (S4;E22).  

Lucy Carmichael was previously on the film set of a movie western when she assumed the identity of Iron Man Carmichael in “Lucy the Stunt Man” (S4;E5). Curiously, while Lucy Carmichael is telling the director how to shoot the picture, she doesn't mention her experience as Iron Man. In 1954, Lucy Ricardo made her own western movie in her apartment in “Home Movies” (ILL S3;E20).

Blooper Alerts!

Who Am I? Lucy reveals that her maiden name is MacGillicuddy, same as Lucy Ricardo. At “Lucy's College Reunion” (S2;E11), Lucy Carmichael said her maiden name was Taylor. This is the second week in a row that the Lucy character has “forgotten” key information about her past. In the previous week's “Lucy Gets Caught Up in the Draft” (S5;E9) she said her son's name was 'Jimmy' when in fact it was 'Jerry.' Geoffrey Mark Fidelman’s The Lucy Book, says that although the production staff told Lucille Ball of her error, she insisted that she was right and would not change the reference. Perhaps this inconsistency about her birth name is also attributable to the staff's deference to Ball's faulty memory?

Sitcom Logic Alert! When Lucy sees Milton Berle in the commissary she says “Wait'll I tell the girls I nearly saw Milton Berle!”  This line sounds very much like Lucy Ricardo speaking, not Lucy Carmichael. Lucy Carmichael has already met TV star Milton Berle in “Lucy Saves Milton Berle” (S4;E13). Here, he looks directly at Lucy and Mary Jane but does not acknowledge them despite the chaos they previously brought to his life. Also, it is unclear which “girls” Lucy is talking about since Mary Jane seems to be her only female friend. Perhaps she is referring to the unseen secretarial pool at the bank?  Lucy Ricardo, however, would have bragged to all the “girls” of the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League!  

Lucy the Director! When the Assistant Director calls the scene to be slated, he cups his hand over his mouth and purposely garbles the title of the film. This was a tactic Lucy Ricardo used many times on “I Love Lucy” when she wanted to be purposely vague about important details like her age. Later, when the Assistant Director shouts “Scene 856, Take One!” Lucy corrects him under hear breath: “Take Four!” Lucy is right, but it is hard to determine if this was Lucy Carmichael or Lucille Ball talking!  This scene, with Lucy Carmichael standing behind the camera and correcting the crew, probably mirrored Ball's own interactions with her “Lucy Show” staff.  

On a purely technical note, it is unlikely that any film would have 856 scenes! 

“Lucy and John Wayne” rates 2 Paper Hearts out of 5 

[papermoonloveslucy]

Lucy Puts Main Street on the Map

S5;E18 ~ January 30, 1967

Synopsis

Trying to think of a way to help bring the town of Bancroft's story to the rest of America, Lucy and the town fathers stage a gun battle to get national news coverage.  

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carmichael), Gale Gordon (Theodore J. Mooney)

Mary Jane Croft (Mary Jane Lewis) and Roy Roberts (Mr. Cheever) do not appear in this episode. 

Guest Cast

Mel Tormé (Mel Tinker) returns to play Lucy's neighbor Mel having previously played the role in “Lucy in the Music World” (S4;E3) and “Main Street U.S.A.” (S5;E17). Tormé was a musician nicknamed ‘the velvet fog’. He was best known as a singer of jazz standards. He was also a jazz composer and arranger, drummer, an actor in radio, film, and television, and the author of five books. He composed the music for “The Christmas Song” (“Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire”) and co-wrote the lyrics with Bob Wells. He died in 1999 at the age of 73.  

John William Sublett (John Bubbles) was known as the "Father of Rhythm Tap,” and was the original Sportin' Life on Broadway in Porgy and Bess (1935). Since he did not read music, George Gershwin had to teach him the songs note by note. Sublett was his birth name but his stage name was Bubbles, which he uses as his character name here. He appeared in the previous episode “Main Street U.S.A.” (S5;17). He had a stroke and had to retire from show business. He died in 1986.  

Although not the first black face on a Lucille Ball sitcom, Sublett has the distinction of being the first to be be billed as a guest star and to be an integral part in the storyline.  

Paul Winchell (Doc Putnam) previously played himself in “Lucy and Paul Winchell” (S5;E4). He was born Paul Wilchinsky in 1922. Coming into the public eye in 1948, he became one of the most famous ventriloquists since Edgar Bergen. He hosted the enormously popular children’s television show “Winchell-Mahoney Time” (1964-68) in which he shared the spotlight with Jerry Mahoney, one of his most popular characters. Winchell is fondly remembered as the voice of Winnie the Pooh’s pal Tigger and (later) Papa Smurf. He played Doc Putnam in “Main Street U.S.A.” (S5;17), as well as doing two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” Surprisingly, Winchell was also an inventor who is credited with the artificial heart, among other innovations. He died in 2005.

Paul Winchell was most famous as a ventriloquist, but he does not do ventriloquism in this episode. He cherished the opportunity to act without his dummies. Winchell learned to play violin for this episode. 

Hal Smith (Mr. Weber) is probably best remembered as Otis Campbell, the town drunk, on “The Andy Griffith Show,” even though in real life he never drank alcohol. He appeared with Lucille Ball in the 1963 film Critic’s Choice. This is the third of his three appearance on “The Lucy Show.” He reprises the role of Mr. Weber last seen in “Main Street U.S.A.” (S5;E17) and did one episode of “Here’s Lucy” in 1972.

In the previous episode Mr. Weber could not get his tuba from around his waist. In this episode he is still wearing it! 

Burt Mustin (Old Uncle Joe) was born in 1884. He didn't do his first film until age 67, although his stage and radio career started earlier. He was generally cast as the stereotypical little old man. He is probably best remembered as Mr. Quigley on “All in the Family” and Mr. Lanson on “Phyllis.” He played Old Uncle Joe in the previous episode and did a 1973 episode of “Here's Lucy.” Mustin also played Uncle Jeff in Lucy’s Mame (1974). He died at age 92.

Carole Cook (Aunt Carrie) played Thelma Green on the series when it was set in Danfield. She was a protege of Lucille Ball’s during the Desilu Playhouse years. Although born as Mildred Cook, Ball suggested she take the name Carole, in honor of Lucy’s great friend, Carole Lombard. Cook also went on to appear in five episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

Aunt Carrie is a relative of Mel Tinker. The character did not appear in the previous episode. 

