May 7, 1950
“The Health Farm” is episode #87 of the radio series MY FAVORITE HUSBAND broadcast on May 7, 1950.
Synopsis ~ Liz and Iris are fed up with their husbands taking them for granted, so they check in to a fat farm.
This episode features elements that later went into the “I Love Lucy” episodes “The Diet” (ILL S1;E3 ~ October 29, 1951) and “The Charm School” (ILL S3;E15 ~ January 25, 1954). Lucy Carmichael and the Countess Frambois went to a fat farm run by Mr. Mooney in “Lucy and the Countess Lose Weight” (TLS S3;E21) on February 15, 1965.
“My Favorite Husband” was based on the novels Mr. and Mrs. Cugat, the Record of a Happy Marriage (1940) and Outside Eden (1945) by Isabel Scott Rorick, which had previously been adapted into the film Are Husbands Necessary? (1942). “My Favorite Husband” was first broadcast as a one-time special on July 5, 1948. Lucille Ball and Lee Bowman played the characters of Liz and George Cugat, and a positive response to this broadcast convinced CBS to launch “My Favorite Husband” as a series. Bowman was not available Richard Denning was cast as George. On January 7, 1949, confusion with bandleader Xavier Cugat prompted a name change to Cooper. On this same episode Jell-O became its sponsor. A total of 124 episodes of the program aired from July 23, 1948 through March 31, 1951. After about ten episodes had been written, writers Fox and Davenport departed and three new writers took over – Bob Carroll, Jr., Madelyn Pugh, and head writer/producer Jess Oppenheimer. In March 1949 Gale Gordon took over the existing role of George’s boss, Rudolph Atterbury, and Bea Benadaret was added as his wife, Iris. CBS brought “My Favorite Husband” to television in 1953, starring Joan Caulfield and Barry Nelson as Liz and George Cooper. The television version ran two-and-a-half seasons, from September 1953 through December 1955, running concurrently with “I Love Lucy.” It was produced live at CBS Television City for most of its run, until switching to film for a truncated third season filmed (ironically) at Desilu and recasting Liz Cooper with Vanessa Brown.
MAIN CAST
Lucille Ball (Liz Cooper) 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.
Richard Denning (George Cooper) was born Louis Albert Heindrich Denninger Jr., in Poughkeepsie, New York. When he was 18 months old, his family moved to Los Angeles. Plans called for him to take over his father’s garment manufacturing business, but he developed an interest in acting. Denning enlisted in the US Navy during World War II. He is best known for his roles in various science fiction and horror films of the 1950s. Although he teamed with Lucille Ball on radio in “My Favorite Husband,” the two never acted together on screen. While “I Love Lucy” was on the air, he was seen on another CBS TV series, “Mr. & Mrs. North.” From 1968 to 1980 he played the Governor on “Hawaii 5-0″, his final role. He died in 1998 at age 84.
Gale Gordon (Rudolph Atterbury) had worked with Lucille Ball on “The Wonder Show” on radio in 1938. One of the front-runners to play Fred Mertz on “I Love Lucy,” he eventually played Alvin Littlefield, owner of the Tropicana, during two episodes in 1952. After playing a Judge in an episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” in 1958, he would re-team with Lucy for all of her subsequent series’: as Theodore J. Mooney in ”The Lucy Show”; as Harrison Otis Carter in “Here’s Lucy”; and as Curtis McGibbon on “Life with Lucy.” Gordon died in 1995 at the age of 89.
Bea Benadaret (Iris Atterbury) was considered the front-runner to be cast as Ethel Mertz but when “I Love Lucy” was ready to start production she was already playing a similar role on TV’s “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show” so Vivian Vance was cast instead. On “I Love Lucy” she was cast as Lucy Ricardo’s spinster neighbor, Miss Lewis, in “Lucy Plays Cupid” (ILL S1;E15) in early 1952. Later, she was a success in her own show, “Petticoat Junction” as Shady Rest Hotel proprietress Kate Bradley. She starred in the series until her death in 1968.
Ruth Perrott (Katie, the Maid) does not appear in this episode.
Bob LeMond (Announcer) also served as the announcer for the pilot episode of “I Love Lucy”. When the long-lost pilot was finally discovered in 1990, a few moments of the opening narration were damaged and lost, so LeMond – fifty years later – recreated the narration for the CBS special and subsequent DVD release.
