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APRIL FOOL’S DAY
April 1, 1949
“April Fool’s Day” is episode #37 of the radio series MY FAVORITE HUSBAND broadcast on April 1, 1949 on the CBS radio network.
Synopsis ~
As an April Fool’s joke, Liz plans to plant a lipstick-smeared handkerchief in George’s coat pocket.
“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, George’s Boss) 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 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
Gerald Mohr (Joe Ridgely) played psychiatrist Henry Molin, who masquerades as Ricky’s old friend Chuck Stewart in “The Inferiority Complex” (ILL S2;E18 ~ February 2, 1953), his only appearance on “I Love Lucy”. In return, Lucy and Desi appeared on his show “Sunday Showcase” that same year. He also made an appearance on “The Lucy Show” in “Lucy and Phil Harris” (TLS S6;E20 ~ February 5, 1968).
Jerry Hausner (Charley, a friend of George’s) was 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.
Jack Edwards (Felix, the Druggist) was a prolific radio actor and writer, making his only appearance on “My Favorite Husband”.
EPISODE
ANNOUNCER: “As we look in on the Coopers tonight, George hasn’t returned from work and Liz is in the kitchen, talking to Katie the Maid.”
Liz reminds Katie that since it is April Fool’s Day, she intends to plant a lipstick stained handkerchief in his over coat pocket. She recruits Katie to help.
George has stopped off at the drugstore to buy a prank to play on Liz: itching powder, a dribble glass, or candy with soap in it. They don’t stock pranks, but Felix the druggist suggests he play the joke he played on his girlfriend Imogene, pretend he has lost his job.
George comes home and Liz immediately senses something is wrong. He finally admits that he has lost his job. George says he was fired.
GEORGE: “They ‘re already scraping my name off the door. When I left I was down it was already down to George Coop.”
George can’t carry on the charade any longer and shouts,
Liz tries to get George to keep his coat on long enough for Katie to slip the lipstick soiled hanky into his coat pocket. She kisses George and asks for a handkerchief to wipe the lipstick from his face. When Liz sees the lipstick, George starts to make up a story to cover himself, but Liz suddenly shouts,
Katie calls Liz into the kitchen where she admits that she was unable to plant the handkerchief in George’s coat. Liz angrily confronts George, who insists he’s been framed. He has no idea where the lipstick came from.
In the middle of the night, Liz wakes George to ask who the woman might be:
LIZ: “Who was she? Was it the blonde cashier at the bank? Anita Aarons? Dora Allburg? The A-1 Cleaning Company?”
Liz is going through the phone book. She gives George the third degree, shining a flashlight in his face.
At work the next day, Joe Ridgely, George’s co-worker, wakes up George at his desk. When George explains why he got no sleep, Joe agrees to call Liz and tell her that he planted the handkerchief on George as an April Fools joke.
Mr. Atterbury calls George into his office. He has learned of George’s troubles at home. He admits that it was him who planted the handkerchief on George, and shouts,
George storms out. Mr. Atterbury feels bad about his prank, and feels he should do something to help him out.
At home, Liz gets a call from Joe to confess he planted the handkerchief. Liz feels terrible that she was jealous. The phone rings. It is Mr. Atterbury, who admits that he slipped the handkerchief into George’s pocket. Liz accuses the men of colluding to cover up for George. Liz is angry again.
LIZ: “Which friend do you want me to believe? Which friend has the phony?”
Liz is punning on the popular ad campaign of Toni Home Permanents: “Which Twin has the Toni?” The campaign was so overwhelmingly successful, that the phrase could often be found in pop culture, like “My Favorite Husband!”
George spanks Liz for her jealous behavior, which only makes Liz angrier! She threatens to leave him. He doesn’t try to stop her.
At the drugstore, Liz drowns her sorrows with three lemon cokes. She confesses to Felix that she has left George. George bursts in, but Liz insists he’s not speaking to him. They communicate through Felix. Charley, a friend of George’s (Jerry Hausner), comes in to the store and tells him that he accidentally took George’s overcoat at lunch the other day. He brags that he had a heavy date the night before and warns them not to look in the pocket! Liz apologizes for being suspicious of George. They leave together. Once the are gone, Charley and Felix talk about how wonderful the Coopers are.
CHARLEY: “I dunno. I never saw them before. He stopped me on the street outside, handed me the coat and gave me ten bucks to say that!”