Dan Rowan (Dan McGowan) was the comedy partner of Dick Martin, who played Lucy’s boyfriend Harry on season 1 of “The Lucy Show.” He is best known as the co-host of “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In” which aired from 1968 to 1973 and earned him a 1972 Emmy Award. In 1966 he had appeared with Lucille Ball on “The Dean Martin Show.” This is the second of his two appearances on “The Lucy Show.” He died in 1987 at age 65.

Dan McGowan is a TV reporter with the National News Service.

Roy Barcroft (Police Chief Tinker) had more than 375 screen credits from 1931 to 1970. He played the Marshall in the screen adaptation of Oklahoma! (1955). This is his only appearance with Lucille Ball.  

The character is the father of Mel Tinker.

Bennett Green (Cameraman with National News Service, uncredited) was Desi Arnaz’s stand-in during “I Love Lucy.” He does frequent background work on “The Lucy Show.”

Some of the Bancroft Townspeople (uncredited) are played by:

Walter Bacon was last seen in “Lucy Wins a Racehorse,” a 1958 episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.” Bacon played 'townsmen' on many TV westerns.  

Joan Carey was a frequent background performer on “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show,” where she often served as Lucille Ball’s stand-in. 

Nick Borgani appeared with Lucille Ball in the 1937 film Stage Door. He will also be seen in two episodes of “Here's Lucy.”

Victor Romito was last seen as the Bartender in “Lucy Meets John Wayne” (S5;E10). He also appeared in four episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”   Romito was an extra in the 1960 Lucille Ball / Bob Hope film Critic’s Choice.

Glen Walters was a Canadian actress who's career spanned from 1926 to 1973. This is her only appearance with Lucille Ball.

Judith Woodbury makes the seventh of her eight (mostly) uncredited appearances on “The Lucy Show.” She also appeared in one episode of “Here’s Lucy.”

The actor with the gray beard and overalls who is referred to as 'Farmer Brown' in the previous episode “Main Street U.S.A.” (S5;17) returns in this episode. 

Other citizens of Bancroft are played by uncredited background artists, most of whom were likely in the previous episode as well.

This episode was filmed in mid-December 1966, shortly after the completion of “Main Street U.S.A.” (S5;E17). Although stand-alone in their plots, this episode is a continuation of the previous one, which also takes place in the small town of Bancroft. 

This is the only episode of season five that is still under copyright protection and not in public domain.  

Coincidentally, this episode first aired on Dick Martin’s 45th birthday. He previously played Lucy Carmichael’s boyfriend Harry on the series. His comedy partner Dan Rowan plays a reporter in this episode.

The dance sequences were choreographed by Jack Baker.  

Bancroft is supposedly located in California, but feels more like a mid-western or northeastern town. Although this is a fictional location, there is a Bancroft outside of San Francisco.  At the time of filming, however, it was known as Hookston, is an unincorporated community in Contra Costa County.  

Mel Tormé wrote the original song “Main Street U.S.A.” especially for these two episodes. It was first sung at the end of the previous episode and is reprised at the start of this one. Here we learn that it was Lucy Carmichael who wrote the songs lyrics to Mel Tinker’s music. Torme also wrote and sings the ballad “In Our Home Town,” a tribute to small town life. In 1944 he had a hit with another ‘town’ song titled “Stranger in Town” and in 1959 released an album titled Back in Town.

As ‘Carrot Top Carmichael’ Lucy says she plans to be the “most vicious, cold blooded killer since Ma Barker.”  Kate Barker (1873–1935, inset photo) was the mother of several criminals who ran the Barker gang. She traveled with her sons during their criminal careers. FBI director J. Edgar Hoover described her as “the most vicious, dangerous and resourceful criminal brain of the last decade.” Barker was last mentioned in “Lucy and the Great Bank Robbery” (S3;E5). Ma Barker was parodied as Ma Parker in a 1970 episode of “Here’s Lucy” (above) starring Carole Cook (who plays Aunt Carrie here).

Behind the TV camera atop the station wagon is a shop called Grandma Thompson’s Bakery. This is likely a tribute to director Maury Thompson and producer Tommy Thompson, who were not related.

Marl Young is credited with the dance music for John Bubbles. 

Callbacks!

Back in Danfield, construction of a new freeway was the cause of the destruction of their roadside cafe when “Lucy and Viv Open a Restaurant” (S2;E20).

The residents of East 68th Street planned a big block party when Ricky Ricardo came home from Hollywood in “The Homecoming” (ILL S5;E6).  

Blooper Alerts!

Sound Slip! Mel plays “Our Home Town” on an old upright piano, but on the soundtrack it is not a piano, but a harpsichord.  

Popular Print! The painting above Lucy’s left shoulder in the Tinker parlor was previously seen in Lucy’s Danfield living room and later in Viv’s bedroom. 

Smile For The Camera(s)! When Lucy and Mel break into song for the TV news, they perform with their backs to the camera, which is still atop the station wagon behind them.  

Bloody Bad Idea!  Even though the gun battle is staged to woo reporter McGowan to Bancroft to publicize a good cause, a pile of bullet-ridden corpses and a whopping lie seem a dubious way to bring attention to the joys of small town life. Ironically, right after the corpses get up, Mel sings “it's peaceful and quiet, there's never a riot, in my home town.”

Soft Goods at the Hardware Store!  A sign in the window of the Hardware Store advertises an unusual item - Matador Scarfs!  Why would a small-town hardware store stock matador scarfs? 

Ready! Aim! Kerplunk! When 'Carrot Top Carmichael' surrenders, she throws her guns aside and knocks a bright yellow tea kettle off the hardware store porch. When the tin kettle hits the deck, the lid pops off and rolls across the set! 

Roll Call!  Bancroft's Mayor (played by Barry Kelley in the previous episode) does not show up for the big block party / gun battle. Surely this would be an occasion suitable for the Mayor’s participation. Perhaps he disapproved of the entire escapade?  More likely Desilu needed to keep their budget in mind in this expensive episode. 

FAST FORWARD!

Years later, Paul Winchell’s daughter April wrote about her father’s relationship with Lucille Ball, her mother Nina, and this episode:

Not everyone loved Lucy. My mother, for example, couldn't stand her. And Lucy returned the favor. In fact, they had a showdown on the set of ‘The Lucy Show’ that remains the most artful display of bitchery I ever witnessed. 

