#mickey martin

[buhdonkers]

Mickey Martin

[papermoonloveslucy]

LUCY MEETS THE BURTONS

S3;E1 ~ September 14, 1970

Directed by Jerry Paris ~ Written by Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Davis

Synopsis

When film star Richard Burton sneaks out of his hotel disguised as a plumber, Lucy unsuspectingly recruits him to fix the office sink. When Elizabeth Taylor’s famous diamond ring falls out of the pocket of his overalls, Lucy dares to try it on – and it gets stuck on her finger!  With just minutes until a big press party, Lucy comes up with a plan.  

Regular Cast

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

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

Guest Cast

Elizabeth Taylor (Herself) was a British-American actress, businesswoman, and humanitarian. She began her career as a child actress in the early 1940s, and was one of the most popular stars of classical Hollywood cinema in the 1950s. She continued her career successfully into the 1960s, and remained a well known public figure for the rest of her life. Throughout her life, Taylor’s personal affairs were subject to constant media attention. She was married eight times to seven men, marrying Richard Burton twice. She died in 2011.  

Richard Burton (Himself) was born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr. in Wales in 1924. He was noted for his mellifluous baritone voice and established himself as a formidable Shakespearean actor in the 1950s. He gave a memorable performance of Hamlet in 1964 and was called the natural successor to Olivier by critic Kenneth Tynan. Burton was nominated for an Academy Award seven times, but never won. In 1960 he appeared on Broadway as King Arthur in Camelot (at the same time as Lucille Ball was starring in Wildcat) and won a Tony Award for Best Actor. In the 1960s, Burton was one of the top box office stars and one of the highest-paid actors in the world, receiving $1 million or more per film. Burton remains closely associated in the public consciousness with his second (and third) wife, actress Elizabeth Taylor. The couple’s turbulent relationship was rarely out of the news. He died in 1984.

Cliff Norton (Sam The Plumber) makes the first of three appearances on the series after having been seen on two episodes of “The Lucy Show.”

Sam has his name boldly printed on his tool box, the front of his overalls, and on the back. Just in case anyone mistakes him for Richard Burton!

Brook Williams (Mr. Williams, Hotel Manager) was the younger son of the famous actor and playwright Emlyn Williams (Night Must Fall) and the brother of the novelist Alan Williams. As a child, he was befriended by Richard Burton and in later years, became Burton’s personal assistant, adviser, and collaborator.  

Richard Burton requested that Williams be cast in the episode.

Vanda Barra (Vanda) was Lucille Ball’s cousin-in-law. This is just one of her over two dozen appearances on “Here’s Lucy” as well as appearing in Ball’s two 1975 TV movies “Lucy Gets Lucky” (with Dean Martin) and “Three for Two” (with Jackie Gleason). She was seen in half a dozen episodes of “The Lucy Show.”

Jose Portugal (Fan, uncredited) makes his only series appearance. He was also an uncredited extra in the Elizabeth Taylor film Rhapsody (1954).

The Members of the Hollywood Press all play themselves and are named in the final credits (in order of appearance):

Cecil Smith was married to Lucille Ball’s cousin Cleo, who was the show’s producer. He wrote for the Los Angeles Times.

Joyce Haber was named in 1968 by the Los Angeles Times as a successor to gossip legend and “I Love Lucy” guest star Hedda Hopper, who died in 1966.

James Bacon began as a writer for the Associated Press, then spent almost 20 years with the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner.

Vernon Scott was a United Press International (UPI) Hollywood correspondent and columnist for 52 years.

Other Members of the Press who are credited, but are not identified nor speak dialogue:

Army Archerd was a columnist for Daily Variety magazine since 1953 before retiring his “Just for Variety” column in 2005.

Marilyn Beck was a well-known Hollywood gossip columnist who studied journalism at USC.

Joan Crosby was the one-time president of the Hollywood Women’s Press Club.

Dick Kleiner was a columnist whose question-and-answer column “Ask Dick Kleiner” about Hollywood celebrities appeared in hundreds of newspapers across the country.

