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BACHELOR MOTHER
March 8, 1951
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.
“Bachelor Mother” was sponsored by Chesterfield, Anacin, and RCA and heard on NBC radio.
Bachelor Mother (1939) is an RKO romantic comedy film directed by Garson Kanin, and starring Ginger Rogers, David Niven and Charles Coburn.
The screenplay was written by Norman Krasna based on an Academy Award-nominated story by Felix Jackson written for the 1935 Austrian-Hungarian film Little Mother. It was included among the American Film Institute’s 2000 list of the 500 movies nominated for the Top 100 Funniest American Movies. The film featured future “Lucy” actors Barbara Pepper, Irving Bacon, Jack Chefe, Florence Lake, Nestor Paiva, Harold Miller, and Amzie Strickland.
It was remade as Bundle of Joy starring Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher in 1952. The original film was re-released in 1945 and made its television debut in 1964.
RKO disliked the title Little Mother and tried out Nobody’s Wife and She Said I Do before settling on Bachelor Mother. In Denmark it was known as Polly’s Baby.
Bachelor Mother was adapted for radio on nine occasions between 1940 and 1952:
- January 22, 1940 ~ “Lux Radio Theater” starring *Ginger Rogers, Frederic March, and *Frank Albertson
- February 1, 1942 ~ “Screen Guild Theater” starring Laraine Day, Henry Fonda, and *Charles Coburn
- November 23, 1942 ~ “Screen Guild Theater” starring Ann Sothern, Fred MacMurray, and *Charles Coburn
- November 21, 1944 ~ “Theatre of Romance” starring Shirley Booth, Richard Kollmar, and Jack McBride
- December 24, 1944 ~ “Old Gold Comedy Theater” starring Brenda Marshall, Louis Haywood and Jack McBride
- May 6, 1946 ~ “Screen Guild Theater” starring *Ginger Rogers, *David Niven, and Francis X. Bushman
- April 28, 1949 ~ “Screen Guild Theater” starring Lucille Ball, Joseph Cotton, and *Charles Coburn
- March 8, 1951 – “Screen Director’s Playhouse” starring Lucille Ball, Robert Cummings, and Arthur Q. Bryan
- April 20, 1952 ~ “Screen Guild Theater” starring Ann Sothern and Robert Stack
* = original film cast repeating their roles
Synopsis ~ An unemployed woman discovers an abandoned baby on the steps of an orphanage, and accepts an offer to take responsibility for the child in return for a job.
CAST
Lucille Ball (Polly Parrish, Toy Department Clerk at Merlin & Son and Bachelor Mother) previously appeared for Screen Directors Playhouse in “Her Husband’s Affairs” (May 22, 1949), “Miss Grant Takes Richmond” (May 19, 1950), both films she had appeared in on screen, and “A Foreign Affair” (March 1, 1951), the previous week.
On screen, the role was played by Ginger Rogers.
Robert Cummings (David Merlin, Son of the owner of Merlin & Son Department Store) first worked with Lucille Ball in “The Ricardos Go To Japan” (November 1959), and in a 1972 episode of “Here’s Lucy.”
In 1973, Cummings returned to “Here’s Lucy”.
On screen, the role was played by David Niven.
Arthur Q. Bryan (J.B. Merlin, owner of Merlin & Son Department Store) had appeared with Lucille Ball in Look Who’s Laughing (1941). He is best remembered as the original voice of Elmer Fudd in the Warner Brothers cartoons. He played Mr. Chambers, new owner of the Tropicana in “Ricky Loses His Voice” (ILL S2;E9) in 1952.
On screen, the role was played by Charles Coburn.
Frank Nelson (Mr. Hargraves, Merlin & Son Floorwalker) 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,” “Fibber McGee & Molly”. and a dozen episodes of Lucille Ball’s “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, often playing store clerks like this one.
On screen, the role was played by Paul Stanton.
Herb Vigran (Freddie Miller, a co-worker of Polly’s at Merlin & Son) occasionally turned up on Lucille Ball’s radio show, “My Favorite Husband” (1948-50) in various roles. He appeared on “I Love Lucy” as Jule, Ricky’s music agent, in “The Saxophone” (ILL S2;E2) and “The Anniversary Present” (ILL S2;E3). He also played Mrs. Trumbull’s nephew Joe in “Never Do Business With Friends” (ILL S2;E31) and Al Sparks in “Lucy is Envious” (ILL S3;E23). He went on to appear on select episodes of “The Lucy Show” and Here’s Lucy.”
On screen, the role was played by Frank Albertson.
Sidney Miller (Jerome Weiss) was an actor turned director who performed opposite Lucille Ball in “Lucy Helps Ken Berry” (TLS S6;E21),
Yours, Mine and Ours (1968), and “Lucy Moves to NBC” (1980).
On screen, the role was played by Leonard Penn.