End of Episode -
EDDIE QUILLAN
March 31, 1907
Eddie Quillan was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, into a family of vaudeville performers.
He made his stage debut at the age of seven alongside his parents and siblings in their act titled ‘The Rising Generation’.
Mack Sennett Studios signed Quillan to a contract in 1922.
He made his screen debut for Sennett in a 1926 silent short called A Love Sundae. He
went on to appear in such classic films as Young Mr. Lincoln (1939), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), and Brigadoon (1954).
He didn’t get into television until March 1958, when he did an episode of “The Thin Man”, a series based on the Nick and Nora Charles films.
From then on, he found regular work on television, including playing various characters on five episodes of Desilu’s “The Real McCoys” from 1958 to 1963.
In June 1962, he appeared on an episode of “My Three Sons” (filmed at Desilu Studios) featuring William Frawley.
On October 29, 1962, he finally appeared with Lucille Ball on an episode of “The Lucy Show” titled “Lucy Buys a Sheep” (TLS S1;E5). He shared a scene with veteran character actor Charles Lane (above right), who played Mr. Barnsdahl. Before he returned to the series for a second appearance, he also did an episode of Desilu’s “Glynis” in November 1963.
When he finally got back to “The Lucy Show” in October 1965, Mrs. Carmichael had moved to California, and was trying to break into show business in “Lucy the Stunt Man” (TLS S4;E5).
The following month he was back on the Desilu lot for an appearance as a bell hop on “The Andy Griffith Show,” although it was not set in Mayberry, but in Hollywood, where the Taylors were visiting to make a movie about Andy’s life. The episode also featured “Lucy” regulars Herb Vigran, Sid Melton, Ross Elliott, and Hayden Rorke.
Like many “Lucy” cast members, Quillan was featured on “Batman”, playing a Newsie in “Batman’s Anniversary” in February 1967.
He also made two appearances on “Gomer Pyle USMC” which was filmed on Desilu / Paramount. The series once did a cross-over episode with “The Lucy Show” in November 1966 featuring Jim Nabors as Gomer Pyle. Quillan’s episodes aired in 1967 and 1968, the second of which was titled “Goodbye, Dolly!” Coincidentally, in 1969 Quillan had an uncredited role in the movie musical of Hello, Dolly! starring Barbra Streisand. The musical was also the inspiration for an episode of “The Lucy Show” in 1965.
From 1968 to 1971, Quillan had a recurring role on TV’s groundbreaking series, “Julia”. He played Eddie Edson for 17 of their 86 episode run.
Both Quillan and Lucille Ball had roles in the 1967 feature film A Guide for the Married Man.
In December 1970,Quillan played a cab driver on “Here’s Lucy” episode “Lucy, The Part-Time Wife” (HL S3;E14).
“Casting directors are so young these days they haven’t a clue as to who I am or what I’ve done. How do you tell someone you’ve been in over 100 movies?“ ~ Eddie Quillan, 1972
His last appearance with Lucille Ball was also the last episode of “Here’s Lucy,” “Lucy Fights The System” (HL S6;E24) in March 1974. Quillan played Mr. Jackson, part of the ‘No Reservations’ foursome at the restaurant where much of the action is set.
He continued acting on television, making his final screen appearance on a 1987 episode of “Matlock,” which re-united him with Andy Griffith.
Quillan died on July 19, 1990, at age 83.
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TV GUIDE: 20 YEARS LATER
March 31, 1973
This issue not only marks twenty years since Lucille Ball and her son Desi Arnaz Jr. appeared on the first national edition of TV Guide, but it also marks Ball’s twenty third time appearing on the cover. She would eventually do 39 covers. The photographic portrait was done by Sherman Weisburd.
Sherman Weisburd (1938-81) was known for his album cover photos of the 1960s and ‘70s and advertising work of the early ’70s. He worked for Playboy Magazine, TV Guide, and Viva Magazine. He was Grammy nominated in 1965 for his photo of Charles Aznavour, among other honors.
This was issue #544, volume 21, no. 13, dated March 31, 1973 and it covered listings through April 6th.
A posed photograph from “The Girls Want To Go To a Nightclub” (S1;E1), the first episode aired on October 15, 1951.
A photograph from “The Freezer” (ILL S1;E29), first aired on April 28, 1952.
A photograph from “Lucy’s Italian Movie” (ILL S5;E23) first aired on April 23, 1956. Lucille Ball is pictured with grape stomping actress Teresa Tirelli.
