December
6, 1969 on CBS
Produced
by Alan Carr, Burt Rosen, David Winters, Roger Smith (husband of
Ann-Margret)
Directed
& Choreographed by David Winters
Written
by Bill Angelos, Buz Kohan, Gail Parent, Kenny Solms
CAST
Ann-Margret
(Herself
/ Autograph Annie) is one of Hollywood’s most enduring sex symbols,
singers, and actors. Born in Sweden in 1941, she made her screen
debut in 1961’s A
Pocketful of Miracles
and
followed-up with the critically acclaimed film musicals State
Fair
and
Bye
Bye Birdie.
In February 1969 she appeared on “The Jack Benny Birthday
Special” which also featured Lucille Ball, although the two did not
share screen time. Just prior to this special, she appeared as
herself on an episode of “Here’s Lucy.” She was then nominated
for Oscars for Carnal
Knowledge
(1971)
and Tommy
(1975).
In 2010, Ann-Margret won her first Emmy Award for her guest
appearance on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”
Lucille
Ball (Herself
/ Celebrity Lu) 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 April 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.
Dean
Martin
(Himself)
also played himself (and his stunt man doppelganger Eddie Feldman) in
“Lucy
Dates Dean Martin” (TLS S4;E21)
in
1966 as well as “Lucy Gets Lucky” (1975). He was born Dino Paul
Crocetti in Steubenville, Ohio, in 1917. He made his screen debut in
a short playing a singer in Art Mooney’s band, but his first big
screen role was 1949’s My
Friend Irma
with
Jerry Lewis. This began a partnership that would be one of the most
successful screen pairings in cinema history. Later, he also worked
frequently members of “the Rat Pack”: Frank Sinatra, Joey Bishop,
Peter Lawford, and Sammy Davis Jr. His persona was that of a playboy,
usually seen with a glass of booze and a cigarette. Martin and
Lucille Ball appeared on many TV variety and award shows together. He
died on Christmas Day in 1995 at age 78.
Larry
Storch
(Jeremy Faber) was the opening act at Ciro’s for Lucille
Ball’s
and Desi
Arnaz’s nightclub show. From there he received his biggest break on radio with “The
Kraft Music Hall” when he was asked to sub for an ailing Frank
Morgan.
Larry’s biggest claim to fame would come via his Emmy-nominated role
as Forrest
Tucker’s
sidekick Agarn in the western comedy “F
Troop”
(1965).
The
Watts 103rtd Street Rhythm Band (Themselves)
had first appeared three weeks earlier on “The Barbara McNair
Show”. A few months later they appeared on “The Mike Douglas
Show,” their final TV appearance. Their song “Express Yourself”
turns up on many soundtracks.
Ken
Lane (Dean’s
Pianist) was
also on hand when Dean Martin sang to Lucille Ball at her “All Star
Party” in 1984 and composed
the music for “Lucy Gets Lucky,” a 1975 TV special starring
Ball and Martin.
Larry
Billman
(Singer,
uncredited) was seen on Broadway in the short-lived musical revue
Vintage
‘60
(1960).
He has less than ten screen credits and made his career in charge of
live entertainment for Disney theme parks. He was Lucille Ball’s
dance partner in “Lucy and Tennessee Ernie’s Fun Farm” (HL
S1;E23) in March 1969.
Pete
Menefee (Dancer,
uncredited) made his debut as Sweet Apple teenager Harvey Johnson in
the film Bye
Bye Birdie
(1963) along with Ann-Margret. In 1968, he appeared with Ann-Margret
on her first TV special. Starting in 1969, his career transitioned to
costume and wardrobe, for which he won three Emmy Awards.
Walter
Painter (Dancer,
uncredited) made his screen debut with this program. He also danced
in the film Sweet
Charity
(1969). He is a choreographer who won three Emmy Awards.
Roger
Minami
(Dancer, uncredited) is a Hawaiian-born performer who is best known
as The Asp in the feature film musical Annie
(1982).
