“The Great Train Robbery”

(S5;E5 ~ October 31, 1955) Directed by James V. Kern. Written by

Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, Bob Carroll, Jr., Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf. Filmed October 5, 1955 at Ren-Mar Studios. Rating: 42.1/62

Synopsis ~ When the gang takes the train home from Hollywood, Lucy gets involved with a jewel thief!

The above publicity photo was colorized for the cover of Dell’s “I Love Lucy” comics, volume 1, #13, November / December 1956.

The title The Great Train Robbery is a tribute to a 1903 film of the same name. Although a Western, it was filmed in Milltown, New Jersey. The film was inspired by Scott Marble’s 1896 stage play, and may also have been inspired by a 1900 train robbery perpetrated by Butch Cassidy. There were also films of the same title in 1963 and 1978.

While “Getting Ready” (S4;E11) for the trip to Hollywood, Lucy considers the train, reading the Union Pacific Railroad timetable. The brochure was redacted for the filming because no deal existed between UPR and Desilu at the time.  

The idea of taking the train back to New York was set-up in the previous episode “Ricky Sells the Car” (S5;E4), in which Lucy mentions the Union Pacific Railroad and that “they have those new dome-liner observation cars and diners on that train,” both of which will be seen here. Astra Dome observation cars were indeed new, having been introduced earlier in 1955. Once aboard the Porter tells Ricky “You can set your watch by the dome-liner.” Union Pacific Railroad operated the City of Los Angeles train from 1936 to 1971, when Amtrak took over national train service in the USA. Although it is not mentioned, the train route terminated in Chicago, where, presumably, the foursome got a connecting train to New York City, perhaps the famed 20th Century Limited

To simulate the emergency braking of a speeding train, Desilu wanted more than just actors reacting to a jolting camera, so sets were built on a spring mechanism that was triggered by the emergency brake itself. When Lucy pulled the handle, it caused the entire set to lurch forward in a sudden movement. All this is demonstrated in the special features section of the DVD release.  

This same sort of set was constructed to replicate the passing of an unseen train at  One Oak Cafe & Cabins in “First Stop” (S4;E14) on the journey TO Hollywood. 

As this was a nearby location, Vivian Vance, William Frawley, Kathryn Card, Frank Nelson (the conductor) and Sam McDaniel (the porter) were all featured in the footage on the platform and doubles were not used. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, however, do not appear in any of the second unit location footage. This is the only time principal cast members (instead of doubles) went on location during the half-hour series. In the above photo, the scene on the left is on location while the one on the right is in the studio. 

In the original 1955 premiere there were a couple of scenes (without dialogue) showing the Mertzes going into the actual dining car and being escorted to a table on the second floor dome-liner. The scenes were cut because reflections of lights seen through the windows made it clear the train was speeding along the tracks. However, this scene occurred when the train was still in the station. Rare 16mm film footage of the scenes was discovered and allowed the cut scenes to be added to the 2005 DVD release. 

A short scene of the Mertzes boarding the train on the platform (complete with sound), assisted by the Porter and the Conductor, was still included in future syndicated broadcasts.

The Life Magazine Lucy clutches was previously seen in “Ricky’s Life Story” (S3;E1). It was the May 11, 1953 edition featuring a fashion model wearing ‘dressy denim’.  

On the back cover of one of her magazines is an ad for Jell-O Instant Pudding. Jell-O was the main sponsor of Lucille Ball’s radio show My Favorite Husband. 

In the lounge car, the reading matter on the coffee table consists of The Atlantic Magazine, Union Pacific Railroad Timetables, and TV Guide – although what use TV Guide is on a moving train in 1955 is anyone’s guess. 

The newspaper read by the jewel thief has no front page but is definitely a show business trade paper due to the music-related articles and ads. 

Lucy brags that this is her first time on a train. It won’t be her last, however; because the gang travels by train again on the way to Rome in “Lucy’s Italian Movie” (S5;E23) where Lucy also suspects a man of suspicious behavior. As Ricky says, perhaps Lucy watches “too many foreign films.”  There is also a scene set on a train headed to Las Vegas in “Lucy Hunts Uranium,” a 1958 episode of “The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour.” Although we don’t see it, Lucy must have frequently taken the train from Westport to New York City during season six. 

Looking around for spies, Lucy compares the train to the Orient Express, a real-life luxury train that began service across Eastern and Western Europe in 1883. It’s connection with crime was well-known through Agatha Christie’s 1934 novel Murder on the Orient Express. In 1955, the Christie book was re-released in the UK and Graham Green also published a book titled Orient Express. 

