Lucy’s Substitute Secretary

S5;E14
~ January 2,
1967

Synopsis

While
Lucy takes a scheduled vacation, she is replaced by a temporary
secretary (Ruta Lee) that may threaten her job security. Instead of
going away, Lucy keeps an eye on her wearing some outrageous
disguises.

Regular
Cast

Lucille
Ball (Lucy
Carmichael),
Gale Gordon
(Theodore J. Mooney), Mary
Jane Croft (Mary
Jane Lewis)

Guest
Cast

Ruta
Lee (Miss
Audrey Fields) was
born Ruta
Mary Kilmonis in Montreal,
Quebec.
Her first big film was as one of the brides in Seven
Brides for Seven Brothers
in 1954. She started on TV in 1950 and has continually made guest
appearances on dozens of series. She will play herself in “Lucy
Meets the Berles” (S6;E1) as well as the TV film “Lucy Moves to
NBC” in 1980. As of this writing, Lee is still acting in films.

Miss
Fields was formerly private secretary to the president of the North
Atlantic Trust Company.

Barbara
Morrison
(Mrs. Winkler) was
an English-born actress making the second of her two appearances on
“The Lucy Show.” She also plays an irate shopper in “Lucy’s
Working Daughter,” a 1968 episode of “Here’s Lucy,” in
addition to two other episodes.

Mrs.
Winkler is a widow from Pasadena. She has a lot of cherries in her
hat.

Roy
Roberts
(Mr. Cheever) was
born Roy Barnes Jones in Tampa, Florida in 1906. His early career was
on the Broadway stage, gracing such plays as Old
Man Murphy
(1931), Twentieth
Century (1932),
The
Body Beautiful
(1935) and My
Sister Eileen
(1942). In Hollywood, the veteran character actor clocked over 900
screen performances in his 40 year career, most of which were
authority figures. He and Lucille Ball appeared together in Miss
Grant Takes Richmond
(1949). On “The Lucy Show” he first appeared as a Navy Admiral
in “Lucy and the Submarine” (S5;E2). As of this episode he
becomes a recurring character on the show doing 14 episodes through the end of the series. He was
seen as various characters in 5 episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” In
addition, he was a regular on “McHale’s Navy” (Admiral Rogers),
“The Beverly Hillbillies” (John Cushing), “Bewitched” (Frank
Stephens), “Petticoat Junction” (Norman Curtis), and “Gunsmoke”
(Harry Bodkin). Roberts died in 1975 at age 69.

This
is the first new episode of calendar year 1967. It was filmed on
November 10, 1966.

Before
it was available on DVD, this episode was screened using a 16mm print
for Lucy’s 2008 Birthday Celebration in Jamestown as part of “An
Evening with Ruta Lee.” Lee talked about her work with Ball and
shared anecdotes about the episode.

Lee
first met Lucille Ball at Del Mar Racetrack. They bonded over their
love of polka dots! In 1974, Lee presented Ball with the Thalians
Philanthropy Award for her support of mental health awareness, the
first female every to receive the recognition.

Lucy
is scheduled to vacation in Lake Arrowhead, a resort community in the
San Bernadino Mountains of Southern California. In 1959, Lake
Arrowhead stood in for the 49th state during second unit and location shooting of “Lucy Goes to
Alaska,” an episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” guest
starring Red Skelton.

When prospective depositor Mrs. Winkler announces that she “must get back to Pasadena” the laugh track adds a small reaction, perhaps to indicate that Mrs. Winkler is supposed to be the classic “little old lady from Pasadena.” As she is leaving she says she is tired of boy scouts trying to take her across the street!

Lucy
says Audrey Fields is a “one
woman Peyton Place.” Based
on a 1956 novel,“Peyton
Place”
was
a primetime soap opera that aired on ABC from 1964 to 1969. The title
has become synonymous with the romantic problems and scandals of
small-town life. It was previously mentioned in “Lucy and Joan”
(S4;E4).

Mary
Jane has borrowed a wig from the studio for Lucy to be a brunette on
her vacation. She says it was worn by Audrey Hepburn “in
the picture we saw.”

Four months before the filming of this episode, Hepburn premiered the
film How
To Steal a Million
directed by William Wyler.

Mr.
Mooney dictates a letter to Mr. Cavanaugh about the Winkler account.
He warns Miss Fields not to get them mixed up – unfortunately
within earshot of jealous Lucy.

When
Lucy dresses up as Margot of Margot’s Mad Mad Mod Interiors she uses
a Connecticut lock-jaw accent and dresses in mod clothes reminiscent
of her wardrobe during 1966′s “Lucy in London.”

For
a painting over Mr. Mooney’s desk, “Margot” suggests a Salvador
Dali: “That
way, whenever anyone comes through the door they can say…. [finish
the joke yourself].” Salvador
Dali (1904-89)
was best
known for the striking and bizarre images in his surrealist work.
The joke puns on the Broadway musical (still playing at the time)
Hello,
Dolly!
Lucy sang from the show and dressed as the title character in “Lucy
and the Undercover Agent” (S4;E10).

To
shampoo the rugs in Mr. Mooney’s office, Lucy dresses up as Jose
Hernandez from Jose’s Rug Cleaners. “Jose” says he cannot come
back at night because he has to see Esther (siesta). When Mr. Mooney
asks him if he could go someplace else he replies “Si,
Tijuana. But I no wanna.”

Callbacks!

Lucy
Ricardo also donned a variety of disguises to keep an eye on a man
(Ricky) in “Lucy is Jealous of Girl Singer” (ILL S1;E10).

Blooper
Alerts!

Sitcom Logic Alert! Despite knowing Lucy Carmichael for many years, Mr.
Mooney fails to recognize Lucy in her variety of disguises – an
age-old comedy contrivance.

The Better To See U! New
larger letters have been added to the file cabinets.

Getting Gale Soggy! As
soon as we see “Jose’s” carpet cleaning machine overflowing with
suds, we know that more than the rug will be getting shampooed.
Naturally, Mr. Mooney is the target of her soapy hose. This time,
however, it is deliberate.

One Hat / Two Actors! When
Lucy impersonates Mrs. Winkler, her dress is bright pink, where Mrs.
Winkler’s is cherry red. Lucy’s hat, however, is still red. It is likely that both Lucille Ball and Barbara Morrison wore the same hat.