Morton Moss was a sports and television columnist for the Los Angeles Examiner and later the combined Herald Examiner newspapers.

Robert Rose

Joyce Adams

Sig Frohlich (Bellhop, uncredited) makes the first of his six appearances on the series.

Mickey Martin (Bellhop, uncredited) appeared with Lucille Ball in the 1934 film Kid Millions starring Eddie Cantor. He was also an uncredited extra in the 1947 Elizabeth Taylor film Cynthia. This is the second of his three episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”  

Other fans, press, and hotel staff are played by uncredited extras.  

Although this episode kicked off the third season, it was filmed much later and moved up as the  season premiere.

For this episode a special title sequence was created for the Burtons, including having their names announced by series announcer Roy Rowan. This sequence replaced the one usually given to Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr., who do not appear in this episode. For the first and only time, Lucille Ball filmed an introduction to the episode that also promoted the season’s many upcoming celebrity guest stars.

This is the first episode to be directed by Jerry Paris, who was also an actor. He played Jerry Helper on “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and also wrote 84 episodes, one of which won him an Emmy in 1964.  Paris was hired specifically for this episode. As a condition of employment, he was given a six episode deal. Because Paris and Lucille Ball clashed in style, only one more episode ever came to pass: “Lucy and the Drum Contest” (S3;E4), which was actually filmed before this one. Paris also requested dialogue coach Bobby Hoffman be hired with the same deal. The coach ended up intimidated by Burton and directing Ball instead, something Lucy did not tolerate well. He, too, was let go.

This episode marks the return of original “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show” writers Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Davis. They were given very short notice to write the script but finished it in a little more than a week. This is the first time they’ve written for Lucille Ball since 1964. They would pen 28 more episodes of “Here’s Lucy” as well as the ill-fated series “Life with Lucy” in 1986.  

Although not featured in the episode, Lucie Arnaz announced her engagement to Phil Vandervoort during the show’s Monday table read. The two were married in 1971.

A thirty minute documentary film “Lucy Meets the Burtons: A Comedic Gem” was included on DVD release of “Here’s Lucy” season 3. It includes interviews with Lucie Arnaz, Carole Cook, and behind the scenes footage.

This show’s plot was built around the real-life publicity achieved when Richard Burton bought his wife Elizabeth Taylor a 68 carat Cartier diamond ring worth over a million dollars. Property Master Ken Westcott created two replica rings for the medium and long shots which were crafted from chandelier crystals. Although he wanted to keep one after the shoot, Ball took one and Taylor took the other.

Lucille Ball first met Elizabeth Taylor in an arranged ‘set visit’ during the shooting of 1953′s The Long, Long Trailer.  

Lucille Ball and Gary Morton met the Burtons at a Los Angeles party given by the English ambassador. After a few drinks, Richard Burton said that he wanted to work with Lucy. The next morning he regretted it and had his agent call to retract the offer. When asked to keep his promise, however, he and Taylor agreed. 

Although Burton had immense respect for Lucille Ball’s talent, the two had vastly different working styles. Ball was unhappy that he continually underplayed his lines. On more than one occasion she barked at him “Speak up, Richard! Speak up!” Burton muttered “If she says that one more time, it’s back to the hotel for both of us” (meaning him and Taylor, not him and Lucy).  

When Lucille Ball’s long-time hairstylist Irma Kusely heard that Elizabeth Taylor was to be a guest, she bragged about knowing the star. Lucie Arnaz thought she was fibbing until Taylor’s first visit to the set. When Taylor spotted Kusely across the soundstage she shouted at the top of her voice “Irma!!!” Taylor naturally brought her own hairstylist, Sidney Guilaroff, to the shoot.

For their four days of work on “Here’s Lucy,” the Burtons were each paid $2,500 plus amenities: 

private air transportation 

separate limousines 

separate trailers (each kitted-out with luxury items from their rider list) 

separate bungalows at the Beverly Hills Hotel 

separate security guards  

At one point Burton admired a sweater that Producer Gary Morton was wearing, so Morton told him where to find it and told Burton to stop by and charge it to Lucille Ball Productions. Burton bought one in every color – 16 sweaters!