It all started when I was about six years old. I remember my dad getting off the phone and yelling for my mother. He had just been given a recurring role as Lucy's Grandfather [*], and he was as excited as I had ever seen him.

It was a demanding part. He had to dance quite a bit, and even learn to play the violin. And since he was only about 45 at the time, he had to do it all wearing heavy old age make-up and a full wig. He spent hours under the hot lights, sometimes getting lightheaded in his three-piece tweed suit. All things considered, it was probably one of the hardest jobs my father ever had. And he loved every minute of it. My dad, Paul Winchell, was a ventriloquist, and by this time, he was already a very successful man.

Naturally, a puppet-free gig like this was important to him, and he took it very seriously. He rehearsed difficult dance routines in our garage at night, and worked long days on the set without complaint. And along the way, he and Lucy developed a lasting friendship based on mutual respect, a common work ethic and a shared affection for recreational drugs. Yes, my father loved his drugs. My mother, determined to save their marriage, began watching him vigilantly, and attempted to rid him of every acquaintance he used with. Unfortunately, she couldn't broom Lucy from their lives. And so the three of them tried to find an uneasy peace, which was impossible. 

It all came to a head during rehearsals for an episode called, "Lucy Puts Main Street on the Map". This was a big two-parter, with lots of guest stars. On this particular day, my father was rehearsing a parade scene. This was a big, complicated musical number with close to a hundred people on the soundstage. There were majorettes, townspeople, a marching band, and of course, Gale Gordon, Vivian Vance [*] and Lucy herself, wearing white go-go boots and a white patent leather vest. My mother and I sat in the bleachers that would later hold the studio audience, watching my father work. And he was working very, very hard. Over and over again, he would run out into the middle of the street, do a jig, play a violin solo and disappear back into the crowd. My father had polio as a kid, and one of his legs was shorter than the other. 

All the standing and dancing was taking a toll, so when Lucy stopped the action to look through the camera, he politely asked her if he could take a break. She was very understanding, and told him to sit with us for a while. She asked if he was thirsty, and when he said yes, a glass of orange juice instantly appeared. Dad made his way over to the bleachers, and we watched the scene for while. After drinking about half of the juice, he handed the glass to my mother, who took a sip. Suddenly, Lucy stopped the rehearsal.

"Wait a minute, wait a minute, cut, cut, cut," she shouted. 

The playback music of the marching band stopped abruptly, and everyone fell silent. Lucy turned and looked at my mother. 

"What are you drinking?" she yelled. 

"Who, me?" 

"Yes, you. What are you drinking?" 

"Orange juice." 

"Did I buy that orange juice for you?" 

"I gave it to her, Lucy," my father said sheepishly.

"That's not the point, Paul. I bought that juice for you. If I knew she was going to drink it, I'd have made her pay for it." 

This was bad. This was very bad. My mother was not afraid of anyone, and I really expected this to get ugly in a hurry. She rose to her feet, and I braced myself. All the blood drained from my father's face. Time stood still. Then she did something surprising. My mother turned to me, and held out her hand. I took it, and we began to leave. I looked over my shoulder and saw the entire cast watching us, stock-still. My mother pushed through the heavy stage door into the sunlight, and we were on our way.  

By the time we got back to the studio, everyone had gone to lunch. My mother understood where my father was, and headed straight for Lucy's trailer. She led me up the steps to the door, and without knocking, went in. Lucy and my father were sitting on the couch, eating lunch. When he saw my mother, he froze in terror, certain that the angel of death was passing over his career. 

"Lucy," my mother said, "I have something to say to you." 

Lucy eyed my mother cautiously. "Yes, Nina?" 

"I want you to know how sorry I am about what happened this morning." 

My father's shoulders sagged with relief. 

Lucy was stunned. "Well, I . . . that's okay, Nina. Don't worry about it." 

"No," my mother continued, "I feel badly to have taken advantage of you when you've been so kind to us." 

"Forget it," she said. 

"I will. But only after you've accepted this gift."

My mother held out a gaily-wrapped box from Saks. Lucy genuinely did not know what to say. She looked at the box, then at my father, then at my mother, then me, then the box again. She took the box and carefully opened it. Inside was a pullover sweater made of glittering gold yarn. Metallic knits were all the rage those days, and it was obvious that mom had spent a good deal of money on it. Lucy held it up against herself, delighted. It set off her red hair and blue eyes beautifully. She looked up at my mother, who was smiling beatifically. 

"Thank you, Nina." 

"You're welcome, Lucy." 

My father was beaming. The next day, Lucy showed up on the set wearing the gold sweater. A few hours later, my mother arrived, wearing the exact same sweater in silver. I learned an important lesson that day. You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar. And once you catch them, pull their little fucking wings off.

[*] These small facts are slightly incorrect. The character is not Lucy’s Grandfather and Vivian Vance was not in the show or on set. Chalk it up to the memory of a six year old!

“Lucy Puts Main Street on the Map” rates 2 Paper Hearts out of 5  

[papermoonloveslucy]

CRITIC’S CHOICE

April 13, 1963

Directed by Don Weis 

Produced by Frank P. Rosenberg for Warner Brothers

Written by Jack Sher, based on the play by Ira Levin

Synopsis ~ Parker Ballantine is a New York theater critic and his wife writes a play that may or may not be very good. Now Parker must either get out of reviewing the play or cause the breakup of his marriage.

PRINCIPAL CAST

Lucille Ball (Angela Ballantine) marks her 80th feature film since coming to Hollywood in 1933. This is her fourth and final film with Bob Hope. 

Bob Hope (Parker Ballantine) 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. He died at the age of 100. In 1945 Desi Arnaz was the orchestra leader on Bob Hope’s NBC radio show. Lucille Ball and Hope made four films together: Sorrowful Jones (1949), Fancy Pants (1950), The Facts of Life (1960), and Critic’s Choice (1963). In between the first two and the second two, he appeared on “I Love Lucy” in “Lucy and Bob Hope” (ILL S6;E10) in1956. Hope made a cameo appearance in a 1962 episode of "The Lucy Show” that starred Jack Benny. Lucy and Hope appeared together in dozens of television programs, including Ball’s final appearance at the 1989 Oscars. 