Coincidentally , the issue also includes an article about Laurence Luckinbill, who was then married to Robin Strasser, but has been married to Lucie Arnaz since 1980.
Listing for Monday, April 2, 1973, include the re-run “Lucy and Lawrence Welk” (HL S2;E18), first aired on January 19, 1970.
During this week, local stations programmed the Lucille Ball films The Dark Corner (1946), Critic’s Choice (1963), Best Foot Forward (1943), Sorrowful Jones (1949), The Fuller Brush Girl (1950), and Five Came Back (1939).
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PEGGY REA
March 31, 1921
Margaret ‘Peggy’ Jane Rea was born in Los Angeles in 1921. Before she became an actress, Rea left UCLA to attend business school. She landed a job as a production secretary at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the 1940s.
After stage appearance as Eunice in A Streetcar Named Desire starring Uta Hagen and Anthony Quinn, she made her screen debut as one of the original members of the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League on “I Love Lucy.” She appeared in five episodes in 1953.
Before joining the League, she played a nurse when “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” (ILL S2;E16), filmed on November 14, 1952, and first aired on January 19, 1953. It was one of the most-watched episodes of television in history.
Just three episodes later, Rea was back to play Pauline Lopus (the name of one of Lucille Ball’s childhood friends), member-at-large of The Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League in “The Club Election” (ILL S2;E19), filmed on September 12, 1952, and first aired on February 16, 1953.
She was one of the bridge players in “No Children Allowed” (ILL S2;E22) filmed on March 20, 1953, and first aired on April 20, 1953.
In “Lucy is Matchmaker” (ILL S2;E27), filmed on April 25, 1953, and first aired on May 25, 1953, Rea made up a foursome consisting of Lucy, Ethel, and Carolyn Appleby.
This is the first time she is not in a crowd of other performers. For this episode, she is once again referred to as Pauline Lopus. This is her final appearance on the series.
Although “The Lucy Show” often featured groups of female day players (the Danfield Fire Brigade, for example), Rea never appeared on the series. She made one more appearance with Lucille Ball, on “Here’s Lucy.”
In “Lucy and Eva Gabor” (HL S1;E7) on November 11, 1968, Rea played Maude, a member of Lucy Carter’s Bridge Club, alongside Kay Elliott and Gail Bonney. The characters don’t play bridge, but come to fawn over Lucy’s houseguest, romance novelist Eva Von Graunitz.
Rea introduced this episode on the “Here’s Lucy” DVD collection.
Rea was a recurring character on “The Waltons” (38 episodes), “The Dukes of Hazzard” (19 episodes), and “Grace Under Fire” (51 episodes), her last series before her death on February 5, 2011. She was 89 years old.
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PETER MARSHALL
March 30, 1926
Peter Marshall was born Ralph Pierre LaCock into a show business family in Huntington, West Virginia. His sister was actress Joanne Dru, who replaced Vivian Vance in Desilu’s “Guestward Ho!” He is perhaps best remembered as the original host of “Hollywood Squares” from 1966 to 1981, but he was also an actor and singer, with more than fifty films, television shows, and Broadway shows to his credit.
When Marshall was ten, he moved to New York City to be with his mother, a costume designer. After he graduated from high school, he was drafted into the Army in 1944 and stationed in Italy. In the 1950s, Marshall earned his living as part of a comedy act with Tommy Noonan in night clubs and on television variety shows.
Their very first appearance on the new medium of television was in the 1949 pilot for “Let There Be Stars”, the very first television program produced by ABC-TV in Hollywood.
During the first season of “The Lucy Show”, Marshall played Hughie in “Lucy’s Sister Pays a Visit” (TLS S1;E15) first aired on January 7, 1963. Hughie was engaged to Lucy’s sister, Marge (Janet Waldo). Lucy and Viv host their wedding ceremony in the Carmichael living room, but someone gets cold feet!
In 1966 he began hosting the daytime “Hollywood Squares,” a position he held until 1981, doing more than 280 episodes of the game show. Although Lucille Ball never filled a square, her children did. Lucie Arnaz appeared on a dozen episodes between July 1971 and the end of 1973. Desi Jr. appeared in two episodes during 1970. Desi Sr. did three weeks worth of episodes in 1972.
