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GORDON JONES
April 5, 1911
Gordon Wynnivo Jones was born on April 5, 1911 in Alden, Iowa. He was best known for playing Lou Costello’s TV nemesis Mike the Cop and appearing as The Green Hornet in the first of two movie serials based on the radio program.
He made his screen debut as an uncredited extra in 1931′s Not Exactly Gentlemen.
By 1937, he made a film with Lucille Ball for RKO, There Goes My Girl. He was a supporting character, while Lucille’s part was so inconsequential that it got cut out entirely!
By 1949, Ball was a headliner, and Jones (though still credited) had dropped off the poster for Easy Living.
He made his television debut on a June 1951 episode of “Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok”.
In January 1959, he appeared on an episode of Desilu’s “The Ann Sothern Show.” In October 1959, Lucille Ball will play Lucy Ricardo on the series.
In February 1963, he did an episode of Desilu’s “The Real McCoys” which also featured Gloria Blondell and Kathleen Freeman.
He finally was reunited with Lucille Ball in “Lucy Goes Duck Hunting” (TLS S2;E6) on airing November 4, 1963. He played Charlie Van Tassel, named after writer Madelyn Pugh Martin’s childhood friends Marge and her husband Charlie. Their names also turned up in scripts for Lucy’s radio show “My Favorite Husband.”
Unfortunately, this was a posthumous appearance for Jones, who died on June 20, 1963 at age 52. A week later, his final film was released: McClintock starring John Wayne.
From 1935 to 1940 he was married to Lucile Van Winkle.
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EASTER BUNNIES
Easter Sunday
Lucille Ball kept large white Belgian Hares ~ 1938
In this newspaper photo, the rabbits have multiplied! The Rutland (VT) Herald ~ April 2, 1938
“The Abbott and Costello Show” on NBC Radio. Abbott and Costello meet Bugs Bunny, featuring Lucille Ball ~ November 18, 1943
Indoor TV antenna were called rabbit ears for obvious reasons! They were rarely seen on television shows themselves (unless they were part of the plot) because they interfered with the camera sightlines.
Lucille Ball and Keith Thibodeaux advertise Western Union’s Bunnygrams ~ Easter 1957
“Ricky’s Old Girlfriend” (ILL S3;E12) ~ December 21, 1953. The bunny themed costume helped viewers understand that the three differently-aged actors were all playing Little Ricky.
“Little Ricky’s School Pageant” (ILL S6;E10) ~ December 17, 1956. The bunnies were all part of Joanne Perez’s dancing school.
“Mr. & Mrs.” aka “The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour” ~ April 19, 1964
“Lucy Discovers Wayne Newton” (TLS S4;E14) ~ December 27, 1965
“Lucy Gets Mooney Fired” (TLS S6;E9) ~ November 6, 1967
The bunny ears are now in The Lucy-Desi Museum in Jamestown, New York.
“Lucy, the Helpful Mother” (HL S2;E15) ~ December 29, 1969
“Kim Moves Out” (HL S4;E20) ~ January 24, 1972
“Lucy Sublets the Office” (HL S4;E21) ~ January 31, 1972
Lola Fisher as Mrs. Archer Fleetwood III aka ‘Bunny’ in “Lucy and the Franchise Fiasco” (HL S5;E20) ~ February 15, 1973
(The old lady rips the ears off the rabbit.)
“Lucy, Legal Eagle” (LWL S1;E7) ~ November 8, 1986
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BEA BENADERET
April 4, 1906
Beatrice Benaderet was born on April 4, 1906, in New York City. Her first acting performance came at 11 when she portrayed a bearded old man in a school play. Benaderet made her professional theatre debut at 16 in a production of The Prince of Pilsen, and after graduating from St. Rose Academy, she attended the Reginald Travers School of Acting and joined his stock company The Players’ Guild, appearing in stage productions of Polly, Lysistrata, and Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
Benaderet relocated to Hollywood in 1936 and made her network radio debut with Orson Welles for his Mercury Theatre repertory company. The following year she received her first big break in the industry on “The Jack Benny Program”, where she played Gertrude Gearshift, a wisecracking telephone operator.
Other recurring characters Benaderet portrayed on radio were Blanche Morton on “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show”; school principal Eve Goodwin on “The Great Gildersleeve”; Millicent Carstairs on “Fibber McGee & Molly”; maid Gloria on “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet”; and Iris Atterbury on the Lucille Ball vehicle “My Favorite Husband”, opposite Gale Gordon.
When Lucille Ball was casting “I Love Lucy”, she naturally wanted Bea to once again play her partner-in-crime, the role of Ethel Mertz. Unfortunately, when “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show” moved to television, she went with it, making her unavailable to play Ethel.
