#neal barbera

[scoobydoobaday]

The New Scooby-Doo Movies S01E15 - The Loch Ness Mess (1972) Hanna Barbera Productions

[afrotumble]

Frederick "Curly" Neal was born (On today 81 years ago, May 19, 1942) he was one of the most memorable basketball players who played with the Harlem Globetrotters. Following in the footsteps of Marques Haynes, Neal became the Trotters' featured ballhandler, a key role in the team's exhibition act.

Born in Greensboro, North Carolina, Neal attended James B. Dudley High School and Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina from 1959 to 1963. At Smith, he averaged 23.1 points a game and was named All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) guard.

Neal played for 22 seasons (from 1963 to 1985) with the Globetrotters, appearing in more than 6,000 games in 97 countries. His shaved head earned him his nickname, a reference to the Three Stooges' Curly Howard. In the 1970s, an animated version of Neal starred with various other Globetrotters in the Hanna-Barbera animated cartoon Harlem Globetrotters as well as its spinoff, The Super Globetrotters, The New Scooby-Doo Movies and Gilligan's Island. On March 26, 2020, Neal died at his home outside Houston at the age of 77.

[ptbf2002]

Admirable Animations - Play Date With Destiny

Show - Tom and Jerry

Season/Episode - Season 4, Episode 43,

Air Date - August 12, 2020

Writer(s) - Stephanie Aurelio

Director(s)/Editor(s) - Darrell Van Citters, Neal Sternecky (Storyboard)

Other Notes - Unlike Baby Puss Cartoon From 1943, This Episode Was Much Pretty much fun, this is like having fun with one of your neighbors, in this episode, Jerry Was Having Fun With One Of Their Neighbors, And That Is Emily. I Find Emily To Be Better Than Nancy From Baby Puss, And Tom And Jerry Tales. And How Much They're Good Together, They Jump In A Trampoline, Blow Bubbles, And Draw A Picture. This Is How This Episode Was Better Than Baby Puss.

Original Meme Template: https://www.deviantart.com/hanneyss/art/Admirable-Animations-Blank-Page-By-Mrenter-d6sg943-480848298

The Tom And Jerry Show Belongs To William Hanna, Joseph Barbera, Darrell Van Citters, Renegade Animation, PIP Animation Services Inc. Slap Happy Cartoons Inc. Turner Entertainment Company, Warner Bros. Animation Inc. Cartoon Network, Boomerang, The Cartoon Network, Inc. Warner Bros. Discovery Networks, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, Warner Bros. Television Studios, Warner Bros. Television Group, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. WarnerMedia, And Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.

Admirable Animations © Jonathan Rozanski (TheMysteriousMrEnter)

[lboogie1906]

Fred “Curly” Neal (May 19, 1942 - March 26, 2020) was a basketball player who played with the Harlem Globetrotters. Following in the footsteps of Marques Haynes, he became the Trotters’ featured ballhandler, a key role in the team’s exhibition act.

He played for 22 seasons with the Globetrotters, appearing in more than 6,000 games in 97 countries. His shaved head earned him his nickname, a reference to the Three Stooges’ Curly Howard, and made him one of the most recognizable Globetrotters. An animated version of him starred with various other Globetrotters in the Hanna-Barbera animated cartoon Harlem Globetrotters as well as its spinoff, The Super Globetrotters. The animated Globetrotters made three appearances in The New Scooby-Doo Movies. He appeared with Meadowlark Lemon, Marques Haynes, and his other fellow Globetrotters in a live-action Saturday morning TV show, The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine.

The Globetrotters announced that his number 22 would be retired in a special ceremony at Madison Square Garden as part of “Curly Neal Weekend.” He was just the fifth Globetrotter in the team’s 82-year history to have his number retired. He was being inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[mariocki]

The Prowler (Rosemary's Killer, 1981)

"I heard something."

"It's probably just the wind."

"In the basement?"

[driveintotals]

The Prowler (1981)

[nine-frames]

The Prowler, 1981.

Dir. Joseph Zito | Writ.Glenn Leopold & Neal Barbera | DOP João Fernandes (as Raoul Lomas)

[nealdanderson]

“Jinkies? Isn't that a breakfast cereal?"  Please consider supporting me by ordering a commission of your favorite cartoons!

[spettriedemoni]

Denny

Ho amato Batman probabilmente grazie ai cartoni di Hanna & Barbera. In quella striscia pomeridiana si alternavano Superman, Batman e Robin, poi Aquaman e Flash. In sostanza gli eroi DC li ho conosciuti così prima che sulla carta.