The show earned Marshall four daytime Emmy Awards. When it moved to syndication in 1971, it earned him two primetime Emmy nominations. When the show was rebooted in 2002, Marshall appeared as a guest, and even guest-hosted for Tom Bergeron.
In 1974, Marshall was back to acting with “Happy Anniversary and Goodbye,” the first of the Lucille Ball Specials. Marshall played Greg Carter, a dentist in practice with the husband of the character played by Lucille Ball.
His most recent screen appearance was in 2011.
He has been married to Laurie Marshall since August 19, 1989. He was previously married to Sally Carter-Ihnat, and Nadene Rita Teaford. He has four children.
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TV GUIDE: FOUR DAYS
March 30, 1968
This is the 19th of Lucille Ball’s 39 TV Guide covers. Ball (and her infant son) appeared on the very first national issue on April 3, 1953.
Mario Anthony Casilli (cover photograph) is best known for his work for Playboy magazine between 1957 and 1996. He also did many celebrity portraits for TV Guide. In 1986 he photographed Lucille Ball for “Life With Lucy.”
[Unfortunately, the remainder of the article was not available.]
In the New York City area, a syndicated rerun of “I Love Lucy” on Tuesday, April 2, 1968 at 7:00pm was “The Fur Coat” (ILL S1;E9) first aired in December 1951.
The final episode of “The Lucy Show” had aired two weeks earlier. The episode aired on Monday, April 1, 1968 was “Lucy Gets Jack Benny’s Account” (TLS S6;E6), originally aired on October 16, 1967.
Lucille Ball’s pose is deliberately reminiscent of Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins in the 1964 Walt Disney film.
In “Lucy’s Mystery Guest” (TLS S6;E10), Lucy reports for work dressed like her prim Aunt (Mary Wickes), the underscoring plays “Chim Chim Cheree” from Mary Poppins (1964) and Mr. Mooney remarks “Good heavens, they’ve grounded Mary Poppins!” In “Lucy Saves Milton Berle” (TLS S4;E14, inset) Lucy dresses as a poor flower seller, which Mr. Mooney calls a “cheesy Mary Poppins outfit” despite if resembling Eliza Doolittle from My Fair Lady.
During this week on television, various syndicated channels across the country also ran the Lucille Ball films The Magic Carpet (1951), Sorrowful Jones (1949), The Fuller Brush Girl (1950), Forever Darling (1956), The Big Street (1942), and The Affairs of Annabel (1938).
In April 1968, Lucille Ball would play Mary Poppins in a sketch on the Dinah Shore special “Like Hep.”
The photo shoot with Mario Casilli also produced this alternate cover shot, which was not used. [property of MPTV]
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MOVIE LIFE
March 28, 1944
Lucille Ball appeared on the cover of Movie Life magazine’s March 1944 issue.
At the time of publication, Ball had just released her 59th film, Thousands Cheer, in which she played herself.
In June 1944, her 60th film, Meet The People, was released.
During March 1944, her 64th film, Ziegfeld Follies, was in production at MGM.
In addition to Thousands Cheer, her 59th film Best Foot Forward, was also still in cinemas.
Her 57th film, Du Barry Was A Lady, released in August 1943, could still be found on the nation’s movie screens.
Two weeks before this issue hit the news stands, Lucille Ball was heard on “Orson Welles’ Radio Almanac” (March 9 1944).
In March 1944, Ball also appeared on the cover of “Big Song Magazine”.
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THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER
March 27, 1950
“The Man Who Came To Dinner” was a presentation of Lux Radio Theatre, broadcast on CBS Radio on March 27, 1950.
The Man Who Came to Dinner is a comedy in three by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. It debuted on October 16, 1939, at the Music Box Theatre in New York City, where it ran until 1941, closing after 739 performances. It then enjoyed a number of New York and London revivals.
The play was adapted for a 1942 feature film, scripted by Philip G. Epstein and Julius J. Epstein and directed by William Keighley. The film featured Monty Woolley, Bette Davis, Ann Sheridan, Billie Burke, Jimmy Durante, Mary Wickes and Richard Travis.
“The Man Who Came to Dinner” was previously presented on radio by Philip Morris Playhouse on July 10, 1942. Monty Woolley, who played the leading role in the film version, starred in the adaptation. It was broadcast again by Theatre Guild on the Air on ABC Radio November 17, 1946 starring Fred Allen. In 1949, “The Man Who Came to Dinner” was produced on “The Hotpoint Holiday Hour” starring Charles Boyer, Jack Benny, Gene Kelly, Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire, and Rosalind Russell.