Jim Backus (Mr. Meachy) had appeared on Lucille Ball’s radio show “My Favorite Husband” but is best remembered as Thurston Howell the Third (aka The Millionaire) on TV’s “Gilligan’s Island”. His unique voice also gave life to Mr. Magoo. He appeared in two films with Lucille Ball: Easy Living (1949) and Critic’s Choice (1963).
On screen, the role is played by Ernest Truex.
Jerry Hausner (Johnnie the Baby) was occasionally heard on Lucille Ball’s radio show “My Favorite Husband” (1948-51) and played Jerry the agent in the “I Love Lucy” pilot and eight episodes of “I Love Lucy”. He also provided the off-screen crying of Little Ricky, Lucy Ricardo’s baby.
Jimmy Wallington (Announcer)
EPISODE
After acknowledging their sponsors, announcer Jimmy Wallington introduces “Bachelor Mother”.
Polly Parrish is working at a the toy counter of a Merlin & Son for demanding floorwalker Mr. Hargraves (Frank Nelson), who insists she keep the wind-up ducks wound at all times. Tomorrow is Polly’s last day due to the store’s ‘retrenchment’.
Hargreaves comes by the toy counter with the store owner’s son, David Merlin (Robert Cummings). Polly is not very friendly to him. Freddie (another store employee), however, is sweet on Polly. When he asks her out dancing she is not interested, until she hears there’s a dance contest with a $100 prize.
After leaving work with her friend Mary, Polly notices an old lady leaving a crying baby on a doorstep. Polly picks up the baby to soothe it. When the door opens, it is Mr. Meachy from the Atkins Foundling Home. He assumes that the baby is hers and she was about to leave it with them. She is unable to change his assumption.
POLLY: “My baby? I got this baby when I was waiting for a bus!”
Polly leaves the baby with Mr. Meachy and goes home.
Next morning at Merlin and Son, J.B. (Arthur Q. Bryan) chastises his son for being tardy. David says was out last night with a chorus girl named Gladys. Mr. Meachy has tracked down Polly at Merlin and Son and tells her that they have something for her – something that makes squealing noises and keeps the neighbors awake.
POLLY: “Mr. Merlin! A television set!”
Taking pity on her and as a birthday present, David re-hires her with a $5 a week raise. He says that that tonight Mr. Meachy will bring her the gift.That night, Polly opens the door to Mr. Meachy, who presents her with the baby – still believing she is the mother – and goes before she can object. Freddy knocks on the door for their date and Polly hides the baby. Every time Freddy starts to talk – the baby cries and Polly brings it out from behind the sofa. Freddie wants to know where it came from.
POLLY: “I got it for my birthday.”
Polly tells Freddy they are going to bring the baby back to the man who gave it to her – David Merlin!End of Act One
Jimmy Wallington does a live RCA commercial, touting their new Fairfield model televisions. He then introduces the second act.
Act Two
Freddie and Polly arrive home after dropping off the baby and winning the dance competition. Unfortunately, it the first prize was not $100 but a silver loving cup. When Freddy tries to kiss her at the door, it swings open and David Merlin is there. He slugs Freddy, sending him tumbling down the stairs. Merlin has brought her back the baby.
DAVID: “Any mother who’d dance the Charleston after giving her baby away – it makes my flesh crawl.”
Polly is adamant that she is not the mother of the baby. He fires her and refuses a letter of recommendation. Before he goes, she decides to beg for her job back and lies that it is indeed her baby – saying the abusive father ran off and left her. She convinces him and he leaves.
Mrs. Weiss, the landlady, comes in. She thinks the baby is adorable and tells Polly she will help her take care of the baby – just the way she did with her son Jerome when he was small. Mrs. Weiss asks the baby’s name and Polly quickly replies “Joan” – until they open the diaper!
POLLY: “Oh! I didn’t say Joan, I said John. Hello, Johnnie!”
Freddie notices that Polly is exhausted at work. He asks her to put in a good word with Mr. Merlin for him regarding a promotion, and she sleepily agrees. David comes by and says that all babies demand lots of attention at that age. Mr. Hargreaves stops David and says he wants to know who to promote to assistant floorwalker. David suggests promoting the senior of the team – Freddie Miller.
At home Polly is trying to feed a fussy Johnnie. David Merlin drops by to bring her a book – “Guide for a Happy Baby”.
POLLY: “I’m sure he’ll enjoy reading it.”
David thinks she may be doing it wrong. They consult the book. He insists she rub the oatmeal on the baby’s navel, but when she reads for herself, he has skipped a page and given her directions for relieving gas. To distract the baby, he winds up a mechanical duck – but overwinds it. The baby gurgles and calls David “daddy”!
POLLY: “Grab a spoon, Mr. Merlin, you’ve just become a father!”
The next day at work, Freddie Miller has let his promotion go to his head, shouting orders to Polly and Mary. Wearing a disguise, David arrives to exchange the duck he broke at Polly’s last night. The exchanges clerk says that he’d have to take the duck back to the Banzai Toy Company in Yokohama!