Sul cartaceo ho imparato a leggere con Topolino e gli albi Cenisio in pratica. La Cenisio aveva riportato in Italia le storie di Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash e tutti gli altri eroi DC.

Le storie a fumetti di Batman erano abbastanza diverse da quelle del cartone, più adulte, più avvincenti, anche. Spesso Robin non c'era, Batman aveva un costume che più che grigio appariva violaceo e il mantello era lunghissimo.

Disegnatori come Irv Novic, Dick Giordano e soprattutto Neal Adams stavano restituendo Batman alle sue atmosfere cupe e gotiche dopo gli anni sessanta. Sì perché dal '66 in poi Batman era diventato un personaggio molto "camp" a causa soprattutto del telefilm dell' epoca in cui il Cavaliere Oscuro era interpretato da Adam West. Si trattava di un telefilm leggero, dai toni scherzosi ma che tradiva in un certo senso lo spirito del personaggio originale.

Quello non era il Batman uscito dalle matite e dai pennelli di Bob Kane e dalla macchina da scrivere di Bill Fincher.

Alla fine degli anni sessanta però, in casa DC, era arrivato un ex cronista di nera che aveva deciso di dare a Batman un nuovo corso ora che il maccartismo era lontano e il pubblico forse pronto a leggere storie più adulte.

Si chiamava Dennis O'Neil e divenne lo sceneggiatore che segnò la rinascita del Cavaliere Oscuro.

Dennis scrisse storie epiche di Batman, ripensò il ruolo e il personaggio del Joker

e con l'aiuto di Neal Adams ridefinì un po' tutto il personaggio Batman

Questa qui sopra è una delle tavole più iconiche di Adams.

Ma Dennis O'Neil inventò anche personaggi che sono diventati leggendari. Uno su tutti Ra's Al Ghul

uno dei pochi cattivi a conoscere la vera identità di Batman e a competere con lui per intelligenza e intuito. La figlia Talia è una delle donne più affascinanti dell'universo batmaniano oltre ad essere la madre del figlio di Bruce Wayne.

Denis O'Neil, approdando alla DC come sceneggiatore di Batman, aveva deciso di mandare Robin al college e di dar tornare Batman un solitario e farlo agire esclusivamente di notte.

È stato il suo Batman che ho apprezzato e che ho amato davvero per la prima volta, il vendicatore metropolitano come adesso lo conosciamo.

Non scriveva più da tempo Denny, come si firmava nella rubrica della posta di Batman chiamata "Bat Signals", ormai era diventato direttore editoriale.

Oggi ho saputo che non c'è più. È morto.

Mi accorgo solo oggi di quanto sia stato importante nel mio immaginario da ragazzino, di quanto ha fatto per me giovane lettore delle sue storie.

Come spesso accade, la morte di una persona che ha segnato la mia gioventù mi lascia triste, spaesato. Ma più che la sua dipartita è la consapevolezza del tempo che è passato, inesorabile.

Grazie di tutto Denny, a nome di quel ragazzino che grazie a te ha amato Batman e un po' tutti i fumetti.

Grazie davvero.

Requiescat in pace.

[blackkudos]

Meadowlark Lemon

Meadow Lemon III (April 25, 1932 – December 27, 2015), known professionally as Meadowlark Lemon, was an American basketball player, actor, and Christian minister (ordained in 1986). From 1994, he served Meadowlark Lemon Ministries in Scottsdale, Arizona. For 22 years, he was known as the "Clown Prince" of the touring Harlem Globetrotters basketball team. He played in more than 16,000 games for the Globetrotters and was a 2003 inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

When basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain was asked his opinion on the best player of all time, he responded, "For me it would be Meadowlark Lemon." Fellow Wilmington great Michael Jordan called Lemon a "true national treasure" and a personal inspiration in Jordan's youth.

Early life

Lemon was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, and attended Williston Industrial School, graduating in 1952. He then matriculated at Florida A&M University, but was soon drafted into the United States Army and served for two years in Austria and West Germany.

Career

Basketball

Lemon made his first basketball hoop out of an onion sack and coat hanger, using an empty Carnation milk can to sink his first 2-point hoop.

Lemon first applied to the Globetrotters in 1954 at age 22, finally being chosen to play in 1955. In 1980, he left to form one of his Globetrotters imitators, the Bucketeers. He played with that team until 1983, then moved on to play with the Shooting Stars from 1984 to 1987. In 1988, he moved on to "Meadowlark Lemon's Harlem All Stars" team. Despite being with his own touring team, Lemon returned to the Globetrotters, playing 50 games with them in 1994.

