HER HUSBAND’S AFFAIRS

May 22, 1949

Screen Directors Playhouse was a radio anthology series which brought leading Hollywood actors to the NBC microphones beginning in 1949. The radio program broadcast adaptations of films, and original directors of the films were sometimes involved, although their participation was usually limited to introducing the radio adaptations, and a brief “curtain call” with the cast and host at the end of the program. The series later had a brief run on television.
The radio version ran for 122 episodes and aired on NBC from January 9, 1949 to September 28, 1951 under several different titles: NBC Theater, Screen Director’s Guild Assignment, Screen Director’s Assignment and, as of July 1, 1949, Screen Director’s Playhouse.

This radio version was adapted from the original screenplay by Richard Allen Simmons. Original music by Henry Russell.  Produced by Howard Wiley. 

Her Husband’s Affairs is a comedy from Columbia Pictures released on November 12, 1947. It was directed by S. Sylvan Simon, produced by Raphael Hakim, and written by Ben Hecht and Charles Lederer.  It starred Lucille Ball and Franchot Tone. 

The film featured future “Lucy” cast members Frank Wilcox (Mr. Spaulding), Mabel Paige (Mrs. Hansen), Edward Everett Horton (Mr. Ritter), Pierre Watkin (Mr. Dorrance), and Harry Cheshire (Sam Johnson).  Except for the role played by Horton (Mr. Cruikshank), the characters these actors played in the film do not appear in the radio version. 

Synopsis ~ Harebrained schemes keep interrupting the honeymoon plans of newlyweds Bill and Margaret Weldon. The schemes are his: Bill constantly backs an eccentric inventor who comes up with a magical hair-growing formula and one that turns flowers into stone. Circumstances conspire to make it appear that Bill has murdered the inventor, but in the courtroom he spends more time promoting his wild ideas than he does defending his life. Margaret’s testimony saves her husband, after which he continues to demand that she quit meddling in his affairs.

CAST

Lucille Ball (Margaret Weldon) was then heard weekly on CBS’s “My Favorite Husband” as Liz Cooper. She could also be heard on Bob Hope’s radio program. On screen, she was about to premiere Sorrowful Jones with Bob Hope.  She will return for “Miss Grant Takes Richmond” (May 19, 1950) in the role she played on film, “A Foreign Affair” (March 1, 1951) in the role originated by Jean Arthur, and “Bachelor Mother” (March 8, 1951), taking the role originated by her friend Ginger Rogers. Her Husband’s Affairs was Ball’s 69th motion picture.

Ball recreates the role she played in the 1947 film. 

MARGARET: “You could put my brains in a thimble and have enough room to cook an egg in it.”

Elliott Lewis (William Weldon) famously played Frankie Remley, Phil Harris’ sidekick in the long-running radio show “The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show.”

As the 1950s went on, he moved away from acting to concentrate on the writing, producing and directing end of the business. After the “Golden Age of Radio” ended, Lewis moved to TV as a producer of such shows as Lucille Ball’s “The Lucy Show” (1962) and Desi Arnaz’s “The Mothers-In-Law” (1967). In 1950, he married “Lucy” co-star Mary Jane Croft. 

Lewis plays the role originated on screen by Franchot Tone. 

WILLIAM: “You can wrap this marriage up and send it to the cleaners!”

Ken Christy (Doctor) will play Ken, the Private Detective, in “Oil Wells” (ILL S3;E18) as well as the dock agent who directs Lucy to the helicopter that lowers her onto the deck of the S.S. Constitution in “Bon Voyage” (ILL S5;E13). 

On screen, the role was played by Paul Stanton.  Although not heard here, the Doctor’s surname is Frazee. 

Hans Conried (Professor Glinka) first co-starred with Lucille Ball in The Big Street (1942). He then appeared on “I Love Lucy” as used furniture man Dan Jenkins in “Redecorating” (ILL S2;E8) and later that same season as Percy Livermore in “Lucy Hires an English Tutor” (ILL S2;E13) – both in 1952. The following year he began an association with Disney by voicing Captain Hook in Peter Pan. On “The Lucy Show” he played Professor Gitterman in “Lucy’s Barbershop Quartet” (TLS S1;E19) and in “Lucy Plays Cleopatra” (TLS S2;E1). He was probably best known as Uncle Tonoose on “Make Room for Daddy” starring Danny Thomas, which was filmed on the Desilu lot. He joined Thomas on a season 6 episode of “Here’s Lucy” in 1973. He died in 1982 at age 64.

On screen, the role had been played by Mikhail Rasumny.

Jay Novello was frequently heard on “My Favorite Husband” as Mr. Negly, the mailman. On TV, he appeared as superstitious Mr. Merriweather in “The Seance” (ILL S1;E7), nervous Mr. Beecher in“The Sublease” (ILL S3;E31) and would return as Mario in “The Visitor from Italy” (ILL S6;E5). He also appeared on two episodes of “The Lucy Show,” but dapper Novello is probably best remembered for playing Mayor Lugatto on “McHale’s Navy” in 1965.