From 1951 to 1955, Philip Morris sponsored "I Love Lucy”, with Lucy and Desi  pitching the product and Philip Morris controlling the content of the program. In 1955, Philip Morris became an alternate sponsor with Procter and Gamble, eventually bowing out altogether by the end of that year. This is their last hurrah. Ricky doesn’t go have to go the smoking car to light up because in 1955 every car was a smoking car! 

In the episode, the train’s first stop is Riverside, California, but in reality the City of Los Angeles also sometimes made a station stop in East Los Angeles.

When Lucy peeks into Mr. Estes’ compartment (formerly occupied by her mother) the headrests have the Pullman mark on them. The Pullman Car Company, founded by George Pullman, manufactured railroad cars specializing in luxury sleeper cars. Pullman was founded in 1862 and built its last sleeping car in 1956, just a few months after this episode aired. 

LUCY: “I have never seen more diamonds outside of Tiffany’s window!”

Tiffany & Co. is a luxury jewelry retailer, headquartered in New York City. Their flagship store inspired the book and film Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Founded in 1837 and known for their blue gift boxes, they are still in business today. Coincidentally, CBS was known as ‘The Tiffany Network’ but had no affiliation with the firm. When Lucy left NBC in 1981, she gifted some people gold Tiffany alarm clocks engraved with the NBC logo. 

The lounge car is decorated with a large poster for Sun Valley, Idaho. The first destination winter resort in the US, the city was developed in 1936 by W. Averell Harriman, chairman of the Union Pacific Railroad, primarily to increase ridership on trains headed West. It proved a favorite get-away for many celebrities, including Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. A 1958 episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” was set there and featured extensive location footage of the cast.

Tackling who she thinks is the jewel thief, Lucy brags that she will call her memoir “I Was A Woman for the FBI” and later says “Anything for J. Edgar!”  After this episode aired, J. Edgar Hoover, head of the FBI at the time, sent a very nice letter to Lucille Ball saying how much he enjoyed hearing his name mentioned in the episode. 

Two years before writing the fan letter, Hoover had opened what became a 50-page spy file on Lucille Ball when a House Committee on Un-American Activities probe revealed she had once registered to vote as a communist. In a 1964 episode of “The Lucy Show” Viv calls Lucy ‘J. Edna Hoover.’

Frank Nelson (Conductor) will play just one more character before creating the role of Ralph Ramsey when the Ricardos move to Connecticut. He was seen three times as Freddy Fillmore making him the only actor to play two recurring roles on the series. He perfected his character skills on a variety of radio and television shows, most notably “The Jack Benny Show” (1953-63). Lucy employs Nelson as a Conductor again in a 1963 episode of "The Lucy Show.” Both episodes also featured Vivian Vance and Louis Nicoletti, just as this one does.

Lou Krugman (Mr. Estes, the Jewelry Salesman) made such a positive impression on Lucy as the director in “Lucy Gets Into Pictures” (S4;E18) that the role of Paul, Club Babalu’s new manager, was created especially for him at the start of season six, although he only played the role twice. He made three appearances on “The Lucy Show” between 1963 and 1965.

Harry Bartell (Jewel Thief) was previously seen as the process server in “The Courtroom” (S2;E7) and a waiter at the Brown Derby in “Hollywood at Last!” (S4;E16).

Sam McDaniel (Sam, the Porter) is the brother of Hattie McDaniel of Gone With The Wind fame. He had appeared with a young Lucille Ball in Broadway Through a Keyhole (1933) and Kid Millions (1934). McDaniel has the distinction of being the first of only two African Americans to appear on “I Love Lucy” and the only one with a character name and lines. The other was singer Betty Allen, who would appear as a Kidoonan townsperson in “Lucy Goes To Scotland” (S5;E17).  

Oops!  No Peeking!  Porter Sam McDaniel waits for his cue with the door open a crack!  Or maybe he just wanted to watch the great Lucille Ball work?

The Police Detective is Joseph Crehan, who had previously appeared with Lucille Ball in There Goes My Girl (1937), Ziegfeld Follies (1947), and The Fuller Brush Girl (1950). Throughout his fifty year screen career he played Ulysses S. Grant nine times!