In 2000, Lemon received the John Bunn Award, the highest honor given by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame outside induction. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.

Television appearances

In the 1970s, an animated version of Lemon, voiced by Scatman Crothers, starred with various other Globetrotters in the Hanna-Barbera animated cartoon series Harlem Globetrotters, as well as its spinoff, The Super Globetrotters. The animated Globetrotters also made three appearances in The New Scooby-Doo Movies.

Lemon appeared alongside Fred "Curly" Neal, Marques Haynes and his other fellow Globetrotters in a live-action Saturday-morning television show, The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine, in 1974–1975, which also featured Rodney Allen Rippy and Avery Schreiber.

In 1978, Lemon appeared in a memorable Burger King commercial by making a tower of burgers until he found a double-beef pickles and onions with no-cheese burger.

1n 1980, Lemon appeared as the coach of the basketball team from The White Shadow in a series of guest skits for Order/Disorder week on 3-2-1 Contact.

In 1983, Lemon appeared on an episode of Alice entitled "Tommy Fouls Out", and in a Charmin toilet paper commercial alongside Mr. Whipple (actor Dick Wilson).

In 1996 season 2 episode 5 of Pinky and the Brain titled "Brain's Song" Meadowlark Lemon was Brain's best friend in the parody of Brian's Song

In 2006, on episode of adult swim's The Boondocks entitled "The Itis", the name of Meadowlark was used as the name of the park that Ed Wuncler I mentions an interest in purchasing from the state.

In 2009, on FOX's TV show The Cleveland Show, the name of Meadowlark Lemon was used for a dog's name for the character of Rallo Tubbs. The dog died in the first season.

Other work

In 1979, Lemon starred in the educational geography film Meadowlark Lemon Presents the World. Also in 1979, he joined the cast of the short-lived television sitcom Hello, Larry in season two, to help boost the show's ratings. In the same year, he played Rev. Grady Jackson in the movie The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh. It was several years before he actually became an ordained minister himself.

In 1982, Lemon was featured in the Grammy-nominated video Fun & Games, an interactive educational video produced by Optical Programming Associates and Scholastic Productions, on the then-emerging LaserDisc format.

Personal life

Lemon had 10 children: Richard, George, Beverly, Donna, Robin, Jonathan, Jamison, Angela, Crystal, and Caleb.

A born-again Christian, Lemon became an ordained minister in 1986 and received a Doctor of Divinity degree from Vision International University in Ramona, California, in 1988. He was also featured as a gospel singer in several Gaither Homecoming videos. In his last years, he took up residence in Scottsdale, Arizona, where his Meadowlark Lemon Ministries, Inc. is located.

Death

Lemon died in Scottsdale, Arizona, on December 27, 2015, at the age of 83. No cause of death was given.

[theyayadiamond]

The undeniable destiny of Harlem Globetrotter Nate Branch _Everything passed by so fast_.mp4 from Yaya Diamond on Vimeo.

NateBranch.com From 1967-83, Nate entertained millions of fans on basketball courts around the world, television variety shows, guest appearances with the 'Trotters on television programs, and his likeness was even featured in some of the day's most popular Hanna-Barbera cartoons... along with his legendary teammates such as Meadlowlark Lemon, Curly Neal and the rest of the gang! He's a sought after piano player, singer and even has his own hilarious stand-up comedy show. He's a motivational speaker, an MC, and a mentor to children. Nate is a former Nebraska Cornhusker with an awesome story to tell about his lifelong journey from East Palo Alto, California... to Lincoln, Nebraska... to courts around the world... and back home again! Nate has played piano with Ronnie Milsap & Charley Pride, had 3 visits to the White House, met with the Premier of China, and the BEST part of it all... he's *affordable* to book anywhere in the country! Call Celebrity Direct at 941-624-2254 or e-mail branch@celebritydirect.net for booking information.

[scoobydoobaday]

The New Scooby-Doo Movies S02E01 - The Mystery of Haunted Island (1973) Hanna Barbera Productions

[papermoonloveslucy]

YOUNG MATRONS’ LEAGUE TRYOUTS

October 2, 1948

"Young Matron’s League Tryouts” is episode #11 of the radio series MY FAVORITE HUSBAND broadcast on October 2, 1948.

Synopsis ~ Liz tries to butter up George in hopes that he'll let her try out for the play that the Young Matrons League will be performing.