Marilyn Maxwell (Ivy London) appeared with Bob Hope in “The Colgate Comedy Hour” (1950, 1951, 1953, 1953), The Lemon Drop Kid (1951), Off Limits (1952), “The Bob Hope Show” (1954) and with Lucille Ball in DuBarry Was A Lady (1943), Thousands Cheer (1943), Forever Darling (1956), as well as “Here’s Lucy: Lucy The Co-Ed” (1970). 

Rip Torn (Dion Kapakos) was nominated for an Oscar in 1983. This was his only film with Lucille Ball. 

Jesse Royce Landis (Charlotte Orr) makes her only appearance with Lucille Ball. 

John Dehner (S.P. Champlain) also appeared with Hope and Ball in the television special “Mr. and Mrs.” in 1964. 

Jim Backus (Dr. von Hagedom) is most famous for playing millionaire Thurston Howell III on “Gilligan’s Island.”  He appeared in Easy Living (1949) with Lucille Ball and was heard on her radio show “My Favorite Husband.” 

Ricky Kelman (John Ballantine) was a child actor who later appeared as a teenager on “Here’s Lucy” in “Lucy and Andy Griffith” (HL S6;E8) in 1973. 

Dorothy Green (Mrs. Champlain) makes her only appearances with Lucille Ball. 

Marie Windsor (Sally Orr) also appeared with Lucille Ball in The Big Street (1942).

Evan McCord aka Joe Gallison (Phil Yardley) makes his only appearance with Lucille Ball. 

Richard Deacon (Harvey Rittenhouse) is probably best remembered as Mel Cooley on “The Dick Van Dyke Show” (1961-66). He appeared as Tallulah Bankhead’s butler in “The Celebrity Next Door,” a 1957 episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.” He was employed again by Desi Sr. as a regular on “The Mothers-in-Law” (1968). He made two appearances on "Here’s Lucy.”

Joan Shawlee (Marge Orr) also appeared with Lucille Ball in Lover Come Back (1946). 

Jerome Cowan (Joe Rosenfield) appeared with Lucille Ball in The Fuller Brush Girl (1950). He was featured in such films as 1947’s Miracle on 34th Street (with William Frawley) and as Miles Archer in 1941’s The Maltese Falcon. He appeared in one episode of “The Lucy Show” in 1966 and one episode of “Here’s Lucy.”

Donald Losby (Godfrey) makes his only appearance with Lucille Ball.

Lurene Tuttle (Mother) played the president of the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League in “The Club Election” (ILL S2;E19) on February 16, 1953.

Emestine Wade (Thelma) makes her only appearance with Lucille Ball. 

Stanley Adams (Bartender) made  three appearances on “The Lucy Show.”

UNCREDITED CAST (who shared credits with Lucille Ball)

Leon Alton (Audience Member) appeared with Lucille Ball in The Facts of Life (1960), two episodes of “The Lucy Show” and three episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

Walter Bacon (Audience Member) was seen in “Lucy Wins a Racehorse” (LDCH 1958) and “Lucy Puts Main Street on the Map” (TLS S5;E18) in 1967.

Paul Bradley (Audience Member) made six appearances on “The Lucy Show” and two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

Charles Cirillo (Audience Member) was also an uncredited extra in 1968 film Yours, Mine and Ours.  He did a 1971 episode of “Here’s Lucy” and a 1968 episode of “The Lucy Show.” 

Paul Cristo (Audience Member) was seen on an episode of “I Love Lucy,” two episodes of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour,” and two of “The Lucy Show.”

George DeNormand (Party Guest) appeared in three films with Lucille Ball from 1937 to 1963.  He also appeared on “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy.”

James Flavin (Security Guard) played Sgt. Wilcox two episodes of “The Lucy Show” including “Lucy and the Safe Cracker” (TLS S2;E5). He appeared in four films with Lucille Ball, including playing a police sergeant in Without Love (1945).

Bess Flowers (Audience Member at 'Sisters Three') was hailed as Queen of the Extras in Hollywood. She appeared in more films with Lucille Ball than any other performer. She often was seen on “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show.”

Sid Gould (Cab Driver) was Lucille Ball’s cousin by marriage to Gary Morton. He appeared in more than forty episodes of “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy” in small roles. 

George Holmes (Spectator) was in the studio audience in “Lucy and Art Linkletter” (TLS S6;E4).  He also did an episode of “Here’s Lucy” and two more films with Lucille Ball: The Facts of Life (1960), and Mame (1974).

Shep Houghton (Audience Member) made three films with Lucille Ball, including Too Many Girls. He did two episodes of “The Lucy Show” and one episode of “Here’s Lucy.” Houghton was one of the Winkie Guards in 1939’s The Wizard of Oz and a Southern Dandy in Gone With the Wind (1939).  

Breena Howard (Girlfriend) also played a waitress in “Lucy Goes to Vegas” (TLS S3;E17) in 1965.

Joseph La Cava (Bellhop) did an episode of “I Love Lucy” and returned to work with Lucy in an episode of “Here’s Lucy.” He was also seen as a restaurant patron in Mame (1974).

Mike Lally (Audience Member at 'Sisters Three') was seen in two episodes of “I Love Lucy,” one “The Lucy Show,” and eight films starring Lucille Ball.  

William Meader (Audience Member) appeared as an airport extra in “The Ricardos Go to Japan” in 1959. He made many appearances on “The Lucy Show,” most times as a clerk in Mr. Mooney’s bank.

Harold Miller (First Nighter in Audience) did eight films with Lucy and two episodes of “I Love Lucy”.

Monty O'Grady (Audience Member) was first seen with Lucille Ball in The Long, Long Trailer (1953) and played a passenger on the S.S. Constitution in “Second Honeymoon” (ILL S5;E14). He was a traveler at the airport when “The Ricardos Go to Japan” (1959). He made a dozen appearances on "The Lucy Show” and a half dozen more on “Here’s Lucy.”

Murray Pollack (Audience Member) was one of the party guest in “Country Club Dance” (ILL S6;E25). Like Monty O'Grady, he was at the airport when “The Ricardos Go to Japan” (1959). He made two appearances on “The Lucy Show” and returned for three episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” 

Paul Power (Audience Member) was seen in two episodes of “I Love Lucy” and two films with Lucille Ball.  

Beverly Powers (Girl with Dion) played Mimi Van Tysen in “Lucy Goes to a Hollywood Premiere” (TLS S4;E20) in 1966. In that episode, she had a gorilla on her arm, not Rip Torn! 