She made her television debut an October 1949 episode of “Oboler Comedy Theatre” alongside Sandra Gould. “Burns and Allen” started airing a year later, and lasted for eight seasons, over roughly the same period of time as “I Love Lucy.” The show earned her Emmy nominations in 1954 and 1955. In 1954 she lost to Vivian Vance (Ethel Mertz). In 1955 Bea and Viv both lost to Audrey Meadows of “The Honeymooners”.
During the first season of “I Love Lucy” she cast Bea as elderly Miss Lewis, a neighbor Lucy Ricardo fixes up with an amorous butcher, in “Lucy Plays Cupid” (ILL S1;E15) filmed on December 13, 1951 and aired on January 21, 1952.
Benaderet was costumed and made up to be an old spinster. She was only
46 at the time, just five years older than Lucille Ball.
In 1960 she voiced Betty Rubble on “The Flintstones” where she worked alongside many voice actors who had also worked with Lucille Ball like Alan Reed (Fred), Frank Nelson, Mel Blanc, and many others.
and two years later created the role of Pearl on “The Beverly Hillbillies.” The show proved so popular that CBS ordered a spin-off focused on Pearl herself.
Those plans were later revised and the show became "Petticoat Junction” with Benaderet starring as Shady Rest Hotel proprietress Kate Bradley. She starred in the series until her death.
From 1938 to 1950 she was married to Jim Bannon. They had two children. In 1958 she married Gene Twombly and they were together until her death on October 13, 1968 at at 62 from lung cancer.
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TV GUIDE ~ 45th ANNIVERSARY
April 4, 1998
In the April 4, 1998 issue (vol. 46, no. 14, issue #2349), TV Guide celebrated their 45th Anniversary with a border of covers. At the top center is Lucille Ball’s cover from January 12, 1957. At the bottom right is Lucille Ball and Desi Jr. on the cover of the very first national edition on April 3, 1953. The 1957 cover was also digitally enhanced for the cover of a 60th anniversary issue on April 8, 2013.
Lucille Ball also graced the Table of Contents page of this issue.
One more Lucille Ball cover gets added to the 45 Greatest Covers. It is the cover from September 29, 1962. The inside article was titled “Lucy Clowns Again”.
Naturally, Lucille Ball is also chosen as one of the 45 People Who Made A Difference. Ironically, she shares a page with Bill Cosby and Rosanne Barr, both of whom had careers that ended ignominiously.
Chanel Surfing in the ‘50s included two photos from “I Love Lucy” – but no sign of Fred!
TV Guide Collector Richard Pastor has the 1957 cover displayed, but also October 9, 1954, and July 12, 1958 issues with Lucy on the cover.
CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT “I LOVE LUCY” and TV GUIDE!
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GENE REYNOLDS
April 4, 1923
Eugene Reynolds Blumenthal was born on April 4, 1923 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was raised in Detroit, before the family relocated to Los Angeles in 1934. He is best known for directing, producing and/or writing two hugely successful TV shows: “Lou Grant” (1977) and “M*A*S*H” (1972) which, along with his work on “Room 222″, earned him six Emmy Awards.
Reynolds served in the United States Navy during World War II. Following the war, Reynolds received a degree in history at the University of California, Los Angeles, and picked up his acting career.
He made his screen debut in the 1934 Our Gang short Washee Ironee. That same year he was an uncredited extra in March of the Wooden Soldiers with Laurel and Hardy. He made his television debut in May 1949 in an episode of “Your Show Time” on NBC.
Just before working with Lucille Ball, he worked for Lucille Ball doing a January 1957 episode of Desilu’s “Whirlybirds”
On “I Love Lucy” he played the role of Mr. Taylor, the man who rents the Ricardo apartment when they move to Connecticut in “Lucy Hates To Leave” (S6;E16) filmed on December 13, 1956 and aired on February 4, 1957. His wife was played by Mary Ellen Kay.
Around the same time, Reynolds started to transition to off camera work, like writing and directing. He directed 75 episodes of “My Three Sons” (filmed at Desilu Studios), from 1962 to 1964. He also directed three episodes of “The Andy Griffith Show” filmed on the Desilu backlot.
Gene Reynolds died on February 3, 2020 at age 96. He was married to Bonnie Jones from 1967 to 1976. In 1979 he married Ann Sweeney. They had one child together.