Note: This episode was aired before the characters names were changed from Cugat to Cooper. It was also before Jell-O came aboard to sponsor the show and before the regular cast featured Bea Benadaret and Gale Gordon as the Atterburys. 

This was the first episode scripted by Jess Oppenheimer. The show moved from Fridays at 9:00-9:30 pm to Saturdays at 7:00-7:30 pm.

“My Favorite Husband” was based on the novels Mr. and Mrs. Cugat, the Record of a Happy Marriage (1940) and Outside Eden (1945) by Isabel Scott Rorick, which had previously been adapted into the film Are Husbands Necessary? (1942). “My Favorite Husband” was first broadcast as a one-time special on July 5, 1948. Lucille Ball and Lee Bowman played the characters of Liz and George Cugat, and a positive response to this broadcast convinced CBS to launch “My Favorite Husband” as a series. Bowman was not available Richard Denning was cast as George. On January 7, 1949, confusion with bandleader Xavier Cugat prompted a name change to Cooper. On this same episode Jell-O became its sponsor. A total of 124 episodes of the program aired from July 23, 1948 through March 31, 1951. After about ten episodes had been written, writers Fox and Davenport departed and three new writers took over – Bob Carroll, Jr., Madelyn Pugh, and head writer/producer Jess Oppenheimer. In March 1949 Gale Gordon took over the existing role of George’s boss, Rudolph Atterbury, and Bea Benaderet was added as his wife, Iris. CBS brought “My Favorite Husband” to television in 1953, starring Joan Caulfield and Barry Nelson as Liz and George Cooper. The television version ran two-and-a-half seasons, from September 1953 through December 1955, running concurrently with “I Love Lucy.” It was produced live at CBS Television City for most of its run, until switching to film for a truncated third season filmed (ironically) at Desilu and recasting Liz Cooper with Vanessa Brown.

MAIN CAST

Lucille Ball (Liz Cugat) was born on August 6, 1911 in Jamestown, New York. She began her screen career in 1933 and was known in Hollywood as ‘Queen of the B’s’ due to her many appearances in ‘B’ movies. “My Favorite Husband” eventually led to the creation of “I Love Lucy,” a television situation comedy in which she co-starred with her real-life husband, Latin bandleader Desi Arnaz. The program was phenomenally successful, allowing the couple to purchase what was once RKO Studios, re-naming it Desilu. When the show ended in 1960 (in an hour-long format known as “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour”) so did Lucy and Desi’s marriage. In 1962, hoping to keep Desilu financially solvent, Lucy returned to the sitcom format with “The Lucy Show,” which lasted six seasons. She followed that with a similar sitcom “Here’s Lucy” co-starring with her real-life children, Lucie and Desi Jr., as well as Gale Gordon, who had joined the cast of “The Lucy Show” during season two. Before her death in 1989, Lucy made one more attempt at a sitcom with “Life With Lucy,” also with Gordon.

Richard Denning (George Cugat) was born Louis Albert Heindrich Denninger Jr., in Poughkeepsie, New York. When he was 18 months old, his family moved to Los Angeles. Plans called for him to take over his father’s garment manufacturing business, but he developed an interest in acting. Denning enlisted in the US Navy during World War II. He is best known for his  roles in various science fiction and horror films of the 1950s. Although he teamed with Lucille Ball on radio in “My Favorite Husband,” the two never acted together on screen. While “I Love Lucy” was on the air, he was seen on another CBS TV series, “Mr. & Mrs. North.” From 1968 to 1980 he played the Governor on “Hawaii 5-0″, his final role. He died in 1998 at age 84.

Ruth Perrott (Katie, the Maid) was also later seen on “I Love Lucy.” She first played Mrs. Pomerantz, a member of the surprise investigating committee for the Society Matrons League in “Pioneer Women” (ILL S1;E25), as one of the member of the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League in “Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress” (ILL S3;E3), and also played a nurse when “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” (ILL S2;E16). She died in 1996 at the age of 96.

Bob LeMond (Announcer) also served as the announcer for the pilot episode of “I Love Lucy”. When the long-lost pilot was finally discovered in 1990, a few moments of the opening narration were damaged and lost, so LeMond – fifty years later – recreated the narration for the CBS special and subsequent DVD release.

GUEST CAST

John Hiestand (Cory Cartwright) served as the announcer for the radio show “Let George Do It” from 1946 to 1950. In 1955 he did an episode of “Our Miss Brooks” opposite Gale Gordon.