When he is unsuccessful at making a return, he pockets a new duck. Freddie spots him and calls Mr. Hargraves, who recognizes him as Mr. Merlin. David orders Hargraves demote Freddie. Angry, Freddie says he has written a letter to J.B. Merlin about Polly and David!
It isn’t long before J.B. is confronting his son about the letter. J.B. is upset that David hasn’t told him about his grandson! Without realizing that his father thinks he is the father of Polly’s baby, David decides to ask Polly to a fancy party that evening.
He arrives at Polly’s apartment with a new duck and a request for a date. Mrs. Weiss can sit with the baby.
POLLY: “Is it a big party?”
DAVID: “Oh, tremendous. Everybody’s a millionaire. Except the butlers, they’re just regular Republicans.”At the party, David introduces Polly as just over from Sweden. Polly gamely attempts some pidgin Swedish.
POLLY: “Ein, zwie, drie, drop dead!”
Polly is terribly popular at the party – so much so that David doesn’t see her until the taxi ride home. He passionately kisses her goodnight. A long, lingering kiss. David says he will meet them tomorrow on their Sunday walk through the park.
Next day, David and Polly meet in the park. David still doesn’t understand why his father is upset with him. J.B. has followed his son to the park and introduces himself to Polly. He asks her if he can hold the baby. After his father leaves, David suddenly realizes that his father thinks that Johnnie is his child!
At the office, J.B. yells at David that he’s been waiting 30 years for a grandson. He insists that he marry Polly at once. When David refuses, J.B. vows he will do whatever he has to do to get custody of his grandson.
David tells Polly that his father will take legal action to take Polly’s baby. When David tells her of J.B.’s ridiculous notion that he marry Polly, she dissolves into tears. She confides in Mrs. Weiss, who suggests she marry her boy, Jerome, instead. Polly convinces Jerome to come with her to see J.B. Merlin.
David Miller knocks on the door of Freddie Miller, and demands to know if he is the father of Polly’s baby. Freddie is taken aback – he thinks David is! David convinces him to help him with a scheme.
In J.B.’s office, Polly presents Jerome as her husband. David bursts in with Freddie, who he introduces as the father of Polly’s baby! Freddie and Jerome both contend to be the father! David assumes that Jerome is the REAL dad – the long-lost piano player of Polly’s past. Freddie confesses that he has been lying. They all accuse each other of fatherhood while J.B. asserts his grandparent’s rights!
Back at home, Polly tearfully packs. As she is leaving, David and J.B. approach and Polly and the baby hide in the landlady’s apartment. The men ask about Polly Parrish.
MRS. WEISS: “I don’t know any Lolly Poppish.”
Mrs. Weiss says that Polly left long ago. They step into her apartment to talk and David wonders aloud why he didn’t marry Polly – declaring his love for her. A mechanical duck suddenly waddles through in from the other room and David discovers Polly and the baby hiding. Before proposing to Polly, he sticks his head through the door and tells is father he IS the father of the baby after all.
POLLY: “You still think I’m the mother of that baby?”
DAVID: “Why certainly.”
POLLY: “Oh, David. Have I got a surprise for you!”The End
Announcer Jimmy Wallington reminds viewers to tune in next week for “Thelma Jordan” starring Barbara Stanwyck and Wendell Corey with screen director Robert Siodmak.
“Bachelor Mother” was presented courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures, distributors of the Howard Hughes production Vendetta starring Faith Domergue and George Dolenz
Lucille Ball can be currently seen in Columbia’s The Fuller Brush Girl
Robert Cummings can soon be seen in the Columbia Picture The Barefoot Mailman
‘BACHELOR’ TRIVIA
The film version of Bachelor Mother (1939), is mentioned in two episodes of “The RKO Story: Tales From Hollywood” as a film Ginger Rogers at first refused to do – until she was taken off payroll for three weeks and finally relented. Although audiences loved it, Rogers continued to loathe the film calling it “a dog.” Coincidentally, Lucille Ball is also interviewed in the same two episodes.
The wind-up ducks in the 1939 film were played by Disney’s Donald Duck, who even gets screen credit, although on radio their identity remains vague .Clarence Nash, the original voice of Donald Duck, provided the quacking in the film, although there is no record of who provides it here.
The original film was set around Christmas and New Years, with several reference to the holidays and a huge New Year’s Eve party scene. Those were omitted from the radio broadcasts so as not to feel like holiday programming.
The Lucy character worked at a department store in “Lucy Bags a Bargain” (TLS S4;E17) on January 17, 1966. Although she worked in many departments, toys was not one of them!
She did, however, sublet the Unique Employment Agency to a toy wholesaler in a 1972 episode of “Here’s Lucy”. Although it was not a duck, Lucy seemed particularly amused by the wind-up dog and drumming bear, toys that also delighted Little Ricky on “I Love Lucy.”