Elizabeth Taylor’s elaborate trailer came with a list of her preferred champagne and chocolates. The trailer was originally built for Barbra Streisand when she filmed On A Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970) at Paramount.  For some reason, no one was allowed to mention the name ‘Barbra Streisand’ in front of Elizabeth Taylor!  

Casting members of the Hollywood Press in bit roles assured that the episode received amazing publicity, including the above cover of TV Guide. It ultimately became CBS’s highest rated show on the air for the 1971-72 television season.  It was also the best remembered episode of the entire series.

Lucille Ball’s protege and friend Carole Cook recalls tickets for the filming were at a premium and the audience was filled with celebrities, politicians and Hollywood big-wigs.   

In the episode, the hotel manager tells Richard Burton that the Burtons have replaced Lawrence Welk and Liberace on the bus tour of the movie stars homes. Burton says that almost makes up for losing the Oscar. The sympathetic studio audience must agree because they burst into applause at the line. Welk and Liberace guest starred as themselves on season two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” Burton could be referring to any one of seven nominations he lost, but the most recent would have been for Anne of A Thousand Days in 1969. A bus tour of the movie stars homes was featured in “The Tour” (ILL S4;E30).  

The hotel manager tells Burton that the back door is mobbed by the Elizabeth Taylor Fan Club – Glendale Chapter. Membership to the club requires seeing National Velvet 10 times!  National Velvet (1945) was made when Taylor was just twelve years old.  

Lucy makes the common error of thinking ‘Sam the Plumber’ (aka Burton) is English. He stridently corrects her: “Certainly not!  I’m a Welshman!”  To prove it, Burton even speaks a little untranslated Welsh. 

When Burton (as Sam) asks Lucy if she wants to hear some Shakespeare, he does a soliloquy from Richard II.

Lucy pays Sam / Burton $23.50 for fixing the leak in the sink, taking fifty cents off for the time he took to recite Shakespeare!

Harry brags to Burton that he starred in his college theatre production of Anthony and Cleopatra – as Cleopatra!  In a previous episode, Harry admitted he went to an all-boys school and also played Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. On “The Lucy Show” Lucy Carmichael played Cleopatra in a community theatre production of Anthony and Cleopatra. Harry played Caesar in a musical revue in “Lucy and the Generation Gap” (S2;E12).

When Harry leaves the office to find Burton a cab, he dramatically paraphrases Richard III: “A cab!  A cab!  My kingdom for a cab!” and exits with a flourish. When her returns he paraphrases Hamlet: “Yet here, Laertes? Aboard, aboard, your cab awaits!”

A portion of the episode’s ending with Elizabeth Taylor saying “Good night, Lucy” in a voice reminiscent of Arte Johnson’s German soldier character on “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” was cut for broadcast but is included on the DVD extras.  

Traditionally, after “Here’s Lucy” finished filming, Lucille Ball and Gary Morton would go to Matteo’s for supper. But after this episode, a lavish wrap party catered by Chasen’s was held in an adjoining studio.  

In his later years, Richard Burton did not remember this episode kindly. He characterized Lucille Ball as a manipulative, controlling bitch. Ouch!

The episode was rerun on March 12, 1973, the first week of repeats after first-run episodes of season 5 ended. The previous week saw “Lucy & Harry’s Memoirs” (HL S5;E24), the series’ only retrospective episode. It was nearly the last episode of the series, except for a last minute reprieve by CBS and LBP. 

Because both Lucy Ricardo and Lucy Carmichael were both star-struck, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor’s names were both mentioned frequently on previous “Lucy” sitcoms.  In “A Date for Lucy” (S1;E19), Lucy Carter and Mary Jane fantasize about dating Richard Burton, except that Elizabeth Taylor wouldn’t approve. Burton was also mentioned in another dating-themed episode “Lucy the Matchmaker” (S1;E12).

