#what's Desi Arnaz Jr doing these days?

[coupleofdays]

Along with the first picture from Tron: Ares, there was a short description of the plot, saying that it's about a Program "who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission". This description makes is sound to me that the film will be set less in the digital world and more in the "real world". It also makes me wonder if it might be a cynical way to save cash on film production, if they can film a lot of it in current-day city environments, and don't have to create as many special effects. I'm kind of reminded of the old Masters of the Universe live action film, where He-Man and gang was sent to Earth, presumably to save money on sets. It also makes me think of...

Wait...

No. Oh god, no no no...

A story about a computer program materializing in the real world, so that it can be produced on a smaller budget?

Users help us, it... it's even worse than we thought.

They're remaking Automan.

[gummybear1031]

I'm letting the randomizer pick my 31 Days 31 Horror Movies this year.

Today's choice was 1983's "House of the Long Shadows," which is free on Tubi.

Author Kenneth Magee bets his publisher Sam Allyson that he can write a Gothic horror novel in less than 24 hours. Allyson sends him to a deserted manor in Wales (which is weirdly devoid of Welsh people), so Magee can write in peace. Instead he finds himself in a Gothic horror novel.

The real reason to watch it is Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, and John Carradine on the screen together eating all the scenery.

Live tweets and spoilers below the cut.

Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, and John Carradine in the same movie? I've never heard of this, but I'm already very excited.

Desi Arnaz Jr.? What are you doing here?

We've already had a contemporary novel vs. classics debate. It's definitely on a different level on when I have those debates. But I'm excited.

Desi is so outclassed by every one else in this movie.

Okay, Desi interrupting the creepy stationmaster warning him away from the haunted house with “Yes, I've seen the movie,” is pretty funny.

Thank you, horror movie, for having proper lighting. This one candle has made the whole room visible, except for the dark creepy shadows where people can pop out of. Exactly how it's supposed to be.

I love the subtle realization of the fact that this “empty for 40 years house” has been recently dusted.

The set design of this house is absolutely gorgeous.

John Carradine as the creepy caretaker.

Hot blonde from London in a scary mask? How'd she know he was here? (Guess: she's been sent to sabotage Desi.)

Desi's continual movie references are still funny. My spouse is starting to groan at them, though.

Told ya hot blonde was a scam! Creepy John Carradine isn't the creepy caretaker. Oh, noes!

Desi gives no effs about the mystery. Good for him. I'm still convinced the creepy caretakers are part of Allyson's evil plan of evil (and winning a bet).

Peter Cushing! The reveal lighting deserves an award. Also, his cheekbones are amazing.

That black cat scare was hilarious. They scream at the cat like it stabbed someone and then just let it walk away. Don't even say “Oh, it's just a cat.” And nobody tried to pet them despite obviously being a very cute kitty doing their very spooky job.

Hot Blonde (Mary) was hired just to scream at things.

The door just opened and someone walked in. Let's stare at his shadow instead of him! If Vincent Price walked into my house, I would definitely not be staring at shadows.

Hot punch? Is this a thing in Wales? Also, why are all these Welsh people English? Didn't the travelers at the station say all the people in this town hate the English?

I love Vincent Price.

Victoria (lady caretaker) has managed to be creepier than all these horror greats with one line. Girl power!

For Desi to keep claiming that he only cares about writing, he sure is spending a bunch of time trying to figure out the mystery.

Why are they making out?!? She's convinced they're locked in a home with murderers and no way to escape, but she's making out with Desi Arnaz Jr.? I mean, shoot your shot, girlie pop, but this is maybe not the time.

Christopher Lee is always amazing. The way he says, “oh,” to Desi's claim to be a writer is amazing. It's so disdainful without saying anything at all.

Peter Cushing being embarrassed about being related to Vincent Price and John Carradine is hilarious to me. Also, Victoria still trying to give people punch is the best running joke. Why is she so obbsessed with this punch? Is it poison?

Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, and Christopher Lee arguing is amazing. More of this, movie.

The long slow push in on Vincent Price listening to Victoria sing is beautiful. Also amazing is Christopher Lee trying to check his watch subtly while obviously being bored out of his mind.

It's a pretty good gothic movie. It's trying so hard to be great, though. And it's got moments when it's almost there. The costume design is so good. Victoria's mourning garb with her veil of pearls that's only visible when viewed from above is so pretty.

Victoria is very melodramatic, though. I get that almost everybody else on the screen is a Large Ham, but she's definitely the largest. Which is wild considering who else is in this movie.

Peter Cushing is amazing at drunk acting. It's so subtle.

Creepy dolls and maggots in the room, FTW. Still convinced Hot Blonde was hired just to scream.

I thought Roderick had committed suicide solely to scare his dad to death, but apparently, it was someone else? How did he get this dude into his room? This makes no sense. But it's very gothic. I still think this is all setup by Allyson to get Desi to lose the bet.

A 14yo got a girl pregnant and murdered her? That's totally believable and not sus at all.

Wait, Christopher Lee was just driving around in a tux and opera cape when he saw lights in an old house and thought it was a good idea to stop in? I'm not nearly that classy.

Black cat again! This time they upset our cat. He's grumpy this cat keeps making noises.

Now the travelers are back. Their little bit with the woman trying to explain what's going on and the man complaining about the trains was great.

“Piano wire. He must have heard her singing.” The shade of it all!

Holy crap! The male traveler just punched his wife in the face! Then called it a “little tiff.”

Didn't Desi play with that water earlier? And now it's acid or something? Oh cool, the male traveler has been poisoned by Victoria's punch. They lasted a really long time.

Do they really expect us to believe a dude who's been locked in his bedroom for 40 years can easily get his hands on acid and poison? This movie is making less sense as it goes on.

Not Peter Cushing! He's the nicest member of this whole damn family.

The way Vincent Price announced his brother's murder definitely made it sound like he did it.

Wait. Christopher Lee is Roderick?!? YES! Beautiful.

Of course Vincent Price is the real murderer. That makes so much more sense. Also, what is wrong with this axe? Christopher Lee's swung it 400 times and Vincent Price is still screaming. Also, also, Hot Blonde, do something other than just stand there and scream! Get out the house, woman!

Why is she crawling up the stairs instead of standing and running away? She could even kick him down the stairs. He's old and has been locked up for like 40 years.

Never mind. Christopher Lee is handing Desi his ASS.

He also survived falling down all the stairs with an axe in his stomach.

Everybody's alive. Because it was all a trick from Allyson! Also, what the fuck is John Carradine wearing? He looks like a clown.

Vincent Price and Christopher Lee being catty at each other after is amazing. More of that always.

The whole thing was Desi's novel he was writing? That's a good twist actually. I'd buy the book.

[papermoonloveslucy]

BALLOWEEN ~ Spooky Kooky Lucy!

A Handy Dandy Guide To Halloween in the Lucyverse

FILM

LURED is a 1947 suspense film directed by Douglas Sirk starring Lucille Ball, George Sanders, and former Frankenstein monster Boris Karloff.

SYNOPSIS: Sandra Carpenter (Lucille Ball) is a London-based dancer who is distraught to learn that her friend has disappeared. Soon after the disappearance, she's approached by Harley Temple (Charles Coburn), a police investigator who believes her friend has been murdered by a serial killer who uses personal ads to find his victims. Temple hatches a plan to catch the killer using Sandra as bait, and Sandra agrees to help. But complications arise when Sandra becomes engaged to a nightclub owner.

This example of film noir is more suspenseful than scary, but it is nice to see Ball in a different genre than comedy.

RADIO

"Liz’s Superstitions” (aka “Superstition”) is episode #59 of the radio series MY FAVORITE HUSBAND broadcast on October 21, 1949.

SYNOPSIS: A chirping cricket in the Cooper’s hearth is driving George crazy, but Liz is convinced it means good luck. When Liz insists that it isn't lucky to banish a cricket, George gets upset with her superstitions.

MR. ACME: “There are only three of us in this room. Only two of us will leave here alive.”

LIZ: “I hope one of them is not a cricket!” 

"Halloween Surprise Party” (aka “The Halloween Party” aka “The Surprise Halloween Party”) is episode #60 of the radio series MY FAVORITE HUSBAND broadcast on October 28, 1949.

SYNOPSIS: The Atterburys decide to throw a Halloween surprise party for Liz and George, but when Liz hears about their party at the beauty salon, she thinks that she and George just weren't invited. When the subject turns to everyone’s plans for Halloween, the Atterburys lie and tell the Coopers that Iris’s mother is ill so they are having dinner with her.

RUDOLPH: “Yes, we always spend Halloween with the old witch!” 

“The Ten Grand” was an episode of radio’s Suspense broadcast on June 22, 1944. The script is by Virginia Radcliffe. It was her only Suspense script in a long radio writing career. This story was included in Suspense Magazine #3.

SYNOPSIS: A broke chorus girl inexplicably finds ten thousand dollars in her purse after it’s been temporarily stolen on the subway. She’s not sure what to do about it, and it soon leads to trouble. She has been set up.

Lucille Ball had done a previous episode of Suspense in January 1944 titled “Dime a Dance”. 

"Early To Death" is an episode of Suspense that aired April 12, 1951. It starred Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in a script by John Michael Hayes and E. Jack Newman, produced and directed by Elliott Lewis.

SYNOPSIS: Ben is a co-pilot on a plane and he and his partner Evie (Lucille Ball) call in that their plane is in trouble. But the plane wasn’t in trouble, it was carrying the company’s payroll and the two of them jumped from the plane with the money and took it as they had planned and buried it in the mountain where they planned to leave it until things had died down. A few days later they strolled in to a nearby town like two plane crash survivors. They knew there would be questions to answer but they had rehearsed for this over the year. When the wreckage was found it was assumed that the money had burnt in it. It seemed that they were clear and all they had to do was wait but then a guy named Rico Sebastian turned up claiming that he had seen them bury the money in the mountains.

“I’d killed, then he’d killed. The way I looked at it, it was my turn again.” ~ Evie

TELEVISION

"The Seance" is the seventh episode of season one of "I Love Lucy" aired on November 26, 1951. Directed by Marc Daniels. Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh and Bob Carroll, Jr.

SYNOPSIS: Lucy is obsessed with astrology and numerology just as Ricky is about to be interviewed by a producer who also believes heavily in the supernatural.  To appease him, the gang hosts a séance to contact his dear departed Tilly.   

This episode is based on an episode of Lucy’s radio show “My Favorite Husband” titled “Numerology,” which was first broadcast on Christmas Day 1948. 

MEDIUM RAYA (in a trance): "Ethel to Tilly. Ethel to Tilly. Come in, Tilly. Over."

"Little Ricky's School Pageant" is the tenth episode of season six of "I Love Lucy" aired December 17, 1956. Directed by James V. Kern. Written by Madelyn Martin, Bob Carroll, Jr., Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf.

SYNOPSIS: Little Ricky is cast as the lead in his school play, with Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel also getting into the act. Lucy plays a wicked witch who threatens to kidnap Susie and her little brother Billy.

"Lucy and the Monsters" is 18th episode of season three of "The Lucy Show" aired January 25, 1965.

SYNOPSIS: When Lucy and Viv decide to check out the horror movies their boys have been watching, Lucy has a nightmare in which she and Viv are trapped in a haunted castle where they encounter a variety of horror movie characters - until their host turns them into witches themselves!  

LUCY: “The over-abundance of spooky stuff in movies and TV can cause traumatic experience in our youngsters.”

This is as close as Lucy gets to a Halloween episode, although it was first aired in January! It includes all the horror movie tropes: haunted house, vampires, werewolves, witches, mummies, and creatures.

"Lucy Cuts Vincent's Price" is the 9th episode of season three of "Here's Lucy" aired November 9, 1970, one week after Halloween.

SYNOPSIS: Lucy mistakenly buys a painting at an auction and brings it to art connoisseur actor Vincent Price to be appraised.  Price thinks Lucy is an actress coming to audition for his new horror movie and terrorizes Lucy in his study turned laboratory.

"Lucy and the Little Old Lady" is the 17th episode of the fourth season of "Here's Lucy" aired January 3, 1972, starring Helen Hayes.

SYNOPSIS: When a kindly widow from out of town (Helen Hayes) comes to the Unique Employment Agency looking for a part-time job, Lucy gives her a place to stay and Harry buys some real estate from her. Kim becomes suspicious that she may be running a con game so they plan to hold a fake séance to get Harry’s money back.