GUEST CAST
Elvia Allman (Mrs. Fataway) was born on September 19, 1904 in Enochville, North Carolina. She started her performing career on radio in the 1920s, as both a storyteller and singer. This led to work voicing cartoon characters for Warner Brothers. Simultaneously, she was pursuing stage acting, appearing at the Pasadena Playhouse. Allman made her film debut as an actress in 1940’s The Road to Singapore as a homely woman who pursues Bob Hope. Allman played the strident forewoman of Kramer’s Kandy Kitchen in “Job Switching” (ILL S2;E1). She would return to the show as one of Minnie Finch’s neighbors in “Fan Magazine” (ILL S3;E17) and as reporter Nancy Graham in “The Homecoming” (ILL S5;E6). She made two appearances each on The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour“ and ”The Lucy Show.“
EPISODE
ANNOUNCER: “As we look in on the Coopers today, we find George in his office at the bank. Suddenly, the door bursts open and in strides Mr. Atterbury, his boss.”
Mr. Atterbury is upset that somehow Liz’s girdle got entered on his balance sheet. George is worried about Liz. She has been buying lots of new clothes lately. Mr. Atterbury tells him the trick of combating new clothing bought by wives. When they try it on and ask “How do you like my new dress?” you say “What new dress?” They immediately return it as looking just like her old one!
Liz and Iris are out shopping. Liz shockingly says she’s not going to buy anything today. She is doing it because of George’s concern about her budget.
They see a sign:
GET YOUR SPRING TUNE-UP! WE CAN MAKE A 1950 MODEL OUT OF AN OLD WRECK! SPEND 11 GLORIOUS DAYS AT FATAWAY FARM
Liz sees some ‘dirty words’ that tempt her: “Gigantic Clearance Sale!” Liz attempts to turn her back away from temptation, but when somebody is looking at the same dress she likes – she give in to temptation.
Liz and Iris arrive home with their shopping. They go to the bedroom to put Liz’s new things away: a dress, a bag, and shoes. She now has to think about what lie to tell George before the bill arrives in a month. Iris tells her that George won’t notice if she wears the dress because husbands only notice OTHER women!
IRIS: “Every time I get a new dress I show it to Rudolph and he says ‘What new dress?’ and as long as he doesn’t know it’s new, I keep it!”
Iris dares her to put the new dress on and see if George notices. George comes home and Liz takes the dare. Liz parades in front of George in the new dress. Just as Iris said, George doesn’t notice anything. She finally breaks down and asks him about her new dress.
GEORGE: “What new dress? I’ve seen it a hundred times!”
Liz is indignant that George takes her for granted and bursts into tears.
ANNOUNCER: “As we return to the Coopers, we find Liz and Iris Atterbury down at the corner drugstore. Iris is trying to console Liz, who believes George takes her for granted.”
LIZ: “What are you supposed to do when you think that you’re the apple of your husband’s eye and find out you’re the core?”
IRIS: “You’re not alone, Liz! The world is full of single apples and married cores. It’s part of living.”
Iris tells Liz that she’s expecting her husband to act like a fiancé! Liz realizes she’s let herself go. She’s taken herself for granted. They remember the ad in the beauty shop and decide to go for the free tune-up – if not the whole overhaul! They decide to tell their husband’s that they are staying at Marge Van Tassel’s country place.
At Fataway Farms, they arrive at the office. Mrs. Fataway (Elvia Allman) greets them, and outlines their plan. They get scared of their fierce founder, but they are locked in!
Mrs. Fataway leads Iris and Liz in exercises, which they struggle with mightily. Next Liz and Iris try out the steam cabinets.
LIZ: “If they don’t come soon, they’ll have to pick me up with a blotter.”
Liz is a limp rag when Mrs. Fataway finally opens the cabinets. She announces a two-mile hike!
LIZ: “Keen dipped in pickle juice.”
On their hike they finally reach their destination. They have the option to ride back or march back. Liz is to weak to even express an opinion, and ends up walking back.
After 11 days, Liz and Iris arrive home, feeling rejuvenated and revitalized! Their husbands greet them with affection.
George notices that Liz looks thin and calls her a plucked chicken. Liz breaks down in tears.
GEORGE: “I didn’t want you beautiful. I want you just the way you were.”
Liz is relieved and starts to gorge herself with food! Iris is just about to join in, when Rudolph stops her!
MR. ATTERBURY: “I like you just as you are now!”
End of Episode
In the live Jell-O commercial tag, Lucille plays a siren from ancient mythology and Bob LeMond a sailor being lured toward the rocks.
Lucille’s first line as a siren is to imitate a police siren. She then lapses into a chirpy, pinched nosed voice.
LUCILLE / SIREN: “Oh, sailor! Oh, sailor boy! I have Jell-O tapioca pudding!”
He asks her if she has Jell-O orange coconut tapioca.
LUCILLE / SIREN: “A wonderful blend of refreshing orange and tropical coconuts?”
BOB / SAILOR: “Yes! Do you?”
LUCILLE / SIREN: “No. I just wanted to see what happened.”
The siren lures him to the rocks. The sound effects end with a motorboat crashing with a big boom!
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