Although not mechanical, Little Ricky previously played with Mr. Squawker, a rubber duck squeeze toy manufactured by Rempel Manufacturing of Akron, Ohio, that also turns up when “Lucy Tells the Truth” (ILL S3;E6). For more, take a look inside Lucy’s Toy Chest!
A snooty Elroy P. Clunk (Charles Nelson Reilly) dealt with returns and complaints at an unnamed department store in “Lucy the Crusader” (HL S3;E5) on October 12, 1970. Like the clerk at Merlin & Son, Clunk insists Lucy Carter’s broken stereo needs to be returned to the manufacturer. The script also jokes about the poor quality of products made in Japan.
Lucille Ball had done five films with the original Bachelor Mother Ginger Rogers, all of them before Rogers played Polly Parish for RKO. Ball and Rogers finally reunited on a 1971 episode of “Here’s Lucy” with Rogers playing herself.
An October 1976 episode of “Laverne and Shirley” is titled “Bachelor Mothers” and has the girls looking after a baby. Laverne and Shirley were often compared to Lucy and Ethel on “I Love Lucy.”
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ROBERTA
March 8, 1935
Directed by William A. Seiter
Produced by Pandro S. Berman
Screenplay byJane Murfin, Sam Mintz, and Allan Scott, based on the play Roberta by Jerome Kern and Otto A. Harbach, from the novel Gown’s by Roberta by Alice Duer Miller
- Filmed at RKO Studios
- World Premiere March 7, 1935 in New York City
- Released wide on March 8, 1935
PRINCIPAL CAST
Irene Dunne (Stephanie) was nominated for five Oscars between 1931 and 1949. In 1938 she appeared with Lucille Ball in Joy of Living.
Fred Astaire (Huck Haines) received an honorary Oscar in 1950, and won a competitive Oscar in 1975. He appeared with Lucille Ball in Top Hat (1935), Follow the Fleet (1936) and Ziegfeld Follies (1945).
Ginger Rogers (Countess Scharwenka / Lizzie Gatz) did five films with Lucille Ball. In 1971 she appeared as herself on the “Here’s Lucy” episode “Ginger Rogers Comes to Tea” (HL S4;E11), filmed during an actors strike.
Randolph Crane Scott (John Kent) also appeared with Lucile Ball, Astaire and Rogers in Follow The Fleet (1936).
Helen Westley (Roberta, Aunt Minnie) also appeared with Lucille Ball in 1934′s Moulin Rouge.
Victor Varconi (Ladislaw) was a Hungarian-born actor making his only appearance with Lucille Ball.
Claire Dodd (Sophie) was born the same year as Lucille Ball. This is their only film together.
Luis Alberni (Voyda)
was a Spanish-born actor making his only appearance with Lucille Ball.
Ferdinand Munier (Lord Delves) did six films with Lucille Ball between 1933 and 1936.
Torben Meyer (Albert) was seen with Lucille Ball in The Farmer and the Dell (1936) and played the German Bandleader in “Lucy in the Swiss Alps” (S5;E21 ~ March 26, 1956).
Adrian Rosley (Professor) is a Romanian-born actor making his only appearance with Lucille Ball.
Bodil Rosing (Fernande) is a Danish-born actress making her only appearance with Lucille Ball.
UNCREDITED CAST
Fashion Models
- Lucille Ball makes her 21st film since coming to Hollywood in 1933.
- Virginia Carroll
- Diane Cook
- Lynne Carver
- Lorraine DeSart
- Betty Dumbries
- Maxine Jennings
- Myrna Low
- Margaret McChrystal
- Marie Osborne
- Wanda Perry
- Donna Mae Roberts
- Kay Sutton
Wabash Indianians
- Hal Borne
- Halbert Brown
- Candy Candido
- William Carey
- Phil Cuthbert
- Delmond Davis
- Ivan Dow
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William R. Dunn
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Howard Lally
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Muzzy Marcellino
- Phil McLarind
- Charles Sharpe
- Gene Sheldon
Cossacks
- Mike Tellegen
- Sam Savitsky
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Dale Van Sickel
Others
- Anna De Linsky
- Judith Vosselli
- Chris Marie Meeker
- Charlotte Russell
- Zena Savina
- Mike Lally (Bar Patron)
- Michael Visaroff (Waiter)
- William B. Davidson (Purser)
- Mary Forbes (Mrs. Teal)
- Rita Gould
- Grace Hayle (Miss Jones, Reporter)
- Jane Hamilton
Synopsis ~
Football player John Kent tags along as Huck Haines and the Wabash Indianians travel to an engagement in Paris, only to lose the gig immediately. John and company visit his aunt, owner of a posh fashion house run by her assistant, Stephanie. There they meet the singer Scharwenka (alias Huck’s old friend Lizzie), who gets the band a job. Meanwhile, Madame Roberta passes away and leaves the business to John and he goes into partnership with Stephanie.
