Summer 1958
Cast
Lucille
Ball (Herself)
was born on August 6, 1911 in Jamestown, New York. She began her
screen career in 1933 and was known in Hollywood as ‘Queen of the
B’s’ due to her many appearances in ‘B’ movies. With Richard
Denning, she starred in a radio program titled “My Favorite
Husband” which eventually led to the creation of “I Love Lucy,”
a television situation comedy in which she co-starred with her
real-life husband, Latin bandleader Desi Arnaz. The program was
phenomenally successful, allowing the couple to purchase what was
once RKO Studios, re-naming it Desilu. When the show ended in 1960
(in an hour-long format known as “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour”) so
did Lucy and Desi’s marriage. In 1962, hoping to keep Desilu
financially solvent, Lucy returned to the sitcom format with “The
Lucy Show,” which lasted six seasons. She followed that with a
similar sitcom “Here’s Lucy” co-starring with her real-life
children, Lucie and Desi Jr., as well as Gale Gordon, who had joined
the cast of “The Lucy Show” during season two. Before her death
in 1989, Lucy made one more attempt at a sitcom with “Life With
Lucy,” also with Gordon, which was not a success and was canceled
after just 13 episodes.
Desi
Arnaz
(Himself)
was born in Cuba in 1917 and immigrated to America as a youngster.
He was a musician who married Lucille Ball in 1940 after
meeting her on the set of 1939’s Too Many Girls, which he had done
on stage in New York. In order to keep him ‘off the road’ Ball
convinced producers to cast him as her husband in a new television
project based on her radio show “My Favorite Husband.” The
network was convinced. In 1951, Arnaz and Ball began playing Lucy and
Ricky Ricardo, roles they would be identified with for the rest of
their lives. The couple had two children together, Lucie and Desi Jr.
In 1960, Ball and Arnaz divorced. Desi became a producer, responsible
for such hits as “The Mothers-in-Law” (1967-69). He re-married in
1963. Desi Aranz died in 1986, just a few years before Ball.
William
Frawley (Himself)
was already a Hollywood veteran when he was hired by Desi Arnaz to
play Fred Mertz on “I Love Lucy.” After the series concluded he
joined the cast of “My Three Sons” playing Bub Casey. He did an
episode of “The
Lucy Show” in
October 1965 which was his final TV appearance before his death in
March 1966.
Vivian
Vance (Herself)
was born Vivian Roberta Jones in Cherryvale, Kansas in 1909, although
her family quickly moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where she was
raised. She had extensive theatre experience, co-starring on Broadway
with Ethel Merman in “Anything Goes.” She was acting in a play in
Southern California when she was spotted by Desi Arnaz and hired to
play Ethel Mertz, Lucy Ricardo’s neighbor and best friend. The
pairing is credited with much of the success of “I Love Lucy.”
Vance was convinced to join the cast of “The Lucy Show” in 1962,
but stayed with the series only through season three, making
occasional guest appearances afterwards. She made a total of six
appearance on “Here’s Lucy.” She also joined Lucy for a TV
special “Lucy
Calls the President” in
1977. Vance died two years later.
Ross
Elliott (Mr.
Hayden, Westinghouse Executive)
played the director of Lucy’s famous Vitameatavegamin
commercial
in
1952. He played Ross, Ricky’s publicity agent in three other
episodes. From 1961 to 1964 he played another TV director on “The
Jack Benny Program.” He played a film director in “Lucy and the
Return of Iron Man” (TLS S4;E11) in 1965. His final appearance with
Lucille Ball was “Lucy, The Sheriff” (HL S6;E18) in 1974.
Hazel
Pierce
(Extra on the Tijuana Street Set) was Lucille Ball’s camera and
lighting stand-in throughout “I Love Lucy.” She also made
frequent appearances on the show. She went on to make several on-camera
appearances on “The Lucy Show.” Pierce was an uncredited extra
in the film Forever
Darling (1956).
Alan
Roberts
(Mexican Boy) was born Alan Costello. Also in 1958, he appeared on “Leave it to Beaver” as a Spanish boy who is befriends by the Beaver. His last screen credit was in 1965 and he died in 2008 at the age of 59.
Although only seen from the back here, Roberts has a supporting role in “Lucy Goes to Mexico.”
Bennett Green (Voice of the Director) was Desi Arnaz’s camera and lighting stand-in during “I Love Lucy.” He also made frequent appearances on the show as well as on “The Lucy Show.”
Roy Rowan (Announcer) was the announcer for all Lucille Ball’s sitcoms and also made occasional on-camera appearances.
