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Obscure chub character actors of the 1930s
Romo Vincent was a singer/actor between 1937-1967. He had 61 film appearances throughout, splitting time between his singing career and Broadway career that spanned 1942-1959. He had only 4 credits in the 30′s, from 1937-1938. These screen stills are from Start Cheering in 1938 with Jimmy Durante. Romo was cute and likeable in this movie. It surprises me that his next credited role in film wasn’t until 1949.
LUCY AND THE GROUP ENCOUNTER
S5;E14 ~ December 18, 1972
Directed by Coby Ruskin ~ Written by Fred S. Fox and Seaman Jacobs
Synopsis
Lucy and Harry can't stop bickering, so Mary Jane suggests they join her at her group therapy. The doctor in charge asks Lucy and Harry to play some games to improve their communication skills, culminating in a day of role reversal at the office.
Regular Cast
Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter)
Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter) does not appear in this episode nor does she receive screen credit.
Guest Cast
Kurt Kasznar (Professor Henderson) was born in Austria so it is fitting that he was nominated for a 1959 Tony Award for originating the role of Max Detweiler in The Sound of Music. It was his twelfth Broadway show. In 1959, Kasznar did an episode of “The Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse” hosted by Desi Arnaz.
Mary Jane Croft (Mary Jane) played Betty Ramsey during season six of “I Love Lucy. ” She also played Cynthia Harcourt in “Lucy is Envious” (ILL S3;E23) and Evelyn Bigsby in “Return Home from Europe” (ILL S5;E26). She played Audrey Simmons on “The Lucy Show” but when Lucy Carmichael moved to California, she played Mary Jane Lewis, the actor’s married name and the same one she uses on all 31 of her episodes of “Here’s Lucy. Her final acting credit was playing Midge Bowser on “Lucy Calls the President” (1977). She died in 1999 at the age of 83.
Reta Shaw (Rita Forrester) started her career on the stage in such hits as Picnic (1953) and The Pajama Game (1954), for which she also did the film versions. She is best known for playing maids, such as in Disney’s Mary Poppins (1964) and TV’s “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir” (1968-1970), which she filmed concurrently with her first appearance on “Here’s Lucy.” She made three appearances on “The Lucy Show” and she will make one more on “Here’s Lucy.”
Rita Forrester runs Forrester Publications. Shaw is using a form of her married name, Reta Forester. She was married to actor William A. Forester from 1952 to 1962.
Romo Vincent (George, the Mailman) was a Broadway performer from 1942 to 1959. He played an airline passenger in “Lucy Flies to London” (TLS S5;E6). This is his second and final episode of “Here’s Lucy.”
Sid Gould (Hippie at Group Therapy, uncredited) made more than 45 appearances on “The Lucy Show” and nearly as many on “Here’s Lucy.” Gould (born Sydney Greenfader) was Lucille Ball’s cousin by marriage to Gary Morton. Vanda Barra (Hippie at Group Therapy, uncredited) makes one of over two dozen appearances on “Here’s Lucy” as well as appearing in Ball’s two 1975 TV movies “Lucy Gets Lucky” and “Three for Two”. She was seen in half a dozen episodes of “The Lucy Show.” Barra was Lucille Ball’s cousin-in-law by marriage to Sid Gould.
Mary Jane's handsome Group Therapy partner is uncredited.
This is the last new episode of calendar year 1972. The series resumes on New Year's Day 1973.
The original script was titled “Kim’s Singing Group Encounter.” The final episode featured no singing and no Kim!
The night this episode first aired “Here's Lucy” had some formidable competition on NBC titled “The Snoop Sisters” starring Helen Hayes and Mildred Natwick. Hayes had guest-starred on “Here's Lucy” at the very start of 1972. The Snoop Sisters” also starred Kurt Kaszner, who is also on this episode of “Lucy” at the very same time! Iggie Wolfington, another stage star like Hayes and Kasznar, also starred and two weeks earlier was featured as a minister in “Lucy and Her Prince Charming” (S5;E12). “The Snoop Sisters” was not a regular series and would not be seen again for a full year.
Starting in the fall of 1972, group therapy was also explored on “The Bob Newhart Show” (1972-78) which aired on CBS on Saturday nights. In 2014, Newhart performed in Jamestown as part of the Lucy Town Half Marathon and 5K weekend.
When Lucy accidentally sews Harry's jacket to her skirt, he says “would you kindly remove the stitches or should I call in Dr. Marcus Welby.” “Marcus Welby M.D.” (1969-76) was a hour-long medical drama on ABC starring Robert Young. Both “Welby” and “Lucy” filmed their shows at Universal Studios in Hollywood.
