#argyle nickname is gilly

[nymphwriter]

Ok, I've been away for a bit. So here's an idea I have for the murder cult fanfic I'm writing.

"Can I rely on you?" The sweet feeble voice sent a chill down the male's broad back. He wiped his slick hands across his slacks ruining the expensive material. He tried to ease his racing heart. It had been so long since he last heard the woman's voice. He last saw her at his son's birth, now eighteen years ago. Taking a silent deep breath he nodded; his body moving before his mouth.

"Yes ma'am. We will see that he is comfortable and has whatever he needs during his stay." His voice stayed clear and sure as he spoke. Glancing up at his wife, she tilted her head in concern as she read him. He normally looked this distressed when on the phone with his mother but this had an underlying scent of fear to it. She swallowed as she deduced who was on the phone. His mother's best friend, Miss Ines-Gabriela, or as her husband called her Zia. After almost twenty years of marriage, she still didn't know the woman's last name.

"Thank you, deary. I want the best for my mijo. You are as perfect as your mother has said. We are so proud of you pequeno." A blush flooded his cheeks at the old nickname. Business was over.

"Grazzi, Zia." The smile that erupted on his face was heard in his voice. Hanging up the phone after fifteen minutes of questions about his and his family's health. He sighed chuckling at the phone. He would have much work to do on his trip home.

"Dear?" Turning to his wife he couldn't stop the slight burn to the corner of his mouth as he smiled harder. She was clean no longer sporting the soaked poncho or filthy gloves. Looking behind her he noticed the now clean room. Not a sign of their former activities besides the body lying still on the table.

"We have to return quickly." HE winced at the sight of fear that flooded her eyes.

"Is Steve?"

"He's ok, mi cori. Gilly is coming over for some personal business. Zia doesn't want him sleeping in his van." Removing his bloddy gloves he cupped her face laying a kiss atop her head as she kissed his palm. She gasped at the last part turning quickly as she gathered her things.

"Absolutely not. He can not sleep in that old thing. I'll ring Harrien, and tell her to have the guest room ready for his arrival. You'll need to warn Jim and get the cabin prepped for him."

"Yes, mi cori." He smiled following behind her as she ordered his men into their next tasks.

[papermoonloveslucy]

Lucy Becomes a Reporter

S1;E17 ~ January 21, 1963

Synopsis

After just three days as the fill-in society reporter for the Danfield newspaper, Lucy's job is hanging by a thread. The only thing that will save it is an interview with a press-shy financier visiting town. Once she learns he had been Viv's high school sweetheart, Lucy heads down to his hotel for a scoop, passing herself off as Vivian.

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carmichael), Vivian Vance (Vivian Bagley)

Jimmy Garrett (Jerry Carmichael), Ralph Hart (Sherman Bagley), Candy Moore (Chris Carmichael), and Dick Martin (Harry Connors) do not appear in this episode

Guest Cast

John Vivyan (Argyle Nelson) makes his only appearance on “The Lucy Show.” He played the title character of the CBS series “Mr. Lucky” (1958-60). He died in 1983. Despite playing a classmate of Viv’s, Vivyan is six years younger. 

The character is named after Desilu's Vice President for Studio Operations W. Argyle Nelson. His nickname “Socks” is a pun on argyle socks, a type of men’s hosiery with a plaid pattern derivesd from the tartan of Clan Campbell of Argyll in western Scotland.

Roscoe Karns (Mr. Foley, the Editor) appeared with Lucille Ball in the 1939 film That's Right – You're Wrong. This appearance on “The Lucy Show” is his penultimate screen credit.  He died in 1970.

Jack Foley was the name of the show’s film editor. In Hollywood, Foley is the term for creating sound effects. 

Bobs Watson (Calvin, the Copy Boy) started in the business as a child actor who could cry on cue, earning him the nickname 'The Crybaby of Hollywood.' At the age of eight he appeared with Lucille Ball in the film Go Chase Yourself (1938). He was probably most famous for playing Pee Wee in Boys Town (1938) and Men of Boys Town (1941). He does not cry like a baby in this episode, but Lucy does! He died in 1999 at the age of 68.

Emlen Davies (Mr. Nelson’s Secretary) makes her only series appearance in this episode. Her final screen appearances was as a background player in a 1967 episode of “The Mothers-in-Law,” a series produced by Desi Arnaz.

This episode’s copyright date is December 6, 1962.

On the date this episode first aired, silent film actor Al ‘Fuzzy’ St. John, one of the original Keystone Cops, died at age 68. He had briefly appeared with Lucille Ball in the 1943 film Valley of the Sun. Coincidentally, his second wife’s last name was Ball (no relation). 

After this episode of “The Lucy Show,” “The Danny Thomas Show” featured ‘Lucy’ character actors Hans Conried (Dr. Gitterman), Sid Melton ("The Lucy Desi Comedy Hour”), and Phil Ober (Vivian Vance’s ex-husband).

Viv sets up the premise of the episode by reading from Betty Gillis' Society Column in The Danfield Tribune: 

“Argyle Nelson, mystery man financier, has checked-in to the Danfield Hotel. Could it be another of his hush-hush million dollar business deals?”

Mr. Foley, the Tribune’s editor, refers to Lucy as Brenda Starr. Brenda Starr is the lead character in a comic strip about an adventurous female reporter. It debuted in 1940. Like Lucy, she had red hair. 