Wilms Herbert was one of the busiest actors in the history of radio. In addition to acting, he also had a skill for bird sounds. He was regularly heard on on “Richard Diamond, Private Detective” doubling as the voice of a bumbling sergeant, and a butler. 

Herb Lytton will play one of the passengers on the SS Constitution in “Second Honeymoon” (ILL S5;E14). He also appeared on Desilu’s “The Sheriff of Cochise” (1956), “Whirlybirds” (1959), an episode of “The Westinghouse-Desilu Playhouse” (1959) hosted by Desi Arnaz, and Desilu’s “The Untouchables” (1962).  

Dan Riss was mainly known for appearing in westerns including Desilu’s “The Sheriff of Cochise” and an episode of Desilu’s “Cavalcade of America” both in 1957. 

S. Sylvan Simon (Original Film Director) had directed Ball in Abbott and Costello in Hollywood (1945) and produced her films Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949) and The Fuller Brush Girl (1950). 

Frank Barton (announcer)

EPISODES

Director S. Sylvan Simon is introduced. He talks about directing comedy, and specifically Her Husband’s Affairs. The story begins…

The alarm clock goes off and Margaret wakes up Bill so that he can go off to work at Cruikshank Advertising Agency. Bill thinks old man Cruikshank hates him because she left the agency to marry Bill.  They’ve been married a year and have not been able to take a honeymoon. Bill has old professor Glinka in the garage trying to make rubber out of banana peels.  He pitches her several slogans for the hat account that Cruikshank has promised fifty thousand dollar bonus! 

At the agency, Mr. Cruikshank likes the slogan – if Margaret wrote it!  He gives her the bonus check. Bill is angry that Liz got all the credit.  

BILL: “Why can’t you let your husband handle his own affairs?”

Professor Glinka (Hans Conried) rushes up to the Weldon’s with a new invention: embalming fluid!  His special fluid will turn people into glass – in any position.  He wants more money to further his research.  But Margaret wants to use the bonus for a honeymoon to Bermuda.  Glinka gives Bill a jar of something that he has worked on to remove hair – no more shaving!  Bill decides to use the money on selling it.  

At the Agency, the Weldons brainstorm with Cruikshank on how to roll out their new product called Off Again!  They will hold a big party with celebrities and the Governor in attendance!  Everyone will get a jar of Off Again!

After the big roll out banquet, the Weldons are home in bed basking in their success. He promises he wont’ let success change him.  Margaret starts to cry.  She is sad that their lives will become so complex that they will lose one another in the many bedrooms they will have. 

Next morning, the phone rings.  It is Cruikshank telling him her that all last night’s guests have beards a foot long – and still growing!  The Governor is going to put Bill in jail!

End of Act One

As Act Two begins, the angry Governor is with his Doctor (Ken Christy) in Cruikshank’s office. Margaret breezes in and announces a new name for Off Again.  On Again!  It isn’t a hair remover, it is a hair restorer.  Balding Mr. Cruikshank and the doctor give it a try.  They have suddenly realized what a genius Bill is after all. 

Bill secretly meets with Professor Glinka in the garage, after hiding out in the sewer!  Glinka says that by product of his invention may have unfortunate side-effects, although his main concern is the embalming fluid.  

Meanwhile at the Weldon home, Mr. Cruikshank shows Margaret that his head has grown hair – like a blossoming flower. Bill is nowhere to be found. 

CRUIKSHANK: “He hasn’t gone off again with Off Again, has he?”

Bill tries to sneak into the house and is confronted by Cruikshank, who wants to praise him for his invention. Bill thinks On Again is a stupid idea, and is angry at Margaret for re-inventing his invention.  

The Doctor calls from the Governor’s bedside.  On Again has turned his scalp into glass! The Governor tells Margaret that Bill is going to jail.

Behind bars, Margaret tries to appeal to Bill, but he is still angry.  She says that Glinka has fixed the Governor’s head. She promises never to meddle in his affairs again.  Professor Glinka visits to report a discovery.  His embalming fluid has turned a flower to steel – and it still has its perfume.  Bill is excited by the prospect  of developing it!  He convinces Margaret to help him develop “Forever Flower”!  The honeymoon can wait.  There’ll always be a Bermuda. 

End of Act Two

The announcer introduces the stars and director Sylvan Simon. Lucille Ball and Elliott Lewis talk about to him about the differences between a directors and producer; hitting your head against a wall. They bid the audience goodnight.  

CREDITS

“Her Husband’s Affairs” was presented courtesy of Columbia Pictures, who’s latest production is Lust For Gold starring Paul Ford and Ida Lupino.

S. Sylvan Simon’s current production is Columbia’s Miss Grant Takes Richmond starring Lucille Ball, who will also be seen in the upcoming Paramount film Sorrowful Jones.

Next week on Screen Directors’ Playhouse will be Trade Winds directed by Tay Garnet starring Frederic March.