MARGIE LISZT

March 2, 1909

Margie Liszt was born on March 2, 1909 in New York City, New York. She was sometimes billed as Marjorie Liszt. 

She made her screen debut as an uncredited background performer in Life With Blondie (1945). She followed up with Blondie’s Lucky Day in 1946. 

She made 37 television and movie appearances in all, including many of The Three Stooges shorts.

Liszt made her television debut as Carol (above standing), the recording secretary of The Beverly Hills Uplift Society on “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show”, doing two episodes in 1951. The second episode aired in January 1952 and had Blanche (Bea Benaderet) running for Society President. 

The Society was undoubtedly one of the inspirations for also casting Liszt as one of the original members of the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League on “I Love Lucy.” 

Liszt originated the role of Marion Strong on “I Love Lucy” appearing in “The Club Election” (ILL S2;E19) filmed on September 12, 1952 and first aired on February 16, 1953. The next time we hear about Marion in Season 3, she is being played by Shirley Mitchell. 

Before that, Liszt had played one of the women on Lucy’s party line in “Redecorating” (ILL S2;E8), filmed on August 15, 1952 and first aired on November 24, 1952. She teamed with Florence Halop (left) for the brief but memorable scene, where she is referred to as Agnes. 

In “No Children Allowed” (ILL S2;E22) Liszt plays a member of Lucy and Ethel’s bridge club, but is not given a character name. Technically, since Mitchell had not yet been introduced as Marion Strong, this may well have been the second appearance of Marion. The episode was filmed on March 20, 1953 and first aired on April 20, 1953.  

Although that was her final appearance with Lucille Ball, she returned to Desilu to film two episodes of their “December Bride” in 1958 and 1959. 

Her final screen appearance was the first episode of “Many Happy Returns” on CBS on September 21, 1964, at which point she retired from screen acting. 

She died of colon cancer at the age of 83 on August 24, 1992.