Lucy says that if she were stranded on a desert island she would want Clint Eastwood to be there. Eastwood will be mentioned on two future “Here's Lucy” episodes. In mid-1972 Eastwood released the western film Joe Kidd.
This episode seems to incorporate some specially lit medium shots of Lucy and Harry.
In a word association game led by Professor Henderson, Lucy associates 'wolf' with 'money' because Clifford Wolf is the person at the bank who calls her every month to tell her she's over-drawn.
As “Harry”, Lucy dictates a letter to The Jerry Clifford Company, 1831 Truxton Avenue, Bakersfield, California. This is a real business at a real address but today is known as The Clifford Family Trust. It was a real estate property management company. It is possible that Lucille Ball Productions (LBP) did business with the firm and rewarded them with a mention on the show.
An Austrian therapist (Elliot Reid) also conducted an age regression experiment on Lucy Carmichael, Viv Bagley, and Mr. Mooney in “Lucy the Stockholder” (TLS S3;E25). Sid Gould was also in the episode.
Role reversal (Lucy as the Boss) was also explored in “Lucy Takes Over” (S2;E23) when Harry believes an old IOU means he owes Lucy a large sum of money and gives her control of The Unique Employment Agency.
These Boots Were Made for Hiding! Although ambulatory, Lucille Ball's white go-go boots seem to be hiding that her leg is still wrapped from her skiing accident at the beginning of season five.
Pencil Pushers! As Mrs. Forrester and Lucy are leaving the office, a pencil starts to roll off the desk. Reta Shaw puts her hand out to stop it, but it falls on the floor. She leaves it there and goes off with Lucy.
“Lucy and the Group Encounter” rates 3 Paper Hearts out of 5
This is one of those episodes that seemed timely in 1972, but the treatment by the script is a bit shallow and unfulfilling. It is however, good to see Lucy in charge - as she was in real life. Reta Shaw’s feminist publisher is sadly relegated to the episode’s last few minutes.
Janet Leigh, Tony Curtis, and Romo Vincent at the premiere of Jerry Lewis’ home movie parody Come Back Little Shiksa, 1953.
LUCY THE LAUNDRESS
S2;E17 ~ January 12, 1970
Directed by Herbert Kenwith ~ Written by Larry Rhine and Lou Derman
Synopsis
After bragging to Craig about her perfect driving record, Lucy smashes into a laundry truck. In order to pay for the repairs, she has to go to work at the laundry and keep her identity a secret when Kim and Craig are suddenly plagued with clothing stains.
Regular Cast
Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter), Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter), Desi Arnaz Jr. (Craig Carter)
Guest Cast
James Hong (Lee Wong) was born in 1929 and began his screen career in 1954. He has lately been acclaimed as the voice of Mr. Ping in the Kung-Fu Panda franchise. Aside from his nearly 500 screen credits, Hong is one of the founders of the East-West Players, the oldest Asian American theater in Los Angeles. At Desilu, he unsuccessfully auditioned for the role of Sulu in “Star Trek.” This is his only appearance with Lucille Ball.
Mr. Wong is a widower with two young girls. He operates Lee Wong's Hand Laundry on Pine and Hurst.
Lauren Gilbert (Mr. Michaels, Insurance Adjuster) played recurring characters on “Edge of Night” and “Hazel” - both named Harry. This is his only appearance with Lucille Ball.
Bee Thompkins (Secretary) had only a handful of other screen credits between 1969 and 1972. Also in 1970, she was one of the passengers in the blockbuster film Airport. She was variously credited as ‘Bea Tompkins’ during her career.
Rosalind Chao (Linda Chang Wong, right) made her screen debut with this episode. She created the role of Soon-Ye Klinger on “M*A*S*H” and “After M*A*S*H” but is perhaps best known for playing Keiko O'Brien on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Deep Space Nine.” During that series she also filmed The Joy Luck Club. She recently guest-starred on TV's “Blackish,” “This is Us,” and “The Catch.”
Heather Lee (Sue Chin Wong, left) makes her only screen appearance in this episode.
Linda Chang and Sue Chin are sisters and the daughters of Lee Wong.
Romo Vincent (Laundry Customer) was a Broadway performer from 1942 to 1959. He played an airline passenger in “Lucy Flies to London” (TLS S5;E6). This is the first of his two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”
Vincent was cast for his size. He claims his shorts are size 52.
