Lucy, the Coin Collector

S3;E13~
December 14, 1964

Synopsis

When
Jerry finds a rare penny worth $16.50, Lucy and Viv decide to search
through thousands of pennies to find a rare one and pay for a new
coat and fix their leaky plumbing. They finally succeed but clumsily
drop the coin down the storm drain in the street. To retrieve it,
they must go undercover as sewer workers.

Regular
Cast

Lucille
Ball (Lucy Carmichael), Vivian Vance (Vivian Bagley),Gale Gordon
(Theodore J. Mooney), Jimmy
Garrett (Jerry Carmichael)

Ralph
Hart (Sherman Bagley) and Candy Moore (Chris Carmichael) do not
appear in this episode. Chris is, however, mentioned by Lucy.

Guest
Cast

Ray
Kellogg
(Policeman) played
the loud, barking Assistant Director (“Roll
‘em!”)
in “Ricky’s
Screen Test” (ILL S4;E6)

and
later appeared in “Bullfight
Dance” (ILL S4;E22).
This is the second of his seven episodes of “The Lucy Show.” He
also did two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” Just as in his other
screen credits, most most times he played policemen, as he does here.

Monya
Andre
(Miss Ferguson, Mr. Mooney’s Secretary) had appeared as an uncredited
background player in such Oscar-nominated films as Imitation of Life
(1934), Ninotchka (1939) and It’s a Wonderful Life (1946). This is
her only appearance on “The Lucy Show” and her final screen
credit before retiring from the business.

Ferguson
is the perfect surname for Mr. Mooney’s secretary. It is Scottish in
origin, a people stereo-typically known for being thrifty. Ferguson
was also the name of the Mayor of Kildoonan in “Lucy Goes to
Scotland” (ILL S5;E17). In “Lucy Gets Locked in the Vault”
(S2;E4) Mr. Mooney’s secretary was Miss Tanner played by Ellen Corby.

William
Meader
(Bill, Bank Teller) had
appeared as an airport extra in “The
Ricardos Go to Japan,”
a
1959 episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.” He made many
appearances on “The Lucy Show,” most times as a clerk in Mr.
Mooney’s bank, as he does here.

Mr.
Mooney calls him Bill during when he is requesting $20 for Lucy.
Meader has lines in this episode.

James
Gonzales
(Jim, Bank Teller) was
a popular Hollywood extra who first acted with Lucille Ball in the
1953 film The
Long, Long Trailer.
He was previously seen on the series as Stan Williams in “Lucy
Digs Up a Date” (S1;E2).
He was seen in more than 20 episodes of “The Lucy Show” and 3
episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

Mr.
Mooney calls him Jim during when he is requesting $20 in pennies for
Lucy. Gonzales has lines in this episode.

Tex
Brodus
(Sewer Worker) appeared in the stage to screen musical movies South
Pacific
(1958) and My
Fair Lady (1964).
This is his only appearance with Lucille Ball. He left the business
in 1967.

The
character is dressed in a vest and hat with a pushed up brim, very
reminiscent of TV’s most famous sewer worker, Ed Norton (Art Carney, inset photo)
from “The Honeymooners.” It is possible that Carney was intended
to play this cameo role, but declined. In 1968, Jackie Gleason turned
up in full bus driver’s uniform as Ralph Kramden in a cameo on
“Here’s Lucy.”

Sid
Gould
(Distracting Passerby) made
more than 45 appearances on “The Lucy Show,” all as background
characters. He also did 40 episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” Gould
(born Sydney Greenfader) was Lucille Ball’s cousin by marriage to
Gary Morton. Gould was married to Vanda Barra, who also appeared on
“The Lucy Show” starting in 1967, as well as on “Here’s
Lucy.”

A
dozen background performers play the bank customers, staff, and
gawkers in the street.

This
is the first and only episode written by David Braverman and Bob
Marcus. The two wrote exclusively for television from 1964 to 1969.

The
date this episode first aired (December 14, 1964) actor William
Bendix
died. Although best known for playing the title role in “The Life
of Riley” (1953-1958) on NBC, Bendix and Lucille Ball had both
starred in the 1946 film The
Dark Corner.

A
still photo from this episode with Lucy and Viv in overalls was
featured in the photo collage on the Official Season 3 DVD box.

A scene from this episode was included in “Lucy and Viv Reminisce” (S5;E16), a clips show retrospective aired during the second half of the final season.

The
opening scene has Viv debating whether to have a second cup of ‘rust’ (aka coffee). In the mid-1970s Vivian Vance became a spokesperson
for Maxwell House ‘rust’.