Extras
from the Tijuana Street scene of “Lucy Goes To Mexico” (LDCH
S2;E1).
"Lucy
Buys Westinghouse” (working title) is a promotional film intended for network
affiliates and the Westinghouse dealers when Desilu partnered with
the company for the “Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse” series. This
was an anthology series that presented a different story each week.
“The Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse” ran from 1958 to 1960 and
each episodes was introduced by Desi Arnaz, standing in front of a
show curtain (a stipulation of Westinghouse’s sponsorship). Lucy and Desi also sometimes participated in the
Westinghouse commercials, hosted by Betty Furness. This series
notably gave birth to “The Untouchables,” which was later
picked-up by Desilu for a full series, as well as “The Twilight
Zone.” Like “I Love Lucy,” the series originally aired on
Monday nights.
“Lucy Buys Westinghouse” is the film’s unofficial title for reference purposes. It should not imply that Lucy buys the Westinghouse Corporation, just Westinghouse products.
It
would also present “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” (originally titled
“The
Lucille
Ball-Desi Arnaz Show”)
which continued the escapades of the Ricardos and the Mertzes after
the cancellation of “I Love Lucy” in 1957. The first five of the
hour-long series’ 13 episodes were run as specials, sponsored by
Ford.
Westinghouse
Electric Corporation
was
founded on January 8, 1886
by
its founder George
Westinghouse
(1846–1914).
The corporation purchased CBS in 1995.
There are no opening or closing credits, but it is likely that the film was directed by Jerry Thorpe and written by Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf, the team responsible for all the “Lucy-Desi Comedy Hours” during seasons 2 and 3. The “I Love Lucy” theme music is used.
Lucille Ball is referred to as Mrs. Arnaz, the only time she is ever called by her married name on film. Vivian Vance and William Frawley portray themselves, although like Lucy, their characters behave more like their fictional counterparts than the actors themselves. The half hour film includes footage of “Lucy Goes to Mexico” being filmed at Desilu Studios.
Desi
Arnaz gives a representative of Westinghouse a tour of Desilu
Studios (actually three studio properties) while Lucy tries to secretly place orders with him for
Westinghouse products. The Gower Street studio was formerly owned by RKO and with
the purchase came all the props and costumes, and stock film from
its earlier productions.
The
film was originally shot in black and white and included on a video
titled “Lucy’s Lost Episodes.” When the film was included
on an “I Love Lucy” DVD as a bonus feature, it was colorized. It
was never broadcast on television in its entirety and it is not known
if it was ever used for the purpose it was intended. The film
occasionally uses a laugh track.
At
the start of the film, Lucy is sitting at Desi’s desk, looking
through the Westinghouse catalog.
Lucy: “I was just reading about the all-new mobile speed Westinghouse vacuum cleaner. It’s a dilly!”
Desi’s office is decorated with
photographs of his children, Lucie and Desi Jr., as well as their Emmy
Awards and other memorabilia. Lucy
makes fun of the way Desi says ‘Westinghouse’ as ‘Westin-Gouse’. He
then calls their spokes people Betty Furness and John Cameron Swayze
‘Betty Furnace’ and ‘John Cameron Sweezie’.
Desi
mentions to Mr. Hayden the list of prestigious writers who want to
join the Desilu team: Aaron Spelling, Rod Serling, Adrian Spies, and
Garsin Kanin. Aaron Spelling directed “The Night the Phone Rang”
which (coincidentally) starred Ross Elliott (Mr. Hayden). Aaron Spelling
had appeared on “I Love Lucy” and in 1986 convinced Lucille Ball
to return to television with her last series, “Life With Lucy.” Rod Serling directed “The Time Element” which eventually led to
his series “The Twilight Zone.” New Jersey native Adrian Spies
directed six installments, including “So Tender, So Profane”
starring Desi Arnaz. There is no record of Garsin Kanin ever writing
for the “Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse” series.
Desi
says that the first show will be “Bernadette” (“Song of
Bernadette”) adapted by Ludi Claire, who also adapted “The Bridge
on San Luis Rey.” Desi is referring to the 1958 television
adaptation of “San Luis Rey,” not the 1944 feature film.
When
Bill Frawley and Vivian Vance drop by to invite the Arnaz’s to lunch
at the commissary, Desi offers to pay in order to get Lucy out of his
hair during the tour.
Bill:
“Oh,
no you don’t. This is my treat. Fred Mertz might be a tightwad, but
not Bill Frawley.”