Alan Ray (Hotel Doorman) was seen on “I Love Lucy” as the clapstick boy at “Ricky’s Screen Test” (ILL S4;E6), a Brown Derby waiter in “Hollywood at Last” (ILL S4;E16), and a male nurse in “Nursery School” (ILL S5;E9). He made four appearance on “The Lucy Show,” including once as a hotel doorman! In 1950 Ray was also in the film A Woman of Distinction in which Lucille Ball had a cameo.

Frieda Rentie (Audience Member) made two appearances on “Here’s Lucy.” 

Victor Romito (Audience Member) was seen as the Bartender in “Lucy Meets John Wayne” (TLS S5;E10) as well as one more episode of “The Lucy Show.”  He appeared in four episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” 

Bernard Sell (Audience Member) made three appearances on "The Lucy Show”. He was also an extra with Lucille Ball and Bob Hope in their film The Facts of Life (1960). He turns up on a 1971 two-part episode of “Here’s Lucy.”

Hal Smith (Drunk) is probably best known around the Desilu lot for playing Otis the drunk on “The Andy Griffith Show”.  He made three appearance on “The Lucy Show” including the role of Mr. Weber in “Main Street U.S.A.” (S5;E17). He did one episode of “Here’s Lucy” in 1972.  

Norman Stevans (Clerk) was in the audience of “Over The Teacups” during “Ethel’s Birthday” (ILL S4;E8) and at the airport when “The Ricardo’s Go To Japan,” in 1959.  He appeared in two episodes of “Here’s Lucy” and in the 1974 Lucille Ball film Mame.

Arthur Tovey (Audience Member) did one episode of “The Lucy Show” and the TV special “Swing Out, Sweet Land” in 1970 in which Lucille Ball is the Statue of Liberty.  

Ralph Volkie (Audience Member) is best remembered for playing John Wayne’s masseuse in “Lucy and John Wayne” (ILL S5;E2) in 1955.  As Wayne’s trainer, he also appeared in sixteen films with the Duke. 

‘CRITICS’ TRIVIA

Lucille Ball’s costumes for the film were designed by Edith Head.  Irma Kusely, Lucille’s long-time hairdresser, did her hair design.

Lucille Ball and Bob Hope break the fourth wall and appear as themselves in the film’s trailer. 

Because of poor audience reaction at test screenings, this film sat unreleased for a year before being sent to theaters. The delay did not help, as it received generally unfavorable reviews.

"It is pleasing to look at in its expensive décor, color and scope, ably played by its experienced stars and ingratiating in its quieter insights into a sophisticated marital relationship. So long as it meanders modestly through some above-average repartee, it provides an agreeable way to pass an evening. Instead of leaving well enough alone, unfortunately, the director, Don Weis, has tried to upholster the shaky plot with slapstick and broad burlesque...Both stars, old hands at this sort of thing, go through their paces with benign good humor, but their subtler comic talents remain untapped. At this rate, the critics' popularity seems unlikely to improve." ~ The New York Times

Angela's play opens at the 46th Street Theatre. This is an actual Broadway theatre, though it has since been renamed the Richard Rodgers Theatre and since 2015 has been home to Hamilton. At the time of filming it was host to the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical How To Succeed in Business...Without Really Trying. Lucille Ball was on Broadway just one year earlier at the Alvin (now the Neil Simon) Theatre in Wildcat. 

The collage of stylized posters for Broadway plays (The Music Man, Life With Father, Fanny, Gypsy, Camelot) that appeared under the opening credits, were all productions that had (or in the case of Camelot, would later be) filmed by Warner Bros.

Ira Levin's original play had been produced on Broadway in 1960, when it enjoyed modest success under the direction of Otto Preminger. The play starred Henry Fonda in the Bob Hope role of Parker Ballantine, and also featured Georgann Johnson (in Lucille Ball's role). 

Angela and Dion fly from New York to Boston in an American Airlines Lockheed Electra, registration number N6102A. By the time the movie was released in 1963, the plane no longer existed - on August 6, 1962 (Lucille Ball's 51st birthday) it was wrecked in a landing accident during a thunderstorm at the Knoxville, Tennessee airport. Fortunately, all aboard the plane survived.

The casting of Marilyn Maxwell as Hope's first wife was a kind of ironic joke, as their long-time affair was well enough known in the industry for her to be often referred to as "the second Mrs. Hope."

The Ballantines were based on renowned theatre critic Walter Kerr and his playwright wife Jean Kerr. As an inside joke, Hope mentions one of her plays, "Mary, Mary."

The film’s music orchestrations are credited to Arthur Morton (inset photo). Not only is Morton Ball’s married name, Arthur Morton was the name of the character played by Richard Crenna who had a crush on Lucy Ricardo in “The Young Fans” (ILL S1;E20)!

The film is mentioned on “What's My Line?” featuring Bob Hope and Lucille Ball on May 5, 1963. Lucy and Bob are on a promotional tour, New York being the eleventh of their 19 cities. They had just come from being on “The Ed Sullivan Show” earlier that evening, also to promote Critic’s Choice.

Lucille Ball mentions the film on “Dinah!” featuring Bob Hope on April 15, 1977. About Critic’s Choice (1963), it is clear that this was a film Lucy didn’t want to do. Lucy and Hope were obliged to do a 11-theatre promo tour to “sell” the film. Hope calls it their only flop.  

[papermoonloveslucy]

CBS SALUTES LUCY: THE FIRST 25 YEARS

November 28, 1976

With Tributes By: William S. Paley, Desi Arnaz Sr., Milton Berle, Carol Burnett, Richard Burton, Johnny Carson, Sammy Davis Jr., Gale Gordon, Bob Hope, Danny Kaye, Dean Martin, Jimmy Stewart, Danny Thomas, Vivian Vance, Dick Van Dyke, John Wayne, and Lucille Ball

Archive Footage: Mary Wickes, *Harpo Marx, William Frawley, Pat Moran, Maury Thompson, Edward Everett Horton, Teresa Tirelli, Ross Elliott, Jerry Hausner, Bess Flowers, Dick Martin, Donald Briggs, Joe Ruskin, Bryan O'Byrne, Danny Borzage, Morgan Woodward, Victor Romito, Elvia Allman, John Williams, Lloyd Corrigan, Ernesto Molinari, Rosa Barbato, Eva Gabor, *Lucie Arnaz, Larry J. Blake, Larry Keating, Robert Carson, *John Bubbles, Paul Winchell, Mel Torme, *Ken Berry, *Red Skelton, *George Burns, *Patty Andrews, *Wayne Newton, Jerry Newton, *Desi Arnaz Jr., Tommy Amato, Don Vincent, *Jack Benny, *William Holden, Harry Bartell, Hazel Pierce, Bennett Green, Dede Ball, Dick Patterson, Roy Rowan, Vanda Barra, and +Eddie Albert

* credited in voice over 

+ not on DVD release

Archival footage from: “I Love Lucy” (1951-57), “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” (1957-60), “The Lucy Show” (1962-68), “Here's Lucy” (1968-74), “Carol + 2” (1964), “The Danny Kaye Show with Lucille Ball” (1962), and “Lucy In London” (1966).  

