“Lucy Misses the Mertzes”

(S6;E17 ~ February 11, 1957) Directed by William Asher. Written by 

Madelyn Martin, Bob Carroll, Jr., Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf. Filmed on December 20, 1956 at Ren-Mar Studios. Rating: 38.8/50

Synopsis ~ When the Ricardos finally leave the Mertzes apartment and move to Westport, separation anxiety sets in for both couples.

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The episode opens in the Mertzes apartment on the day the Ricardos are finally moving out. Ricky is eager to become a “country square” and a looking forward to being “suburbaneeties.” The last mover leaves and Ricky announces that it is time to go. There is an awkward silence between Lucy and Ethel – two friends not knowing how to say goodbye. The scene beautifully straddles the line between drama and comedy. Even grumpy old Fred wipes away a tear. 

In a moment that can only be described as ‘adorable’ Little Ricky imitates Lucy and Ricky by carrying Fred the dog across the threshold of their new home. 

Sitcom Logic Alert!  In the Act 2 opener, each of the foursome successively ‘forget’ that they are no longer living in the same building – let alone the same state – and start calling and looking for each other before catching themselves. The scene feels somewhat contrived; the viewer can believe it happening once (maybe), but not four times in a row!

The Westport train station is decorated with American Red Cross posters, a favorite item of the Desilu set decorators. They were previously glimpsed decorating the butcher shop in “The Freezer” (S1;E29), the rented hall in “Ricky Has Labor Pains” (S2;E14) and the subway train in “Lucy and the Loving Cup” (S6;E12, right).  The magazine stand has a TV Guide with Victor Borge on the cover dated December 8-14, 1956. The episode was filmed a week later.  

This is the first episode to mention the exact Connecticut town the Ricardos have moved to. The boy delivering the fruit basket says “Welcome to Westport!”  Writer Madelyn Pugh visited the town in early December 1956, and was convinced that instead of a ‘fictional’ town, they should use Westport, Connecticut. Betty and Ralph Answanger (a Broadway set designer and his wife who’s first names were given to the Ricardo’s new neighbors, the Ramseys) showed Pugh around and then later sent her photos of various Westport locations, including the train station. 

Fred is reading The Sporting News with a full page ad for L&M cigarettes on the back page.  The episode was filmed five days before Christmas, so it is a holiday-themed ad. The show is no longer sponsored by Philip Morris, so things like this are no longer forbidden.

This episode is actually sponsored by Lilt:

JOHNNY JACOBS (Announcer): "’I Love Lucy’ starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, was brought to you by new Lilt, the only home permanent with squeeze-bottle magic. The fastest, easiest home permanent ever.”

$$ 1957 $$ 

• Fred complains that he spent $2 on a taxi to Grand Central and $6.16 on train tickets. In 2015 a one-way off-peak train ticket from Grand Central to Westport (bought at the station) cost $12.50, just about double what Fred paid in 1957. The two mile taxi ride from East 68th Street to Grand Central, however, would today cost a whopping $17.88!  
• Ethel’s precious $16 shoes (which Fred won’t leave without retrieving) would cost $143 today.

• When the Ricardos arrive at their new home, they find that the Mertzes have sent a $10 fruit basket, which was an expensive gift for miser Fred. today that $10 basket would cost nearly $90! The basket also contains jars of jam and a book.

Ethel has to wait to use the train station pay phone because “Some teenager was talking to her girlfriend about that Elvis what’s-his-name.” This marks the only mention of Elvis Presley on the series. On January 6, 1957, a month prior to this episode’s airing, Presley made his third and final appearance on Ed Sullivan’s “Toast of the Town.” In this broadcast Elvis was only shown from the waist up! A month prior to filming of this episode in December 1956, Elvis’ movie Love Me Tender was released. A few days later it was announced that Elvis had been drafted. It was around this time that the phrase “Elvis has left the building” was first uttered.

Oops! When Lucy can’t get to sleep because of all the country quiet she suggests that Ricky take up snoring, presumably because he doesn’t snore. But in “Bullfight Dance” (S4;E22) Lucy has to fill out a questionnaire about Ricky for a magazine which asks if Ricky snores. She answers yes by spelling out the sounds that Ricky makes when he snores. 

A single bed turns into a family affair!  Actor Keith Thibodeuax seems to be really enjoying this scene!  

Lucy has packed their Telchron Dorm model electric alarm clock previously seen in “Lucy Hates To Leave” (S6;E16). Unfortunately, the electric cord is showing, which was against Telchron corporate policy!  

Oops – Part 2! There is a fireplace in the Ricardos’ bedroom. We won’t see the bedroom again until 1958 on The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour episode #7, “Lucy Makes Room for Danny” when the fireplace has mysteriously disappeared.

“Lots of happiness in your new home. From your dear friends, Fred and Ethel.”

While waiting to surprise the Ricardos, Fred and Ethel enjoy some fruit from the basket they sent them.

Fred took a bite out of an apple from the fruit basket, the close-up shot showed an ORANGE with a bite taken out of it. But maybe Fred ate the orange when the camera wasn’t on him.

Ethel eats a banana, which seems to be a her favorite since she also selected it from the bon voyage fruit basket in “Second Honeymoon” (S5;E14).

In the close-up of the fruit the top right of the frame is occupied by a cigarette box. It is a chalkware box made by Borghese. It might also be used as a trinket or jewelry box.  

Tristram Coffin would return to play neighbor Harry Munson again in “The Country Club Dance” (S6;E25). In that episode we also meet his wife, Grace, played by Ruth Brady, although in “The Club Election” (S2;E19) the role was played by Hazel Pierce. The Munsons moved to Westport before the Ricardos and the couples reside about a mile away from one another. They also have a little boy, Billy, who – along with Stevie Appleby – will become one of Little Ricky’s pals.

The scene at the train station is a in the best tradition of farce, with both couples narrowly missing one another in the same space. 

Jess Kirkpatrick plays the Westport Train Station Agent. He would return for a brief appearance in “Lucy Goes to Alaska,” a 1959 episode of “The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour.”

Little Ricky is played by Keith Thibodeaux (aka Richard Keith) and Fred the Dog is played by Danny. 

Gary Gray (Delivery Boy) was 21 years old at the time and had been a child actor, making his film debut at age 5. He continued to act until 1962 when he started a pool maintenance company to support his family. Gray died in 2006 at age 69.

Robert Bice (Moving Man) specialized in background characters, making hundreds of appearances in the 1950s.  

From the above screen shot, we see that parakeets Mildred and Charles and goldfish Phil and Alice made the move! These pets were introduced in “Little Ricky Gets a Dog” (S6;E14). 

Mrs. Trumbull is mentioned (by Fred) but does not appear in the episode.