TRIVIA
In November 1968 Lucille Ball and Ann-Margret appeared together on “The Tonight Show” with Peter Lawford as guest host. Ann’s husband Roger Smith and Richard Prior were also guests.
For
Lucille Ball, this was a reciprocal appearance in return for
Ann-Margret’s guest-starring on “Here’s Lucy.” Lucy was also
doing a favor for David Winters, who co-produced and choreographed
“Lucy in London” (1966).
This
special aired on CBS after “The Jackie Gleason Show” which
revived “The Honeymooners” characters that evening. It was
followed by “Petticoat Junction.” It was up again “The
Hallmark Hall of Fame” presentation of the TV film The
Littlest Angel.
Two days later, “Here’s Lucy” presented the first run of “Lucy
and the Generation Gap” (HL S2;E12). Ironically, that episode
contained a parody of the song “Kids” from Bye
Bye Birdie,
which starred Ann-Margret.
In further irony, the cover story of TV
Guide that week was about the generation gap. While the Chicago Tribune’s TV Week chose to put Ann-Margret on the cover, the more conservative TV Guide chose Doris Day – apt representations of the generation gap.
The
night this show aired on television, the turbulent decade of the
1960s came to a violent end with the counterculture rock concert at
Altamont Speedway in Northern California. Inspired by Woodstock, the
concert is
best known for considerable violence, including the stabbing death
of Meredith Hunter
and
three accidental deaths. Filmmakers Albert
and David Maysles
(Grey Gardens) shot
footage of the event and incorporated it into the 1970 documentary Gimme
Shelter.
The
show’s choreographer David Winters was nominated for a 1970 Emmy
Award for his choreography. He was also the choreographer of “Lucy
in London” (1966).
Above, Ann works through a scene with her husband / manager, producer Roger Smith.
THE SHOW
PROLOGUE ~ THE ROAD TO HOLLYWOOD
The
special opens with a close-up of Ann-Margret singing. As the camera
pans out, she is sitting on the branch of a tree in the countryside.
The montage medley tracks her walking to Hollywood, among the
landmarks and super highways to the tune of “25 Miles” by Edwin
Star (1969) and “Sentimental Journey” (1944) by Ben Homer, Les
Brown, and Bud Green.
This sequence was a cold open. The title
credits appear.
PART ONE ~ THE GAME CALLED HOLLYWOOD
Standing
on a huge board game populated by mimes, Ann-Margret sings “The
Game Called Hollywood.”
On
the square marked ‘Home Town’ Ann sings “There’s Gotta Be Something
Better Than This” written by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields for the
Broadway musical
Sweet Charity.
The 1969 film adaptation starring Shirley MacLaine was on screens at
the time.
On
the square marked ‘Sunset Strip’ the ‘Home Town’ Ann is welcomed to
Hollywood by the mimes. This sequence is shot on the real Sunset
Strip. ‘Harry Sunshine’ Theatrical Agent gives her his card. After
being scammed by Harry, Ann goes back three spaces to one labeled
‘Honest Job’. There she becomes a waitress at Pete’s Polynesian
Paradise Pizza pushing poi. An important producer sees her and sings
“You Oughta Be in Pictures” (1934) by Dana Suess and Edward
Heyman.
Advance
token from ‘Honest Job’ to ‘Movie Studio’. In a stylized sequence,
Ann is a stunt clown who gets a pie in the face.
Advance
to ‘Bit Parts’ where Ann is getting hit on the head by a variety of
objects as a stunt woman. She sings “Pick Yourself Up” (1936) by
Dorothy Fields and Jerome Kern from the film Swing
Time.
A French director takes a liking to her. When he puts the moves on
her, she is told “You’re not right for the part.” Go back two
spaces to “Out of Work.” She sings a few bars of “All Alone”
(1924) by Irving Berlin, when her old agent Harry Sunshine calls with
an offer. Advance to ‘Big Break’ in which Ann is playing Eve in a
film titled “All About Adam.” Advance token to ‘Hollywood
Premiere’.