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WAYNE NEWTON
April 3, 1942
Carson Wayne Newton was born in Norfolk, Virginia. While he was a child, his family moved to near Newark, Ohio. He began singing in local clubs, theaters, and fairs with his older brother, Jerry. Because of Newton’s severe asthma, his family moved to Phoenix in 1952, where he left High School before finishing his junior year. As the Rascals in Rhythm, the Newton Brothers appeared with the Grand Ole Opry roadshows and performed in front of president Dwight D. Eisenhower.
He is one of the best-known entertainers in Las Vegas, known by the nicknames the ‘Midnight Idol,’ ‘Mr. Las Vegas’ and ‘Mr. Entertainment.’ His well-known songs include 1972’s “Daddy, Don’t You Walk So Fast” (#4 on the Billboard chart), “Years” (1980), and his signature song “Danke Schoen” (1963).
His first television appearance was in 1963′s “Celebrity Party” a Dick Clark production featuring many of the top singers and musicians of the time.
Newton first appeared with Lucille Ball in “Lucy Discovers Wayne Newton” (TLS S4;E14) aired on December 27, 1965. When Lucy Carmichael hears Newton singing on his farm, she decides to introduce him to a record producer.
Although already a rising pop singer, Newton is literally catapulted into stardom by this appearance. He performs:
- “Side By Side”
- “You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You”
- “Bessie the Heifer” (an ode to his cow)
“I played a country boy singing to animals on ‘The Lucy Show,’ and CBS wanted her company Desilu to produce a series around that character. Just before the final papers were signed, I get a call from Lucy saying, ‘Wayne, I haven’t been able to sleep. Can my husband and I fly to Vegas tonight and meet you?’ Lucy says, ‘We’re going to say a name and I want your reaction: Jim Nabors. Unless you want to be this country boy the rest of your life, turn the series down because it will ruin your life.’ I thought that was the greatest example of someone, being the great star she was, caring that much about somebody else.” ~ Wayne Newton
Lucille Ball took a parental-like interest in Newton’s career. She invited him back for “Lucy Sells Craig to Wayne Newton” (HL S1;E9) on November 25, 1968.
Lucy Carter gets her son Craig a gig filling in for Wayne Newton’s drummer. Naturally, Lucy and Kim also manage to get into his act. Newton sings:
- “Danke Schoen”
- “You’re Nobody till Somebody Loves You”
- “Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody”
- “Swanee” / “Waiting for the Robert E. Lee”
Wayne Newton is one of ten celebrities to also have appeared on “The Lucy Show.”
His final appearance with Lucille Ball on television was again on “Here’s Lucy,” in “Lucy and Wayne Newton” (HL S2;E22), first aired on February 16, 1970.
This episode was shot on location at Newton’s ranch outside of Las Vegas. Like the previous episode, it also features his brother Jerry, who’s catch-phrase is “Oh gosh yes.”
Newton sings:
- “Tumbling Tumbleweeds”
- “I’ve Got the World on A String”
In 1968, Newton married Elaine Okamura. They have one child; they divorced in 1985. In 1994, Newton married Kathleen McCrone. The couple have one daughter.
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THE MARTIN & LEWIS SHOW
April 3, 1949
“The Martin and Lewis Show” was a radio comedy-variety program in the United States. It was broadcast on NBC beginning April 3, 1949, and ending July 14, 1953. It starred the comedy team of Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin. Martin was the singer of the pair, and Lewis was the comedian.
it was named Favorite Radio Comedy Show in Radio-TV Mirror magazine’s 1952 poll.
The series was produced by Bob Adams, and directed by Robert L. Redd and Dick Mack. Written by Ed Simmons and Norman Lear, although they were not hired until late 1950.
This is the pilot episode, and was not numbered. It was originally 37 minutes, but was later edited to 30 minutes for broadcast.
Regulars on the program included Ben Alexander, Sheldon Leonard, Florence MacMichael, The Skylarks, and Mary Hatcher. Announcers were Jimmy Wallington and Johnny Jacobs. Dick Stabile was both the bandleader and a foil for Martin and Lewis.
Dean Martin was born Dino Paul Crocetti in Steubenville, Ohio, in 1917. He made his screen debut in a short playing a singer in Art Mooney’s band, but his first big screen role was 1949’s My Friend Irma with Jerry Lewis. This began a partnership that would be one of the most successful screen pairings in cinema history. Later, he also worked frequently members of “the Rat Pack”: Frank Sinatra, Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford, and Sammy Davis Jr. His persona was that of a playboy, usually seen with a glass of booze and a cigarette. Martin appeared on “The Lucy Show” in what Ball later said was her favorite episode of the series. Martin and Lucille Ball appeared on many TV variety and award shows together and made the TV movie “Lucy Gets Lucky” in 1975. He died on Christmas Day in 1995 at age 78.