The gag of Lucy placing her arm through a curtain was first used in “The Handcuffs” (ILL S2;E4) when Ricky has to perform on a television show while still handcuffed to Lucy.  The gag was repeated on an “Lucy the Music Lover” (TLS S1;E8) where Lucy Carmichael has to bow a violin for a virtuoso violinist with a wounded hand.  All three episodes were written by Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Davis.

When trying on a ring Mr. Mooney has purchased for his wife’s birthday, Lucy Carmichael can’t get it off her finger in “Lucy and the Ring-a-Ding Ring” (TLS S5;E5).  

When Lucy is trying to act nonchalant in the office with Richard Burton staring at her the moment is very similar to when Lucy Ricardo discovered that William Holden was staring at her eat at the Brown Derby in “Hollywood at Last!” (ILL S4;E16).  

Plumbing problems were also the cause for a celebrity cameo (or two) in “Lucy and the Plumber” (TLS S3;E2). In that case, the stars in coveralls were Jack Benny and Bob Hope.

Burton jokes that he got the ring out of a Cracker Jack barrel. On “I Love Lucy” Ethel Mertz often joked that her wedding ring came out of a box of Cracker Jack. This was a favorite joke of writers Carroll and Davis.

Game Face! When Elizabeth Taylor makes her first entrance (nearly 20 minutes into the show), she can’t help but grin when she is greeted by applause, hoots, and whistles from the studio audience. It is worth remembering that Taylor was not used to stage work like Burton and had little experience with live audiences in a dramatic context.

Security Continuity!  When the closeup of the diamond is shown, one can tell that the background is different from the medium shot. That is because the show’s insurance wouldn’t cover the cost of showing the diamond at the studio just in case it were lost or stolen, so a another shot had to be done at a different, more secure location.

Facelift!  For season three, the Unique Employment Agency has been redecorated: new wallpaper, new chairs, a new lamp, painted railings, there is even a bathroom where a closet used to be! Lucy has finally upgraded to an electric typewriter.  Gone are the tribal masks and spears that previously decorated the wall behind Lucy’s desk. The little shelf in the vestibule with the model clipper ship is also gone. The office finally looks more like an employment agency and less like an antiques dealer.

“Lucy and the Burtons” rates 5 Paper Hearts out of 5

It’s no mystery why this episode is so popular.  It combines two of Hollywood’s biggest stars, two of Lucy’s best gags, two of Lucy’s finest writers, one red-hot sitcom director, and the biggest bling in La La Land!  

[papermoonloveslucy]

LUCY AND MA PARKER

S3;E15 ~ December 21, 1970

Directed by Herbert Kenwith ~ Written by Larry Rhine and Lou Derman

Synopsis

When a woman and two children mysteriously move in next door, Lucy discovers that they're a band of criminals led by Ma Parker. Reporting it to the police, Lucy is recruited to impersonate Ma Parker and help nab a dangerous mob leader.  

Regular Cast

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

Guest Cast

Carole Cook (Ma Parker) played Thelma Green on “The Lucy Show” as well as a host of other characters. She was a protege of Lucille Ball’s during the Desilu Playhouse years. Although born as Mildred Cook, Ball suggested she take the name Carole, in honor of Lucy’s great friend, Carole Lombard. Cook appeared in five episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”   

After many years of playing supporting characters opposite Lucille Ball, Carole Cook finally guest stars in a title role.

Billy Curtis (Herman Golab) was born Luigi Curto in 1909. He appeared as one of the Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz (1939).  Although Curtis was a singer, his munchkin singing voice was dubbed by Pinto Colvig, who voiced all the dogs in 1964's “Lucy is Her Own Lawyer” (TLS S2;E23).  He famously played McDonald's Mayor McCheese from its creation until his death. The character was retired when Curtis died in 1988.

Curtis's first job was as a shoe salesman, so it is coincidental that his costume resembles Buster Brown. Ironically, cast mate Jerry Maren played Buster Brown on television and radio during the 1950s and 1960s. 

Jerry Maren (Milton aka 'Little Mildred') played the Munchkin who hands Dorothy a welcome lollipop in The Wizard of Oz (1939). Like Curtis, he also did commercials for McDonald's, mostly as the Hamburglar.