To be truthful, there's nothing particularly scary about this episode, even the séance!

[good-evening-mr-kaplan]

Rules: answer 30 questions and tag 20 blogs you’d love to know more about!

I was tagged by @britishsixtiesbeat, thanks for tagging me pal! finally getting to this. 

Name: Sarah 

Nickname(s): none 

Gender: Female

Star sign: Libra

Height: 5′’

Time: 9pm

Birthday: Sept. 29th

Favorite bands: The Beatles, The Monkees, Wings, etc.. (but don’t listen to them often these days but they’re still my favorite bands)

Favorite solo artist: Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Desi Arnaz

Song stuck in my head: i currently dont have one stuck in my head

Last movie: Ocean’s 11 baby!! 

Last show: Family Feud (Richard Dawson’s of course) (but about to be Hogan’s Heroes cuz i plan on watching it after i finish this lol)

When did I create this blog: late 2012

What do I post: Old Hollywood, The Rat Pack aka “The Summit”, Bob Crane/Hogan’s Heroes, etc... (technically they all fall under Old Hollywood but whatever) 

Last thing I googled: i’m not sure

Other blogs: well since i’ve outted it once before (in a put in the tags post)...i’ve got a roleplay blog for Newkirk of Hogan’s Heroes.

Do I get asks: sometimes

Why I chose my URL:  I love the movie North By Northwest 

Following: 545

Followers: 796

Average hours of sleep: it depends 

Lucky number: don’t have one

Instruments: I can play the drums 

Dream job: to work for TCM, or at a record store or antique store

Dream trip: Ireland (and Northern Ireland..my paternal grandmother was from there) & England

Favorite food: Italian food, Mexican food, Cuban when i can get it (we dont have Cuban restuarants near where i live and it makes me sad)

Nationality: American 

Favorite Song: i’ve got too many but to narrow it down any song by Dino or Frank 

Last book read: bold of you to assume i read ................but honestly its been a long time since i’ve actually finished a book. i usually start them and never finish them.

Top three fictional universes I’d like to live in: I Love Lucy, Hogan’s Heroes (*shugs*) and yeah that’s it just those two.  I tag: whoever would like to do this that’s reading this...just say i tagged you :)

[cinema-tv-etc]

“Just the facts, ma’am” — “Dragnet” (1951 - 1959) (1967 - 1970)

“Ladies and gentlemen: the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.” Such a cool opening for one of the most memorable “cop” TV shows of all time. Sgt. Joe  — My name’s Friday. I’m a cop — Friday (Jack Web) and his detective sidekicks (played by Ben Alexander and Harry Morgan) managed to keep us glued to the television with their subtle tactics in apprehending criminals because all they really needed in their quest was... just the facts. So cool. Dum, de, dum, dum! Check out this very cool short video.

“Stifle it, Edith!” — “All In The Family” (1971 - 1979) Archie Bunker (Carroll O’Connor) had a way with words. He called his liberal son-in-law,  “Meathead”and his faithful wife, “Dingbat “ (and he insulted about every stereotype you can name) without getting his hand slapped from the politically correct community. He was so lovable, though, right? Whenever his wife Edith (Jean Stapleton) had an opinion, he managed to stifle her — most of the time. Check out the time she stifled him here.

“Who Loves Ya Baby?” — “Kojak” (1973 - 1978)

Kojak (Telly Savalas) was probably the only New York City detective on TV who made the Tootsie Roll Pop sexy. And, didn’t he start the bald head craze? (OK, Yul Brenner in the “King And I” helped get this trend started).  Who loves Ya, Baby? We do, we do!  (Look here for clip.)

“Good Evening” — Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955 - 1962)

Maybe you had to be there, but no one could grab an audience with an introduction quite like Alfred Hitchcock. His “series of unrelated short stories covering elements of crime, horror, drama and comedy about people of different species committing murders, suicides, thefts and other sorts of crime caused by certain motivations” kept us coming back for more each week. It seems like seven years just wasn’t enough for this film director and his spell-bounding stories.  Take a look at his one-of-a-kind introductions here.  

“Would you believe... “ — “Get Smart”  (1965 - 1970)

“Get Smart” (battling the forces of KAOS) had an embarrassment of riches in the catchphrase department. Maxwell Smart, Agent 86 (Don Adams) kept his co-hort, Agent 99 (Barbara Feldon) and the Chief (Edward Platt) on the tips of their toes every time he opened his mouth. “Would you believe” these words of wisdom: “Missed it by that much!,” “Sorry about that, Chief,” and “I asked you not to tell me that.” Yes, we would believe anything you say, Agent 86. Take a peek at these “Get Smart” funniest moments here.

“To the moon, Alice!” — “The Honeymooners/The Jackie Gleason Show” (1951 - 1959) Who could forget the wild and crazy antics of New York City bus driver Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason), sarcastic wife Alice Kramden (Audrey Meadows), NYC sewer worker, Ed Norton (Art Carney) and his wife Trixie (Joyce Randolph)? These four feisty Brooklyn residents tested each others patience on a daily basis which was the reason millions of viewers tuned in once a week. Needless to say, Alice Kramden knew how to draw blood which is why Ralph gave her the what for... “One of these days, Alice, you’re going to the moon!”   “Just One more thing...” — “Colombo”  (1971 - 2003)

Peter Falk made “Colombo” a household name with his unique way of solving the “whodunit” mystery in this clever television detective show. The Fashion Police would have a field day with this disheveled, cigar-smoking detective. (Oh, that rumpled, beige raincoat... how we loved it.) The criminal always thinks he/she has the upper hand in the investigation only to be caught up in the web of Colombo’s increasingly intrusive presence. Just when the suspect thinks all is well,  the polite detective (who always gets his man/woman), has “just one more thing“ to ask.

“Goodnight, John Boy” — “The Waltons”  (1971 - 1981)

This Great Depression Virginia mountain family sure knew how to grab our hearts. Each episode focuses on the “family of John Walton Jr. (known as John-Boy), his parents, John and Olivia Walton, their seven children, and John’s parents Zebulon “Zeb” and Esther Walton. John-Boy (Richard Thomas) is the eldest of the children (17 years old in the beginning), who becomes a journalist and novelist. In the signature scene that closes almost every episode, the family house is enveloped in darkness, save for one, two or three lights in the upstairs bedroom windows. Through voice-overs, two or more characters make some brief comments related to that episode’s events, and then bid each other goodnight, after which the lights go out.”

“Let’s be careful out there.” — “Hill Street Blues” (1981 - 1987)

“Hill Street Blues“is an American serial police drama that chronicled the lives of the staff of a single police station located on the fictional Hill Street, in an unnamed large city, with ‘blues’ being a slang term for police officers for their blue uniforms.”  In the opening, Sgt. Phil Esterhaus  (Michael Conrad) does the police roll call, concluding with his signature line: “Let’s be careful out there.”

“May God bless.” — “The Red Skelton Show” (1951 - 1971)

“The Red Skelton Show” was mainly known for the comedy sketches performed by Red himself which included an array of comedic characters (Clem Kadiddlehopper, San Fernando Red, George Appleby and Freddie the Freeloader). He also had guest star performers including John Wayne, Phyllis Diller, Jack Benny... the list goes on forever. His opening monologue often included his two favorite seagulls, Gertrude and Heathcliff. At the end of each show, he ended it with thoughts that went something like this.

“Lucy! You got some ‘splainin’ to do!” — “I Love Lucy” (1951 - 1957) That crazy redhead we affectionately know as Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball) was never at a loss for words... or hair brained, good-natured mischief. Her cohort, Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance) was somewhat skeptical at times to play along, but the two BFFs made life interesting for their respective spouses, Ricky (Desi Arnaz) and Fred (William Frawley) to say the least. When Lucy tested Ricky’s patience one too many times, he screamed the only phrase that came to mind (each time): “Lucy, You got some ‘splainin’ to do!” Don’t we all use that phrase ocassionally when we get pissed at our significant others (no matter what gender they are)?

“Yada, Yada, Yada” — “Seinfeld” (1989 - 1998)

Let’s give a big round of applause to Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld), Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), George Costanza (Jason Alexander) and Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) for giving us the best nine sitcom seasons of our lives. Did you know it was actually George’s new girlfriend, Marcy, who came up with the “yada, yada, yada” expression? If you don’t do anything else today, watch this Seinfeld montage.  

“Come On Down!” — “The Price Is Right“ (1956 - 1965) (1972 - Present)

I don’t care how old you are, you have heard — at one time in your life — a game show announcer say, “Come on down!” You know the game show: “The Price Is Right.” And you know the master of all game shows: Bob Barker. The point is, no matter what year you were born, somewhere, on some network, “The Price Is Right” has been on your radar. Unless you live in a third world country. Check out this “Come on down!” video with Bob Barker.

“Sock it to me.” — “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh In” (1967 - 1973) The comedy team of Dan Rowan and Dick Martin hosted this psychedelic, fast-moving comedy series that featured series regulars Lily Tomlin, Ruth Buzzi, Judy Carne, Goldie Hawn, Arte Johnson, Jo Ann Worley, Gary Owens, Alan Sues and Henry Gibson. Judy Carne became the butt of the joke when she said, “Sock it to me.” They doused her with water or gently assaulted her with rubber objects. Be careful what you say out there.

“Dy-no-mite!” — “Good Times” (1974 - 1979) “Good Times“ lets us in on the lives of Florida (Esther Rolle) and James Evans   (John Amos) and their three children, J.J. (Jimmie Walker), Thelma (Bern Nadette Stanis) and Michael (Ralph Carter). “Episodes of Good Times deal with the characters’ attempts to survive in a high rise project building in Chicago, despite their poverty” ... and hilarity ensues. Fess up, you know you said the word “Dy-n-Mite!” every time something good happened in your life back in the day, thanks to the adorable J.J. (Although nobody says it better!)

“God will get you for that!” — “Maude” (1972 - 1978)

Who remembers that “Maude“ was a spin-off from “All In The Family?” Yes, Maude (Bea Arthur) was Edith’s cousin —  who  somehow got the spunk gene in the family.  And who remembers that Maude was a “liberal, independent woman living in Tuckahoe, NY with her fourth husband, Walter (Bill Macy)?” And if you didn’t know all that... (say it).

“De Plane, De Plane” — “Fantasy Island” (1977 - 1984)

Picture it: a remote tropical island resort where all your dreams come true. Well, not exactly. There were glitches in those wishes. Mr. Roarke (Ricardo Montalban ), assisted by his adorable miniature side-kick Tattoo (Hervé Villechaize) had the best of intentions of making his guests live out their fantasies, but what kind of show would that be if everything were perfect? You could count on one thing. The beginning of each episode,  a plane arrived with their (we’re presuming rich) guests. Tattoo always alerted Mr. Roarke, by pointing up to the sky, announcing: “De Plane, de plane!” Welcome to Fantasy Island.

“What U Talkin’ ‘bout Willis?” — “Different Strokes” (1978 - 1986)

“Different Strokes” starred Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges (Arnold and Willis Jackson), Conrad Bain (Phillip Drummond) and Dana Plato (Kimberly Drummond) who were perhaps one of the first racially mixed families on television.  Arnold didn’t hold back when Willis came up with some bizarre and/or surprise monologue that got his goat. “What u talkin’ ‘bout, Willis?”  Too cute!

“Book ‘em, Danno.” — “Hawaii Five-0” (1968 - 1980)

This may be my all-time favorite detective show based in Hawaii (sorry “Magnum P.I.”). And it may well just be because of one of my all-time favorite detective catchphrases: “Book ‘em Danno.” Detective Steve McGarrett (Jack Lord) worked so well with Danny Williams (James MacArthur) in each episode to put the bad guys in hand cuffs. (And who didn’t love that theme song!? Check it out here and turn the volume up and enjoy!)

“Say the secret word and win a hundred dollars.” — “You Bet Your Life” (TV version, 1950 - 1961)

Groucho Marx was probably the first choice to host this quiz show that featured a show chocked full of competitive questions — and some hilarious conversation. As it turns out, the comedian was the perfect host. As in all quiz shows, there is money to be won. But, with the right “word,” a contestant could win an extra hundred big ones. All they had to do was say the secret word. Easy Not so fast. How many words are in the English language? But we loved to hear Groucho announce: “Say the secret word and win a hundred dollars.” Sometimes they did. And that was seriously exciting.