Jerry Lewis
was a comedian, actor, and singer born in Newark, New Jersey in 1926. He was known for his slapstick humor and was originally paired up with Dean Martin, forming the famed comedy team of Martin and Lewis. His long-standing commitment to hosting the annual Muscular Dystrophy telethon in 2010, after 44 years, earning him a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977. He was also presented the French Legion of Honor in 1984. He appeared with Lucille Ball Lewis on “Danny Thomas’s Wonderful World of Vaudeville” in 1965. He died in 2014.
Frank Nelson (Agent) was born on May 6, 1911 (three months before Lucille Ball) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He started working as a radio announcer at the age of 15. He later appeared on such popular radio shows as “The Great Gildersleeve,” “Burns and Allen,” and “Fibber McGee & Molly”. He performed in 11 episodes of “My Favorite Husband.” On “I Love Lucy” he holds the distinction of being the only actor to play two recurring roles: Freddie Fillmore and Ralph Ramsey, as well as six one-off characters, including the frazzled train conductor in “The Great Train Robbery” (ILL S5;E5), a character he repeated on “The Lucy Show.” Aside from Lucille Ball, Nelson is perhaps most associated with Jack Benny and was a fifteen-year regular on his radio and television programs.
Lucille Ball (Guest Star) as then finishing her first season of her radio series “My Favorite Husband”. She was two months away from the premiere of her film Sorrowful Jones with Bob Hope.
Synopsis ~ It’s time to go over to Dean
Martin and Jerry Lewis’s hotel room before
they do their first radio show.
EPISODE
In Jerry and Dean’s hotel room, they are getting dressed to do their show when the telephone rings. They fear it is someone from NBC wanting to know where they are. The phone continues to ring.Dean reasons that they did well in nightclubs, but Jerry says those people paid to get in, while radio audiences get in for free. Jerry is afraid his act may offend someone, and he’d get sent to Siberia. Dean thinks the radio show may lead to fame in motion pictures. Jerry can’t see the positive and sees only failure. The phone rings again.Jerry answers the phone and it is his agent (Frank Nelson), wondering where the h-e-c-k they are. Dean says they can’t leave until he rehearses his romantic number.
Dean (and orchestra) launches into “You Won’t Be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart)” by Freddy James and Larry Stock in 1946.
There’s a knock on the door. It’s the maid come to clean. She notices that the room is clean – and fears she’ll be fired. She is upset that their towels say his and hers instead of his and his. Jerry tells her not to dust the dresser because he keeps his kitten in there.
MAID: “My, you’re odd people.”
LEWIS: “We ain’t odd. We’re entertainers.”
Outside the NBC Studio, two women are excited to see Martin and Lewis. Lewis stands behind them, although they don’t recognize him. They faun over Dean’s good looks and talent, much to Lewis’s dismay. Dean strolls up and the girls get giddy with excitement.
Inside the studio, the orchestra tunes up and everyone shouts hello: producer, director, singer, technicians. When Dean needs quiet to rehearse, Jerry feels left out. Dean introduces Lucille Ball, but she’s angry that he’s upset Jerry.
Lucille promises she’ll protect Jerry from Dean. Lucille starts to notice how athletic and handsome Dean is. She gradually softens. Suddenly Lucille is defending Dean to Jerry!
JERRY: “You do think I’ll be a big success, don’t ya Lucille?”
LUCILLE: “Why not? Lassie made it!”Lucille says she’s planned an opening night party for the boys, but is concerned about Jerry’s behavior.
Oops! Jerry Lewis trips over his words, and ad libs: “It’s too close to the paper, whaddya want?”
Jerry defends his behavior with unusually florid language. Lucille says there will be young ladies at the party.
JERRY: “I like ‘em about my height.”
LUCILLE: “Betty Grable will be there.”
JERRY: “I like ‘em about my age.”
LUCILLE: “Ann Blyth will be there.”
JERRY: “And I like ‘em about my intelligence.”
LUCILLE: “I’m sorry, Margaret O’Brien can’t stay out that late.”
MARTIN: “Shall we dress?”
LUCILLE: “Naturally. We don’t want the cops.”They get the cue that they have thirty second until air.
Lucille, Jerry, and Dean sing “The Money Song” lyrics written by Harold Rome for the musical That’s The Ticket.
They are back in their hotel suite about to go to sleep, when the maid knocks on the door. She tells them they have to get out of bed – she’s put on the wrong size sheets!