This is the first of nine episodes written by Larry Rhine and Lou Derman. Rhine had been nominated for an Emmy Award in 1963 for writing for “The Red Skelton Show.” He was nominated again in 1978 for an episode of “All in the Family.” Derman was also an Emmy nominee for “All in the Family.” Together they also wrote many episodes of “Mr. Ed.”
In his DVD introduction to the episode, James Hong tries to diffuse any misinterpretation of Lucy's disguising herself as an Asian character.
“Sometimes it's very offensive for the Asians to see that kind of image. But she was in essence playing that character pointing out how society had this cliched image of the Asians. So she was laughing at herself and and laughing at the society's concept of Asians. To contrast that they had me dress up in this wonderful suit – very elegant!”
In the opening scene, Lucy comes home with a bag of groceries containing Cheerios. On the bottom right corner of the box it states that a free Super-Ball is inside. [In the inset photo it is for Wacky Racers as a Super-Ball box was not available.] During the summer of 1969, scores of American kids begged their parents to buy the General Mills cereal to get the amazing Super-Ball inside.
Next to that is a box of Nabisco Rice Honeys, also a breakfast cereal. The cereal was first marketed under another name in 1939 and, after several more name changes, was discontinued in 1975. What is unique about this particular box is that it includes free Beatles’ Rub-Ons promoting their movie Yellow Submarine. The film was released in November 1968, about a year before filming. If you saved one of those boxes, they're currently going for over $1,000. In 2014, someone sold one for $1,430.50 at auction!
At the office, Lucy gets a call from Mary Jane. The character does not appear in this episode, but is played by Mary Jane Croft.
Harry is looking for the Treshkin contract.
The car accident costs Lucy $97.50. When Lucy doesn't have money to pay for the damages to Wong's van, he suggests she should “Sell car. Take bus. Leave driving to us.” This was a paraphrasing of the advertising slogan of the Greyhound Bus Company. It was previously quoted in “Lucy Helps Craig Get a Driver’s License” (S1;E24) and “Lucy and the Used Car Dealer” (S2;E9).
When Sue Chin Wong learns that Lucy will be working for her father, she exclaims: “Well, there goes the neighborhood!” This was a common expression used to grouse about integration, which was a hot topic in the late 1960s. To further reinforce the role reversal comedy, the writers give the line to an Asian character.
When Lucy meets Wong's daughters, she greets them in an exaggerated and condescending Chinese accent. The girls look horrified and answer back in voices totally devoid of any Asian influence. To further the humor of Lucy's backward thinking, the girls are eating hamburgers with ketchup, a typical American-style meal.
Mr. Wong's daughters inform Lucy that their father only pays sixty five cents an hour. In late 1969 the minimum wage was $1.30 per hour, but rose to $1.45 per hour in February 1970. The girls explain that their dad thinks that because he's Chinese he can pay “coolie” wages. The word “coolie” refers to an unskilled native laborer generally from India, China, or some other Asian country. Depending on the context, this word can be considered offensive or pejorative.
When Kim enters the shop to get a stain out of her new dress, Lucy disguises herself with a bright kimono, thick eyeglasses, and a fringed red lampshade on her head. She disguises her voice to a stereotypical Asian accent by changing her Rs to Ls (ie: “tellycroth lobe”).
After Lucy's true identity has been revealed, Harry says “Well, if it isn't Madam Butterfly.” He is referring to the title character in Madam Butterfly, an Italian opera by Giacomo Puccini that premiered in 1904 and is still in the classical repertory today. In the opera, a 15 year-old Japanese girl falls in love with an American sailor with tragic consequences. The story was also the inspiration for the Broadway musical Miss Saigon (1989) and the play M. Butterfly (1989).
Lucy Ricardo also caused havoc at a laundry in “Bonus Bucks” (ILL S3;E21).
Lucy tells Craig that Mr. Wong is a decorator who is there because she is considering doing the house over in Chinese Modern. Chinese Modern was the style that Carolyn Appleby redecorated her apartment in “Lucy Tells the Truth (ILL S3;E6). Sworn to be truthful, Lucy says it looks like “a bad dream you'd have after eating too much Chinese food.”
Lucy fibs to Craig that Mr. Wong decorated Grauman's Chinese Theatre (everything but the footprints). The iconic Hollywood movie palace was the setting of “Lucy Visits Grauman's” (ILL S5;E1) and the footprints were integral to that episode and the following one, “Lucy and John Wayne” (ILL S5;E2).