“Say goodnight, Gracie” — “The George Burns And Gracie Allen Show“ (1950 - 1958)                              

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/catchphrases-classic-tv-shows_b_8142724.html

[elvisgirl71]

WHO WAS THE MEMPHIS MAFIA ? Part 3) Red West was in charge of security and in later years was involved with some of Elvis music. Occationally Red would leave to pursue acting or music. After 1976 he no longer wocked-for-Eivls. Red has starred in such television programs as "The Wild Wild West," The Black Sheep Squadron, and "The Duke." West contributed to several songs written to Elvis Presley in 1961 and 1962. He received help from Elvis Presley in writing two songs in the early 1960s, which were collaborations: "You'll Be Gone" and "That's Someone You Never Forget". "That's Someone You Never Forget" was the final track on the 1962 album Pot Luck. The song was released as a 45-rpm B-side single in 1967 and was featured on the Artist of the Century compilation. "You'll Be Gone" was featured on the "Girl Happy (album)" as a bonus track. West also co-wrote "If You Think I Don't Need You" with Joey Cooper for the motion picture Viva Las Vegas. He teamed up with Joey Cooper again on "I'm A Fool", which Ricky Nelson recorded.[10] "I'm A Fool" later became a hit for Dino, Desi and Billy, the partnership of Dean-Paul "Dino" Martin, Desi Arnaz Jr., and William "Billy" Hinsche. West also co wrote the song "Separate Ways" with Richard Mainegra for Elvis in 1972 and "If You Talk in Your Sleep" a track from Presley's 1975 album Promised Land. The latter song was written by Red West and Johnny Christopher. Red also wrote "If Every Day Was Like Christmas", recorded by Elvis Presley in 1966. In addition to writing for Elvis, Red also had songs recorded by the likes of Pat Boone, Rick Nelson, Johnny Burnette, Johnny Rivers, Dino, Desi & Billy, Petula Clark, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, Andre Kostelanetz and His Orchestra, and Little Milton to name a few. In 1976, West was involved in a series of heavy-handed incidents in Las Vegas with aggressive fans that got out of hand, drawing criticism from the media. More than that, West was becoming more vocal about Presley's drug problem and how he needed help. As a result, West, his cousin Sonny West, and a third bodyguard named David Hebler were fired by Elvis's father, Vernon Presley, who hated most, if not all, of the members of his son's entourage. West subsequently helped write the book Elvis: What Happened?, which was published weeks before Presley's death. The book, according to West in the book, was an attempt to help Presley, but believed by some to be an attempt to retaliate and earn an income after being fired. When Presley was making films in the 1960s in Hollywood, Red West appeared in small roles in sixteen of the star's films. During this time, West became good friends with actor Nick Adams and his physical abilities got him hired on as a stuntman on Adams' television series, The Rebel. From there, West went on to do more stunt work in film as well as developing a career as an actor in a number of motion pictures and on television. He was often on screen as a henchman in the television series The Wild Wild West. West played Master Sergeant Andy Micklin on Baa Baa Black Sheep. He guest starred twice on the CBS hit detective series Magnum, P.I. as different characters, as five different ones on The A-Team, the Knight Rider pilot episode "Knight of the Phoenix", on The Fall Guy, Simon & Simon and in "The Once and Future King", an episode of The Twilight Zone. In 1989 West appeared in the action film Road House with Patrick Swayze as Red Webster, the auto parts store owner. West played the lead role in the 2008 independent film Goodbye Solo as William, an elderly depressed man who befriends a Senegalese man in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.[3] The film received positive reviews and critic Roger Ebert remarked that "West isn't playing himself, but he evokes his character so fully that he might as well be. West's face is a map of hard living". His last film role was in the 2013 film Safe Haven as Roger, an elderly store clerk in Southport, North Carolina West died on July 18, 2017, after developing an aortic aneurysm, at the Baptist Hospital in Memphis. He was 81. His death occurred less than two months after the death of his cousin, actor Sonny West, in May 2017. His funeral and burial at Memorial Park Cemetery was held on July 24 in Memphis

[liberace19]

The Liberace story part 3

 Liberace’s secret traits, intimate glimpses into bis life with his friends. His incredible “piano mansion” In the Valley. All are discussed In mis siory, third in a series the secrets of Liberace.“)  He gifts friends with little ash I like a piano. Large’ black-and-trays shaped like pianos …1 white keys 88 of them are musical cigarette boxes with fond ! painted at one end of the pool, At 3 o'clock in the morning a big hulk of a man stood before the kitchen stove, cooking steaks for a couple of visitors in his San Fernando Valley home. As he perspiringly went about his favorite hobby cooking and entertaining he talked and laughed, showing no fatigue after playing two benefit concerts. This smiling man it was Liberace began telling stories about himself, revealing little bits of lore that gave his guests a vivid insight into his strange, offbeat personality. “I’ll never forget when a few years ago long before I began making big money I gambled away all my earnings in Reno,” began Liberace in his grave, serious voice. “Not only that but I spent all the earnings of my brother George. “How could I face him? It was terrible. As I tried to figure out a ways of confessing to George, I started crying. I felt I’d rather shoot myself than tell him. "Finally I got the courage. And George did nothing but laugh.” Liberace had no feeling of self-consciousness as he told this story of his tears. GENTLE CHILD -Neither did he protest one day recently when his beloved Mom, Mrs. Frances Liberace, told interviewers that Liberace, as a child, preferred sewing to rough.outdoor games with the other kids. And Lee the nickname given Liberace by friends and associates just chuckled when a pal disclosed he sprays his hair with gray coloring before each television and concert appearance “so he’ll look more distinguished.” A Liberace admirer said the pianist was undismayed when one of his managers routing him from a sound sleep in his San Diego hotel room after a concert found his wavy locks in a hair net!  “All of his life Lee has had artistic tendencies and interests. He loves to paint. He probably could have gone on to great fame as an artist if he had wanted to pursue that field. "He has great taste for decorating and for clothing.” Doff, fired in June, 1952, after an association of one and a half years, ruefully declared the pianist told him only two months before the discharges “I can do without anybody but my manager and Red Doff.” LIKE OTHERS In many ways Liberace is “just another guy looking for happiness and trying to get ahead,” intimates declare. He drinks and smokes in moderation and enjoys cocktail parties. Liberace said he volunteered for military service in 1941 hoping to join brother George in the See-bees but a spinal injury (causing a nervous disorder) made him ineligible. Despite some reports that fame has added ruthlessness to Liberace’s personality, friends praise him as a generous, thoughtful and considerate man. He loves to give presents sentimental little items usually bearing his flowing signature and in inscribed musical note. At a San Francisco press con- ference he handed the newspapermen cuff links which bore his and brother George’s smiling faces. inscriptions Liberace’s closest friends are those who surround him professionally his attorney, John R. Jacobs, Jr.; his managers, Seymour Heller and Sam Lutz; his arranger, Gordon Robinson and a small sprinkling of the movie colony. Among these are actor Herbert Marshall and his wife and Mr. and Mrs. William Powell. “A lot of the others are real nice to me people like Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz and that great showman, Jack Benny, but I guess I don’t get around socially too much,‘Ijiberace said. "Too busy.” MOTHER CLOSEST Without question the closest person in his life is his mother. “She had coached and advised the guy all of his life and he couldn’t do without her,” declared Lutz, whose Hollywood office, managing Liberace, employs four girls just to handle his fan mail. Once, -recognizing the blasts of critics who said Liberace talked too much about his mother on TV shows, Lutz gently mentioned the criticism to Liberace. And he got this prompt reply: “When I have to stop talking about my mother I’ll get out of the business.” Liberace also relies heavily on his older, violin-playing brother, George, a modest chap who would prefer to remain in the background. But, at Lee’s insistence, George is a constant, vital part of the Liberace productions. The entire family Liberace, his mother, George and the youngest brother, Rudy, 23 live together in . Liberace admits the mansion is “part of me, like my music.” “I hunted for a long time for a house that would suit me,” Liberace remarked,, “but all the places I looked at fell short of what I wanted. So I decided I would have to build my own. DRAMA AND COMEDY "When I first talked to the architect, he asked what I liked. I said I liked drama and comedy; I liked classical music but I also liked jazz. I worked closely with him, sketching out things I wanted and picking out everything down to the hardware for the furniture. "The result was what I wanted. It has drama, but there are also touches of humor. It is actually a classical modern.” Nearly everything in the place is black and white or shades thereof. The piano motif. As you walk in the black and white living room the first sight is the immense piano, the longest ever made. Glancing about you see a large, glass - topped planter in the shape of a piano. . On shelves about the fireplace are thousands of miniature pianos collected from all over the world.SUNKEN BATH "The sunken bath is my idea,” Liberace explained. “When I was making a musical short at RKO, I saw them shooting a scene for ‘Androcles and the Lion

 march 1954

[cardioandcoffeeblog]

⚡️🎥 SUBSCRIBE TO THIS CHANNEL: https://bit.ly/TheGoldenAgeonYT ------------------------------- Lucy and Ricky showcased their love in the hit tv show, “I Love Lucy” through the 1950s. Little did we know, there were tons of issues going on behind the scenes. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz met on the set of RKO Studios’ movie ‘Too Many Girls.’ Desi, who had starred in the Broadway musical the film was based on, was a bandleader while Lucy was one of the film's stars. In November of 1940, six months after they'd met, the pair eloped. Desi continued to tour and the extended absences began to take a toll on the newlyweds. Lucy's longtime publicist, Charles Pomerantz, told People, "She used to say, 'We just can't keep meeting in the Sepulveda tunnel.' And her strategy must've worked, because she got pregnant right away. She said she finally had him where she wanted him …for a couple of days." Lucy's friends have said the actress suffered several miscarriages before the couple conceived their firstborn. They separated for a period of time in 1944 after Lucy filed for divorce, allegedly because of Desi's infidelity and drinking problem. They later reconciled after talking and agreeing to pursue more projects where their professional lives would intersect. The golden opportunity came when CBS decided to turn the radio program Lucy had been starring in into a TV show. Executives weren't convinced when Lucy pitched her real-life husband to play the on-screen part, too. In preparation for the show, the pair formed Desilu, the first-ever independent television production company. Ever the savvy entrepreneur, Desi convinced CBS to produce the show on film— an unconventional move for a time when reruns were unheard of—and haggled for ownership of all episodes, presumably to share with the couple's future children. He later sold them back to CBS for millions. All told, Desilu's profits reached $5 million by 1961. They became parents to little Lucie on July 17, 1951, three months before the show's premiere. Lucy's friends would later say that the actress believed having a baby would strengthen the couple's bond. It did, for a little while. "Some of Desi's womanizing was alleviated from the moment little Lucie was born," said biographer Bart Andrews, who's authored three books on the couple. I Love Lucy debuted in October 1951. It wasn't long before 40 million viewers were tuning in each week to see what the Ricardos were up to. In 1953, when Lucy became pregnant with the couple's second child, Desi Jr., the show became the first in history to depict a pregnant woman. Charles Pomerantz: The magazine Confidential came out with a story saying Desi was a womanizer. I gave an advance copy to Desi, and Lucy said, “I want to read this story.” It was during a rehearsal day, and she went into her dressing room. Everybody was frozen on the set. She finally came out, tossed the magazine to Desi and said, “Oh, hell, I could tell them worse than that.” After 20 years of marriage, Lucy could no longer tolerate Desi's drinking habit and infidelities, which had never fully subsided. She divorced him in 1960. Bart Andrews: She told me that by 1956 it wasn’t even a marriage anymore. They were just going through a routine for the children. She told me that for the last five years of their marriage, it was “just booze and broads.” That was in her divorce papers, as a matter of fact. As Desi would later reveal in his memoir, the pressures of running a production company, coupled with the insecurities of what his daughter would later call being "Mr. Ball," pushed him towards alcohol. Yet even after the marriage and show ended, and they each married other people, Lucy and Desi remained close. Friends said neither one ever got over their breakup. "They spoke so lovingly of each other, you almost forgot they weren't together anymore," said Lucy's good friend, theater actress Carol Channing. Before his death in 1986, Desi's last words to Lucy were, "I love you too, honey. Good luck with your show." Sources: https://ift.tt/3gSuArS https://ift.tt/2Ua80BA ------------------------------- ➜ FOLLOW THE GOLDEN AGE ⚡️🎥 INSTAGRAM - https://ift.tt/2Tq4TVI FACEBOOK - https://ift.tt/3cQOlhl ------------------------------- ➜ Music ♫ Willy Berking - Immer wieder Rhythmus (1943): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NAu4BW1pI8 ------------------------------- FTC - This video is NOT sponsored. Some affiliate links may be are used. While they do not cost you anything, I will receive a tiny commission percentage from the sale. by The Golden Age

[marilynngmesalo]

Kaye Ballard, star of ‘The Mothers-In-Law,’ dies at 93

Kaye Ballard, star of ‘The Mothers-In-Law,’ dies at 93 Kaye Ballard, star of ‘The Mothers-In-Law,’ dies at 93 http://bit.ly/2TaU9rV

LOS ANGELES — Kaye Ballard, the boisterous comedian and singer who appeared in Broadway musicals and nightclubs from New York to Las Vegas and starred with Eve Arden in the 1960s TV sitcom “The Mothers-In-Law,” has died. She was 93.