TRIVIA
Lucille Ball, who appears uncredited in this film as a fashion model, would later buy RKO, the studio that made this film. At the height of their success during “I Love Lucy”, she and Desi Arnaz purchased it and renamed it Desilu Studios.
Lucille Ball decided to try out for this film when she heard RKO was looking for girls who had worked as models at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City. She had not actually been employed by Bergdorf, but had participated in a fashion show a promoter had put on there, so she applied and got the job.
The original 1933 Broadway production of Roberta featured Bob Hope and Fred MacMurray, both of whom played themselves on Lucille Ball sitcoms. Chorus member Leon Alton was a background artist on many episodes of “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy.”
A 24 year-old Lucille Ball, decked out in white-blonde hair, white furs and wearing a white gown, appears at 1:37:30 in the fashion show sequence. Lucille Ball originally had dialogue that was later deleted.
In the 1971 “Here’s Lucy” episode “Ginger Rogers Comes to Tea” (HL S4;E11) Lucy adds a sugar cube to Ginger’s tea for the title of each of her favorite films.
When Lucy realizes she’s put six lumps of sugar in Ginger’s tea, Rogers says she only wanted Top Hat and Roberta (two lumps).
Clips of the film were included in “Hollywood the Golden Years: The RKO Story: A Woman’s Lot” (July 17, 1987). Lucille Ball is also interviewed in the episode.
Fashion Shows were the subject of several Lucille Ball sitcoms: Lucy Ricardo models a Don Loper original; Lucy Carmichael did an impromptu fashion show in a restaurant to get close to Danny Kaye; Lucy Carter did the same thing to help out her daughter Kim, who got her first job at a fashion boutique.
Roberta earned Lucille Ball a promotion at RKO: from clothes horse to actress! Little did Maxine Jennings (red head) know Lucille Ball would eventually steel her thunder as a carrot top!
Some theatre managers took the bold step of offering patrons a money-back guarantee!
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CHICAGO SUNDAY TRIBUNE
March 8, 1953
This full page photo is from the Picture Section of the Sunday Chicago Tribune on March 8, 1953. Interestingly, there is no story within, just the photo. The description misspells the named Riccardo. This is understandable since most viewers would not have seen the name in print, just heard it spoken on television.
In the very first-filmed episode of “I Love Lucy” in 1951, Ricardo is also misspelled the same way!
The day after this newspaper was published (Monday, March 9, 1953) America saw the premiere of “The Black Eye” (ILL S2;E20).
Offscreen, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz had just one more week of pregnancy leave before returning to work to film “No Children Allowed” (ILL S2;E22) for airing on April 20, 1953.
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THE MARINES FLY HIGH
March 7, 1940
- Directed by
George Nichols, Jr. and Benjamin Stoloff
- Produced by Robert Sisk for RKO Radio Pictures
- Screenplay by Jerry Cady and A.J. Boulton, story by A.C. Edington
Filmed October 1939
World Premiere on March 4, 1940
Wide Release on March 7, 1940
CAST
Lucille Ball (Joan Grant) marks her 48th feature film since coming to Hollywood in 1933. It opened exactly a year after she collaborated with Richard Dix and Robert Sisk on Twelve Crowded Hours.
Richard Dix (Lt. Dan Darrick) was nominated for an Oscar in 1931 for Cimarron. He also appeared with Lucille Ball in Twelve Crowded Hours (1939).
Chester Morris (Lt. Jimmy Malone) was nominated for an Oscar in 1929 for Alibi. He also appeared with Lucille Ball in Five Came Back (1939). In December 1960, Morris was a guest on “The Tonight Show with Jack Paar” which also featured Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, and little Lucie.
Steffi Duna (Teresa) was a Hungarian-born actress who also appeared with Lucille Ball in Panama Lady (1939).
John Eldredge (John Henderson) appeared on “I Love Lucy” in “Lucy’s Night In Town” (ILL S6;E22) in 1957. He was a theatre-goer sitting behind the Ricardos and the Mertzes in the box seats watching The Most Happy Fella.
Paul Harvey (Col. Hill) did seven films with Lucille Ball between 1934 and 1943. In 1953 he played the art critic from the New York Times in “Lucy the Sculptress” (ILL S2;E15).
Dick Hogan (Cpl. Haines) also appeared with Lucille Ball and Chester Morris in Five Came Back (1939).
Ann Shoemaker (Mrs. Hill) makes her only appearance with Lucille Ball.
Nestor Paiva (Pedro Fernandez) appeared on the very first episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” in 1957 – “Lucy Takes a Cruise To Havana” as the jailer. In 1964 he played Mr. Perkins, boss of the Handy Dandy Vaccum Cleaner Company in “Lucy and the Missing Stamp” (TLS S3;E14).
UNCREDITED CAST
- Abner Biberman (Gomez) appeared with Lucille Ball and Steffi Duna in Panama Lady (1939).
