IS SHE A NATIONAL HABIT? and OTHER PRESS

December 19, 1965

On Sunday, December 19, 1965, the TV Tab supplement to the Rochester (NY) Democrat and Chronicle, published an article by UPI’s Vernon Scott about the staying power of Lucille Ball. 

The article is reprinted verbatim below, with direct quotes from Lucille Ball in bold and italics. 

By VERNON SCOTT, HOLLYWOOD (UPI) 

“Institution” is an unflattering term for beautiful redhead, but it fits Lucille Ball who, after 14 years in television, is still among the top 10 in the ratings. 

Mention “Lucy” in the civilized world, and people everywhere know who you’re talking about.

Lucy’s unprecedented longevity as a television comedienne is all the more remarkable in that she began as a starlet in “Roman Scandals” with Eddie Cantor back in 1933. 

Remarkable because she alone among her contemporaries is still a major star. The life span of starlets is usually five years. If a girl can act, she may survive for 15 years. But once a starlet’s measurements have been exploited and her youthful beauty fades she dissolves into the scenery on the back lot. 

But Lucy? She’s been going strong for 32 years. 

Her figure is terrific. Better than most of this season’s sex kittens. On screen she appears a youthful 35. In person her features are animated, her blue eyes brimming with mischief and intelligence. 

What’s more, Lucy has survived on the strength of her own comic genius. When she and Desi parted it was predicted Lucy couldn’t carry on alone. Wrong. The same was said when Vivian Vance departed last season. Wrong. 

“The Lucy Show” title says it all. She stands alone. 

Asked how she managed to go on and on, Lucy said: “My personal life may have something to do with it. I’ve almost always enjoyed good health. I take care of myself. I don’t drink. I’m happily married, and I don’t let work interfere with being a good wife and mother.” 

Is she, indeed, an institution? "I never thought it unflattering to be an institution. The idea appeals to me. I credit the steadfastness of my viewers for my longevity on television. I’ve become a national habit.” 

"And children love my show, too. I think people began tuning in to the old ‘I Love Lucy’ show because Desi and I were married on-screen and off. It was different. We had strong audience identification with other married couples.” 

"Later when Vivian and I carried on as a couple of women trying to raise kids without a man around, we still had a great deal of identification with a large segment of the population.” 

"We also knew what not to do. We kept away from vulgarity, distasteful subjects and unwholesomeness.” 

Lucy still failed to touch on the element that makes her such a popular favorite. She doesn’t really know. Perhaps no one does. 

I think it is that she is the only comedienne who combines humor sometimes outlandish clowning with beauty, sex appeal and, most Importantly, femininity. Even with her hair frowzed, her face dirty and clothes in tatters she looks like a female should look. 

The TV Tab also provided listings, including one for a Monday, December 20, 1965 repeat of “The Lucy Show” episode “Lucy in the Music World” (TLS S4;E3) first aired on September 27, 1965. 

Meanwhile, in Iowa’s The Courier on December 19, 1965, TV critic Ken Murphy wrote about Milton Berle and Lucille Ball, the king and queen of TV comedy. 

Murphy is talking about “Lucy Saves Milton Berle” (TLS S4;E13) first aired on December 6, 1965. 

In Long Beach (CA) the Evening News and Independent-Press-Telegram Tele Vues took a look at Lucy’s partner in crime, Gale Gordon with this article from Bert Resnik’s column Bert’s Eye View: 

IF SANTA CAN FIND it in his heart to forgive the on-screen, blowhard shouting of Gale Gordon, television’s meanest man could have the following in his Christmas stocking: A drill-press, a shaper-planer and a band-saw. 

Gale, who currently is flipping his lid as blustering banker Theodore J. Mooney on CBS-TV’s Monday “The Lucy Show,” is a do-it -yourselfer magna cum laude. 

He does it himself on a 100-acre ranch in the San Ysidro Mountains near Borrego Springs. 

It is doing that utilizes a 37-horsepower, 4-wheel, lightweight tractor that Santa, in the guise of his wife of 28 years, Virginia, gave to him a previous Christmas. 

It is more than just a tractor to Gale. 

“It is therapy for me,” he said. 

In addition to the therapeutic tractor, the hoped-for drill press, planer and handsaw, Gale has a cement-mixer (an anniversary present) and numerous tools. 

“I can work all day long mixing cement and to me this is the same as going to the opera for some people. It’s completely relaxing.”

THERE IS NO therapy for Gale in bombastically blowing his top onscreen. He’s not knocking it, mind you. Just don’t get the idea that it’s the best way to prevent ulcers – not that Gale has one. 

He enjoys the flip-wigging for two reasons: It gets laughs and it brings money.

Both have been coming quite persistently since, as Mayor La Trivia in the “Fibber McGee and Molly” era, he hollered his first roof down. 

On television he’s blustered as the meany school principal in “Our Miss Brooks,” was Uncle Paul in the “Pete and Gladys” series and served a stint as Mr. Wilson for “Dennis the Menace." 

It is blustering, incidentally, that highly challenges Gale’s acting abilities. 

For off-screen, he’s the opposite kind of man. 

"People who exhibit temper are very disagreeable,” he said. “I don’t like to be disagreeable.” 

"By nature, I’m a very placid person. Very little disturbs me." 

In his 43-year-career, Gale learned by observing more temperamental show-business personalities that: "Temper is such a waste of time." 

It is a career that has been marked by an appearance in the 1928 silent movie, "Temptress,” with Greta Garbo.” 

“She’s the most ethereal and beautiful creature I’ve ever seen in my life,” he said. “Her ability is in the tremendous appeal she has for the audience.” 

It is a career that included a radio role as, leading man in “The Mary Pickford Show” in the 1930s. "She was very charming, very considerate." 

Eve Arden, the title star of "Our Miss Brooks,” has “no equal” in her style of sophisticated comedy. Miss Arden, Gale and other members of that television series’ cast “were a family." 

It is Lucille Ball, however, with whom Gale finds it most stimulating to work. "I admire her above all women her ability, her knowledge of theater and for a very keen sense – an instinct, actually – of what will p!ay funny to an audience.” 

"I’d rather be a supporting player for Lucy than be a starring player myself under any of the most favorable conditions.”

The Honolulu (HI) Star-Bulletin printed this brief mention on December 19, 1965, regarding children of celebrities going into show business. 

While across the Pacific, in The San Francisco (CA) Examiner, columnist John J. Miller reported on Lucille Ball’s day in tax court.