Mildred is Carole Cook's birth name. The character is costumed in the style of Shirley Temple. 

Harry Hickox (Lieutenant L. Hickox, below left) was best known for playing anvil salesman Charlie Cowell in the 1962 film The Music Man. He played a drill sergeant in “Lucy Gets Caught Up in the Draft” (TLS S5;E9).  This is the second of his three episodes of “Here’s Lucy,” all as policemen. 

The character was named after Lucy and Desi’s real-life business manager and Desilu vice-president Andrew Hickox. It was also given to a character played by Charles Lane in “The Business Manager” (ILL S4;E1).

Stafford Repp (Police Detective Halloran, above right) made a career of playing policemen even before he became famous as Chief O'Hara on TV’s “Batman” (1966-68). He played two different officers of the law on “Dennis the Menace” in 1962 and 1963, alongside Gale Gordon. Repp made two appearances on “The Lucy Show,” but this is his only “Here's Lucy” episode.

The character is never addressed by name in the dialogue.  

Emile Autuori (Waiter at the Red Devil) makes the first of his six appearances on “Here's Lucy.”  He passed away in early 2017.  He was the uncle of writer / director P.J. Castalleneta.

Marc Lawrence (Joe Grapefruit) appeared on Broadway in three plays with the Group Theatre.  On screen, Lawrence specialized in playing gangster roles. He will also appear in “Lucy and Mannix Are Held Hostage” (S4;E4). Coincidentally, Lawrence appeared in three episodes of “Mannix,” which was a Desilu show.

Joe Grapefruit is a mobster from Chicago.  

Boyd 'Red' Morgan (Muggsy, above center) was an actor and stunt man who was seen in “Lucy and John Wayne” (TLS S5;E10), with whom he did eleven films. This is the third of his four episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

Morgan was cast because the character takes a hit to the face and falls off a chair just as he did in “Lucy, the American Mother” (S3;E7).

Mickey Martin (Customer #1 at the Red Devil, uncredited, below center) appeared with Lucille Ball in the 1934 film Kid Millions starring Eddie Cantor. He was also an uncredited extra in the 1947 Elizabeth Taylor film Cynthia. This is the last of his three episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”  

Orwin Harvey (Customer #2 at the Red Devil, above left) was an actor and stuntman who played one of the singing and dancing teamsters in “Lucy Helps Ken Berry” (TLS S6;E21). This is one of his six appearances on “Here’s Lucy.” 

Harvey plays the burly man at the bar that Lucy lifts over her head. Both Customer #1 and #2 do not have any dialogue but were cast for their size. 

Tony Dante (Customer of the Red Devil, uncredited) made more than 20 uncredited appearances on Desilu's “The Untouchables.” He also did two episodes of “The Lucy Show.” Walter Smith (Customer of the Red Devil, uncredited) made 13 mostly uncredited appearances on the series. He also did one episode of “The Lucy Show.”  

Joan Carey (Customer of the Red Devil, uncredited) was one of the only background performers to appear on “I Love Lucy,” “The Lucy Show,” and “Here’s Lucy.” She was also one of Lucille Ball’s camera and lighting stand-ins. 

Other customers and staff of the Red Devil are played by uncredited background performers.

On the series DVD, the episode is introduced by Carole Cook and Jerry Maren, who says that the next day on the golf course he was ribbed for playing 'Little Mildred'!  

The title character is a parody of Kate 'Ma' Barker (inset), the mother of several criminals who ran the Barker gang in the 1930s. She traveled with her sons during their criminal careers. She was previously mentioned in “Lucy and the Great Bank Robbery” (TLS S3;E5).

In 2007, Jerry Maren (Milton) appeared at Jamestown's annual Lucille Ball Festival to discuss filming this episode. While being interviewed, he received a surprise phone call from Desi Arnaz Jr.