- Ethan Laidlaw (Barnes) appeared in seven films with Lucille Ball between 1933 and 1947.
- Pedro de Cordoba (Grant Farm Worker) also appeared with Lucille Ball and Chester Morris in Five Came Back (1939).
- Kirby Grant (Lt. Hobbs) appeared with Lucille Ball in I Dream Too Much (1935).
- Selmar Jackson (Doctor) appeared in seven films with Lucille Ball between 1933 and 1949.
- Paul McVey (Pilot) appeared with Lucille Ball in Bottoms Up (1934).
- Horace McMahon (Monk O’Hara) was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1958. He appeared with Lucille Ball in That’s Right – You’re Wrong (1939).
- John Sheehan (Airplane Seller) makes his only appearance with Lucille Ball.
THE STORY
Set somewhere in the Central American jungles, Joan Grant (Lucille Ball) runs a cocoa plantation. She also allows a platoon of US Marines to stay there. Two of the Marines, Malone (Chester Morris) and Darrick (Richard Dix), tussle over her affections. When she is kidnapped the two unite to save her. Henderson (John Eldredge), the plantation foreman, is really El Vengador, the kidnapper. He sets a trap for the Marines he knows will try to rescue her. The two rivals eventually realize that to defeat the enemy, they will have to work together. When Malone is heading for an ambush, Derrick flies to his aid and rescues Joan.
TRIVIA
Benjamin Stoloff took over direction of the film when George Nichols Jr. was killed in an automobile accident during production.
Lucille Ball and husband Desi Arnaz would later purchase the RKO 40-Acres backlot as part of her Desilu Studios holdings.
Lucy Carmichael is mistakenly drafted into the Marines in “Lucy Gets Caught Up in the Draft” (TLS S5;E9) in 1966. One of television’s most popular depictions of Marines was “Gomer Pyle USMC” [United States Marine Corps] a series filmed at Desilu Studios. Its star, Jim Nabors, did a cameo as Pyle in this episode.
“The Marine’s Hymn” is heard at the beginning and end of the film. In “Lucy is a Sax Symbol” (LWL S1;E5) in 1986, Lucy Barker manages to squeak out a rusty rendition of “The Marine’s Hymn” on her old saxophone for her granddaughter.
A clip from this film is included in “Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie” (1993).
- Directed by
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SCRAPBOOK CLIPPINGS!
March 7th, 1934-1954
~March 7, 1934~
Ralph Forbes (1904-51) was an English actor who was married three times, first to actress Ruth Chatterton (1924-32); Heather Angel (1934-41); and Dora Sayers (1946-51). Forbes dated Lucille Ball shortly before he married Angel. He would appear with her in three films. Ball turned down his marriage proposal.
~March 7, 1937~
As history knows, Lucille discovered Henna and never went back! She did not keep her ‘brownette’ hair for good but become known as Technicolor Tessie for her inimitable shade of red.
~March 7, 1937~
~March 7, 1938~
The Talk of Hollywood
TRAILER LIFE IN HOLLYWOOD is no tourist-camp effect. When Miss Ball went on location for a recent picture she took a portable boudoir, a very swanky portable boudoir, with elaborate equipment for outdoor living and for use as a location dressing room. Ross, the movie tenor (right), demonstrated his flying trailer to the Virginia Dale and Mary Russell between rehearsals. Ross uses his live-passenger plane for location commuting.
~MARCH 7, 1939~
~March 7, 1940~
~MARCH 7, 1946~
~MARCH 7, 1947~
~MARCH 7, 1950~
Footnote ~ They had to cancel it! The movie for Ed Sedgewick never materialized – unless you count the unreleased “I Love Lucy” movie (1953) which he is credited for directing.
~MARCH 7, 1950~
She didn’t! Neither did he! When the film was released in June 1951, it starred Edmond O’Brien and Lizabeth Scott.
~MARCH 7, 1950~
~MARCH 7, 1954~
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EAGLE-RKO PERSONALITY POLL
March 6 & 7, 1937
The Personality Poll Editor’s office was considerably atwitter the other day when a real movie celebrity, in the person of Lucille Ball, RKO Radio Picture star, was ushered in.
Miss Ball had gladly consented to come over the Brooklyn Bridge to examine some of the pictures of recent entrants In the Eagle-RKO Personality Poll which is open to any girl over 16 years of age who resides in Brooklyn or Long Island.
“They are an attractive lot,” declared Miss Ball as she studied hundreds of photographs. “And I am confident that somewhere in this group the officials will find the girl with the personality and the talent which Hollywood is constantly seeking. The Eagle guest deserves the attention of every girl with aspirations for movie fame."
Up-State Girl
Miss Ball Is a reddish blond who was born in Jamestown, N.Y., Aug. 6, 1911. She was educated in the public elementary and high schools, later studying at the Chautauqua School of Music and John Murray Anderson’s dramatic school in Manhattan.
