LIZ IN THE HOSPITAL

May 27, 1949

“Liz in the Hospital” (aka “Liz Goes To The Hospital”) is episode #45 of the radio series MY FAVORITE HUSBAND broadcast on May 27, 1949 on the CBS radio network.

Synopsis ~ The doctor pays a house call to see what’s wrong with George, and discovers that Liz needs to have her tonsils removed!

“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 Benaderet 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) does not appear in this episode.

Ruth Perrott (Katie, the Maid) was also later seen on “I Love Lucy.” She first played Mrs. Pomerantz (above right), a member of the surprise investigating committee for the Society Matrons League in “Pioneer Women” (ILL S1;E25), as one of the member of the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League in “Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress” (ILL S3;E3), and also played a nurse when “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” (ILL S2;E16). She died in 1996 at the age of 96.

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

Florence Halop (The Brooklyn Blabbermouth on the Party Line / Maternity Nurse) was cast to replace Bea Benadaret in a radio show moving to CBS TV called “Meet Millie” when she was hired to play on of the two women on Lucy Ricardo’s party line in “Redecorating” (ILL S2;E8) also featuring Hans Conried. She wouldn’t work for Lucy again until 1974, when she played a Little Old Lady on a Western-themed episode of “Here’s Lucy.” In 1985, she replaced Selma Diamond (who had died of lung cancer) as the bailiff on “Night Court.” Coincidentally, Halop, also a heavy smoker, died less than a year later of the same disease. 

Jerry Hausner (Policeman / Baby) was a radio and television actor, best known as Ricky Ricardo’s agent in “I Love Lucy” and as the voice of Waldo in “Mr. Magoo” and several characters such as Hemlock Holmes, The Mole, Broodles and Itchy in “The Dick Tracy Show.”  On Broadway, Hausner had the role of Sammy Schmaltz in Queer People (1934). On radio, he was a regular on such shows as “Blondie”, “The Jim Backus Show”, “The Judy Canova Show”, “Too Many Cooks”, and “Young Love”. Hausner died of heart failure on April 1, 1993. He was 83 years old.

William Johnstone (Dr. Stevenson) replaced Orson Wells in “The Shadow” series and performed on a number of radio soaps. His exposure on “The Shadow” led him to become one of the busiest actors in the radio business. He was practically a regular on “The Cavalcade of America” and “The Lux Radio Theatre”, and later continued his association with Orson Welles with appearances on his radio shows. 

The surname Stevenson may be a tribute to Lucille Ball’s favorite designer, Edward Stevenson. 

Bea Benadaret (Admitting Nurse / Mrs. Benson) 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.

This turn as elderly Mrs. Benson (her second old lady in as many weeks) may have given Lucille Ball the idea to cast her as elderly Miss Lewis on “I Love Lucy”. Benson was also the surname given to the neighbor that switches apartments with the Ricardos on “I Love Lucy.” 

EPISODE

ANNOUNCER: “As we look in on the Coopers, it’s early morning and the more delicate member of the family is still in bed tucked under the covers, and the strong one has just  gotten up, closed the window, turned up the heat, and is now standing at the foot of the bed.”

That strong one is Liz.  We tells George that it is time to get up and go to work. George says he feels sick.  A sharp pain in his back turns out to be one of the curlers Liz lost in the night. 

LIZ: “Tell me, George, which vertebrae has the Toni?”

Liz is jokingly referring to a series of print ads for Toni Home Permanent that depicted two twins with identical hairstyles and asked which one had the Toni, and which one had the more expensive salon perm. The promotion was so popular that the slogan “Which Twin Has The Toni?” became a part of common parlance. In addition, the Toni name itself became the name for a generic home permanent. 

George says that his throat is sore and Liz wonders if he needs to have breakfast in bed.  He thinks he may be able to eat some dry toast and warm milk.  Liz tells Katie the Maid that George has a little cold.  

LIZ: “You know how George is. One sniffle he’s got the flu, two sniffles he’s got pneumonia, and  three sniffles he’s going to leave his body to science.” 