Ballard died Monday night at her home in Rancho Mirage, California, after a fight with kidney cancer, her friend Marguerite Gordon said Tuesday.

“The Mothers-In-Law,” in which Ballard starred with Arden (of the 1950s sitcom “Our Miss Brooks”), aired from 1967 to 1969. It marked a high point in a career that began when Ballard was 12 and lasted into the 21st century.

She was on hand last week when a documentary on her life and career premiered at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Choreographer Troy Garza, actresses Candy Brown , Kaye Ballard and Carol Channing, director Rick McKay and actor Lou Gossett Jr. attend the World Premiere of “Broadway Beyond the Golden Age” at the 27th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival on January 7, 2016 in Palm Springs, Calif. (Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for PSIFF)

“She was so excited to be able to tell her story,” said Dan Wingate, the film’s director. “She was really anxious for young people, especially, who are going into the arts to understand the full breadth of a life in the arts, the ups and downs.”

The audience’s response was gratifying for her, “to hear that applause and feel that love,” Wingate said, and she was thrilled when the documentary was singled out for festival honours.

“The Mothers-In-Law” was set in a Los Angeles suburb and featured its stars as women who become thorns in their married children’s lives, with comedic results influenced by the screwball style of “I Love Lucy.”

Desi Arnaz, who starred with wife Lucille Ball in that classic sitcom, produced and directed 24 episodes of the Ballard-Arden show. The “I Love Lucy” team of Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Pugh Davis were the show’s creators and lead writers.

Ballard made a mark in every form of show business except movies. She did appear as a secondary player in a few films, including 1958’s “The Girl Most Likely” starring Jane Powell and in 1964’s “A House Is Not a Home,” but her high-octane personality may have been too potent for the big screen of that era and its more restrictive portrayals of women.

Movie stardom was her first dream, as it was for others of her generation, filmmaker Wingate said, and he wanted the documentary to be seen on the big screen to help fulfil that goal.

But even falling short of a big film career, “she was able to reach and endear herself to so many people,” he said.

Rest In Peace Kaye. Thank you for all the kind words of encouragement you gave to me. I adore, admire and love you. You were one of a kind. #KayeBallard pic.twitter.com/PtYIDZvKrQ

— Mario Cantone (@macantone) January 22, 2019

Ballard’s first real break came when she was singing in a Detroit nightclub, The Bowery. Comedy bandleader Spike Jones dropped in one night and quickly drafted the exuberant young singer into his musical contingent. For two years she toured with Jones’ troupe, singing, playing the flute and tuba and engaging in the band’s antics. She also sang with the bands of Vaughn Monroe and Stan Kenton.

In 1945 she moved to New York and sought work in theatre, appearing on Broadway in a small part in the revue “Three to Make Ready.” She toured in summer stock and finally made a dent in New York as a madcap Helen of Troy in 1954’s “The Golden Apple,” drawing applause with her song “Lazy Afternoon.” One critic called her performance “a wonder of insinuation.”

She also won critical praise for her role as “The Incomparable Rosalie,” the magician’s assistant and mistress in 1961’s “Carnival!,” a musicalized version of the movie “Lili.” She sang “Always, Always You” while stretched out in a box the jealous magician was piercing with swords.

Ballard began working on TV in the early 1950s, becoming an in-demand performer on network variety programs including “The Mel Torme Show” and those of Ed Sullivan and Perry Como. She also became a favourite of talk show hosts, making repeat appearances with Jack Paar, Merv Griffin and Johnny Carson.

She was a regular on “The Doris Day Show” in the 1970s and the 1990s TV series “Due South.”

Her nightclub act played in first-class venues including the Blue Angel in New York, Mr. Kelly’s in Chicago, the Flamingo in Las Vegas and the hungry i in San Francisco.

I’m so sad to hear of the passing of wonderful Kaye Ballard – one of the truly great entertainers. She could do everything…what a voice, what a talent & wow, she could make me laugh. I love this pic of us in ‘66 with dear Liza & Jayne. Thank you Kaye. #KayeBallard pic.twitter.com/sbUE7PCdWb

— Mitzi Gaynor (@TheMitziGaynor) January 22, 2019

She was born Catherine Gloria Ballota to Italian immigrant parents in Cleveland, Ohio, on Nov. 20, 1925, according to her 2006 memoir “How I Lost 10 Pounds in 53 Years.” (She noted she had always said she was born in 1926.)

She changed her name to Kaye Ballard when she entered show business. On the advice of a numerologist she switched to Kay in midcareer.

“He said my luck would change if I dropped the ‘e’,” she told a reporter in 1983. “It did. It went steadily downward.”

She eventually returned to being Kaye.

Determined to become an actress, she would not be discouraged by a high school teacher who rejected her for a drama class, concluding she “wasn’t pretty enough,” nor her parents, who didn’t understand the business.

She sang at service clubs and appeared at a “Stage Door Canteen” in Cleveland. After graduating from high school she worked at a burlesque theatre, not as a stripper but as straight woman in comedy sketches. She went on the road with her act of songs, comedy and impressions of famous stars and in Detroit made the fortuitous connection with Jones.

In the early 2000s, Ballard toured with other stars in a musical comedy “Nunsense” and joined the touring company of the Broadway hit “The Full Monty” as piano player for six men who stripped to make money with a musical show.

Ballard was engaged four times but never married.

“I didn’t want to,” she told The Associated Press in 1999. “I could have, many times. But I just wanted a career too much. I was smart enough to know, if you get married and have children, that’s it. Being Italian and raised as a Catholic, I took children seriously. Maybe I made a mistake. Who knows?”

She purchased her Southern California desert home from Arnaz in the early 1940s.

“It’s a stone’s throw from Gerald Ford,” she said of her presidential neighbour in a 1981 interview. “When he moved in, he upped my property value. It made me think of becoming a Republican.”

A non-starter was ever leaving show business, even as the years passed.

“I’m not going to retire. I don’t believe in retiring,” she told the AP in 2001. “I do take more time off now to enjoy life and my three dogs and house. But if something wonderful comes up, I’m ready.”

  Click for update news Bangla news http://bit.ly/2B9AiTl world news

[papermoonloveslucy]

INDOMINATABLE LIFESTYLE

July 16, 1972

HOLLYWOOD - Indomitable funny girl Lucille Ball, with a messy scoop hair the color of an orange popsicle, flashes on the scene in a sad predicament. 

She's got a lame leg.  

Lucy hobbled from her sleek silver Rolls Royce and into the yellow cubbyhole dressing room which is a sunny retreat near the Lucy set which Is crawling with rehearsal activity. 

On the surface, everything's ha-ha-ha. But the fact is that surgeons have inserted pins into the shattered leg bone suffered last year in a Snowmass Peak, Colo., skiing accident. The leg brace is a semi-intolerable ball and chain. But, as always, crippling situations must be mastered. Lucy's inextinguishable spirit pulsates despite the physical handicap. 

Lucy Is showing a smiling color photograph of herself in a flowing white hooded cape coat rimmed in fluffy fox. The picture, radiating exterior happiness, doesn't reflect the inner pain. Lucy's leg, in a hip cast, is disguised under a blanket. 

You know the familiar Lucy grin? She's grinning it and saying hell no, baby, she's not ever going to ski again. She couldn't stomach another goddam ordeal like that. Besides, on the immediate horizon is an operation to remove the pins.

Lucy, being Lucy, bears the cross with humor: "Honey," she says, "skiing is just getting into those nice winter clothes and being a show off." The burdensome subject of broken bones is dismissed with frivolity. 

Brainy Lucy, now 60 and president of a $30 million corporation, is an American institution. 

But, like all super-successful females, she vibrates complex contradictions. The fashion plate - who initiated her career as a Hattie Carnegie hat model - is a winsome dumb broad on the tube. In reality she's tough executive who barks orders left and right. Staffers instantly do like the lady says. God has spoken. Lucy runs a tight ship, but she is more respected than feared. 

Yet Lucy is softie with a heart of spun sugar. Trappings, which she has in predictable abundance, aren't a psychic crutch. 

"Success is knowing that if everything were wiped away tomorrow, it wouldn't really matter. I wouldn't die if I lost my things," she says. Then the awesome simplicity: "Dear, I still go home and let the cat out" 

Lucy has always run her home life with a liberal hand.

Desi Arnaz, Jr. is currently Involved in well-publicized liaison with Liza Minnelli. There was a previous Desi scandal regarding Patty Duke. People gossip a lot here because they live in a city where the major industry is make-believe and fact and fiction become blurred. 

Lucy isn't deaf to the talk about her son's romances: 

"What the hell, they're having a fine spree. I just hope it lasts for Desi and Liza. They don't have time to get married. Their scene is the world and they're swinging in there. I'm the one who talked marriage to them. One night I said: Look, kids, don't get married too soon. They were upset. Desi countered with the observation that you don't have to settle down when you get married. So I go -  well, that's true son! The subject of marriage just never came up again. They're a nice couple. They present themselves well without becoming asses. I've told the kids to do as they wish." 

Lucy, who was a good friend to Judy Garland, makes no bones about her affection for Liza. And once Lucy loves, the feeling lasts. After 20 years of marriage to Desi Arnaz, there was the divorce. Still Lucy looks people straight in the eyes and says the present Mrs. Desi Arnaz is a "wonderful woman." And she can see it in her heart to rent ex-husband Desi studio space on her lot so that he can work in the shadow of a success they initiated together. 

When Liza Minnelli was a child, Lucy kept a scrapbook of Liza's activities at play, in ballet school, attending birthday parties. There, in a battered old photo album, are the precious pictures. Liza didn't know about the book until recently. Desi brought Liza home and Lucy accidentally-on-purpose left the book on a coffee table. "Oh! Wow!" exclaimed Liza through a flow of uncontrollable tears. 

Lucy; "And I said to Liza, honey-baby, I told you I've known you for a long time. Didn't you believe me?" Lucille Ball speaks in an affectionate aside about Liza and the loyalty is simultaneously visible and audible: 

"That kid is liable to explode any minute. I just hope I'm around to pick up the pieces. No one knows why she works so hard. She's made it her objective to clear her mother financially. Those b--- lawyers took her --- really took her. But she's paying back every damn cent herself." 

Life is, of course, an inexplicable mixture of tears and laughter. Buoyant Lucy can see the funnies in everything. Love, she says, is looking beyond someone's minor faults and caring passionately despite the irritations. Lucy's 80-year-old mom, Dede (Desiree Ball) lives near Lucy's sprawling colonial house in Beverly Hills. Dede has a longstanding idiosyncrasy which used to drive Lucy wild but is now an amusement. 

In that familiar screechy scratchy soprano voice oozing feigned stupidity, Lucy sing-songs the dialogue; 

"I say to Dede: Hey Dede, I've got a pain in my elbow. Dede always says: 'stupid, it's because you're not eating right!" Honest to God, if you've got a pain in your big toe, it's not because someone stepped on it it's the food. Drives you nuts! Dede really has a thing about food. The other day I went home and cooked a batch of chicken. 'Chicken!!" says Dede, 'you know it's gonna make me sick.' Of course Dede eats more chicken than anybody. Next day I say: Dede you been up all night throwin', huh? Naw," says Dede, the chicken wasn't half bad.'"