Jean Vander Pyl (Ann) is best known as the voice of Wilma Flintstone for the Hanna-Barbera cartoon “The Flintstones.” Coincidentally, Wilma’s best friend was voiced by Bea Benadaret, who will later play Iris Atterbury, Liz’s best friend on “My Favorite Husband.” On radio she was heard on such programs as “The Halls of Ivy” (1950–52) and on “Father Knows Best” before it moved to TV.  She died in 1999 at age 79.

Elvia Allman (Miss Worthingill) was born on September 19, 1904 in Enochville, North Carolina. She started her performing career on radio in the 1920s, as both a storyteller and singer. Allman’s first episode of “I Love Lucy” is also one of the most memorable in TV history: “Job Switching” (ILL S2;E1) in September 1952.  She played the strident foreman of Kramer’s Candy Kitchen. Allman returned to the show as one of Minnie Finch’s neighbors in “Fan Magazine Interview” (ILL S3;E17) in 1954. Changing gears once again she played prim magazine reporter Nancy Graham in “The Homecoming” (ILL S5;E6) in 1955. She made two appearances on “The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour“ - first as Ida Thompson, Westfield’s PTA director in “The Celebrity Next Door” (LDCH S1;E2) and as Milton Berle’s secretary when “Milton Berle Hides Out at the Ricardos” (LDCH S3;E1) in 1959. On “The Lucy Show” she was seen in “Lucy Bags a Bargain” (TLS S4;E17) and in “Lucy The Babysitter” (TLS S5;E16).  Allman died on March 6, 1992, aged 87.

Hans Conried (Dr. Rhineholdt Schweinkampf, a Psychiatrist) first co-starred with Lucille Ball in The Big Street (1942). He then appeared on “I Love Lucy” as used furniture man Dan Jenkins in “Redecorating” (ILL S2;E8) and later that same season as Percy Livermore in “Lucy Hires an English Tutor” (ILL S2;E13) – both in 1952. The following year he began an association with Disney by voicing Captain Hook in Peter Pan. On “The Lucy Show” he played Professor Gitterman in “Lucy’s Barbershop Quartet” (TLS S1;E19) and in “Lucy Plays Cleopatra” (TLS S2;E1). He was probably best known as Uncle Tonoose on “Make Room for Daddy” starring Danny Thomas, which was filmed on the Desilu lot. He joined Thomas on a season 6 episode of “Here’s Lucy” in 1973. He died in 1982 at age 64.

Conried uses a broad German accent as the Psychiatrist, a common trope due to the popularity of Dr. Sigmund Freud.

THE EPISODE

ANNOUNCER: “Let’s look in on them now as Liz waits George to come down to breakfast…”

Liz tells Katie the Maid to cook the breakfast, but that she’ll serve it. She’s looking to butter up George for a favor.  

The phone rings and it is Ann asking Liz to lunch. She declines because it is the afternoon of the Young Matrons’ League play auditions. She tells Ann that the famous Hollywood director Anatol Brodney (a former resident of Sheridan Falls) will be in the audience opening night!  The audition notice is in the society column of today’s paper.

In “Pioneer Women” (ILL S1;E25) Lucy and Ethel are anxious to gain membership in a group called The Society Matron’s League if they can pass muster with its haughty examining committee, Mrs. Pettebone and Mrs. Pomerantz. This group is clearly modeled on The Young Matrons League on “My Favorite Husband,” a group that is mentioned in several episodes of the series. Although Lucy always declined to reveal her age, television was a visual medium so the word “young” had to be replaced!

GEORGE: “Are YOU cooking breakfast?” LIZ: “Well, you’re my favorite husband.” GEORGE: “What do you want from me, Liz?”

While waiting for his breakfast, Liz tells George to read the paper, which just happens to be open to the society column. 

GEORGE (reading aloud): “Overheard at tea: People wouldn’t be so incompatible if the men had more income and the girls were more pattable!” 

When George sees the audition notice, he calls the participants jackasses.  Liz was in the play last year, so she takes issue with his assessment. George puts his foot down and won’t let Liz audition. She already knows that this year the play will be John Loves Mary.  

