“Ethel’s Hometown”

(S4;E16 ~ January 31, 1955) Directed by William Asher. Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr. Filmed November 25, 1954 (the day before Thanksgiving) at Ren-Mar Studios.  It was the 113th episode filmed. Rating: 53.1/69

[Despite the above photo, this episode has never been fully colorized.]

Synopsis ~ The last stop before Hollywood is Ethel’s hometown, where she is given the star treatment instead of Ricky. But Lucy has a plan to upstage her big moment in front of the whole town. 

Before arriving in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the foursome have an overnight at the Texas Ann Motel in Amarillo where they hear Little Ricky’s first words via a (very expensive) long-distance phone call. Although we hear Little Ricky’s voice through the telephone, there are no insert shots of the character. The Texas Ann was a real-life motel located on the old Route 66. A second unit crew was sent out to film the Ricardo Pontiac driving the route and at the hotel.  These scenes are generally cut or shortened in syndication. 

Oops!  Lucy must have decided to do the maid a favor. As the gang prepares to leave the motel both beds are made.

When they get to Albuquerque, they meet Ethel’s father, Will Potter and we learn that she was voted “Miss Albuquerque” (though Ethel stops him before he specifies the year) and that her former beaus were Hank Spear, Deke Arledge and Billy Hackett (Chick Chandler), who writes for the town paper, the Chronicle. 

Although there is no mention of Ethel’s mother, she is mentioned in earlier episodes. Here, Ethel’s father even says “WE haven’t touched your room since you left.”  He may be referring to her unseen mother or perhaps a housekeeper. 

Irving Bacon (1893-1965) was a character actor who appeared in hundreds of films, mostly as bewildered small-town blue collar workers. He appeared in three Best Picture Oscar winners: It Happened One Night (1934), You Can’t Take It With You (1938), and Gone With The Wind (1939). In 1939 alone he made 35 films. On “I Love Lucy” he had already appeared as Mr. Willoughby in “The Marriage License” (S1;E26). He was in a total of seven films with Lucille Ball: The Bowery (1933), Broadway Bill (1934), I’ll Love You Always (1935), There Goes My Girl (1937), You Can’t Fool Your Wife (1940), A Girl, a Guy and a Gob (1941), and Look Who’s Laughing (1941). He died three weeks before his last appearance aired – an episode of “The Dick Van Dyke Show” on February 24, 1965. 

Although he was playing Ethel’s father, Bacon was only eight years older than Vivian Vance!  William Frawley (Fred Mertz) was six years older than Bacon!  

This was Chick Chandler’s only series appearance, but he had done Blood Money (1933) with Lucille Ball and 16 feature films with co-star Irving Bacon between 1937 and 1954.

Oops!  Ethel’s hands are clasped together when the group photo is taken but pressed flat together in the photo that’s actually printed in the newspaper. 

When Fred is pounding out “Chopsticks” on his father-in-law’s upright piano, Lucy sarcastically calls him Liberace. The virtuoso pianist was previously mentioned in “The Diner” (S3;E27). He will be mentioned again in “The Hedda Hopper Story” (S4;E20). At the time of filming, he had his own variety show on NBC. Lucille Ball finally worked with Liberace on a 1970 episode of “Here’s Lucy.” 

Everyone thinks it is Ethel who is going to California to become a star, not Ricky, and Ethel herself does nothing to dissuade them!  The marquee of the Albuquerque Little Theatre reads: 

“Ethel Mae Potter – We Never Forgot Her.” 

However, in a earlier episode, Fred calls her Ethel Louise (Bill Frawley’s ex-wife), and another time she is called Ethel Roberta (Vivian’s actual middle name) by Lucy. After this, however, she remains Ethel Mae for the rest of the series. Not coincidentally, Vivian Vance’s mother’s name was Mae.

In this episode Ethel dons a Native American headdress. She previously dressed like a squaw when singing “Pass That Peace Pipe” with Ricky and Fred in “The Indian Show” (S2′E24).   

Although Vivian Roberta Jones was born in Cherryvale, Kansas, she was raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and was introduced to acting at the Albuquerque Little Theatre, which is still in operation today. A founding member of the troupe, she played a vamp in This Thing Called Love and a nun in The Cradle Song. When she realized she wanted to pursue acting as a career, the group helped pay her way to New York City to study under Eva Le Gallienne. She took the stage name Vance in honor of her most supportive teacher. She had trouble finding stage work until she began a two-year stint in Oscar Hammerstein’s Music in the Air. She next understudied Ethel Merman in Anything Goes. 

While appearing in The Voice of the Turtle at La Jolla Playhouse she was seen by Desi Arnaz who decided she was perfect for the role of Ethel Mertz.

In the episode, Ethel puts on a sort of ‘command performance’ at the Albuquerque Little Theatre, but Lucy, Ricky and Fred have plans to upstage her solo concert. 

She first sings “Shortnin’ Bread” which is often thought of as a traditional plantation song but was actually written by poet James Whitcomb Riley in 1900. Next she launches into “My Hero” from the 1908 Straus operetta The Chocolate Soldier, based on the Shaw play Arms and the Man. It was famously sung by Nelson Eddy and Risë Stevens in the 1941 film adaptation. 

In a 1968 episode of “Here’s Lucy” (guest-starring Shelley Winters) Gale Gordon also croons “Shortnin’ Bread.”  

While Ethel sings downstage, unbeknownst to her an array of vaudeville gags is going on behind her back.

Danger!  Man-eating tiger!  “Hail, Tiger!”

Fred takes a bough!  

Lucy’s costume was re-fashioned from her Marilyn Monroe dress just a few episodes back. She would wear it once again when she performs for the Queen of England – a real ‘command performance.’

Blooper Alert!  When Fred is hauling the tallest and last of the trees across the stage behind Ethel, a leafy branch falls off at her feet!  Vivian Vance pretends not to notice. When Billy Hackett brings Ricky, Fred, and Lucy onstage for a photograph, Lucy steps on it.  She then gives it a quick but swift kick sending it across the stage out of view. You can see the branch in the above photo in front of Vivian Vance’s right foot. 

In 1960, Desilu produced “Guestward, Ho!” for ABC TV which was set on a dude ranch in New Mexico. Originally designed as a series for Vivian Vance, it was reformatted and starred Joanne Dru in the role. 

Much later on, the hit series “Breaking Bad” and its prequel “Better Call Saul” were set in and around Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

The publicity photo on the right is an actual color photo, not colorized or retouched!

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