After
winning the ‘game’, Ann returns in triumph to ‘Home Town’ but feels
empty and sings a slow, thoughtful reprise of “There’s Gotta Be
Something Better Than This.”
PART TWO ~ HIGH SOCIETY & HIGH NOON
After
a commercial break, the show takes a more realistic turn and
Ann-Margret with Dean Martin on a soundstage decorated with elegant
chandeliers above and old West items below. Ann explains that they
are going to sing country western songs. The start with “Let It Be
Me” (1959) first released by the Everly Brothers, followed by “It
Just Happened That Way” from Martin’s 1967 studio album Happiness
Is. “Little Green Apples” (1968) by Roger Miller get applause of
recognition from the studio audience. “I Really Don’t Want To
Know”, a hit for Elvis Presley. The duo sing “Sleep
In The Grass” (1969)
by Lee
Hazlewood, a song recorded
by
Ann-Margret. The song opens up to show the two frolicking
romantically in a country setting. A few bars of “Let It Be Me”
return the medley to the studio and mark the end of the show’s first
half.
PART THREE ~ HOLLYWOOD AT HOME
Opening
the second half is a mock Hollywood gossip show starring Larry Storch
as a host named Jeremy Faber.
Storch wears a pink tie, talks with a
slight lisp and sips a ‘tooty fruity’ beverage; an obvious attempt to
get some laughs using gay stereotypes. Although the Stonewall riots
were recent news in late 1969, their effect would not be felt for
many years.
The premise of the segment is that Ann and Dean were
married. In Ann’s version of their domestic life, Ann is found
cleaning the house (decorated with large photos of Martin), finding
empty liquor bottles. Dean slides down a fire pole for breakfast, a
reference to the set of his weekly variety show (“on another
network”) which featured a fire pole. He practices his golf swing
using the eggs Ann has boiled for his breakfast. Sitting down at the
grand piano to sing a song for Ann, Martin introduces his pianist Ken
Lane. He starts to sing “Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime” (a song
co-written by Lane).
Dean’s
version of their wedded bliss finds him cleaning and finding Ann’s
hair extensions around the house. The apartment is decorated with
large photographs of Ann-Margret.
Goof
Alert: Ann
is supposed to drive in on a motor scooter, but there is a slight
delay after Martin shouts that her “breakfast is ready.” In the
pause, Martin adds “…but your motorcycle ain’t!” A moment
later, Ann comes zooming in haphazardly on a small motorbike.
Ann-Margret was an avid cyclist, often photographed riding for
fashion spreads and posters.
Ann
plays herself as a tousle-haired sexpot in a fur coat and sequined
dress. Dean has prepared his family favorite breakfast for her: pizza.
Another
Goof! While
teasing Ann’s hair, Martin (obviously reading off cue cards) says one
of Ann’s lines by mistake. She quickly says “That’s my line!”
without breaking character.
Dean: “What
are you doing today?
Ann-Margret:
“Same
as everyday. I’ll be practicing panting, pouting, and puckering.”
Dean:
“Well, I thought we could pet, pinch, and poke.”
Because
it is their anniversary, Dean wants to do something special. Ann
suggest they run Bye
Bye Birdie
– in slow motion. Ann suddenly jumps atop the piano and launches
into “I’ll Walk Alone” (1944) by Sammy Kahn and Jule Styne.
Chorus boys appear from nowhere and join her. The sequence ends in
chaos wrapped up by Jeremy Faber as just “another example of the
simple, unaffected way of life in Hollywood, USA.”
INTERLUDE at WATTS TOWERS
The
final segment begins with Ann on location in front of the Capital
Records Tower, then in front of the famous Watts Towers, made of
multicolored glass and porcelain.This is her way of introducing The
Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band who perform “Love Land” (1969) by Charles
Wright and Don Trotter. They perform on location in front of Watts
Towers, and the film is inter-cut with footage of kids on a
playground.