John Loves Mary was a real life comedy written by Norman Krausner that opened on Broadway at the Booth Theatre on February 4, 1947 before moving a month later to the Music Box Theatre for the remainder of its run. It closed on February 7, 1949 after 423 performances. The play won an award for Best Costumes at the very first Tony Awards in 1948. The cast included Max Showalter, who would guest star in several episodes of “The Lucy Show”. The play also served as the Broadway debut of Cloris Leachman, who understudied Nina Foch. In February 1949, just a few months after this broadcast, the film version was released, although it was in production during January and February.  It was known for being the film debut of Patricia Neal, who took the role originated by Nina Foch on Broadway. The film starred Ronald Reagan, who, as President of the United States, would bestow Lucille Ball with her Kennedy Center Honor in 1986. It also featured Paul Harvey, who would play the New York Times art critic on “Lucy is a Sculptress” (ILL S2;E15). Irving Bacon (Mr. Willoughby and Will Potter) is also in the film. .

Liz tells George about the Hollywood director who is going to be in the audience and says she just might land a big Hollywood contract. 

Liz is not the last Lucy character to try out for an amateur theatrical production. In 1963 Lucy Carmichael auditioned for the role of Cleopatra for the Danfield Community Players. She landed the role! 

LIZ: “What has Betty Grable got that I haven’t got? Or Lana Turner?”

Betty Grable (1916-1973) made two films with Lucille Ball when they were both at RKO in the mid-1930s. She married actor Jackie Coogan in 1937 but divorced him in 1940. A pin-up girl, she was known for her shapely legs. In the late 1940s, 20th Century Fox insured her legs with Lloyd’s of London for a quarter of a million dollars. Although she never appeared on the half-hour "I Love Lucy,” the mention of her name alone often stirred Fred’s libido, much to Ethel’s chagrin. In “Ricky’s Screen Test” (ILL S4;E7) Grable is mentioned as one of Ricky’s possible Don Juan co-stars. Her final screen appearance was in a 1958 “Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” playing herself opposite her husband, Harry James.  

Lana Turner (1921-1995) was as famous for her tight-fitting sweaters as Grable was for her shapely legs. She had appeared as herself in DuBarry Was A Lady starring Lucille Ball in 1943. She was mentioned on three episodes of “I Love Lucy” but never appeared on the series. 

Once George has gone to work, Liz quickly phones back Ann and tells her that although George has forbidden it, she is going to the audition anyway. She claims that she isn’t looking for Hollywood fame, but wants to be able to prove to George that she can get it.  

Housewife Liz’s search for fame is a character trait the writers would bring to Lucy Ricardo on “I Love Lucy.” The main difference is that Lucy truly wants to be famous, whereas Liz just wants to prove she has what it takes to get it!

Bachelor Cory Cartwright (John Heistand) drops by to report on his latest girlfriend, listed in his little black book as Mary Johnson, RHRW. The RH means Red Head and the second R stands for Real. (The audience laughs, perhaps knowing that Lucille Ball is NOT a real redhead.)  The final letter is his kissing guide: W is for Wow!  Liz asks if she is listed in his little black book? She is: Liz Cugat RHRWIWG. (Apparently Liz is supposed to be a real redhead). The WIWG stands for “Wish I Were George”!   Liz demurs.  Awww!

Cory lets it slip that he and George are having lunch with Anatol Brodney, who Cory knows from his college days. Liz wants Cory to bring George and Anatol home for dinner so that she can really show off her talent. He promises to try. 

On “I Love Lucy,” the Ricardos and Mertzes also conspire to show off for a visiting Hollywood rep in “The Mustache” (ILL S1;E23). Lucy is a harem dancer, mainly due to the need to disguise the full beard she’s accidentally glued to her face. The Mertzes do an Arabian Nights act complete with snake charming, while Ricky croons ballads.  

This idea would also be part of “Ricky’s Movie Offer” (ILL S4;E5), in which Lucy and the neighbors are sure that Ricky is bringing home a Hollywood talent scout, so they get their acts read. Lucy as Marilyn Monroe, Fred and Ethel as apache dancers, Mrs. Trumbull as a castanet singer, and the grocery delivery boy playing the trumpet!  

At the auditions, Miss Worthingill of the Drama Department of Sixley College (Elvia Allman) is introduced to talk about her acting method. Liz gets up to audition for the role of a matron of 36, although she doesn’t think she can play someone quite so old. [Ball is actually 37 at time!]  The scene involves displaying an array of emotions from laughter to tears, plus chastising a dog who won’t get off the sofa. Miss Worthingill deems Liz a strong contender for the part.

George unexpectedly comes home for some papers and is told by Katie that Liz came home and locked herself in her room. Listening at the door, they hear Liz rehearsing - first crying, then laughing, then barking like a dog. They overhear Liz say the line “Take me in your arms!” and George decides to go in and confront her. Searching the room, he whistles for the dog and looks in the closet and under the bed, naturally finding neither dog, nor secret lover! 