The ridiculous story illustrates two things Dede taught Lucy early in life. One: That without good health you've got nothing. Two; That without a non-pliant, thoroughly independent attitude, you've got less than nothing because show business kills the weak. 

Lucy is in constant awe of Dede. When Lucy built the five-story ski chalet 9,800 feet on the side of a Colorado mountain she was certain Dede couldn't take either the long trip or the altitude. Besides, once you get to Lucy's place, there are a million icy steps to climb before you make the front door. "Even the dogs stop to get their breath," says Lucy. "But when I start huffing, Dede looks over her shoulder and sorta snaps: Aw, Lucy, you're a sissy!' That woman is my challenge." 

Does Lucy ever get down? Do the burdens of crushing disappointments halt her enthusiasm even temporarily? "Jesus," she says, "I cry. I cry a lot. Then anger sets in. When I'm angry, I become a fighter. And I always fight to win." 

When Lucy talks to you, she taps your knee in a natural gesture of intimacy. Her gaze is through black fringed x-ray eyes that sear through trivia. She smokes her cigarette twirled ceremoniously between her thumb and forefinger. Lucy always spews gut honesty: 

"Love is a great peace of mind. There's no panic in the relationship. It's never having to prove yourself. Love is not playing games. Baby, some women have to put up with mysterious absenteeism. That's always a sign of hanky panky-ism. Christ, I never have to worry where Gary is." 

Gary is Gary Morton, Lucy's husband and executive producer. Suddenly he bursts into the dressing room and asks for the afternoon off. Lucy's going to work the full day. Her answer is affirmative, but she doesn't use the word "yes"; "Just don't forget to tell the cook to get out the steaks and have a big salad ready." 

The show is all in the family. Lucy's sister, Cleo Smith, is another producer. Lucy is having the talk-about twosome of Desi Jr. and Liza written into a script. Little Lucy, who has been Mrs. Phil Vandervort for a year, is a regular. She, too, bursts into the dressing room to use the john. The jeans are already embarrassingly unzipped. As she whizzes by she comments only to her famous mama: "Jeez, I though you were alone!" 

But an emergency is an emergency. Lucy, quick to seize the humor, quips: "Our togetherness is only occasionally splintered." 

In retrospect, Lucy is pleased with her real-life mother role. "I've been one hell of a mom," she says. "I always knew where they were every minute." Lucille Ball is a profound woman who often uses great simplicities to get her points across.

Once, when the kids were small, a nurse observed to Lucy that Little Lucy was calling Desi Jr., "fatso," and jabbing him in the stomach-when no one was looking. Desi didn't hit back because mama had said never to hit defenseless little girls. Lucy relives the old conversation with her daughter, first announcing each "part" and changing voices to portray the back-and-forth swing of conversation: 

Big Lucy: "Got a problem, Little Lucy?" 

Little Lucy: "Me? No." 

Big Lucy: "Let's talk. Whose fault is it? No, actually it doesn't matter whose fault it is. Next time one of you is hurt, I'm going to hit the one who is hurt." 

Little Lucy: "What does that mean, ma?" 

Big Lucy: "You'll see." 

Soon there was another battle. As usual, Little Lucy elbowed Desi in the stomach and he howled, Lucy illogically whacked Desi hard on the rear and his screams got louder. Little Lucy immediately became hysterical: "Mom, don't hit him! For God's sake, why are you hitting HIM?" 

Lucy delivered the punch line which is the credo of their life: "I hit Desi because you let things go too far. Never let things go too far. Someone innocent always suffers. Do you understand?" 

That was the end of sibling squabbling. Forever. 

Once, before her chorus girl days, New York-born Lucy worked as a fashion mannequin for various Seventh Ave. houses. She's still got a clotheshorse figure but she won't splurge on couture: "I'm just one of those normal working women who doesn't go in for hifalutin’ fashion." 

Lucy haunts three fabric shops in Beverly Hills and has local movie set seamstresses make all her clothes. "I'm not the type who dresses and goes out," says Lucy who long ago graduated from the silly-but-necessary movie star game of being seen in the right places. 

"Once when I was in Paris, I bought a designer dress grey flannel, I think and wore it out from the salon to my car.  When I sat down the damn thing was so strictly constructed that the neckline popped up to my nose. I was on my way to Switzerland and I mumbled to my driver, God, did that designer expect me to stand up on the plane?" Lucy can afford emergencies. When she got to Orly, she bought a dress from an airport boutique and changed in the ladies room. 

And, so, the sweet saga of Lucy continues, there are no plans to quit. The word - retirement - isn't in her vocabulary. "I can't imagine doing nothing," she says. "If you don't keep moving, you're buried." 

The beauty is still there. The complexion is like alabaster. Lucy confesses that she washes her face with Ivory soap, colors her own hair and occasionally gives herself offbeat facials." 

"Honey, the idiot who said to put honey on your face never explained that it has to be mixed with cream," she says. The face melts into that wonderful famous grin. "I put honey on straight from the goddamn jar and it closed my pores for a month." 

That's lovable Lucy. 

[Ed. Note: The original photographs were degraded by copying so similar shots were substituted as close to the originals as possible.]

#   #   #

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THEY STILL LOVE LUCY

May 23, 1977

[The article below is reprinted verbatim. Photos and Footnotes have been added for editorial enhancement.]

There has already been some moaning at the bar that when Dinah Shore's blithe talk show moves to Channel 5 in July, it will be on 3:30 in the afternoon instead of 6:30 p.m. I have letters from viewers who lament "Now we'll never see it." I'm with them. It was nicely placed in the wake oi Cronkite, some easy chatter and gossip after the somber events of the day, like turning from the front page to the feature section of a newspaper. Moreover, Dinah does her interviewing very well, much less obtrusively than the assorted Mikes and Mervs of TV. She actually makes you believe she's more interested in the answer than the question.

Sometimes the answers are hard to come by. The other evening Lucille Ball was much more interested in clowning than answering serious questions about her comedy. Flanked by Jim Coburn and James Garner, Lucy was much more intent on giving a performance and it was great fun. Anyway, Lucy saves her serious answers about comedy these days for the seminar she's conducting at a professional school in Hollywood. 

I asked the great redhead the other day what she told her students "Whatever they ask me," she said. "I just answer questions. If they're not interested enough to ask questions, the hell with 'em." That's basic to Lucille Ball. In her philosophy, you push forward, you ask, you try things. She used to tell her daughter Lucie: "Don't turn things down. No matter how lowly it seems at the time, you'll find you learn from everything you do it's worth it." 

Years ago, Eddie Cantor told me that during the filming of Roman Scandals with the Goldwyn Girls, director Busby Berkeley worked out a sight gag wherein someone threw a glob of mud at Eddie who bent over at that moment and the mud sailed over him and caught some beautiful girl square in her pretty face. He asked for volunteers among the girls. All of them shrank back except one a redhead who stepped forward. "I knew," said Eddie, "that she was the one who would make it. Lucy Ball." 

Too Much Lucy? 

In case you are one of those who will miss Dinah! because you don't watch daytime TV, you may be unaware that Lucille Ball's fourth and last Lucy series. Here's Lucy, is now rerunning on CBS every morning at 9 on Channel 2. This is the six-year series in which her children grew up Lucie and Desi Arnaz Jr. with Gale Gordon as Uncle Harry. 

There are six years of those shows and even spun off daily they should be around quite awhile. Not surprisingly, they're on opposite I Love Lucy which Channel 11 shows in the mornings at 9. Lucy shrugs at the schedule. At one time, there were Lucy shows on various channels seven times during a day "That bothered me," she said. "Every time you turned on the tap. you got me. There can be too much of anything." 

To an historian of this windblown diversion, it's interesting two versions of the same basic Lucy character 20 years or so apart, still equally delighting audiences. Lucy, the character, must be the most durable creation of the television age, unsinkable, unstoppable, largely changeless. I have had the feeling at times that Lucille Ball feels Lucy rides her instead of vice versa. When she was doing Wildcat on Broadway, she said: "I thought they wanted something different, but they don't So in the show, I'm doing Lucy." 

The other day the comedienne said: "I'm having a recurrence of that In the last couple of years, I've been doing specials that were different kinds of comedy dramas than the Lucy shows. I did a couple with Carney, I did that show with Gleason trying to play my age, trying to do something they would believe and buy. Well, they didn't buy it not really. What the people seemed to want was Lucy again. Now I'm faced with doing two more specials for next season, and I thought: 'Oh. God, not that again.' Then I decided the hell with anything different I'll do a Lucy show." 

Old Friends on Hand 

She'll be back in her own arena the three-camera TV technique created for her by Desi Arnaz; Madelyn Davis and Bob Carroll Jr., who wrote most of the Lucy shows over a quarter century, are doing the script; Gale Gordon will be on hand and perhaps Mary Wickes and Mary Jane Croft but not the kids: Desi is making a Robert Altman movie in Chicago; Lucie is on the summer musical circuit. The topper the show will be directed by Marc Daniels, who directed the first season ever of I Love Lucy. They'll film it in August for a probable November showing. (1)

There are other roles Lucille Ball itches to play a legless legend of a woman who has been a patron saint of the ghetto kids of Baltimore, for one. (2) She turns down constant requests to direct. (3) She likes teaching, working with kids. There's very little comedy on television she can watch. "I keep seeing rip-offs of my writers. They're doing our old scripts. Laverne & Shirley they're doing the shows Vivian Vance and I did years ago." (4)

# # #

Cecil Smith (author) began his Times career as a reporter and feature writer in 1947 and became an entertainment writer in 1953. He was the entertainment editor and a drama critic in the 1960s, and in 1969 he became the paper's television critic and a columnist for The Times' syndicate.  Smith served as a captain in the Army Air Forces during World War II and as a pilot flew a B-24 Liberator in the South Pacific. After the war, he wrote radio plays and television scripts before getting involved in journalism.  He was related to Lucille Ball by marriage. Cecil's wife Cleo was Lucille's first cousin.  He had a cameo (with other journalists) in “Lucy Meets the Burtons” (HL S3;E1) in 1970.  He died in 2009. 

FOOTNOTES from the Future

(1) “Lucy Calls the President” aired November 21, 1977 featuring Gale Gordon, Mary WIckes, Mary Jane Croft, and although she is not mentioned in the article due to her health issues, Vivian Vance.  Desi Jr. was filming A Wedding, and Lucie was appearing as the lead in Annie Get Your Gun. 

(2) This refers to ‘Aunt’ Mary Dobkin, a little league baseball coach and children’s welfare advocate.  The role eventually went to Jean Stapleton and the film was aired on “The Hallmark Hall of Fame” in 1979.  

(3) In 1980, Lucille Ball signed with NBC, and finally gave in.  She directed a pilot for a half-hour sitcom called “Bungle Abbey,” starring Gale Gordon.  The pilot was not picked up and that was her only solo directing credit, although she had co-directed a few episodes of her series.  Many directors would say that despite who got the credit, Lucy was also directing!  In fact, that was nothing new.  

Exactly 40 years earlier, to the day, the above item appeared in Erskine Johnson’s “Behind The Make-Up” syndicated column!  

(4) It was not secret that “Laverne and Shirley” was heavily influenced by the antics of Lucy and Ethel. The show’s creator Garry Marshall was one of Lucille Ball’s writers at one time, and readily admitted how much he admired her. 

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PRE-, EARLY-, AND LATE-LUCY

July 2, 1967

When the one great broadcaster in the sky someday chronicles the history of television, it will be divided in three parts pre-Lucy, early-Lucy and late-Lucy. 

There will never be a period known as post-Lucy because Lucy is without end. 

Wars have come and gone. Generations have been born, reared and procreated, but Lucy continues. Lucy's march through video history reached a landmark recently when CBS decided to relinquish its grip on the "I Love Lucy" series after sixteen years. 

This doesn't mean "I Love Lucy" will disappear from your living room. Rather, it's a rebirth of the ancient series, since it now will be sold station-by-station across the country. 

Of course, CBS has Lucille Ball headed for a sixth season in her sequel show, "The Lucy Show," which also appears destined to run practically forever. 