Katie says her first husband Clarence was the same way.  George calls down from the bedroom that he could swallow a little coffee… and force down a little bacon… four slices… and buttered toast.  

LIZ (shouting upstairs): “How do you want your eggs? Sunny-side up or scrambled?” 

This same back and forth was later used in “Ricky Loses His Voice” (ILL S2;E9), an episode that finds Ricky sick in bed when there’s a brand new show to produce. This episode has the distinction of being the highest rated episode of the half-hour series.  

After breakfast, Liz checks on George, who gives a hacking cough after Liz suggests he go to work. 

LIZ: “Alright, Camille. I believe you.”

Camille is a 1936 MGM film based on the 1848 novel and 1852 play La Dame aux Camélias by Alexandre Dumas, fils, is about a woman (Greta Garbo in the film) dying from consumption, a wasting disease that caused the coughing up of blood. The film starred Greta Garbo, Robert Taylor, and Lionel Barrymore. In “The Dancing Star” (ILL S4;E27) during the song “How About You?” Van Johnson sings about “Greta Garbo’s looks” to which Lucy ad libs “Did you see ‘Camille’?”  In “Lucy Gets Into Pictures” (ILL S4;E19), Ricky tells the director “She thinks she’s playing Camille. She’s been practicing dying all day long!”  

Liz says she’s going to call Dr. Stevenson, but George says there’s no need to waste money on a doctor.  

LIZ: “What would Uncle Whoa Bill say?”

The "Uncle Whoa-Bill Radio Club” was an afternoon children’s program that aired on KFAC radio station in Los Angeles, California in the 1940s. It was sponsored by the Bullock’s department stores.  This reference would have been lost on the national listeners, but gets a reaction from the studio audience.

Liz decides to call the Doctor, but the phone is being used by the party line. Naturally, it is the same old Brooklyn Blabber Mouth on the line, who calls Liz ‘Mrs. Big Ears’.  In the past, Liz has tried to get the woman to hang up by telling her it was an emergency with her husband.  But she has tried that before. 

A party line was a local loop telephone circuit that is shared by multiple subscribers. Party lines provided no privacy and were frequently used as a source of entertainment and gossip. Objections about one party monopolizing a line were common and eavesdropping remained an ongoing concern. By the end of the 20th century, party lines had been phased out in the United States. Although we are never quite sure where Sheridan Falls is located, it would be unusual for a party line to exist outside its local area. Lucy Ricardo contends (and brilliantly dispenses) with a party line in “Redecorating” (ILL S2;E8, above, also starring Florence Halop, left).

Liz gives up and goes next door to use the phone.  

Later, Dr. Stevenson (William Johnstone) arrives, but George is resistant to being examined so Liz demonstrates how easy it is.  When she says “ahh” the doctor sees that Liz’s tonsils are inflamed.  She has to have them out first thing in the morning!  

Next morning, Liz is is stalling because she hasn’t a thing to wear. She insists that George call Dr. Stevenson to confirm the hospital room. Naturally, the Blabbermouth is on the line. She wants to know how he’s feeling considering all his illness and injury Liz claims he’s had.  Much to Liz’s dismay, she graciously hangs up so George can make the call. 

In the car, George speeds toward the hospital. Naturally, a cop (Jerry Hausner) pulls them over. Liz thinks that if she gets arrested she can’t go to the hospital so she tells the officer that they are driving a stolen car.  When George tries to interrupt, she calls him Pear-Shape.  

Liz is not referring to George’s waistline, but to the character in the Dick Tracy comic strip named Pear-Shape Tone, who was part of the storyline from April to July 1949. He was a racketeer who would steal jewelry from his wealthier clients, then fence it to make a profit. He must have been quite popular at the time, because this is the third consecutive episodes of “My Favorite Husband” where he is mentioned! 

Liz presses her luck by calling the cop a ‘dumb flat-foot’.  The cop surprisingly agrees with her!  He’s been a rookie for 30 years.  