On October 13, 1954, a 60-minute adaptation was aired on the CBS Television series “The Best of Broadway.” A “Hallmark Hall of Fame” production was broadcast n November 29, 1972 starring Orson Welles, Lee Remick (Maggie Cutler), Joan Collins (Lorraine Sheldon), Don Knotts (Dr. Bradley), and Marty Feldman (Banjo). The 2000 Broadway revival was broadcast by PBS on October 7, 2000, three days after the New York production closed, and was also released on DVD.
Synopsis ~ The story is set in the small town of Mesalia, Ohio in the weeks leading to Christmas in the late 1930s. The outlandish radio wit Sheridan Whiteside is invited to dine at the house of the well-to-do factory owner Ernest Stanley and his family. But before Whiteside can enter the house, he slips on a patch of ice outside the Stanleys’ front door and injures his hip. Confined to the Stanleys’ home in a wheelchair, Whiteside and his retinue of show business friends turn the Stanley home upside down! But is he really injured?
This adaptation was written by S.H. Barnett. The characters eliminated for this adaptation include Richard Stanley, John, Mrs. Dexter, and Mrs. McCutcheon.
The show is hosted by William Keighley, who directed the 1942 film adaptation.
Lux Radio Theatre (1935-55) was a radio anthology series that adapted Broadway plays during its first two seasons before it began adapting films (”Lux Presents Hollywood”). These hour-long radio programs were performed live before studio audiences in Los Angeles. The series became the most popular dramatic anthology series on radio, broadcast for more than 20 years and continued on television as the Lux Video Theatre through most of the 1950s. The primary sponsor of the show was Unilever through its Lux Soap brand.
CAST
Lucille Ball (Maggie Cutler) 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. “My Favorite Husband” 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.
Clifton Webb (Sheridan Whiteside) had appeared with Lucille Ball in the 1946 film The Dark Corner. He was nominated for three Oscars. Webb had played the role of Sheridan Whiteside on stage for two years.
Eleanor Audley (Mrs. Stanley) appeared in several episodes of Lucille Ball’s “My Favorite Husband” as mother-in-law Letitia Cooper. Audley was first seen with Lucille Ball as Mrs. Spaulding, the first owner of the Ricardo’s Westport home in “Lucy Wants to Move to the Country” (ILL S6;E15).
She returned to play one of the garden club judges in “Lucy Raises Tulips” (ILL S6;E26).
Audley appeared one last time with Lucille Ball in a “Lucy Saves Milton Berle” (TLS S4;E13) in 1965.
Ruth Perrott (Sarah) played Katie the maid on Lucille Ball’s radio show “My Favorite Husband.” On “I Love Lucy” she played Mrs. Pomerantz in “Pioneer Women” (ILL S1;E25), was one of the member of the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League in “Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress” (ILL S3;E3), and played a nurse when “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” (ILL S2;E16).
Betty Lou Gerson is best remembered as the voice of Cruella De Ville in the original Disney film One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961).
Stephen Dunn had appeared with Lucille Ball in Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949).
John Milton Kennedy (Announcer)
‘DINNER’ TRIVIA
The same date as this radio adaptation (March 27, 1950), original star Monty Wooley arrived in Vancouver to perform in the play.
This broadcast aired the day after the “My Favorite Husband” episode “Liz’s Radio Script” also starring Lucille and Ruth Perrott.
Lucille Ball’s good friend and frequent co-star Mary Wickes was typecast as a nurse due to her breakthrough role as Nurse Preen in the Broadway, film, and television versions of The Man Who Came To Dinner.’ She does not play Nurse Preen in this adaptation. The character is given the first name Geraldine.
Lucille Ball previously appeared on “Lux Radio Theatre” for a November 10, 1947 adaptation of her film The Dark Corner (1946).
The first commercial talks about how Lux soap is gentle on stockings, like those worn by Betty Grable in Wabash Avenue.
The second commercial (between acts two and three) interviews actress Joan Miller, talking about the Warners picture Stage Fright, and how Lux helped keep the costumes looking great.
In the post show interviews, Clifton Webb promotes his next film Cheaper By The Dozen.
The final Lux commercial talks about how movie star Hedy Lamarr uses Lux.