Lucy says that she was called ‘Clare Boothe Lucy’ in high school. This is a pun on Clare Boothe Luce (1903-87), who was a writer and journalist in her own right, in addition to being married to Henry Luce, a powerful publishing magnate in the magazine industry.  Luce was the author of the 1938 play Kiss The Boys Goodbye, which starred Vivian Vance in its Chicago production. On Broadway, the role was played by Vance’s friend (and Ethel Merman understudy) Benay Venuta. It also featured Vance’s third husband, Phil Ober. In the 1941 film version (above) the role was taken by Barbara Jo Allen, but the film featured Elizabeth Patterson (Mrs. Trumbull).  The storyline of the play / film was inspired by the search for Scarlett O’Hara. Lucille Ball was one of the many actors who was considered for the role.  

Viv calls Lucy ‘Louella’ a reference to gossip columnist Louella Parsons (right). Lucy later invokes the name of Parsons' chief rival, Hedda Hopper (left), another chronicler of Hollywood during the mid-twentieth century. Both women were frequently mentioned on “I Love Lucy,” although only Hopper appeared on the show, playing herself in two episodes.  

Lucy hangs up the phone with Betty Gillis saying “That's thirty!”  “-30-” has been traditionally used by journalists in North America to indicate the end of a transmitted or written story. There are many theories about its origin. In 1959 there was a film about the newspaper business titled -30- (inset photo). In the UK, the movie was titled Deadline Midnight because the number 30 is predominantly an American press usage.

LINGO JINGO! Trying to fit in to the world of ink-stained men, Lucy answers the phone by saying “Shoot!” instead of “Hello” and identifies herself as “Scoop” Carmichael. She calls Mr. Foley “Chief” and tells him that Viv is her “leg man” with a “hot item.”  Lucy shouts “stop the presses” to report that Vivian Bagley has been invited to play bridge at Audrey Simmons'. Mr. Foley points out that it is not a “scoop” because there are no other papers in town.  

Lucy and Viv were featured on the front page of The Danfield Tribune in “Lucy Becomes an Astronaut” (S1;E6).  

Mr. Foley sends Lucy to Oak Street and Long Ridge Road. Lucy thinks it is to cover a big story, but it is to pick up lunch from the drug store. The drug store was first mentioned in the series opener. This episode also gives us a look at a suite at the Danfield Hotel.  

We learn a lot about Viv in this episode. Her maiden name is Tuttle. Argyle “Socks” Nelson was her first kiss. In season two, Wally Cox will play Viv’s cousin, Wally Tuttle (listed in the credits as Harry Tuttle) in “Lucy Conducts the Symphony” (S2;E13). The name Harry Tuttle resurface in season three when Jack Benny plays his own doppelganger in “Lucy and The Plumber” (S3;E2). He is not related to Vivian. 

Lucy gets a phone call from Audrey Simmons complaining that Lucy has spelled her name with just one ‘m’ when writing about her dinner party. Audrey Simmons is usually played by Mary Jane Croft, although she does not appear in this episode. 

Viv went to Shortridge High School, which was the real life Indianapolis high school of writer Madelyn Pugh Davis. 

The yearbook that Lucy and Viv look at was a real 1938 yearbook Davis brought in from home. Viv mentions that her high school principal was Mr. Hadley, which was also the name of Davis's high school principal. Lucy says the school was named after educator George P. Shortridge, but in fact his name was really Abraham C. Shortridge. The school colors were blue and white and they were known as the Blue Devils.  Argyle and Viv were cheerleaders together. It was also mentioned on “My Favorite Husband” that Liz Cooper (Lucille Ball) went to Shortridge High.

According to Nelson, Viv was known in high school was as ‘Truckie’ because of her dance moves while doing “The Big Apple.”  The dance dates back to the African American ritual dances of the mid-1800s. The name comes from its revival in the 1930s at The Big Apple Club in Columbia, South Carolina. In 1937 it became a national dance craze. ‘Truckin’ is a shuffle step variation popularized after the vaudeville era. The right hand is held up with the index finger extended and wagging. Lucy and Argyle demonstrate it during the episode.  The name of the move comes from the song “Truckin' My Blues Away” by Blind Boy Fuller and later led to the expression “Keep on Truckin'!”  

Viv says that Nelson has turned into an eccentric, or as Lucy calls him 'a weirdo,' who won't talk to the press. It sounds very much like they're describing reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes (1905-76) who was also described in such terms and avoided the press.  

Callbacks!

Lucy Carmichael disguises herself as Vivian Bagley to get the story. Lucy Ricardo and Ethel Mertz disguised themselves as male newspaper reporters to crash Ricky's daddy shower when “Ricky Has Labor Pains” (ILL S2;E14).  

Lucy Carmichael consulting the newspaper want ads for a part-time job was also something done by Lucy Ricardo in “The Amateur Hour” (ILL S1;E14), “Job Switching” (ILL S2;E1), and “Lucy is Envious” (ILL S3;E23, above).  

Blooper Alerts!

Recycling! When Lucy puts her first piece of paper in the typewriter, it already has typing on it!

Calendar Clues! Judging by the arrangement of dates and the fact that the ‘25′ is a different color, the wall calendar must be for December 1963. The episode was probably filmed in December 1962 using a new 1963 calendar flipped ahead to December.  

“Lucy Becomes a Reporter” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5