End of Episode
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JACK CHEFE
April 1, 1894
Jack
Chefé
was born on April 1, 1894 in Kiev, Russian Empire. His screen acting career spanned thirty five years and nearly 400 credits, most uncredited background performances,165 as waiters!
His film debut was in a 1928 silent film by Frank Capra titled That Certain Thing. He was briefly glimpsed as a restaurant patron.
In 1936, Chefe and Lucille Ball were both in the film Winterset. Both were uncredited background performers.
That same year, they both appeared in That Girl From Paris. This time, Ball was credited, but Chefe was still a background artist, playing a wedding guest.
In The Big Street (1942), Ball gave one of her favorite performances. Chefe was one of the mugs at Mindy’s.
In Lured (1947), Chefe played Pierre, the headwaiter.
He made his television debut in an October 1953 episode of “The Adventures of Superman”, naturally as an uncredited waiter. The episode also featured “Lucy” performers George Reeves, Veola Vonn (aka Mrs. Frank Nelson), Lawrence Dobkin, Bess Flowers, Monty O’Grady, and Harold Miller.
Chefe’s first appearance on “I Love Lucy” was as a bellhop in “Lucy and John Wayne” (ILL S5;E2). His appearance, along with five other uncredited actors, including Desi’s stand-in Bennett Green (extreme right). He has no lines. The episode was filmed on September 15, 1955, and aired on October 10, 1955.
His second (and final) appearance was as a Paris waiter in “Lucy Meets Charles Boyer” (ILL S5;E19), filmed January 19, 1956, and aired on March 5, 1956.
For a look at all the waiters that have waited on Lucy, click here!
His final appearance with Ball was in Forever Darling (1956).
In 1959 he was a courtroom spectator in the pilot for Desilu’s “The Untouchables.”
In October 1960, Chefe played a Chef named Marcel on Desilu’s “The Ann Sothern Show.” Finally, in his television role, he received screen credit! The episode was directed by Jame V. Kern, who had also directed him in both episodes of “I Love Lucy.” Lucille Ball played Lucy Ricardo on the series in 1959.
He made his final screen appearance in the 1963 film The Prize, starring Paul Newman. Chefe played an uncredited wedding guest.
He died on December 1, 1975 at age 81.
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LOUIS D. MERRILL
April 1, 1912
Louis Dilman Merrill was born on April 1, 1912 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He performed in “Lux Radio Theater” as a utility supporting player in nearly every broadcast from 1937 to 1939 .
He made his screen debut with an uncredited role in 1935′s The Black Room starring Boris Karloff.
He made his television debut in a 1949 episode of “Oboler Comedy Theatre” titled “Love, Love, Love.” The episode’s cast featured other future “Lucy” cast members, Jerry Hausner, Gloria Blondell, Florence Bates, Hans Conried, Benny Rubin, and Mary Shipp.
He made his first and only appearance opposite Lucille Bal in “Ricky Has Labor Pains” (ILL S2;E14) filmed on October 31, 1952, and first aired January 5, 1953. Merrill played Dr. Rabwin, who makes a house call to diagnose Ricky. His character was named after the real life physician of Lucy and Desi.
In 1961 he returned to Desilu Studios to film an episode of “Angel” titled “Promise To A Friend”. It also starred “Lucy” cast members Doris Singleton and Richard Reeves.
His final screen credit was an episode of “King of Diamonds” starring Broderick Crawford, aired on November 7, 1961.
Merrill died on April 7, 1963, aged 51. He
was married to actress Celeste Rush. They had two adopted daughters.
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YOUNG MISS: LUCY & HER KIDS
April 1, 1969
Lucille Ball and her children Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. appeared on the cover of the April issue of Young Miss (formerly Calling All Girls) magazine.
The magazine was first published in 1934, and was the oldest girls’ magazine in the United States. It got its start as two magazines in the 1930s – Compact, which was aimed at older teens, and Calling All Girls, which was intended for younger girls.
By the late 1960s, the publications merged into Young Miss, a small digest-sized mag. The 1980s saw a change in size to a regular magazine on glossy print. Several years later, still another title change to Young & Modern. The final title change came in 2000 to Your Magazine, though the abbreviation YM was the title by which it was commonly referred. YM ceased publication in 2004.
The cover photograph is from “Here’s Lucy” publicity photographs. In April 1969, the series had just finished airing its first season and plans were well underway for season two.
A photo from the same shoot was used for the box cover of the “Here’s Lucy” Season Two DVDs.
Another photo from the same day was used for “Here’s Lucy” the complete series DVD box cover. This time, Gale Gordon was added to the group.
[Unfortunately, the inside article “Lucy & Her Kids” by Rubie Saunders, was not available to reprint.]
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