Vivian:
“Oh,
well, in that case Bill, we’ll go to Romanoffs.”
Bill:
“Romanoffs?”
Vivian:
“Okay, Fred Mertz, we’ll go to the commissary.”
Romanoffs
was a classy Hollywood restaurant that was mentioned several times on
“I Love Lucy.” Not surprisingly, it was also a favorite dining
spot of the Arnaz’s. Romanoffs
became known for their chocolate souffles and Noodles Romanoff. The
landmark eatery closed for good on New Year’s Eve 1962, although
the famous noodles can still be found in your frozen food case thanks
to Stouffers.
Vivian:
“Let’s
eat. I’m starved.”
Bill:
“Okay,
Ethel.”
Vivian:
“The
name is Vivian.”
Bill:
“The
name may be Vivian, but the appetite is Ethel.”
Desi
and Mr. Hayden depart for their studio tour and Lucy recruits Vivian
and Bill to help her with her plans to get Westinghouse appliances
for her dressing room.
Vivian:
“Is
this a plot to put something over on Desi?”
Lucy:
“Well…”
Bill:
“As
Betty Furness would say, ‘You can be sure, if it’s Lucy.’”
Betty
Furness (1916-94) was the product spokesperson for Westinghouse’s television
commercials. She would conclude with their slogan “You
can be sure, if it’s Westinghouse.”
Desi
conducts the first part of the studio tour via helicopter. They first
fly over Desilu Gower, so named because it was located on Gower
Avenue. They then hover over Desilu Motion Picture Center, a flew
blocks away. This was where “I Love Lucy” was filmed from 1953.
Then they fly to Desilu Culver, located in Culver City,
also known as Forty Acres due to its size. This is where
MGM made Gone
with the Wind. They fly over a destroyed Tara, twenty years after the film was made.
Once
they land, Vivian and Bill distract Desi while Lucy (disguised as a
helicopter mechanic) approaches Mr. Hayden to order appliances. She
doesn’t get very far before Desi returns.
Desi
shows Hayden some painters working on the cave set for their “Song
of Bernadette” starring Pier Angeli. The same set was later
re-purposed for an episode of “Star Trek.” Vivian asks to speak
to Desi privately, while Bill directs Mr. Hayden to talk to the ‘man’
on the ladder. Lucy is disguised as one of the painters. Once again,
Lucy is interrupted when Desi returns.
Desi:
(to Vivian) “Are
you crazy or somethin’?”
Bill:
“What’s
the matter?”
Desi:
“Vivian
wants to play Bernadette.”
Bill:
“That
would be a miracle.”
Next,
they visit the Tijuana Street set that will be used for “Lucy Goes
To Mexico.” A director’s voice shouts
for quiet on the set, and they get to watch a scene being shot. This
scene (where a zebra cart stalls traffic in the street) is directly
from the “Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.” Because it briefly features
Lucille Ball, Bill Frawley, and Vivian Vance (who are supposedly
standing nearby watching the scene being shot with Desi), the scene must have
been shot prior to the filming of “Lucy Buys Westinghouse” and
inserted later. Even Lucy can’t be in two places at once!
Desi
mentions that all the “Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” Westinghouse
commercials will be themed to tie into the show. For “Lucy Goes To
Mexico” the theme is fiesta.
Westinghouse merchants will receive fiesta themed
signage and other promotional materials.
Unbeknownst
to them, Lucy is right behind them disguised as a window display
mannequin in a sombrero and serape. Through the use of pantomime
(Ball’s favorite skill) she orders a 21” television from Mr. Hayden.
During
a visit to the props department, William Frawley discovers a model he
says is King Kong. In fact, it is actually from Mighty
Joe Young (1949).
Lucy is then discovered by Hayden hiding in a gorilla costume.
Because Lucy’s dialogue is crystal clear beneath the gorilla mask
(and there is a slight delay in the gorilla’s corresponding
actions), it is likely that Ball was not actually inside the
costume.
Back
in Desi’s office, he tells Hayden that actor George
Murphy
is vice president of public affairs for Desilu and will act as their
Westinghouse good will ambassador. Murphy had done four films with
Lucille Ball, including A Girl, A Guy, and a Gob (1941, above).
Desi
discovers that Lucy’s dressing room is crowded with new Westinghouse
appliances including a pink roaster, a mint green blender, a 21”
television set, and a powder blue electric dryer – with Lucy hiding
inside it!
Desi:
(to
viewers) “Well,
we’ll see you in October, folks. If she’s dry by then.”
Papermoon Loves Lucy 
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