LIZ: “What did you expect to find? The Toni twins?”

Liz is jokingly referring to a series of print ads for Toni Home Permanent that depicted two twins with identical hairstyles and asked which one had the Toni, and which one had the more expensive salon perm. The promotion was so popular that the slogan “Which Twin Has The Toni?” became a part of common parlance. In addition, the Toni name itself became the name for a generic home permanent. The Gillette Safety Razor Company acquired The Toni Company in 1948, the year of this broadcast.  

To hide that she was rehearsing for her final audition, Liz tells George she had a nightmare. Or a ‘day-mare’, since it is daytime.  

A worried George decides to talk to a psychiatrist (Hans Conried) for advice about Liz. Hearing George’s surname, the doctor asks: 

DOCTOR: “Xavier?” GEORGE: “George!  I can’t even hold a tune.”

This is a reference to the Cuban bandleader Xavier Cugat (1900-1990). Lucille Ball’s husband Desi Arnaz was once employed by Cugat and looked at him as a mentor. Although the characters that inspired “My Favorite Husband” were originally named Cugat, it became apparent that there was confusion about the uncommon surname - especially considering the Arnaz / Cugat connection. By the end of 1948 it was decided that the name Cugat would be changed to Cooper to avoid the confusion - and any rumored legal action by the bandleader himself. Coincidentally, when creating the television characters inspired by Liz and George, Lucy and Ricky, they first considered Lopez. However, there already was a Larry Lopez, who was (what else?) a bandleader!  So they became Lucy and Ricky Ricardo.  

George tells the Psychiatrist about Liz’s condition. The Doctor volunteers to come to the Cugat home for dinner to better diagnose Liz. IN order not to alarm her, George tells Liz that he is bringing home an old college chum named Art Jones. Liz naturally thinks it is Anatol Brodney that George is bringing home!  

In “The Inferiority Complex” (ILL S2;E18) Ricky is worried about Lucy’s mental health and also consults a psychiatrist. Like George, Ricky brings him home to observe Lucy. So she doesn’t discover their plan, he calls himself Chuck Stewart, an old friend of Ricky’s.  

Thinking that the psychiatrist is really the Hollywood director, Liz trots out the array of emotions and characters to impress him!  First, a sexy Mae West voice:.

LIZ (ala Mae West): “Hello, boys. I’m certainly glad you came up to see me. There’s a sofa over there, Mr. Jones. Why don’t you get out of that hard chair and slip into something more comfortable?” 

Mae West (1893-1980) was a stage and screen performer who capitalized on her sex appeal and was well-known for her scandalous sexual innuendo. In a 1977 episode of “Donny & Marie” (above) Lucille Ball did her Mae West impersonation yet again!  

Liz immediately switches character to that of a desperate, scorned woman, wildly attacking George for his indiscretions:

LIZ (wildly): “You beat me with a cane and pushed my poor broken body down the stairs!  I don’t care for myself, but you pushed the children after me!” GEORGE: “The children?  I did not!” LIZ (flatly): “Then where are they?”

Liz leaves the room in crocodile tears and the doctor advises daily treatments.  George opens the front door and it is Liz with a shawl on her head, talking like a bleating goat, begging for change. 

LIZ (bleating): “Will you buy a poor old lady’s violets?  I haven’t eaten for a week.”

George rings for Katie, but Liz enters as a Cockney maid. 

LIZ (Cockney): “Alright, alright! I’m comin’ guv’nor. Don’t get on about it!”

When George tells her to quit it, she drops to the floor to become a South seas Native girl! 

LIZ (deep voice): “Me Tondelayo!  Me love white man. You don’t love me?”

During a sketch in “Danny Thomas’ The Wonderful World of Burlesque” in 1966, Lucille Ball wears a leopard print dress and a black wig and struts in seductively saying “I am Tondelayo,” the same words and voice she uses here on “My Favorite Husband” in 1948, 18 years earlier. 

As Liz is prostrate on the floor, the doorbell rings. It is Cory Cartwright, who has with him (as promised) a guest for dinner - Anatol Brodney!  Liz faints. 

Later, Mrs. Worthingill calls and George answers the phone. She tells George that Liz got the part, but George says Liz has given up the theatre for good. Just after George hangs up, Liz, who has been listening on the extension phone, tells Mrs. Worthingill to disregard what George said - she’ll be at rehearsals first thing in the morning!  End of episode!