More than one third of all Americans living today weren't yet born when "I Love Lucy" made its debut in the fall of 1951 as the star of the CBS line-up. 

The show, filmed in a Hollywood studio, turned the TV industry inside out. Until Lucy, television operated with electronic cameras transmitting live programs to a few select cities, with kinescope duplicates for the hinterlands. 

After Lucy showed the way, the TV industry moved to Hollywood and film. Today, you can count the non-film TV programs on your fingers. In the beginning, "I Love Lucy" had four stars. Lucille Ball, of course, was the pivotal character. Alongside her was her husband, Desi Arnaz. 

And down the hall in their mythical apartment were the Mertzes the late William Frawley and Vivian Vance, who retired from Lucy's new show two years ago to go home to Connecticut. 

Desi became a Hollywood tycoon off the "I Love Lucy" show, founded the Desilu Studio complex, then sold out and left Hollywood. Now, he's back and starting a second time around. 

Desi Arnaz, Jr., now of the Dino, Desi and Billy rock trio, was virtually born before millions of Lucy fans as Miss Ball played one season enceinte. (And in those days, pregnancy on the screen was unheard of.) 

"I Love Lucy" also made history in the advertising business. Although it was the highest rated show on the air in its prime, it didn't do a thing for the sponsor's cigarettes. 

When "I Love Lucy" ceased to have new episodes, it never left the air. CBS continued with reruns. The Ricardos and the Mertzes were in a sort of time-lock, never aging, never changing. 

Lucy and Desi divorced and both remarried, but on CBS in the morning, they remained in love for another decade. 

The 179 episodes kept replaying until the audience lost track of how many shows it had committed to rote. When CBS hit the bottom of the stack, it started over, and over, over again. 

This routine might have gone on forever except for an incident in February, 1966, which alerted everyone to the Lucy situation. The network chose to broadcast a fifth rerun of an "I Love Lucy" episode in preference to live testimony from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Vietnam hearing. The network's news chief stomped out in a huff. 

Last September, CBS retired "I Love Lucy" from daily duty and put it on reserve status.

Then in late March, the decision was made to release "I Love Lucy" from the network and the old episodes were released for sale in syndication to individual stations. 

But even before the ink was dry on the contract, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists called a strike. The network was caught without its live soap operas. 

To fill the emergency, naturally, CBS reached up on the shelf and pulled down some battered reels of "I Love You-know-what." 

#   #   #

This article was part of TV Week, a supplement to the Sunday Baltimore (MD) Sun, on July 2, 1967.  

That same day (July 2, 1967) Baltimore’s Channel 13 showed The Affairs of Annabel (1938), Lucille Ball’s 39th movie. 

On Thursday, July 6, 1967, Baltimore area viewers saw Miss Grant Takes Richmond  (1949) on Channel 9.  It was Ball’s 72nd film. 

Later that same night, “Milton Berle Hides Out at the Ricardo’s” (LDCH S3;E1), originally aired in September 1959, was on their CBS affiliate.  Curiously, there is a small (c) next to the title, which indicates color.  This show was not filmed in color.  

Interestingly, as the article states, there are no re-runs of “I Love Lucy” on the schedule!  But the Ricardos and Mertzes are still visible via “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.”  

The headlines that day talked about Canada’s centennial, tensions in the Suez, President Johnson’s relationship with Democratic governors, and America’s precarious financial relationship with Germany. 

When Shull’s column was printed in other papers, it was often retitled. Headlines were written by the newspapers, not the columnists. Here (The Indianapolis News) they decided on “Maybe It Should Be Renamed ‘Forever Lucy’”.  He also got his headshot with this byline.  

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THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER

March 27, 1950

"The Man Who Came To Dinner” was a presentation of Lux Radio Theatre, broadcast on CBS Radio on March  27, 1950.

The Man Who Came to Dinner is a comedy in three by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. It debuted on October 16, 1939, at the Music Box Theatre in New York City, where it ran until 1941, closing after 739 performances. It then enjoyed a number of New York and London revivals. 

The play was adapted for a 1942 feature film, scripted by Philip G. Epstein and Julius J. Epstein and directed by William Keighley. The film featured Monty Woolley, Bette Davis, Ann Sheridan, Billie Burke, Jimmy Durante, Mary Wickes and Richard Travis. 

“The Man Who Came to Dinner” was previously presented on radio by Philip Morris Playhouse on July 10, 1942. Monty Woolley, who played the leading role in the film version, starred in the adaptation. It was broadcast again by Theatre Guild on the Air on ABC Radio November 17, 1946 starring Fred Allen. In 1949, “The Man Who Came to Dinner” was produced on “The Hotpoint Holiday Hour” starring Charles Boyer, Jack Benny, Gene Kelly, Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire, and Rosalind Russell. 

On October 13, 1954, a 60-minute adaptation was aired on the CBS Television series “The Best of Broadway.”  A “Hallmark Hall of Fame” production was broadcast n November 29, 1972 starring Orson Welles, Lee Remick (Maggie Cutler), Joan Collins (Lorraine Sheldon), Don Knotts (Dr. Bradley), and Marty Feldman (Banjo). The 2000 Broadway revival was broadcast by PBS on October 7, 2000, three days after the New York production closed, and was also released on DVD.

Synopsis ~ The story is set in the small town of Mesalia, Ohio in the weeks leading to Christmas in the late 1930s. The outlandish radio wit Sheridan Whiteside is invited to dine at the house of the well-to-do factory owner Ernest Stanley and his family. But before Whiteside can enter the house, he slips on a patch of ice outside the Stanleys' front door and injures his hip. Confined to the Stanleys' home in a wheelchair, Whiteside and his retinue of show business friends turn the Stanley home upside down!  But is he really injured? 

This adaptation was written by S.H. Barnett. The characters eliminated for this adaptation include Richard Stanley, John, Mrs. Dexter, and Mrs. McCutcheon.

The show is hosted by William Keighley, who directed the 1942 film adaptation.

Lux Radio Theatre (1935-55) was a radio anthology series that adapted Broadway plays during its first two seasons before it began adapting films (”Lux Presents Hollywood”). These hour-long radio programs were performed live before studio audiences in Los Angeles. The series became the most popular dramatic anthology series on radio, broadcast for more than 20 years and continued on television as the Lux Video Theatre through most of the 1950s. The primary sponsor of the show was Unilever through its Lux Soap brand.

CAST

Lucille Ball (Maggie Cutler) 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.

Clifton Webb (Sheridan Whiteside) had appeared with Lucille Ball in the 1946 film The Dark Corner. He was nominated for three Oscars. Webb had played the role of Sheridan Whiteside on stage for two years.

Eleanor Audley (Mrs. Stanley) appeared in several episodes of Lucille Ball’s “My Favorite Husband” as mother-in-law Letitia Cooper. Audley was first seen with Lucille Ball as Mrs. Spaulding, the first owner of the Ricardo’s Westport home in “Lucy Wants to Move to the Country” (ILL S6;E15). She returned to play one of the garden club judges in “Lucy Raises Tulips” (ILL S6;E26). Audley appeared one last time with Lucille Ball in a “Lucy Saves Milton Berle” (TLS S4;E13) in 1965.

Ruth Perrott (Sarah) played Katie the maid on Lucille Ball’s radio show “My Favorite Husband.” On “I Love Lucy” she played Mrs. Pomerantz in “Pioneer Women” (ILL S1;E25), was one of the member of the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League in “Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress” (ILL S3;E3), and played a nurse when “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” (ILL S2;E16).

Betty Lou Gerson is best remembered as the voice of Cruella De Ville in the original Disney film One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961).

Stephen Dunn had appeared with Lucille Ball in Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949). 

John Milton Kennedy (Announcer)

‘DINNER’ TRIVIA

The same date as this radio adaptation (March 27, 1950), original star Monty Wooley arrived in Vancouver to perform in the play. 

This broadcast aired the day after the “My Favorite Husband” episode “Liz’s Radio Script” also starring Lucille and Ruth Perrott. 

Lucille Ball’s good friend and frequent co-star Mary Wickes was typecast as a nurse due to her breakthrough role as Nurse Preen in the Broadway, film, and television versions of The Man Who Came To Dinner.’  She does not play Nurse Preen in this adaptation. The character is given the first name Geraldine. 

Lucille Ball previously appeared on “Lux Radio Theatre” for a November 10, 1947 adaptation of her film The Dark Corner (1946). 

The first commercial talks about how Lux soap is gentle on stockings, like those worn by Betty Grable in Wabash Avenue. 

The second commercial (between acts two and three) interviews actress Joan Miller, talking about the Warners picture Stage Fright, and how Lux helped keep the costumes looking great. 

In the post show interviews, Clifton Webb promotes his next film Cheaper By The Dozen.

The final Lux commercial talks about how movie star Hedy Lamarr uses Lux. 

The program presents a special address from president of the Red Cross, General George C. Marshall.  The American Red Cross was mentioned on “My Favorite Husband” and Red Cross posters were frequently scene decorating the sets on “I Love Lucy.”

The ending of radio’s “My Favorite Husband” episode “Mother-in-Law” (November 4, 1949) starring Lucille Ball is identical to the ending of The Man Who Came To Dinner.

In “Lucy and Viv Reminisce” (TLS S6;E16) on January 1, 1968, while nursing Lucy, who has a broken leg, Viv slips and also breaks her leg. She says she feels just like a female version of The Man Who Came To Dinner.

“Vivian Sues Lucy” (TLS S1;E10) on December 3, 1962 also has a plot that resembles The Man Who Came To Dinner. Viv injures herself due to Lucy’s careless housekeeping, and is bedridden. Lucy goes out of her way to cater to her every whim, so that she won’t sue! 

Although the play is fictional, it draws on real life figures and events for its inspiration. 

Sheridan Whiteside was modeled on Alexander Woollcott.

Beverly Carlton was modeled on Noël Coward.

Banjo was modeled on Harpo Marx, and there is a dialogue reference to his brothers Groucho and Chico. When Sheridan Whiteside talks to Banjo on the phone, he asks him, "How are Wackko and Sloppo?"

Professor Metz was based on Dr. Gustav Eckstein of Cincinnati (with cockroaches substituted for canaries), and Lorraine Sheldon was modeled after Gertrude Lawrence.

The character of Harriet Sedley, the alias of Harriet Stanley, is an homage to Lizzie Borden. The popular jump-rope rhyme immortalizing Borden is parodied in the play.

Radio critic Dick Diespecker was not exactly enthusiastic about this adaptation. 

The announcer reminds viewers that next week “Lux Radio Theatre” will present “Come To the Stable” starring Loretta Young and Hugh Marlowe

The announcer promotes Lucille Ball’s new picture Fancy Pants starring Bob Hope. 

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LIZ HAS THE FLIMJABS

December 30, 1950

“Liz Has the Flimjabs” (aka “A Severe Case of Flimjabs”) is episode #112 of the radio series MY FAVORITE HUSBAND broadcast on December 30, 1950.

This was the 14th episode of the third season of MY FAVORITE HUSBAND. There were 31 new episodes, with the season ending on March 31, 1951.  

Synopsis ~  Liz wants a mink coat from George, so she pretends to be sick in order to get his sympathy - and the coat!  George is on to her tactics, and decides to give her the scare of her life - literally! 

Note: This program served as the basis for the “I Love Lucy” episode “Lucy Fakes Illness” (ILL S1;E16) filmed on December 18, 1951 and first aired on January 28, 1952.  The role of the Doctor was taken by Hal March, who was actually playing an actor friend of Ricky’s named Hal March pretending to be a doctor.  On television, Lucy also adopts a psychological illness in addition to her physical ailments. There was no mention of Christmas or New Years on the television show. 

“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 Cooper) 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. With Richard Denning, she starred in a radio program titled “My Favorite Husband” which 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 Cooper) 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.

Bea Benadaret (Iris Atterbury) was considered the front-runner to be cast as Ethel Mertz but when “I Love Lucy” was ready to start production she was already playing a similar role on TV’s “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show” so Vivian Vance was cast instead. On “I Love Lucy” she was cast as Lucy Ricardo’s spinster neighbor, Miss Lewis, in “Lucy Plays Cupid” (ILL S1;E15) in early 1952. Later, she was a success in her own show, “Petticoat Junction” as Shady Rest Hotel proprietress Kate Bradley. She starred in the series until her death in 1968.