Ma Parker was also the name of one of TV’s “Batman” villains. She was played by Shelley Winters (inset), who guest starred on a 1968 episode of “Here's Lucy.” Winters is just one of many actors who performed on both “Batman” and “Lucy”.

When Lucy gets her head stuck in the hedge while spying on the neighbors, Kim calls her mother “Snoopy Sales.” Milton Supman (aka Soupy Sales, 1926-2009) was best known for his local and network children's television show, “Lunch with Soupy Sales” (1953-66), a series of comedy sketches frequently ending with Sales receiving a pie in the face, which became his trademark. From 1968 to 1975, he was a regular panelist on the syndicated revival of “What's My Line?”

When Lucy picks up the garden hose, a napping Harry is awakened by a shower. The well-known “Here's Lucy” formula: Harry + Garden Hose = Wet!

Typical of Lucille Ball's sitcom style (and the overall tone of this episode), the 'children' are dressed in outfits that are vaudeville stereotypes of children, not as children would be in 1970.

Lucy gives the 'children' lollipops; appropriate since Jerry Maren played one of the Lollipop Guild in The Wizard of Oz (1939). Additionally, Lucy carries a basket similar to Dorothy Gale's.

Lucy Ricardo was suspicious of her “New Neighbors” (ILL S1;E21) who were also suspected criminals (suspected by Lucy, that is). Lucy disguised herself as an armchair and hid in their closet to spy on them!

Lucy Carmichael developed super-human strength in “Lucy, the Super Woman” (TLS S4;E26).  

Skill Set!  Lucy sits down at Ma Parker's piano to sing the neighborhood welcome song, but Lucy Carter has never been able to play the piano, just the saxophone and the ukulele.

Props! The stein on Ma Parker's end table is the same one seen in in Rudy Vallee's living room table in “Lucy and Rudy Vallee” (S3;E12).

Foy Flaw!  In the medium shots of Customer #2 at the bar, the wires that will help Lucy lift him in the air can be seen.

When Lieutenant Hickox (disguised as waiter) handcuffs Joe Grapefruit, he also must rip off his false beard with the other hand. Unfortunately, half his mustache stays glued to his face. He quickly does a second motion and rips it off, too!  

“Lucy and Ma Parker” rates 1 Paper Heart out of 5 

The scene where Lucy visits Ma Parker as part of the neighborhood welcome wagon feels like a satire or a sketch show – something Lucy and company might act out in one of their musical episodes, but lacks any sense of reality. Lucy behaves in a presentational manner as if she's putting on an act. I suppose that is what she felt necessary to pull off the premise of not recognizing adult little people in costumes. But when she mistakes actual machine gun fire for cork bullets and lifts a big man over her head, well... so much for Lucille Ball's credo of sticking close to the truth. The final scene is missing one key element – the 'real' Ma Parker!  Additionally, some of the comedy in this episode is derived from insulting remarks and jokes about little people. In 1970 the term 'midget' was still socially acceptable.

[papermoonloveslucy]

LUCY AND EVA GABOR

S1;E7 ~ November 11, 1968

Directed by Jack Donohue ~ Written by Milt Josefsberg and Ray Singer

Synopsis

The author of a controversial novel (Eva Gabor) is in town and needs a quiet place to work so Harry volunteers Lucy's home. Naturally, it is anything but peaceful and far from quiet.

Regular Cast

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

Guest Cast

Eva Gabor (Eva Von Graunitz) was born in Hungary in 1919.  She came to America with her sisters, Magda and Zsa Zsa.  She began her screen career in 1941.  She also appeared on Broadway five times between 1950 and 1983.  Her signature role was glamorous socialite turned farm wife Lisa Douglas on “Green Acres” (1965-71), also aired on CBS. Gabor was married five times. She was also a successful businesswoman, marketing wigs, clothing and beauty products. Gabor returned to “Here's Lucy” to play herself in 1972.  She died in 1995.  

Eva Gabor also used Graunitz as her maiden name on “Green Acres” which ran concurrently with “Here's Lucy.”  

Robert Carson (Martin Phillips) was a busy Canadian-born character actor who appeared on six episodes of “The Lucy Show.”  This is the first of his five appearances on “Here’s Lucy.”