The various train passengers are played by: 

• Gil Perkins, who had done the films The Big Street (1942) and The Fuller Brush Girl (1950) with Lucille Ball. He would return for a 1970 episode of "Here’s Lucy.” 

• Hubie Kerns was  a stuntman who played minor roles in films and was a Fireman on a 1962 episode of “The Lucy Show.”  Kerns was Adam West’s stunt double on “Batman” and did stunts for the Lucille Ball film Mame (1974). 

• Joan Carey served as Lucille Ball’s stand-in from the fourth season of “The Lucy Show” until at least the penultimate season of “Here’s Lucy.”
• Saul Gross (aka Saul Gorss) was later seen as a stunt actor in “Lucy and the Return of Iron Man” (S4;E11) in 1966. 

• Evelyn Finley was one of Hollywood’s rare female stunt performers. 

• Lila Finn was stunt double for Vivien Leigh in Gone With the Wind (1939).

• Brandon Beach was also an extra in The Long, Long Trailer (1953) and would also be glimpsed in Critic’s Choice (1963). 
• Hazel Boyne had previously played Maggie the cleaning lady in “Men are Messy” (S1;E8) and one of Minnie Finch’s neighbors in “Fan Magazine” (S3;E17). 
• Hazel Pierce and Renita Reachi, Lucy and Vivian’s camera and lighting stand-ins, are among the passengers aboard. 
• Another “I Love Lucy” regular Louis Nicoletti, plays the newspaper reporter. 

The episode also features recurring cast Kathryn Card as Mrs. McGillicuddy and the Mayer Twins as Little Ricky.

FAST FORWARD – CHOO CHOO!

Little Ricky has always had a fondness for Toy Trains. Wooden Keystone Railroad was seen in “Little Ricky Gets Stage Fright” (S6;E4) and Lionel Trains in “The Ricardos Change Apartments” (S2;E26). 

It’s standing room only for Fred on the train to Rome in “Lucy’s Italian Movie” (S5;E23).

In “Lucy and the Loving Cup” (S6;E12) takes that underground train known as the New York City subway.  When “Tennessee Ernie Visits” (S3;E28) he described it as “a hole in the ground with some steps a-going down into it” where there were “a bunch of people a-standin’ there looking in a ditch. We took off like a scalded gander and that driver never got that thing outta that hole!” 

The North Miami Train Station is the setting for the final scene of “Off to Florida” (S6;E6). The scene is comprised of both second unit location footage and studio-shot scenes. Lucy and Ethel’s doubles walk the tracks. 

The Westport Train Station is the setting for confusion when “Lucy Misses the Mertzes” (S6;E17). It is here Ethel utters the name of the king of rock and roll – Elvis!  This would be his one and only mention on the series. 

Lucy and Ricky return to the Westport Station (the exterior) in the very last episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” (1960). 

When “Lucy Hunts Uranium” (LDCH 1958) the gang travel the Union Pacific Railroad again.  Onboard they meet Fred MacMurray.

From a lavish compartment to a rough and tumble handcar – Lucy and Fred (MacMurray) ride the rails!  

In a 1959 episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” working woman Lucy Ricardo meets her husband for a few minutes a day at Grand Central Station – perhaps the world’s most famous train station. Lucy works mornings in Manhattan, while Ricky works nights at Club Babalu, while both live in Westport. 

In 1963 Frank Nelson recreated his role as the frustrated train conductor on “The Lucy Show” when Lucy Carmichael and Viv Bagley take their scout troop to Washington DC via train. 

In that same episode, Lucy misses the train and tries to catch up with it on horseback! 

The Danfield Train Station is the main setting for “No More Double Dates” (TLS S1;E21). 

Lucy Carmichael revisits the Danfield Train Station in 1964 where she passes a boy that looks awfully familiar. It is Keith Thibodeaux, who played Little Ricky Ricardo from 1956 to 1960!   

As a young film star, Lucille Ball joined other Hollywood start on board the Union Pacific Special to promote War Bonds. 

Lucy and Desi took a ‘special’ train to promote their film Forever Darling in 1956. 

Lucy Comes Home is a documentary film about Lucille Ball’s return to Jamestown during her promotion of Forever Darling. This photo depicts them on the Santa Fe Railroad’s “Forever Darling Special”. 

The Goldwyn Girls (with a blonde Lucille Ball at the extreme right) all hitch a ride on the train headed West to do movies!  Look out Hollywood!  Lucy’s gal-pal Barbara Pepper is also in this line-up. Can you pick her out?