Lucy Carmichael also disguised herself as an Asian character in “Lucy and the Soap Opera” (TLS S4;E19).
Lucy Carter's ironing skills seem no better than that of Ricky Ricardo and Fred Mertz, who both left their ‘marks’ on the laundry during “Job Switching” (ILL S2;E1).
In season one, Lucy Carter celebrated her birthday at a Chinese restaurant.
Ouch! Lucille Ball accidentally scalded her hand during the filming when using the steam press. This is ironic, since the dialogue has Mr. Wong warn Lucy to be “careful with the steam iron” when he first agrees to let her work off her debt.
The Shadow Knows! There is a moving shadow across the side of the desk when Harry bends down to get a key from the drawer. The next shot is a close-up (below), which necessitated the camera move that caused the shadow.
Props! Harry offers Lucy a mini-bottle of booze that he got on a flight to Hawaii. It is hidden inside the jade green desk ornament that coincidentally makes its debut with this episode – and disappears thereafter. In the above photo, the bottle is difficult to see. Only the neck of the tiny bottle with its white seal can be seen.
Where the Floor Ends! This time the floor ends in the Chinese Hand Laundry.
Sitcom Logic Alert(s)!
From the time Harry hears Lucy's collision outside his window to Lucy's entrance into the office is a mere 8 seconds! Take into account that she says she left a note for the owner on his windshield – and put the windshield in the front seat!
Mr. Wong arrives with an estimate of the damages on the very same day as the accident.
At the laundry, Lucy immediately knows how to work a commercial laundry press with no instruction.
Even with the accent and disguise, Kim should probably recognize her own mother's voice.
Oops! When Lucy trips and her hat and wig fall off, the black masking placed next to her right ear to hide her red hair stays on. Lucille Ball has to duck down quickly and rip it off.
“Lucy the Laundress” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5
This episode feels the most like an episode of “I Love Lucy.” Lucy is caught in a fib, so instead of telling the truth, she goes to elaborate lengths to conceal her lie. The thorny issue of racial sensitivity rears its head when viewed by a modern audience. But it is clear that Lucille Ball was trying to portray Mr. Wong and his family as average Americans, and Lucy's view of Asian culture as backward. It is worth noting that all the Asian characters are actually played by Asian actors. When the young girls call Lucy out for her patronizing attitude, Lucy immediately acknowledges that she's been wrong and the scene (and the comedy) continues without any rancor. The hard-fought Civil Rights battles of the 1960s are slowly having an effect on television.
Forgotten comedian Romo Vincent
Lucy Flies to London
S5;E6 ~ October 17, 1966
Synopsis
Lucy wins a trip to London but when she misses the plane, she must sit next to Mr. Mooney on a flight to New York to make her connection. First time flier Lucy causes havoc that is then blamed on Mr. Mooney.
Regular Cast
Lucille Ball (Lucy Carmichael), Gale Gordon (Theodore J. Mooney), Mary Jane Croft (Mary Jane Lewis)
Guest Cast
Ben Wrigley (Unintelligible Ticket Agent, above right) was a British actor who appeared in My Fair Lady (1964) and Bednobs and Broomsticks (1971). He also did three episodes of “Here's Lucy.”
Walter Burke (Cedric, Cockney Ticket Agent, above left) was a highly recognizable Irish-American character actor whose small stature and wizened features frequently found him cast as a leprechaun (a role which he played on more than one occasion). This was his only appearance with Lucille Ball.
Pat Priest (Flight Attendant) is probably best remembered as the second actress to play Marilyn on “The Munsters,” taking over the role from Beverly Owen, who left after season 1. She currently lives in Idaho restoring and selling homes.
James Wellman (Airport Traveler) made just a dozen TV and film appearances between 1962 and 1975.
Joan Carey (Airport Traveler, uncredited) was a long-time background player and stand-in for Lucille Ball on “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show.”
Romo Vincent (Passenger #1,aisle seat) was a Broadway performer from 1942 to 1959. He later appeared in two episodes of “Here's Lucy.”
Maury Thompson (Passenger #2, window seat) was the director of this episode (and all of seasons 4 and 5) of “The Lucy Show.” He started out as a camera coordinator on “I Love Lucy.”
Joan Swift (Passenger #3, aisle seat behind Lucy) makes the first of her six appearances on the series. Earlier in 1966, she appeared with Pat Priest on an episode of “The Munsters.” Swift also did two episodes of “Here's Lucy.” Her final screen credit was 1975's “Lucy Gets Lucky” with Lucille Ball and Dean Martin.