Peggy Rea (Maude, above center) was seen on four episodes of “I Love Lucy,” mostly as one of the members of the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League, but also as the Nurse that wheeled enceinte Lucy into the hospital.  Rea was a regular on “The Waltons” and “Grace Under Fire,” her last series before her death in 2011.  This is her only appearance on “Here's Lucy.”  

Maude is in Lucy's bridge club.

Kay Elliot (Nelly, second from right) was the fifth of six actors to play Aunt Hagatha on “Bewitched.” This is her only appearance with Lucille Ball.

Nelly is in Lucy's bridge club.

Gail Bonney (Dolores, above right) appeared with Lucille Ball in the 1950 films A Woman of Distinction and The Fuller Brush Girl. She played Mrs. Hudson, mother of unruly twins, on “The Amateur Hour” (ILL S1;E14) as well as in "Lucy and the Ceramic Cat" (TLS S3;E16). She had also appeared with Eva Gabor on a 1965 episode of “Green Acres.”  This is her only appearance on “Here's Lucy.”

Dolores is in Lucy's bridge club.  She is the president of the PTA.  

Mickey Martin (Photographer) appeared with Lucille Ball in the 1934 film Kid Millions starring Eddie Cantor.  He did one more episode of “Here's Lucy” in 1970, which was his final screen credit.

Sid Gould (Expressman) made more than 45 appearances on “The Lucy Show,” all as background characters. This is the third of his 40 episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” Gould (born Sydney Greenfader) was Lucille Ball’s cousin by marriage to Gary Morton. 

Earl Parker (Newspaper Reporter) was seen mostly in TV westerns.  He was a stunt double for Vic Morrow.  This is his only appearance with Lucille Ball. 

There was no new “Here's Lucy” episode on Monday, November 6, 1968 because it was the eve of a US Presidential election.  Instead, CBS sold the time slot to the George Wallace campaign, while Richard Nixon bought time on another network.  Regular programming resumed later in the evening and Lucille Ball made a guest appearance (her second) on “The Carol Burnett Show.”  So Lucy was still on Monday night!  

This episode of “Here's Lucy” was aired on Veterans Day 1968.  

Peggy Rea (Maude) introduced this episode on the “Here's Lucy” DVD collection.  Rea passed away shortly afterwards.  

Two days after this “Here's Lucy” episode originally aired, “Green Acres” broadcast the seventh episode of their fourth season, “A Husband for Eleanor” (their cow).  

Eva Von Graunitz is the author of Valley of the Puppets, a title that parodies the 1966 Jacqueline Susann novel Valley of the Dolls, which was filmed in 1967. In the film, Peggy Rea (Maude) played Neely's (Patty Duke) vocal coach.  Harry says that Valley of the Puppets was banned in Boston.  Lucy adds that it was even barred in Tijuana!

"Lucille Ball is first in line to portray the big time star in ‘Valley of the Dolls,' which Fox script writers are busily turning into a musical. It will be really ironic if Lucy does play this part. The character in the book is often hinted to be Ethel Merman, presented in a not-too-favorable light, and Lucy and Ethel are close friends!" - Arizona Republic, January 3, 1967

The role of Helen Lawson was cast with Judy Garland, but she was quickly replaced by Susan Hayward.  

Harry says he hasn't read anything like it since Captain Billy's Whiz Bang. Captain Billy's Whiz Bang was one of the most popular and notorious humor magazines of the 1920s. It was created by Wilford Hamilton Fawcett, who had been a captain in the US Army during World War I and gained the nickname Captain Billy. The books were immortalized in the lyrics of the song "Trouble" in Meredith Willson's 1957 Broadway musical The Music Man which was filmed in 1962. The reference, however, is anachronistic as the musical is set in 1912 and the first issue did not hit the newsstands until 1919, seven years later!  The humor magazine was eventually sold to CBS Publications, a division of CBS, the network that distributed “Here's Lucy” and Lucille Ball's other sitcoms.