Her part in "That Girl From Paris” in which she played Lily Pons’ jealous rival was her finest and best to date, although she has been prominent in “Roberta,” “Top Hat,” “Follow the Fleet,” “Chatterbox,” “I Dream Too Much,” “Bunker Bean,” “Farmer in the Dell” and her latest production “Don’t Tell the Wife." She hopes for a role in the movie version of "Stage Door."
The nearest she ever got to a Broadway stage was at rehearsals. She really began her theatrical career in Hollywood and hopes to continue it there. She was a mannequin for Hattie Carnegie and posed for a number of prominent commercial photographers. Sam Goldwyn gave her the first break in the movies. He assigned her a role In "Roman Scandals."
Miss Ball lives in Hollywood with her grandfather, mother, younger brother and cousin.
She owns six fox terriers, five white and three white birds. The hobbies are horse back riding, swimming and tennis.
Given Style Honor
Bernard Newman, fashion stylist for RKO, picked Miss Ball as the best dressed younger player in Hollywood.
Here’s a tip to young ladies In Brooklyn and Queens who have not yet entered this highly worthwhile contest. Eagle cameramen will take your picture tonight free of charge at the RKO Greenpoint Theater, 825 Manhattan Ave., Brooklyn, and at the RKO Strand, 714 Central Ave., Far Rockaway.
The photographers will be on hand at seven o’clock so do not hesitate to come in and be "snapped.” The best picture for newspaper reproduction are those taken by professional newspaper photographers.
Preliminaries Monday
Preliminaries will start Monday night in the RKO Bushwick and RKO Tilyou. Each girl appearing on the stage will receive a handsome bronze medal commemorative of the occasion. Whenever possible contestants will be sent to their neighborhood RKO theaters and the audiences will have a voice in the selection of girls to be advanced to the semi-final classification.
Don’t forget to purchase tomorrow’s edition of The Eagle for it will contain several pages of pictures of recent entrants in the Personality Poll.
[spelling and punctuation errors have been corrected]
~MARCH 7, 1937~
Fifty women from Brooklyn and Long Island were chosen by Lucille Ball as finalists. Playwright Shepard Traube (top center), author of “So You Want To Go Into the Theatre” will meet with and advise the winner, as well as act as one of the judges.
Finalists made personal appearances at their neighborhood RKO cinemas.
The winner, Sally Buchalter, 16, of Long Beach, was announced on April 15, 1937. The judges’ decision was unanimous. Coincidentally, in attendance at the announcement was actor Ralph Dumke, who would play Herbert, the prospective tenant looking to rent the apartment in “Lucy and Superman” (ILL S6;E13) twenty years later! Telegrams were read from such celebrities as Jack Benny, Lucille Ball’s neighbor, but oddly, no mention of Lucy, who helped narrow the field months earlier.
On the first of June, 1937, she was flown to Hollywood!
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ED McMAHON
March 6, 1923
Edward Leo Peter McMahon Jr. was born in Detroit, Michigan. He was best remembered as the announcer / sidekick of Johnny Carson on “The Tonight Show” but he was also a game show host, comedian, actor, singer, and product spokesperson.
His first television experience was as the local host of “The Philadelphia Story” in 1950, quickly followed by “Off The Record” and “Strictly for the Girls,” and “Home Highlights.” McMahon was also skilled in the art of clowning, and appeared on television’s “Big Top” (1950-55).
McMahon and Johnny Carson began their association in their first TV series, the ABC game show “Who Do You Trust?” (1957-62).
His thirty years as co-host, announcer, and sometimes substitute host on “The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson” lasted thirty years, starting in 1962.
Lucille Ball joined Ed and Johnny on “The Tonight Show” many times:
- July 11, 1968
- November 20, 1968
- November 26, 1968
- August 20, 1969
- November 14, 1969
- February 23, 1970
- November 16, 1970
- May 21, 1971
- August 16, 1971
- September 22, 1972
- March 22, 1974
- November 15, 1974
- December 2, 1975
- April 28, 1977
- November 18, 1977
- February 7, 1980
- June 4, 1982
- November 1, 1985
On December 1, 1969, McMahon played himself on “Lucy and Johnny Carson” (HL S2;E11). At a filming of “The Tonight Show” Lucy plays Stump the Band and wins dinner at the Brown Derby. Unfortunately for Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon, Lucy seats herself at their table. The scene is a nod to “Hollywood at Last!” (ILL S4;E16) in 1955.
McMahon returned to the series, this time as an actor, in “Lucy, the Wealthy Widow” (HL S6;E4) on October 1, 1973. When the Employment Agency needs cash, Lucy invites bank loan officer Ed McAllister (Ed McMahon) to dinner and poses as a wealthy widow.
In between, McMahon and Ball were both part of John Wayne’s patriotic special “Swing Out, Sweet Land” in November 1970. Ball played the Statue of Liberty and McMahon played a bartender.