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.

Gale Gordon (Rudolph Atterbury) does not appear in this episode.

GUEST CAST

Frank Nelson (Dr. Stevenson) was born on May 6, 1911 (three months before Lucille Ball) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He started working as a radio announcer at the age of 15. He later appeared on such popular radio shows as “The Great Gildersleeve,” “Burns and Allen,” and “Fibber McGee & Molly”.  Aside from Lucille Ball, Nelson is perhaps most associated with Jack Benny and was a fifteen-year regular on his radio and television programs. His trademark was playing clerks and other working stiffs, suddenly turning to Benny with a drawn out “Yeeeeeeeeees?” Nelson appeared in 11 episodes of “I Love Lucy”, including three as quiz master Freddy Fillmore, and two as Ralph Ramsey, plus appearance on “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” - making him the only actor to play two different recurring roles on “I Love Lucy.” Nelson returned to the role of the frazzled Train Conductor for an episode of “The Lucy Show” in 1963. This marks his final appearance on a Lucille Ball sitcom.

The doctor’s surname may be a reference to noted costume designer Edward Stevenson, who designed gowns for Lucille Ball in more than a dozen RKO films and would eventually become costume designer of “I Love Lucy” after the departure of Elois Jenssen in 1955.

EPISODE

ANNOUNCER: “And now, let’s look in on the Coopers. It’s evening, and Liz and George are sitting in the living room admiring their Christmas tree."

George wonders if it is time to take the Christmas tree down but Liz doesn’t want to. They agree to put away their presents instead and start to talk about the gifts they didn’t give or get.  

Liz nearly bought George a set of matching golf clubs. George says he nearly bought her a mink jacket. He says he saw it in the window at Millers, but realized he couldn’t afford it. Liz sadly reminds him that she has never had a fur coat and wonders if they could afford it if they all their Christmas gifts to the store. George says it still wouldn’t be enough, but Liz wants to wear something special to the Atterbury’s New Year’s Eve party. 

Next morning, in the kitchen, Katie the Maid asks Liz why she is so sad. Liz tells her about her mink jacket dreams. Liz solicits Katie’s opinion on how she can’t best get George to get her a mink jacket in time for the party.  Liz decides to play sick since George always gets her what she wants when she’s ill. 

After dinner, Liz and George contemplate what to do. Liz suggests going to the movies to see Harvey starring Jimmy Stewart, which is playing at the Strand. 

Harvey is a comedy about a man whose best friend is a six-foot tall imaginary rabbit. It premiered just ten days earlier before this broadcast and starred James Stewart. The film won an Oscar for Josephine Hull. The screenplay was based on the 1944 Broadway play of the same name by Mary Chase which won the 1945 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. 

Before Liz can tell George the second feature, she starts to writhe in pain!  Amid moans and groans, Liz details the pain for George. She says she used to have these attacks as a child. When she says the only thing that sometimes helps is little gifts to make her happy, George gets suspicious.  He quickly leaves the room to make a phone call, which Liz thinks is to buy her a mink jacket, but he has actually called the doctor! 

End of Part One

Bob LeMond presents a live Jell-O commercial, giving a basic recipe for preparation of all delicious six flavors!

ANNOUNCER: “As we look in on the Coopers once again, Liz is pretending to be sick and George, who is worried about her, has called the doctor.”

The doorbell rings and George admits Dr. Stevenson (Frank Nelson). Before seeing Liz, George tips him off that Liz may have a rare disease and that the only cure is a mink coat! George asks him to give her a good scare and the Doctor agrees to play along.  

Entering the bedroom, Liz immediately tells the Doctor she feels much better.  But after a quick exam, the Doctor diagnoses Liz with a rare tropical disease from the West Indies called the ‘Flimjabs’. The only cure is to operate and remove her ‘torkle’ but warns her that she will never be able to ‘yammle’ again. The Doctor explains that ‘yammling’ is an involuntary peristalsis of the transverse clavis. 

GEORGE: “Doctor, do you have to remove the whole torkle?” DOCTOR: “Maybe we’ll be lucky and can save half of it. After all, half a torkle is better than none.” LIZ: “Well, I should say so!  I’d hate to think of never yammeling again!”

The Doctor says that they must now wait 24 hours and see if she turns green. 

DOCTOR: “If you turn green, three hours later (snaps his fingers) gone.” LIZ:  (snaps) “Gone?”  DOCTOR: (snaps) “Gone.”

For the television script, the ‘Flimjabs’ was renamed the 'Gobloots’ - a rare tropical disease that carried into America on the hind legs of the 'boo-shoo bird.’ It can necessitate a person having to undergo a 'zorchectomy’ – total or partial removal of the 'zorch’. Even if doctors are able to save half a person’s 'zorch,’ the patient will never be able to 'trummle’ again. 'Trummling’ is a mysterious involuntary internal process. Finally, if you turn green while suffering from the 'gobloots’ you will be dead in 30 minutes!  

Iris Atterbury drops by to see Liz on her way to the Bridge Club meeting. Liz tells her that she has been diagnosed with the Flimjabs. 

IRIS: “Oh, how exciting! This will make Betty Ricky’s gallstones look sick! She’ll be absolutely green.” LIZ: “She's not the only one. That’s one of the danger signs. I may turn green.”  IRIS: “With a green face and red hair, you’ll be out of this world.” LIZ: “Yes, that’s what I’m afraid of.”

Iris is overcome with emotion at the thought of losing Liz. She doesn’t want to leave, but the ice cream for the Bridge Club meeting is in the car and it’s melting! 

That night, Doctor Stevenson returns to check on Liz. Answering the door, George confesses that he’s put a green light bulb in Liz’s bedroom light. As soon as George turns on the lights, Liz shrieks seeing her green hands! Her face and hair have turned green, too!  Liz thinks the men have Flimjabs too, because they are also green, but then the truth sets in. 

LIZ: “Oh, no!  This is the end!  I’m looking at the world through green colored eyeballs!” 

Liz dramatically declares that she’s dying. George accuses her of being over-dramatic. 

LIZ: “I’m sorry, George. But I don’t die every day and it’s new to me.”

Before her imminent demise, Liz confesses to all the car accidents she’s had and hidden by having the car fixed without telling him.  

LIZ: “In fact, the only thing left of the original car you bought is the ashtray in the back seat!”

Then Liz bravely confesses to pretending to be sick to get him to buy her a mink coat. George also needs to make a confession: it was all a trick. There is no such thing as ‘Flimjabs’ and the light is from a green light bulb!  

The phone rings and it is Iris, tearfully calling from the Bridge Club meeting. The girls have just had a memorial ceremony for Liz by turning her chair to the wall and smashing her teacup in the fireplace. Before Liz can tell Iris that it was a joke, she learns that they all chipped in and bought her a goodbye present: a mink coat!  Liz hangs up in tears. George is confused.

GEORGE: “Isn’t that what you wanted?” LIZ: “Yeah, but I have to die to get it!”

END OF EPISODE

In the live Jell-O commercial, Lucille Ball and Bob LeMond play a couple of nomads lost in the desert. Lucy uses her ‘Isabella Clump’ voice as ‘Smith’. Bob is looking for his camp, near a big dune. 

LUCY / ‘SMITH’: “A dune? What’s a dune?” BOB: “What’s a dune????” LUCY / ‘SMITH’: “I dunno. What’s a-dune with you?” 

Smith sees a mirage - a big bowl of Jell-O! After describing the six delicious flavors, Bob suggests they go home. 

BOB: “Go home? We’re lost in the desert!”  LUCY / ‘SMITH’: “Why don’t we each take one of those cars.” BOB: “What cars?” LUCY / ‘SMITH’: “The ones over there. That’s a two-car mirage!” 

The same date this episode was broadcast, columnist Sid Shalit in the New York Daily News reported that a television situation comedy was being prepared starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in the mold of “My Favorite Husband”.  Clearly, the radio series was winding down. This was the final episode of 1950 with only 16 episodes left. 

Meanwhile, in addition to radio and television, Ball was on the nation’s movie screens in two 1950 films: The Fuller Brush Girl and Fancy Pants. 

[papermoonloveslucy]

LUCY THE FIRECRACKER!

July 1, 1962

To most people July 4 means a big celebration with family picnics and plenty of fireworks. Channel 8 celebrates two days early by welcoming a redheaded firecracker named Lucille Ball to its summer schedule. 

Lucy, along with the guest stars pictured with her on the cover, (1) will be featured in a weekly series of hour long "Lucy-Desi Specials”, starting Monday at 9 p.m. 

It’s hard to believe that such a bundle of energy as Miss Ball was unable to walk for three years. Shortly after she had started modeling in New York, she contracted pneumonia with severe complications and, was bedridden for eight months. It took three years of convalescing before she regained complete control of her legs. (2)

Ironically, years later in 1941, Miss Ball got her first big Hollywood, break playing a showgirl who becomes paralyzed in "The Big Street.” Miss Ball was born in Jamestown, New York, on August 6, the daughter of a mining engineer father (3) and a concert pianist mother. She left home when she was fifteen and enrolled in The John Murray Anderson Dramatic School in New York. She was told she had no future in show business. 

IN ZIEGFELD SHOW 

Taking the challenge, Miss Ball went out on her own and landed a chorus job in the road company production of Ziegfeld’s "Rio Rita”. She was fired after five weeks. After working in a New York drugstore, she decided to try her luck in the modeling field. 

During this time she got pneumonia, and it was almost four years before she could start her modeling career again. Magazine and billboard advertisements attracted Eddie Cantor’s attention and he gave her her first Hollywood role in his “Roman Scandals”. (4) For a while she did bit parts at Columbia and Paramount, and finally landed a contract at RKO and a substantial role in “Roberta”. 

Broadway, which had scorned Lucy, now took notice and gave her the lead in an unsuccessful musical, “Hey, Diddle, Diddle”.  When it folded, she returned to Hollywood to star in “Stage Door” and “Too Many Girls.” (5) It was during the filming of the latter she met and married a Latin band leader named Desi Arnaz. After a year of marriage to Arnaz, Lucy landed a part in "The Big Street.” She followed this with roles in "Easy to Wed”, “Du Barry Was A Lady”, “Best Foot Forward”, “Meet the People” and “Her Husband’s Affairs”. 

After Arnaz returned from the service at the end of World War II, he joined with Lucy to form Desilu Productions, Inc., which handled their joint business ventures. (6) With writers Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh Martin and Bob Carroll, Jr., they developed the format for the "I Love Lucy” show. 

The debut of the “I Love Lucy” television series was heralded by the birth of their daughter, Lucie Desiree. The couple's second child, a son, Desi IV, was born while the series was at the top of TV polls. 

After completing the “I Love Lucy” series, Miss Ball and Arnaz made a limited number of hour-long specials - the ones Channel 8 viewers will see this summer. 

Although their marriage ended in 1960, the couple maintain a professional relationship. In October, 1960, Lucy opened in the hit Broadway show, “Wildcat”, and continued to receive rave notices until illness forced her out of the show. Now recovered, she plans to return full-time to television with the new “Lucille Ball Show”, slated for a fall premiere. (7)

Lucy lives with her second husband, comedian Gary Morton, and her two children in Beverly Hills, Calif.

#   #   #

FOOTNOTES FROM THE FUTURE

(1) Surrounding Lucille Ball in the bursts of fireworks, are the headshots of Red Skelton (“Lucy Goes to Alaska”), Betty Grable (“Lucy Wins a Racehorse”), Ida Lupino (“Lucy’s Summer Vacation”), Fred MacMurray (“Lucy Hunts Uranium”), and Milton Berle (“Milton Berle Hides Out at the Ricardos”). Curiously, Danny Thomas is not included, although his episode (”Lucy Makes Room for Danny”) was first to be aired and is included in this week’s listings. This also means the episodes are being aired out of their original broadcast order. 