Harry compares his wise-cracking nephew Craig to Milton Berle.  Berle guest starred on episodes of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” and “The Lucy Show.” Desi Arnaz Jr. would co-stars with Berle on “Lucy and the Used Car Dealer” (S2;E9) above.  

Craig is dating the most popular girl in the class, Lori Wilson.  Despite this he seems smitten with Eva Von Graunitz.  Eva Gabor was 48 years old at the time and Desi Arnaz Jr. was 15.  In her thick Hungarian accent Eva calls Lucy 'Loosel'!  The screenplay Eva is writing concerns a love affair between William and Veronica (or, as Eva says, Villiam and Weronica).

Dolores asks Eva for her autograph – on a copy of The Caine Mutiny, the 1951 Pulitzer Prize–winning novel by Herman Wouk. It was turned into a stage play in 1953 and also a film in 1954. The play is mentioned in “Lucy Meets Orson Welles” (ILL S6;E3).  

Lucy gets a phone call from Millie, who is in her bowling league.

When a reporter pretends to be Eva's brother, she tells Lucy she has no brothers!  Lucy asks about sisters.  Eva rolls her eyes and says “Boy, oh, boy, oh, boy!  Do I have sisters!” This is an inside reference to Gabor's famous siblings Zsa-Zsa and Magda.  

Where there's water, Gale Gordon is sure to end up wet. Here he is on the receiving end of a flowing garden hose.  This running gag began on “The Lucy Show.”  

When Eva's agent Martin Phillips is at the door, Lucy says “I don't care if you're Tiny Tim!” This is the third reference to “Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In” where singer and ukulele player Tiny Tim was a regular performer.  The variety comedy show aired opposite “Here's Lucy” on NBC.  

The name of Eva's next book, Life with Lucille (or, as Eva says, 'Loosel'), is eerily close to the title of Lucille Ball's final television series Life with Lucy (1987).

The episode ends with role reversal, Lucy dictating to Eva, invoking the names of Cary Grant and John Vane (Wayne).  John Wayne had guest starred as himself on both “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show.”  While Cary Grant never appeared with Lucille Ball, his name was mentioned three times on “I Love Lucy.”  

Booby-trapping the front door with buckets designed to tip over was first done in “The Ballet” (ILL S1;E19) where Lucy Ricardo ended up drenched in water. 

Sitcom logic alert!  Mr. Phillips is looking for a 'normal family' where successful writer Eva Von Graunitz can live while she writes a screenplay.  He is paying $500 a week.  For that price he not might rent her a private home, apartment, or hotel room.  If she desired privacy, why would she want a family environment? 

Allergy Attack! Eva Gabor gives a little ladylike sneeze while hosing down the shrubbery.

Consistency! Eva says that Lucy (Loosel) will be the subject of her next book, yet as the episode fades to black Lucy is dictating a screenplay, not a book.  

“Lucy and Eva Gabor” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5

Eva Gabor and Lucy are a lot of fun together.  So much so that they re-paired in season 5, although by then Eva just played Eva, which is not so far from the Eva she’s playing here!  Darling I love you, but give me Park Avenue!

[kidcougar]

[virginiaweidlerremembrance]

TODAY IN GINNY - November 16 - Mickey Martin

Mickey Martin (1920) is yet another guy named Mickey who appeared in a film with Virginia Weidler. That's at least three. Mickey was in the business steadily from 1935 to 1958 and then made a final appearance as a bellboy in THE GNOME MOBILE in 1967. He played boys, newsboys, schoolboys, and tough boys when he was a boy. He played bellboys, messenger boys, delivery boys, page boys, elevator boys, jockeys, and copyboys as an adult. He was still cast as a teenager at age thirty. He played Oscar the elevator boy in I'LL WAIT FOR YOU (1941) and a page boy in THIS TIME FOR KEEPS (1942). For those interested, he was also a cheerleader in CYNTHIA and a whistling delivery boy in A KISS FOR CORLISS. In the photo Mickey is operating the elevator for Robert Sterling and Patricia Dane in IWFY.