Some stars mentioned in the opening credits by the announcer as “starring” do not actually appear in newly created tributes, but only in archival footage. This is likely due to negotiations with the stars agents (or estates) who gave permission for their images to be used in exchange for opening title credit. Those stars include: Patty Andrews, Jack Benny (died 1974), Ken Berry, John Bubbles, George Burns, William Holden, Harpo Marx (died 1964), and Wayne Newton, all of whom have considerable screen time in the clips. Although some of these names might have been used to lure viewers into watching (and not tuning away from) the two-hour program, it is probably not likely with someone like John Bubbles.

Some of those absent from archival footage include Mary Jane Croft, Kathryn Card, Doris Singleton, Charles Lane, Frank Nelson, Ann Sothern, and Sid Gould, all of whom made many appearances opposite Lucille Ball over the years.

The program was very well received and received a 29 rating and 39 share of audience, figures unheard of today. Because of the anniversary theme of the show, it was never repeated.  

The special was issued on DVD by Image Entertainment. The cover photo is of Lucille Ball at the Emmy Awards.  

CBS used other artwork, inexplicably based on her costume from “Lucy Goes To Scotland” (ILL S5;E17).  

For the DVD release, eight minutes of the show were trimmed for a total running time of 97 minutes Among the missing segments was a tribute to the late William Frawley, hosted by Gale Gordon, featuring Frawley and Vivian Vance singing "Carolina in the Morning." Frawley died in 1966. In 1976 he was the only member of the main “I Love Lucy” cast to have passed away.  Also missing is Lucy's soft-shoe of "Makin' Whoopee" with Eddie Albert. It is possible that the owners of the music copyrights were asking more for licensing fees than the DVD producers were willing to pay or that Albert declined permission for his image to be used. Naturally, it may also have just been an editorially decision to edit the show.    

This special was produced before technology made restored, pristine prints available. Scenes from “I Love Lucy” (owned by CBS) are the clearest but clips from “The Lucy Show” and “Here's Lucy” (owned by others) are often quite poor. 

This special is billed “The First 25 Years” but sadly Lucille Ball would only work for another decade, and not at CBS.  Although it seemed like the Tiffany Network (who adopted their ‘CBS eye’ logo the same month “I Love Lucy” premiered) and Lucy would never part, Ball joined NBC in 1980, announcing her changed allegiance with a star-studded special “Lucy Moves to NBC.” The partnership was short-lived, however. In 1986 CBS declined to pick-up “Life With Lucy” (perhaps still stinging from her departure), so it went to ABC.  This means Lucille Ball was seen on all three major networks. 

INTRODUCTION

The tribute show is introduced by CBS Chairman William S. Paley.  In 1964 episode of “The Lucy Show” (TLS S3;E15), Danny Kaye telephones Paley about getting tickets to his show for Lucy Carmichael. Paley, however, was not seen or heard.

To kick things off, a montage of memorable moments of Lucy on TV is underscored by Frank Sinatra singing “My Kind of Girl” by Leslie Bricusse.

LUCY & DESI

A clip from “The Audition” (ILL S1;E3) leads into an appearance by Desi Arnaz Sr. standing outside Stage 2 of General Service Studios where “I Love Lucy” was first shot. Desi describes this as a scene from their pilot. The unaired “I Love Lucy” pilot (not seen until 1990), included this same material, but it was re-staged for the actual series in October 1951. This leads into a compilation of clips of Lucy Ricardo making fun of Ricky's English. Desi estimates the he and Lucy did nearly 200 shows together. Including “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hours” (13), the un-aired pilot, and the “Christmas Special,” Desi is not far off. The total comes to 194 shows, not counting their guest appearances on other programs.  

VITAMEATAVEGAMIN

Desi's awe and admiration of his ex-wife's craft and talent is demonstrated with a clip from the classic episode “Lucy Does a TV Commercial” (ILL S1;E30) aka “Vitameatavegamin.” Arnaz watched Lucy do the scene just off camera and his recognizable laugh can be heard on the soundtrack.  

HAVING A BABY

Desi recalls the show that is closest to his heart: “Lucy is Enceinte” (ILL S2;E10). The clip that follows has Ricky singing “We’re Having a Baby (My Baby and Me)” first written in 1941 for the Broadway musical Banjo Eyes. For this special, the edit includes clips of other scenes of Lucy Ricardo when expecting, including “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” (ILL S2 E16).  

SILENT COMEDY

To introduce his segment, Dick Van Dyke begins with pantomiming netting a butterfly on the set of his short-lived variety show “Van Dyke & Company.” A week later, Ball would guest star on the series. This intro was probably filmed at that time. Here he defines 'mime' for the audience and then introduces a clip of Lucy doing a silent movie skit as Charlie Chaplin from “Chris's New Year's Eve Party” (TLS S1;E14) and the mirror routine in “Lucy Meets Harpo Marx” (ILL S4;E28).    

LUCY & THE DUKE

Western star John Wayne emerges from a back lot saloon and jokingly says that of all his on-screen opponents, the most formidable one was Lucy. A clip from 1966's “Lucy and John Wayne” (TLS S5;E10) follows. In the scene Lucy Carmichael is visiting the set of Wayne's latest western and (naturally) disrupts the shoot.

FRIENDS FOREVER

Vivian Vance, drinking a cup of tea in her home, talks about her beginnings on television as Mrs. Fred Mertz. Vance remembers the schemes Lucy got her involved in, mostly to get Lucy into show business. Clips include “The Operetta” (ILL S2;E5) with Lucy as Camille, the snaggle-toothed Queen of the Gypsies. In the clip, the chorus upstage her big number, “The Queen of the Gypsies” written by Eliot Daniel, who also wrote the series' theme song. Vance says they lived out their childhood fantasies on screen, like working in a chocolate factory. A clip from “Job Switching” (ILL S2;E1) has Lucy and Ethel on the candy wrapping assembly line at Kramer’s Candy Kitchen.