PART FOUR ~ AUTOGRAPH ANNIE & CELEBRITY LU
Ann-Margret
stands in front of Paramount Studios, where Lucille Ball filmed
“Here’s Lucy.” [Ball sold Desilu to Paramount and leased space to film her show.]
On a soundstage recreation of a stage door, elegant movie star Lucille Ball emerges to be mobbed by fans. When the crowd clears, two quirky fans are
left behind: Autograph Annie (Ann-Margret) and Celebrity Lu (Lucille
Ball).
Annie:
(about Lucille Ball) “Did
you get her autograph?”
Lu:
“Yeah,
she’s a cinch. I got ten of hers. Now I can trade them for one of Eve
Arden’s. Did you get it?”
Annie
(showing
her autograph book): “Yeah,
I got it right here between Fay Bainter and Francis X. Bushman.”
Eve
Arden and Lucille Ball did several films together at RKO. Arden
starred in “Our Miss Brooks” filmed at Desilu Studios. She did a
cameo as herself on “I Love Lucy” in 1956. Although Fay Bainter
made her first film at the same time as Lucille Ball, the two never
worked together. In 1945, Bainter was in the film musical State
Fair. Ann-Margret was in the 1962 remake. Francis X. Bushman (Ben Hur) was
one of Mrs. McGillicuddy’s favorite movie stars on “I Love Lucy.”
He died in 1966.
Annie:
“Hey
are you gonna sneak into that party after the premiere tonight?”
Lu:
“Well, if I can fit it in. First there’s John Wayne’s barbecue at
seven, then Herb Alpert’s buffet and bullfight at eight.”
One
of Lucille Ball’s best known guest stars on her sitcoms was John
Wayne, who did both “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show” as
himself. Bandleader and trumpet player of the Tijuana Brass, Herb
Alpert was at the peak of his success at the time. His first album
in 1962 was titled The Bull.
Annie
and Lu launch into a song about their show business savvy. Lu rattles
off all her autographs of celebrities whose name begins with ‘G’:
Lu:
“Garbo,
Gable, Garland, Grable, Gish, Gish (Dorothy and Lillian), Garfield,
Gardner, Garson, Glynn, Sonny Tough (How did that get in?). Janet
Gaynor, Cary Grant, and Paulette Goddard, too. I’ve even got a note
John Gilbert wrote: ‘All my Love to Celebrity Lu.’”
Annie
fights back by listing: Lionel and John and Ethel Barrymore, Groucho and Chico and Harpo and Zeppo, and Gummo Marx. Jane Fonda, Peter
Fonda, and Henry Fonda. She doesn’t have Jolson, but has two of Larry
Parks who played Jolson in a 1945 biopic.
They rattle off more names: Aldo Ray, Butterfly McQueen, Turhan Bey, Franklin
Pangborn, Elizabeth Taylor Hilton Wilding Todd Fisher Burton, Harlow,
and Mae West.
Of
the names listed by the two, Lucille Ball had worked (or would
shortly work) with the Marx Brothers (Room Service), Henry Fonda
(Yours Mine and Ours), Elizabeth Taylor (“Here’s Lucy”), Aldo Ray
(“K.O. Kitty”), Larry Parks (Her Husband’s Affairs), and Franklin
Pangborn (four RKO films).
The
number ends with them signing each others’ books and then being
mobbed by fans themselves.
EPILOGUE ~ USO TRIBUTE
In
the final moments, Ann-Margret is on location at the Naval Station at
Long Beach to tribute the USO. On the deck of the USS Hornet (just
back from picking up the Apollo 12 crew), Ann-Margret and the The
Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band sing perform “Put
a Little Love In Your Heart” (1969) by
Jackie
DeShannon,
Randy Myers and Jimmy
Holiday.
This
Date in Lucy History ~ December 6
“Lucy
Saves Milton Berle”
(TLS S4;E12) ~ December 6, 1965
“Lucy
in the Jungle”
(HL S4;E13) ~ December 6, 1971
Papermoon Loves Lucy 
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