The program presents a special address from president of the Red Cross, General George C. Marshall. The American Red Cross was mentioned on “My Favorite Husband” and Red Cross posters were frequently scene decorating the sets on “I Love Lucy.”
The ending of radio’s “My Favorite Husband” episode “Mother-in-Law” (November 4, 1949) starring Lucille Ball is identical to the ending of The Man Who Came To Dinner.
In “Lucy and Viv Reminisce” (TLS S6;E16) on January 1, 1968, while nursing Lucy, who has a broken leg, Viv slips and also breaks her leg. She says she feels just like a female version of The Man Who Came To Dinner.
“Vivian Sues Lucy” (TLS S1;E10) on December 3, 1962 also has a plot that resembles The Man Who Came To Dinner. Viv injures herself due to Lucy’s careless housekeeping, and is bedridden. Lucy goes out of her way to cater to her every whim, so that she won’t sue!
Although the play is fictional, it draws on real life figures and events for its inspiration.
- Sheridan Whiteside was modeled on Alexander Woollcott.
- Beverly Carlton was modeled on Noël Coward.
- Banjo was modeled on Harpo Marx, and there is a dialogue reference to his brothers Groucho and Chico. When Sheridan Whiteside talks to Banjo on the phone, he asks him, "How are Wackko and Sloppo?”
- Professor Metz was based on Dr. Gustav Eckstein of Cincinnati (with cockroaches substituted for canaries), and Lorraine Sheldon was modeled after Gertrude Lawrence.
- The character of Harriet Sedley, the alias of Harriet Stanley, is an homage to Lizzie Borden. The popular jump-rope rhyme immortalizing Borden is parodied in the play.
Radio critic Dick Diespecker was not exactly enthusiastic about this adaptation.
The announcer reminds viewers that next week “Lux Radio Theatre” will present “Come To the Stable” starring Loretta Young and Hugh Marlowe
The announcer promotes Lucille Ball’s new picture Fancy Pants starring Bob Hope.
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FARMER IN THE DELL
March 27, 1936
- Directed by Ben Holmes
- Screenplay by Sam Mintz and John Grey, adapted from Phil Stong’s 1935 novel of the same name.
- Produced by Robert Sisk for RKO Radio Pictures
The film premiered at the Palace in New York City on March 6, 1936, and released widely on March 27th.
Synopsis ~ A farm family in Iowa lead an everyday existence until Ma decides they must pull up stakes and head for Hollywood so their daughter can become a movie star. As it turns out, it is Pa who becomes the movie star, while Ma almost destroys her daughter’s love life with her obsession. To protect his family, Pa takes the family back to their peaceful farm.
PRINCIPAL CAST
Lucille Ball (Gloria Wilson) makes her 30th film since coming to Hollywood in 1933. [Note: The above photo is circa 1936, but not from Farmer in the Dell!]
Fred Stone (Ernest “Pa” Boyer) makes his screen debut with this picture.
Jean Parker (Adie Boyer) was born in Butte, Montana. At this point in her career, Lucille Ball also claims to be from Butte.
Esther Dale (Loudellia “Ma” Boyer) also appeared with Lucille Ball in I Dream Too Much (1935).
Moroni Olsen (Chester Hart)
also appeared with Lucille Ball in That’s Right – You’re Wrong (1939).
In 1952, he appeared as the Judge on the “I Love Lucy” episode “The Courtroom” (ILL S2;E7). He also played Mr. Tewitt in the Arnazes The Long, Long Trailer (1954).
Frank Albertson (Davy Davenport) had appeared with Lucille Ball and the Marx Brothers in Room Service (1938).
Maxine Jennings (Maud Durant) appeared in nine other films with Lucille Ball between 1935 and 1937.
Ray Mayer (Spike) appeared with Lucille Ball in Jealousy (1934) and Follow the Fleet (1936).
Rafael Corio (Nicky Ranovitch) makes his only appearance with Lucille Ball.
Frank Jenks (Bill Crosby) did four other films with Lucille Ball between 1936 and 1937.
Spencer Charters (Crosby, the milkman) appeared with Lucille Ball in Joy of Living (1938) and Look Who’s Laughing (1943).