There is also a clip from “Lucy and Viv Put in a Shower” (TLS S1;E18) where Lucy Carmichael and Vivian Bagley install a home shower, only to get trapped inside as it fills with water.

TWO REDHEADS

To the music of the theme from her show, Carol Burnett (redhead #1) is seen backstage, sitting in a director's chair. She recalls meeting Lucy for the first time, when she came to the second night of Once Upon a Mattress on May 12, 1959. Carol fondly recalls that Lucy always called her “kid.” Carol introduces a clip from “Carol + 2” (1964) in which Lucy and Carol play night cleaning ladies at a talent agency singing “Chutzpah!”

Danny Kaye (redhead #2) comes down a staircase to talk about Lucy's skill at physical comedy.

Kaye: “Calling Lucille Ball 'just' a comedian is like calling Margot Fonteyne 'just' a dancer.”  

The dance metaphor helps Kaye introduce a clip of Lucy's dancer-like physical agility in a sketch seen on the Emmy nominated “The Danny Kaye Show with Lucille Ball” (1962) in which Lucy and Kaye go to a Japanese restaurant and must adapt to the customs of the Tea House – all without dialogue.

LUCY AROUND THE WORLD

Kaye reports that Lucille Ball is on television in 78 different countries. This leads to clips from shows dubbed in French (“Lucy and the Great Bank Robbery” TLS S3;E5)... 

Japanese (“Lucy Becomes an Astronaut” TLS S1;E16)...

Spanish (“Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying to Murder Her” ILL S1;E4)... 

and capped off with the famous grape stomping scene from “Lucy's Italian Movie” (ILL S5;E23), which was already mostly in Italian, with (humorous) English subtitles. 

Kaye states that Lucille Ball is so popular because she has universal appeal. He introduces a clip from “The Hollywood Unemployment Follies” (HL S3;E22) where Lucy Carter sings “Falling in Love Again (Never Wanted To)” in costume as Marlene Dietrich from the 1930 German film The Blue Angel to Gale Gordon.

ALWAYS GETTING IT

This conveniently leads to discovering Gale Gordon sitting on a park bench. He says he likes the quiet of the park as opposed to working with Lucy, because nothing can spill on him. He then casts a cautionary glance at the sky and says “Watch it, pigeons!” A series of clips from “Here's Lucy” reveals Gordon “getting it” - getting wet, dirty, and generally messy through a variety of assaults.

DANCING FOOL

Sammy Davis Jr. is discovered dancing on a stage. Davis is one of the only stars in the Tribute who appeared with Lucy on her show (in 1970), but is not seen in archival footage.

Sammy: “That lady does it all, man!”

He introduces clips of Lucy singing and dancing.

Lucy and John Bubbles do a soft-shoe in “Main Street USA” (TLS S5;E17); 

A production number from “Lucy Helps Ken Berry” (TLS S6;E21); 

A hobo number with Red Skelton in “Lucy Goes to Alaska” (LDCH 1959); 

A soft shoe from “Lucy with George Burns” (TLS S5;E1); 

Singing “The Pennsylvania Polka” with Lucie Arnaz and Patty Andrews in “Lucy and the Andrews Sisters” (HL S2;E6);

Tthe big finale from “Lucy Puts Main Street on the Map” (TLS S5;E18); 

Playing banjo and singing “Waiting for the Robert E. Lee” with Lucie Arnaz and Wayne Newton, while Desi Jr. plays drums in the background in “Lucy Sells Craig to Wayne Newton” (HL S1;E9).

A transitional clip from “Lucy Gets Jack Benny's Account” (TLS S6;E6) which ends with Lucy and Benny sinking in a pit of quicksand and leads into...

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

Bob Hope singing his signature song “Thanks for the Memory” with special lyrics about Lucy. A clip of “Lucy and Bob Hope” (ILL S6;E1) has Lucy undercover as a hot dog vendor at Yankee Stadium and Hope getting conked on the head with a fly ball. After the clip, Bob Hope says that the title of world's funniest lady is a tie between Lucille Ball and Milton Berle, which is a cue for a clip from 1958's “Milton Berle Hides Out at the Ricardos” (LDCH 1958) with Milton Berle in full drag as Mildred Burke.

STAR-STRUCK

Cut to Milton Berle standing in front of the Hollywood Brown Derby to introduce a clip from “Hollywood at Last!” (ILL S4;E16) starring William Holden. The iconic derby-shaped eatery was closed and razed in 1980. The derby dome could be glimpsed in the view from the Ricardo's Hollywood hotel room balcony. In the scene (set in a studio recreation of the restaurant), Lucy can't help but spy on the star in the next booth, ending with her clumsily causing a waiter to dump a tray of food on him.

BEING UPSTAGED

Johnny Carson, on the set of “The Tonight Show” reminisces about the time he played himself on “Here's Lucy” (S2;E11) where Lucy is picked from his audience to play “Stump the Band” and wins by singing “Snoops the Lawyer.” While she is singing, Carson sits on the arm of an aisle seat occupied by Lucy's real-life mom, Dede Ball.

A DATE WITH EDDIE

Feldman, that is, not Albert! Dean Martin says he loves working with Lucy. A clip from “Lucy Dates Dean Martin” (TLS S4;E21) has Lucy dating a man she thinks is Dean's stunt double, Eddie Feldman, but is actually Martin himself filling in for Feldman, who has to work. In the clip Martin sings “Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime” causing Lucy Carmichael to remark “You even sing better than he does!”

SAM THE PLUMBER

Richard Burton comes out of his on-set trailer to talk about his 1970 guest-appearance on “Here's Lucy” (S3;E1) where he tried to pass himself off as Sam the Plumber, but is ensnared by Lucy, who has a leaky sink. He recites Shakespeare while fixing the sink, but Lucy Carter tells him not to quit his day job!

TWO LEFT FEET

Danny Thomas, is found standing on the set of his 1976 sitcom “The Practice.” A month earlier, Lucille Ball guest-starred on the series, which only lasted one season. He introduces a clip from “Lucy Helps Danny Thomas” (TLS S4;E7), which has Lucy as a clumsy showgirl turning Danny's TV show production number of “Broadway Melody” upside down!