Lucy
is having trouble with her kitchen sink garbage disposal. It bears
noting that these disposal units were common on the West Coast, but
rare in the New York metropolitan area because they were banned by
New York City law as a threat to the sewage system. The ban was
finally lifted in 1997. While not totally unknown in outlying areas
they were not at all common in the New York suburbs during the 1960s.

Lucy
complains that she can’t afford to call a plumber. Lucy has
previously employed plumbers Joe Melvin (Stafford Repp) in “Lucy
and Viv Put in a Shower” (S1;E18) and Harry Tuttle (Jack Benny) in
“Lucy and the Plumber” (S3;E2).

Viv
initially compares the geyser spurting from the sink to Yellowstone
National Park and later to Old Faithful. Mostly located in Wyoming,
Yellowstone
features dramatic canyons, alpine rivers, lush forests, hot springs
and gushing geysers, including its most famous, Old
Faithful. The kitchen sink also erupted in “Lucy and the Plumber” (S3;E2).

An early road map drawn by Lucy Ricardo of the gang’s car trip to
California shows a planned stop at Yellowstone, but it was not shown
on air or ever mentioned as being visited.

Among
the items Lucy and Viv pull out of their handbags to offer Mr. Mooney
as collateral are:

three earrings
a collapsible cup
Jerry’s Mickey
Mouse watch
Viv’s faux diamond wristwatch (from her cheap
ex-husband)
a tarnished brass compact Lucy said was jade
a locket
of Chris’ hair
a doggie bag of spaghetti and meatballs (which Viv
snatches back)
a jeweled garter
Jerry’s bronzed baby shoe (made
into a bank)
Lucy’s high school broad jump medal

Jerry’s bronzed baby shoes were mentioned by Lucy in a season one
episode, and were always on display on the top shelf of the bookcase
behind the dining room table, even in this episode (see “Blooper
Alert” below).

A visual gag about the many unusual items Lucy keeps in her handbag was featured in 1954′s “Bonus Bucks” (ILL S3;E21).

Viv
volunteers to sing a couple of choruses from “Pennies from Heaven”
or “Three Coins in the Fountain.” “Pennies
from Heaven”
is a song
written by
Arthur
Johnston
and
Johnny
Burke.
It was introduced by Bing
Crosby
in
the 1936 film
of the same name.
It has been covered by numerous artists, including Andy Williams, the
same year this episode was first aired. “Three
Coins in the Fountain”
was written by Jule
Styne
and Sammy
Cahn.
It was introduced in the 1955 film of the same name and won that
year’s Oscar for Best Original Song. “I Love Lucy” actors James
Conaty, Harold Miller, Alberto Morin, Vincent Padula, Mario Siletti
and Norma Varden, were all uncredited extras in the film. Varden played Mrs. Van Vlack in “Lucy Gets Her Maid” (S3;E11).

Jerry
finds a rare 1927S Lincoln penny
that is worth fifty cents. Currently, that coin is worth between
$1.75 and $125, depending upon condition. Jerry reads in a book that
an 1887 Indian Head penny
may be worth $800. Actually, most 1887 Indian Head pennies are
fairly common (45 million were made) and only fetch about $2.50.
However, proof specimens (only 2,900 were ever made) in excellent
condition can go for more then $6,000! The
1912S penny
found by Lucy and Viv is listed in their book as being worth $16.50.
Adjusting for inflation, that would be equivalent of nearly $130 today. As of 2017 the coin was
listed online for between $22 and $270, depending upon condition.

2,000
pennies weigh 5 pounds 14.5 ounces.

In
2001, the Merrick Mint issued “I Love Lucy” commemorative 24
karat plated half dollar coins.

Callbacks!

This
is a slightly re-dressed and re-painted version of the Danfield city
street used in “Lucy, the Meter Maid” (S3;E7). That episode’s
street also featured a florist, a restaurant, a realtors, a mailbox
and a Danfield Cab call box. The parking meters, however, have been
removed. The taxi call box was also seen in the train station during
“No More Double Dates” (S1;E21).

Blooper
Alerts!

Inconsistencies! When
Lucy and Viv come back from the bank lugging the heavy sack of
pennies, Jerry’s baby shoe is already sitting back on the living room
shelf, when it should still be in Lucy’s purse!

Generic! Lucy’s
box of dish washing soap has no label on it. This is a contrast with
“Lucy Digs Up a Date” (S1;E2), where brand name cleaning products
like All and Whisk were seen on camera next to the sink.