UNCREDITED CAST
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Oscar Apfel (H.F. Davis)
- Margaret Armstrong (Iowa Neighbor)
- Vernon Downing (Rowland Jamison)
- Fern Emmett (Apartment Manager)
- Harrison Greene (Studio Executive)
- Eddie Hart (Eric, Chauffeur)
- Reed Howes (Assistant Director)
- Edward Keane (Robert F. Heath)
- Tony Martin (Studio Reception Clerk)
- Torben Mayer (Party Guest) played Albert in Roberta (1935) in which Lucille Ball appeared as an uncredited fashion model. Meyer played the unnamed Swiss bandleader in “Lucy and the Swiss Alps” (ILL S5;E21).
- Jack Norton (Mr. Gleason)
- Jack Rice (Charlie)
- Richard Tucker (Lou Wagner)
- with John Beck, Edward W. Burns, Jay Eaton, Jane Hamilton and William Wagner
‘FARMER’ TRIVIA
In August 1935 RKO bought the rights to the novel, The Farmer in the Dell, by Phil Stong. The book had been serialized in the Saturday Evening Post.
Filming on the picture began the last week of 1935. By mid-January other cast members were revealed: Ray Mayer, Maxine Jennings, and Lucille Ball. The film finished production in early February, three days ahead of schedule.
In Spain, the title was changed to Gloria’s Lie, putting Ball’s character in the title, and on the posters! In France, the film was known as Hollywood Surprise! In Italy, it was known as Golden Dreams. In Brazil, it was known as The Easy Life.
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MARY TREEN
March 27, 1907
Mary Treen was born Mary Louise Summers in St. Louis, Missouri. She was raised in California and attended a convent school where she was in the school plays. During her career, Treen was seen in over 40 films. Among her film roles were Tilly, the secretary of the Building and Loan, in It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) and the role of Pat in the drama Kitty Foyle (1940) starring Ginger Rogers.
Her first screen roles were in 1930: the short film Surprise, and the feature Viennese Nights.
She worked with Lucille Ball in an uncredited role in The Fuller Brush Girl (1950).
In 1954, Treen joined the cast of the Desilu sitcom “Willy”, headed by June Havoc as TV’s first female lawyer. It also featured Desilu regulars Lloyd Corrigan, Will Wright, Joseph Kearns, Paul Harvey, Howard McNear, Jesslyn Fax, Charles Lane, Hal March, Aaron Spelling, Madge Blake, Fortunio Bonanova, Kathryn Card, Elizabeth Patterson, Maurice Marsac, Harry Cheshire, and Norma Varden. Desi Arnaz was the Executive Producer.
Treen played Emily Dodger, the widowed sister of ‘Willy’, for 38 of the show’s 39 episodes. The show lasted just one season.
In April 1958, Treen appeared in an episode of Desilu’s hit sitcom “December Bride” that featured Mickey Rooney, as well as Desilu regulars James Flavin, Benny Rubin, and Verna Felton.
In 1959 and 1960, Treen appeared on two episodes of Desilu’s “The Ann Sothern Show.” Lucille Ball played Lucy Ricardo for one episode of the show’s second season.
In 1960 and 1961, she did three episodes of “The Andy Griffith Show”, filmed on the Desilu backlot. For two of those episodes she played Clara Lindsey, a good friend of Aunt Bee’s.
Her longest-running role was as Hilda, the maid and baby nurse, in 56 episodes of “The Joey Bishop Show” from 1962 to 1965.
In 1968, she was back on the Desilu lot (just before it was sold to Paramount) to film an episode of “Gomer Pyle USMC”. In 1966, the show did a crossover with “The Lucy Show”.
In 1972, Treen played Kay, Alice’s temporary replacement, on an episode of “The Brady Bunch.” In 1970, Desi Arnaz Jr. appeared as himself on the show.
It was a long time coming, but in 1974, on the very last episode of “Here’s Lucy,” Treen was finally re-united with Lucille Ball. She played Mary Winters, a waitress who was fired for being too old. Lucy decides to get Mary her job back, and enlists Kim to teach the owner the value of an experienced server.
“I’m very proud to be able to work with stars, but I’ve never wanted to be one. They are nearly always driven, ruthless people and, I suspect, terribly unhappy basically.” ~ Mary Treen
Treen had also done two films with Gale Gordon, as well as appearing with him on the sitcom “Pete & Gladys” in 1961.
Her final screen appearance was in the TV film Wait ‘Til Your Mother Gets Home in January 1983.
Mary Treen died on July 20, 1989 at age 82. She was married to Herbert Curtis Pearson from 1944 until his death in 1965.
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