25 YEARS OF LAUGHTER

The last segment, James Stewart stands at a podium and introduces the lady of the hour (or two), the first lady of television, Lucille Ball. Although Stewart was Ball's friend and neighbor, the two never acted opposite each other on film or television. They appeared together on many award shows and specials. He presents Lucy with a plaque from the National Academy of Arts and Sciences for 25 years of laughter.  A montage of moments from Lucy's quarter-century career is accompanied by the song “Look at that Face” sung by Steve Lawrence as the credits roll.

This Date in Lucy History – November 28th

"Lucy and Pat Collins" (TLS S5;E11) – November 28, 1966

[papermoonloveslucy]

Lucy Takes a Job at the Bank

S2;E21 ~ February 24, 1964

Synopsis

When Jerry wants to buy a second-hand tuba, cash-poor Lucy talks Mr. Mooney into giving her a job at the bank. All she has to do is hand out toasters to people opening new accounts, but she has no success. Lucy talks Audrey Simmons into withdrawing her money and then re-depositing it again to stimulate business; but Audrey's gossip spreads a rumor that the bank is failing and starts a run on the financial institution!  

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carmichael), Vivian Vance (Vivian Bagley), Gale Gordon (Theodore J. Mooney), Jimmy Garrett (Jerry Carmichael)

Candy Moore (Chris Carmichael) and Ralph Hart (Sherman Bagley) do not appear in this episode.  

Guest Cast

Kathleen Freeman (Kathleen) was ‘born in a trunk’ to a family of vaudevillians. She made her stage debut at age two in her parents’ act. Equally at home on screen and stage, Freeman was appearing on Broadway in The Full Monty in 2001 when she died of lung cancer. This is the second of her five appearances in various character roles on “The Lucy Show.” Freeman appeared in the previous episode “Lucy and Viv Open A Restaurant” (S2;E20) as Olga the cook. 

Kathleen's husband's name is Charley.

Mary Jane Croft (Audrey Simmons) played Betty Ramsey during season six of “I Love Lucy.” She also played Cynthia Harcourt in “Lucy is Envious” (ILL S3;E23) and Evelyn Bigsby in “Return Home from Europe” (ILL S5;E26). She played Audrey Simmons for eight episodes. When Lucy moves to California, she will play Mary Jane Lewis (the actor’s married name) until the series finale. Her husband Elliott Lewis was a producer of “The Lucy Show” from 1962 to 1964. She also played a character named Mary Jane Lewis on “Here’s Lucy” from 1969 to 1974. Her final appearance with Lucille Ball was in “Lucy Calls The President” (1977). 

Carole Cook (Thelma Green) makes her penultimate appearance playing Thelma Green, although she will play a variety of other characters in a dozen other episodes. Lucille Ball took Cook as a protégé during the Desilu Playhouse years. Although she was born as Mildred Cook, Ball suggested she take the name Carole, in honor of Lucy’s great friend, Carole Lombard. Cook also went on to appear in five episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

James Gonzales (Bank Teller) was a popular Hollywood extra who first acted with Lucille Ball in the 1953 film The Long, Long Trailer. He was previously seen on the series as Stan Williams in “Lucy Digs Up a Date” (S1;E2). He was seen in more than 20 episodes of “The Lucy Show” and 3 episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”  In this episode, he has a line when ordering dinner. 

William Meader (Bank Teller) had appeared as an airport extra in “The Ricardos Go to Japan,”a 1959 episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.” He made many appearances on “The Lucy Show,” most times as a clerk in Mr. Mooney’s bank. 

Bobby Gilbert (Bank Customer) was born Robert Wolf in 1898.  A vaudeville actor, he was one of the first performers to play the South Pacific on USO tours during WWII. He was an extra in such hit films as Some Like It Hot (1959), How To Succeed in Business (1967), Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967) and Bednobs and Broomsticks (1971).  This is the first of his two appearances on “The Lucy Show.”

Judith Woodbury (Bank Customer) makes the second of her eight (mostly) uncredited appearances on “The Lucy Show.” She also appeared in one episode of “Here’s Lucy.”

Tony Dante (Bank Customer, uncredited) made more than 20 uncredited appearances on Desilu’s “The Untouchables.”  This is one of his two episodes of “The Lucy Show.”  He also did one episode of “Here’s Lucy” in 1970. 

Victor Romito (Bank Customer, uncredited) was seen as the Bartender in “Lucy Meets John Wayne” (S5;E10). He also appeared in four episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”  Romito was an extra in the 1960 Lucille Ball / Bob Hope film Critic’s Choice and in Mame (1974).

The Bank Security Guard (“George”) is played by an uncredited actor. More than a dozen other uncredited background performers play the bank's customers (including a bridal party, dentist and patient, and woman with a shopping cart) as well as the bank staff.  

The episode was filmed on January 16, 1964. 

The Danfield Bank has assets of over 8 million dollars and was founded in 1899, 65 years longer than any other bank in town.

Viv has had her money in the Murray Hill Bank in New York City for the last 20 years.

When everyone thinks there's a run on the bank, Viv shouts: “It's 1933 all over again!”  United States money supply decreased substantially between October 29, 1929 (Black Tuesday, the stock market crash that began the great depression) and March 1933, when there were massive bank runs across the United States.

Although Lucy's job at the bank is part-time and ends with this episode, Lucy Carmichael will eventually join the staff of Mr. Mooney's bank as his secretary. In “Here's Lucy” Lucy Carter is also an employee of Gale Gordon's character, Harrison J. Carter.  

A clip of Lucy going up (and down) through the trap door was included in the season three opening credit sequence.  

Callbacks!

Lucille Ball frequently used a 'pop-up' toaster for comic effect in many episodes of “I Love Lucy.”  

Blooper Alerts!

Groundhog Day! The edition of The Danfield Tribune that Lucy consults for her job search has the same headline (“Hospital Fund Reaches Goal”) as the one seen in “No More Double Dates” (S1;E21).  

Spelling Bee!  Mary Jane Croft is incorrectly credited as “Mary Jean Croft” in the closing credits.  Carole Cook's name is also mis-spelled as “Carol Cook.”  

“Lucy Takes a Job at the Bank” rates 3 Paper Hearts out of 5