Subsequent air dates:

July 8 ~ “Lucy Takes A Cruise To Havana” (Hedda Hopper, Caesar Romero, Rudy Vallee, Ann Sothern)

July 15 ~ “Lucy Wins a Racehorse” (Betty Grable, Harry James)

July 22 ~  “Lucy Goes To Mexico” (Maurice Chevalier)

July 29 ~ “Milton Berle Hides Out at the Ricardos” (Milton Berle)

August 5 ~ “Lucy Goes to Alaska” (Red Skelton)

August 12 ~ “The Celebrity Next Door” (Tallulah Bankhead)

August 19 ~  “Lucy Hunts Uranium” (Fred MacMurray, June Gable)

August 26 ~ “Lucy Meets the Mustache” (Ernie Kovacs, Edie Adams)

September 2 ~ “Lucy Goes To Sun Valley” (Fernando Lamas)

September 9 ~ “Lucy’s Summer Vacation” (Ida Lupino, Howard Duff)

September 16 ~ “The Ricardos Go To Japan” (Bob Cummings)

The only episode not being aired is “Lucy Wants A Career” (Paul Douglas).  The episode does not feature an exotic locale, or music, and Douglas, while familiar, was not a star in the same category as those featured in the other episodes. 

(2) Other versions of this period in Ball’s life state that she was hit by a car, not sidelined by pneumonia.  This has led Lucille Ball biographers to speculate that she may have been been concealing a pregnancy or had an abortion - none of which has been substantiated. 

(3) Henry Durrell Ball (Lucille’s Father) was not a mining engineer. He was a telephone lineman. 

(4) This is a glamorized version of what actually happened.  Lucille was stopped on a New York City street by someone organizing Goldwyn Girls traveling to California to appear in a film starring Eddie Cantor. One of the girls cast dropped out, and Lucille Ball was asked to go in her stead as a last-minute substitute. It is highly unlikely Cantor saw Lucille until she appeared on the set for filming. 

(5)  “Hey Diddle Diddle” opened in Princeton, New Jersey, in 1937 and was scheduled for a couple of out-of-town engagements before opening on Broadway. But it never happened. Leading man Conway Tearle got seriously ill and the production was abandoned.  As the article says, Lucille returned to Hollywood. Lucille made fifteen films between 1937′s “Stage Door” and 1940′s “Too Many Girls,” where she met Desi. In that time, she was engaged to be married twice: to Broderick Crawford and Alexander Hall. 

(6) Desilu Inc. was not formed until 1950.  Desi Arnaz was discharged from the Army (with honors) on December 1, 1945.  In the intervening years, he toured with his rhumba band. 

(7) “The Lucille Ball Show” (or “The New Lucille Ball Show”) was the working titled of “The Lucy Show” almost right up until its premiere on October 1, 1962. 

INSIDE TV WEEK

Seven months after saying “I Do,” Lucille Ball was still having trouble getting used to being addressed as Mrs. Gary Morton. (Not half as much, I fear, as Gary had getting used to being addressed as Mr. Lucille Ball!) 

The headline of the Lancaster (PA) Sunday News, the newspaper that included this issue of TV Week. 

[papermoonloveslucy]

‘MY GOOD WIFE’ v ‘MY FAVORITE HUSBAND’

June 23, 1949

"My Good Wife," an added starter on KNBC, 6:30 p.m. PST Fridays, is another comedy about a young married couple, as if we needed another one. I must admit this one is a little different. This married couple, Steve and Kay Emerson, are not nearly so fast with a wisecrack as, say, Lucille Ball and her husband on "My Favorite Husband," 9:00 p.m. PST the same night on KCBS. Great night for matrimony, Fridays, and if those two programs don't provide enough for you, tune in Dorothy Dix at 1:45 pm. (not broadcast in west). She'll tell you how to win back an erring husband. 

I haven't yet made up my mind whether the Emerson's ineptness at repartee is deliberate - after all, not every young wife talks like Groucho Marx - or whether the script writer isn't very good at it either. Anyhow, whether by accident or design, the Emersons are a very restful young couple, possibly a little too restful to get anywhere in the entertainment world. In radio, they're a real novelty. 

As a wife Arlene Francis who plays Kay Emerson, wins out on points over Lucille Ball In other regards - talent and looks, for example - Miss Ball is way out front. But how long could you live with a girl who says: "Oh, we don't miss television. I climb in the Bendix and sing and George looks at me through the little window." Imagine having a girl around the house who said things like that before breakfast. It'd curdle the milk. 

STARTS OFF FAST 

“My Good Wife" started out at a gallop two weeks ago, NBC deciding to set the stage and get everything out of the way all at once. The first program resembled one at those synopses of previous in installments in the popular magazines. Steve met Kay, quarreled with her, married her, taught her how to drive, learned he was about to become a father, and became one - all in 15 minutes. One minute later, the dialogue went like this: 

"It doesn't seem like we've been married 12 years." 

"We've been married 10 years." 

"Well, that's why it doesn't seem like 12." 

That, incidentally, Is a little brighter than the conversation around the Emerson household generally gets. 

On the second show of the series, the pace settled down to a walk. During the first few minutes the Emersons and their neighbors lay lazily on the grass, not  even talking very much. This may be taking realism too far. I mean there ought to be some crickets chirping or something. Things quickened a bit later when Mrs. Emerson decided she was going to help her husband out with his law practice and, of course, messed things up. 

YALE, NO LESS 

The Emersons are quite upper middlebrow as radio's young married folk go. He went to Yale, for heaven's sake, and she not only went to Vassar but led the daisy chain or whatever they do with that daisy chain. What is this - counter revolution? Oh, yes, they live in Larchmont up to their ears in other upper middlebrows. I don't know what else to tell you about the Emersons except they sound like a nice young couple to have over for a drink some time but conceivably a little mild to entertain you much on the air. 

My favorite young married couple is still Ozzie and Harriet Nelson - I put Goodman and Jane Ace off in another category entirely - and while we're chatting about this sort of thing, I ought to point out Ricky and David Nelson, Ozzie and Harriet's children, are now playing themselves on that program which solves a lot of problems. I have a spy in the Nelson household, named - in case any congressional ears are pricking - Harriet Nelson, nee Harriet Hilliard, and she is not now and has never been a Communist nor worked on the atom bomb nor designed the B-36. 

Anyhow, my spy informed the Nelsons had a little trouble with the kids. The real Ricky and David I listened to the radio Ricky and David and discovered them doing things they weren't allowed to do or wouldn't do voluntarily if they were allowed. Being children, they got confused over their own identities. Well now the real Ricky and David are the radio Ricky and David and the split personalities in the kids has been averted. You run into a lot of funny problems in radio.

#  #  #  

FOOTNOTES FROM THE FUTURE

It seems pretty clear that NBC was counter-programming CBS’s “My Favorite Husband”.  Not only are the names very similar, they were scheduled on the same night, as critic Crosby points out.  

The episode of “My Favorite Husband” described above might apply to any domestic sitcom, but was actually titled “Budget - Mr. Atterbury” broadcast June 3, 1949.  However, this newspaper is still calling Lucille Ball’s character Liz Cugat, when her name had changed to Liz Cooper in January 1949, to avoid comparison with the well-known bandleader (no, not Desi Arnaz).  

Counter-programming by NBC would not stop on radio.  When “I Love Lucy” was a juggernaut hit for CBS TV, NBC created a similar show titled “I Married Joan” for star Joan Davis.  It was billed as “The adventures of the scatterbrained wife of a respected city judge.”  Substitute “bandleader” for “Judge” (played by Jim Backus) - and you’ve got “I Love Lucy.”  Like Ball, Davis was a film star of the ‘30s and ‘40s getting aboard the TV bandwagon.  Like Lucy, Joan wanted to be in showbusiness. Many of the same situations that Lucy got into, Joan did too. The series even featured a few “I Love Lucy” refugees:  Jerry Hausner, Elvia Allman, Bob Jellison, Margie Liszt, Shirley Mitchell, Ross Elliott, and many others. "Lucy” and “Joan” even employed the same director in each show's first season, Marc Daniels. "Joan” lasted three seasons, from 1952 to 1955 and is all but forgotten today. 

Kay Emerson was not the first domestic radio role for Arlene Francis. In 1940, she took over the role of Betty on “Betty and Bob”, which had been the first successful soap opera. She was one of the hosts of the quiz show “What’s My Name?” beginning in 1938. The show was seen as a model for TV’s “What’s My Line?” which premiered in 1950. Francis would stay with the show for its entire run, including six mystery guest appearances by Lucille Ball.  

The husband to “My Good Wife” was played by John Conte.  From 1944 to 1946 he was married to Marilyn Maxwell (1944-46) who would later appear with Lucille Ball in the 1963 film Critic’s Choice.  He had also been seen with Ball (and Maxwell) in As Thousands Cheer (1943). In 1960 he would work for Desilu in an episode of “The Untouchables” (1960).

Unlike “My Favorite Husband’s” mythical mid-Western Sheridan Falls, the Emerson’s livid in the real New York suburb of Larchmont, an affluent village located within the Town of Mamaroneck in Westchester County, New York, approximately 18 miles northeast of Midtown Manhattan.  Nearby was the town of New Rochelle, whose most famous fictional resident was Rob Petrie on “The Dick Van Dyke Show” (filmed at Desilu Studios).  Danfield, New York, another fictional town in the area, was the residence of Lucy Carmichael and Vivian Bagley for the first three seasons of “The Lucy Show.” 

“My Good Wife” began airing in June 1949, and by April 1950 was nowhere to be found. In October 1949, Billboard reported on a new NBC Gallup Poll that placed the show dead last - with 32 stations voting it poor and only 8 saying it was excellent.  The future of “Wife” was bleak. The sitcom was cancelled after 18 weeks to make room for the new Jimmy Durante show. Meanwhile, Ball’s “Husband” (on CBS), thrived.  Coincidentally, the show was initially a replacement for Red Skelton’s show. Skelton and Durante had both worked with Ball on films.  

Crosby’s quote from “My Favorite Husband”  

"Oh, we don't miss television. I climb in the Bendix and sing and George looks at me through the little window."

was spoken by Lucille Ball in the episode titled “Television” on June 17, 1949.  A Bendix is a brand of front-loading washing machine. The porthole-like window was similar to the size screen of early television sets.  

Crosby’s observation that Liz talks like Groucho Marx is attributable to the show’s writers Bob Carroll, Jr., Madelyn Pugh, and Jess Oppenheimer.  And let’s not forget that Lucille Ball acted opposite Groucho Marx in Room Service (1938)!      

After making the obvious comparison to “My Favorite Husband,” Crosby lets readers know that neither “Husband” nor “Wife” will ever displace “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriett” in his domestic dome. The show launched October 8, 1944 and a total 402 radio episodes were produced. When it was optioned for television, it was upstart network ABC that made the sweetest deal to the Nelsons. 

As Crosby alludes to, their real-life sons, David and Ricky, did not join the cast until the radio show's fifth year. The two boys were played by professional actors prior to their joining because both were too young to perform. Crosby’s allegations of possible identity crisis due to watching their parents with other sons on television, might easily apply to “I Love Lucy”, where the real-life Desi Arnaz often lived in the shadow of the young actors playing Little Ricky on television. Mrs. Ricardo and Mrs. Arnaz giving birth to both boys on the same day only added to the confusion - one that still lingers today. 

Crosby declines to compare the aforementioned shows with the popular Goodman and Jane Ace. The real-life marrieds had a show titled “Easy Aces”  Goodman Ace cast himself as a harried real estate salesman and the exasperated but loving husband of the scatterbrained, malaprop-prone Jane ("Time wounds all heels"). “Easy Aces” became a long-running serial comedy (1930–1945) but did not make a graceful transition to television, lasting only a few months on the ill-fated DuMont Network. Coincidentally, Martin Gabel, who married Arlene Francis in 1946, had a recurring role on “Easy Aces” during the 1930s. 

In a more sarcastic shout-out, Crosby mentions capping off this slew of domestic dithering by listening to Dorothy Dix.  Author Elizabeth Meriwether Gilmer (1861-1951) was widely known by the pen name Dorothy Dix. As the forerunner of today’s popular advice columnists, Dix was America’s highest paid and most widely read female journalist at the time of her death. Her advice on marriage was syndicated in newspapers around the world with an estimated audience of 60 million readers.  Naturally, radio was not neglected, getting their Dix fix when her column took to the airwaves.  Due to Lucy’s insistence on interfering in the Mertz’s personal affairs, Ricky compares Lucy to Dorothy Dix in “Fred and Ethel Fight” (ILL S1;E22) on March 10, 1952. 

We haven’t yet mentioned this 1940 gem, but we’ll save that for another time!