[lboogie1906]

Fred "Curly" Neal (May 19, 1942 - March 26, 2020) was a basketball player who played with the Harlem Globetrotters. Following in the footsteps of Marques Haynes, he became the Trotters' featured ballhandler, a key role in the team's exhibition act. He played for 22 seasons with the Globetrotters, appearing in more than 6,000 games in 97 countries. His shaved head earned him his nickname, a reference to the Three Stooges' Curly Howard, and made him one of the most recognizable Globetrotters. An animated version of him starred with various other Globetrotters in the Hanna-Barbera animated cartoon Harlem Globetrotters as well as its spinoff, The Super Globetrotters. The animated Globetrotters made three appearances in The New Scooby-Doo Movies. He appeared with Meadowlark Lemon, Marques Haynes, and his other fellow Globetrotters in a live-action Saturday morning TV show, The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine. The Globetrotters announced that his number 22 would be retired in a special ceremony at Madison Square Garden as part of "Curly Neal Weekend." He was just the fifth Globetrotter in the team's 82-year history to have his number retired. He was being inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence https://www.instagram.com/p/CdvKm54LjY4LFAbL4wdB8knzOBkOn8IKsgHqlw0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[historyofthebatman]

"A History of the Justice League" - JLA's Transformation in the Influential Bronze Age: While audiences were enjoying the Justice League of America on tv, the 1970s was also a transforming era for the comic book DCU (cover panel to issue 82 by Neal Adams). The team established a headquarters in the early Bronze Age: in 1970's issue 78 of Justice League of America, the team received a satellite base (panel 2). On 1973's Hanna-Barbera tv show Super Friends, the team met in the now iconic Hall of Justice, first seen in the debut episode (panel 3). The Bronze Age for Justice League founding member Batman was significant as well in the revival of his Gothic roots, straying away from the campiness of the 1960s. One of the many contributors to this change was Steve Englehart, who would pen the now classic series "Strange Apparitions" that introduced characters like love interest Silver St. Cloud and memorable tales such as "The Laughing Fish". Englehart also had a mini run on the JLA title, bringing in along with writers Len Wein and Gerry Conway two unofficial DC and Marvel Comics crossover storylines: the first 3 part story included 1972's Amazing Adventures 16 and Thor 207 (both Marvel publication) and Justice League of America 103 (panel 4), the connecting setting being in Rutland, Vermont for Tom Fagan's Halloween parade (also seen in the Batman centric tale 'Night of the Reaper'). The Justice League not only was involved with this history but also added more female heroines to their evolving roster. First came the return of Wonder Woman: Once Diana received her powers back in her own publication and proved her worth to the other founding members, she regained her spot on the team in Wonder Woman issue 222 and in the Justice League of America title (panel 5, 1976's issues 128 - 129). Followed by this return came new members Hawkgirl (panel 6, 1977's issue 146) to Zatanna (panel 7, 1978's issue 161). The Bronze Age was a reinventing era for both the Justice League and the Caped Crusader both in and outside of the comic book universe, including a new rotating artist team, which included George Pérez who trail-blazed the league into the modern 1980s. ✌🏼💙🦇📚📺

[ramon-balaguer]

Gone with the makani 😭 RIP 🙏🏼 In case you didn't know, I'm from New York, NYC that is and more specifically, the Bronx... which means I'm always concerned for the hood and yesterday we lost a big part; Fred "Curly" Neal (May 19, 1942 - March 26, 2020) was an American basketball player who played with the Harlem Globetrotters. Following in the footsteps of Marques Haynes, Neal became the Trotters' featured ballhandler, a key role in the team's exhibition act.

Neal played for 22 seasons (1963–85) with the Globetrotters, appearing in more than 6,000 games in 97 countries. In the 1970s, an animated version of Neal starred with various other Globetrotters in the Hanna-Barbera animated cartoon Harlem Globetrotters as well as its spinoff, The Super Globetrotters. Neal himself appeared with Meadowlark Lemon, Marques Haynes, and his other fellow Globetrotters in a live-action Saturday morning TV show, The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine.

On January 11, 2008, the Globetrotters announced that Neal's number 22 would be retired on February 15 in a special ceremony at Madison Square Garden as part of "Curly Neal Weekend." Neal was just the fifth Globetrotter in the team's 82-year history to have his number retired, joining Wilt Chamberlain (13), Meadowlark Lemon (36), Marques Haynes (20) and Goose Tatum (50). On January 31, 2008, it was announced that Neal would be inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. #AmericanHeroes #basketballLegends #REBTD