LIZ: “Just my luck!  Of all the bulls on the force, I had to get Ferdinand.”

The Story of Ferdinand (1936) is a children’s book that tells the story of Ferdinand, a bull who would rather smell flowers than fight in bullfights. Coincidentally, a plushie of Ferdinand plays a significant role in the 1940 Lucille Ball film Dance, Girl, Dance. The toy is passed between various characters, having been originally purchased as a memento of a visit to a nightclub called Ferdinand’s. The nightclub has a large statue of Ferdinand at the rear of the bandstand. 

It is likely that Lucy used Ferdinand as the model for her costume in the “I Love Lucy” episode “Bullfight Dance” (ILL S4;E23) aired on March 28, 1955. 

They finally arrive at the hospital, where a nurse (Bea Benadaret) admits Liz, who claims she is ‘just browsing’ as if she’s at the dress department of Miller’s Department Store.  

GEORGE (to Nurse): “Dr. Stevenson made the  arrangements. Cooper.”
NURSE: “Oh, yes. Tonsillectomy?”
LIZ: “No. Elizabeth.” 

Liz has settled into her hospital room. She has a nice roommate, elderly Mrs. Benson (Bea Benadaret, doing the old lady voice she used as Granny in the Tweety Bird cartoons.).  

MRS. BENSON: “Don’t worry, I’ll keep her spirits up, until she goes.”
LIZ: “Until I go???”
MRS. BENSON: “To the operating room. And I’ll be waiting for her if she comes back.”
LIZ: “Tell me, Mrs. O’Dell, how’s Digger these days?”

Digger O’Dell was a character from the radio (later feature film and TV series), “The Life of Riley”.  Digby ‘Digger’ O’Dell (John Brown), was known as "the friendly undertaker."  Coincidentally, the very first episode of the first television version was titled “Tonsils” and had Riley (Jackie Gleason) also accidentally diagnosed with tonsillitis. After playing Digger O’Dell, Brown also played Harry Morton on “Burns and Allen”, playing opposite Bea Benadaret as Blanche.  Brown was featured on “I Love Lucy” as Mr. Murdoch, the talent agent, in “The Mustache” (ILL S1;E23) which aired on March 17,1952.

After George over-cranks Liz’s hospital bed, he goes to look for the doctor. Mrs. Benson says she is there for her yearly six-month check up.  A nurse pops in to the room and pumps a spray atomizer a few times and leaves. Mrs. Benson says that’s a special scent to keep the place smelling like a hospital. 

Mrs. Benson urges Liz to get a second opinion. Liz would rather try to make a run for it – when she encounters another nurse (Florence Halop, not using her Brooklyn accent) who thinks she is a patient named Mrs. Johnson.  The nurse brings ‘Mrs. Johnson’ a visitor – her gurgling newborn baby boy (Jerry Hausner)! 

Hausner had a knack for doing baby sounds and voices, and in addition to playing Jerry the Agent, also did the off-camera gurgles of Little Ricky Ricardo on “I Love Lucy.”   

The nurse tells Liz to hold him, but Liz wants no part of it!  

NURSE: “He’s been lying in the nursery all day and wants to come to you for a change.”
LIZ: “Well, why didn’t they do that before he left the nursery?”

The nurse won’t take no for an answer and gives the baby to Liz and leaves.  The baby cries.

LIZ (to the Baby): “You think you’ve got trouble. I have to convince George that you’re a tonsil.”

George comes in and sees her holding the baby.  Before she can explain he faints.  After George comes to, Dr. Stevenson is there – to take Liz to get her tonsils out!

End of Episode

FOOTNOTES

On television, it was Little Ricky who was diagnosed with tonsillitis in “Nursery School” (ILL S5;E9) first aired on December 5, 1955.  

In a 1969 episode of “Here’s Lucy,” another one of Lucy’s relatives gets his tonsils out – her brother-in-law Harry (Gale Gordon). Coincidentally, Gordon was also a regular on “My Favorite Husband,” although he does not appear in this episode.