Jerry Rush (Captain) makes the third of his nine (mostly uncredited) appearances on the series. He also did two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”
Other passengers, airport travelers, and crew are played by uncredited background performers.
This episode is also known as “Lucy Goes to London.” It was filmed on Thursday, September 15, 1966. It was designed as a lead-in to the following week's CBS special “Lucy in London,” which was filmed on location in England in May 1966, four months earlier.
Although officially written by Bob O'Brien, former “Lucy Show” and “I Love Lucy” writers Madelyn Davis and Bob Carroll, Jr. are credited with “special material.” This is because much of the scene on board the airplane was taken directly from an unsold pilot for an anthology series titled “The Victor Borge Comedy Theatre.”
It was filmed just before the official start of “The Lucy Show” and starred Lucille Ball, Gale Gordon, and Norman Leavitt. The characters were unnamed.
The night this episode first aired (October 17, 1966) Peter Marshall made his debut as the host of “The Hollywood Squares.” Marshall had played Lucy's brother-in-law Hughie in “Lucy's Sister Pays a Visit” (S1;E15). Many “Lucy Show” cast members appeared on the “Squares”: Wally Cox, Nancy Kulp, Ellen Corby, Jan Murray, Jack Cassidy, Harvey Korman, Milton Berle, Bob Hope, Jay North, Ethel Merman, Gale Gordon, Lucie Arnaz, Desi Arnaz, Jr., Desi Arnaz, and Vivian Vance. Everyone but Lucille Ball herself!
Also on the evening this episode first aired, Lucille Ball made her last appearance on the quiz show “I've Got a Secret.” She was there to promote her upcoming “Lucy in London” special by hosting a Carnaby Street-style fashion show of London couture.
The premise for getting Lucy to London is that she wins a contest writing a dog food jingle. Lucy does not sing, but recites it:
I feed my doggy Arf Arf I buy it by the bunch. I know it's tasty dog food I eat it myself for lunch.
It is hard to believe this would win a prize let alone a trip to London.
When an excited Lucy leaves Mr. Mooney's office headed for her trip, she slams the door and glass panel next to it shatters. Mr. Mooney sighs and say “And they think there'll always be an England.” "There'll Always Be an England" is an English patriotic song, written and distributed in the summer of 1939, which became highly popular upon the outbreak of World War II. It was composed and written by Ross Parker and Hughie Charles, and a popular version was sung by Vera Lynn.
Lucy is flying out of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on British Imperial Airways, a fictional carrier.
Stock footage shows the exterior of the airport. In the opening moments of “Lucy in London,” the special that this episode sets up, Lucy arrives in England on a Pan American jet. Presumably, during Lucy's transfer in New York, she switched carriers!
When the flight attendant asks if there's anything she can do for Lucy, Lucy replies that maybe later she'll have some “coffee, tea or milk.” This was an often heard phrase on airplanes as flight attendants did their beverage service. In 1967, just a few months after this episode aired, the book Coffee, Tea or Me? was published, the alleged memoirs of two 'stewardess' and their romantic and sexual escapades in the air.
When Lucy is sitting right next to Mr. Mooney on her flight (not unusual for “The Lucy Show”) she says “What a small world!” Mr. Mooney replies that with her on it [the world], no wonder they are racing for the moon. Although the US did not put an astronaut on the moon until 1969, it was the goal of NASA for much of the 1960s. In “Lucy Becomes an Astronaut” (S1;E16) Lucy and Viv were chosen for a women in space program.
Lucy confesses that she's never flown before. This must mean that her cross country move from New York to California was by car, although it is never overtly stated.
Callbacks!
Lucy Ricardo went to London (by ship) in “Lucy Meets the Queen” (ILL S5;E15) in 1956. Once there, she, too, had an interaction with an unintelligible Englishman (Robert Shafto).
Lucy Ricardo hilariously traveled by plane on her “Return Home from Europe” (ILL S5;E26) disguising a cheese as a baby.
She also flew from Miami to Havana in “The Ricardos Visit Cuba” (ILL S6;E9), a flight that was a lot less eventful. Both times, Desilu had a promotion agreement with Pan American Airlines to promote their clipper service. Stock footage of Pan Am planes were used, although naturally the cast never left the Hollywood sound stage.
Lucy Ricardo was later seen in an airport (though not in the air) in “The Ricardos Go to Japan,” a 1959 episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.”
“Lucy Flies to London” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5
nightclub comedian and star of comic revues turned character actor Romo Vincent