This was particularly fitting as he had a reputation as a drinker and also was spokesperson for Budweiser Beer doing many television commercials for the brewers, many with their trademark Clydesdale horses.
He acted with Lucille Ball on her final special “Lucy Calls the President” (1977) playing Floyd Whittaker, Lucy’s husband, owner of a bowling alley. McMahon has the distinction of being the first actor to play a husband of a Lucille Ball character since Desi Arnaz in 1960.
In 1985 McMahon and Ball both appeared on “Bob Hope Buys NBC?” although they did not share any screen time. While “The Tonight Show” was always an NBC show, Lucille Ball had only signed with the peacock network in 1980.
McMahon was married three times; to Alyce Ferrell (1945-74), Victoria Valentine(1976-89) and Pam Hurn (1992 until his passing).
McMahon died on June 23, 2009. He was 86 years old. McMahon’s publicist attributed his death to the many health problems he had suffered over his final months.
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DON’T TELL THE WIFE
March 5, 1937
Directed by Christy Cabanne
Produced by Samuel J. Briskin and Robert Sisk
Screenplay by Nat Perrin, based on the play Once Over Lightly by George Holland- Filmed late November to Early December 1936 at RKO Studios
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World Premiere February 18, 1937 in New York City
- Released wide on March 5, 1937
CAST
Lucille Ball (Annie Howell, secretary to Mr. Winthrop) this was Lucille Ball’s 34th feature film since coming to Hollywood in 1933.
Guy Kibbee (Malcom J. Winthrop) would also appear with Lucille Ball in Joy of Living (1938).
Una Merkel (Nancy Dorsey) would be nominated for an Oscar in 1962. She previously appeared with Lucille Ball in Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back (1934).
Lynne Overman (Steven Dorsey) previously appeared with Lucille Ball in Broadway Bill (1934).
Thurston Hall (Major Manning) appeared with Lucille Ball in Hooray for Love (1935) and The Affairs of Annabel (1938).
Guinn Williams (Lazarus Hubert Gregory Dougal) also appeared with Lucille Ball in Muss ‘Em Up (1936).
Frank M. Thomas (Inspector Mallory) appeared with Lucille Ball in Joy of Living and Go Chase Yourself (both 1938).
William Demarest (Larry Tucker) was nominated for an Oscar in 1947 and an Emmy in 1968 for playing Uncle Charley on “My Three Sons”, filmed on the Desilu (formerly RKO) lot. He was seen in Fugitive Lady (1934) and Sorrowful Jones (1949) with Lucille Ball, as well as being in “The Desilu Revue” in 1959.
Harry Tyler (Mike Callahan) would appear with Lucille Ball in Dance, Girl, Dance (1940), Sorrowful Jones (1949), and A Woman of Distinction (1950).
George Irving (Warden) appeared with Lucille Ball in Go Chase Yourself and The Affairs of Annabel (both 1938).
Bradley Page (Salesman Hagar) did seven films with Lucille Ball from 1933 to 1938.
Cy Jenks aka Si Jenks (Sam Taylor) makes his only appearance with Lucille Ball.
UNCREDITED CAST
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Alan Curtis (Second Stockbroker at Shaw & Allen)
- Barney Furey (Tom – Sign Painter)
- Jack Gardner (Taxi Driver)
- Aggie Herring (Charwoman)
- William Jackie (Rooney – Salesman)
- Harry Jans (Martin – Salesman)
- Donald Kerr (Morton Smith – Salesman)
- Wilfred Lucas (Albert – Prison Guard)
- Hattie McDaniel (Mamie – Nancy’s Maid)
- Garry Owen (Motorcycle Policeman)
- Ted Thompson (Stockbroker at Shaw & Allen)
- Charles West (Joe Hoskins)
Synopsis ~ While serving time in jail, Major Manning wins a mine in New Mexico from a fellow inmate. Upon his release, he hatches a scheme with several of his former associates to use the mine, which he believes worthless, to con rich New Yorkers. His first contact is with his old partner, Steve Dorsey, who has married a wealthy socialite, Nancy. Dorsey listens to Manning’s plan, and agrees to head up the bogus investment company, having become bored with his suburban life. In order to induce the wealthy to invest in their bogus scheme, they hire an unwitting accomplice as their head of their company, Malcolm Winthrop. Winthrop adds legitimacy to the group since he was the financial editor of newspaper in Yonkers. After they hire Winthrop, they convince Nancy to invest most of her money in the scheme.
When Winthrop starts to become suspicious of his new partners, he travels to New Mexico to physically inspect the mining operation. He discovers that contrary to what Manning believes, it is actually potentially very profitable. He convinces Nancy to fund the project, and he buys up all the outstanding shares in the mine, gaining total control. By the time Manning understands what is going on, he is shut out of the mine, which turns into a moneymaker. Dorsey is forgiven by Nancy, and the two reconcile.
TRIVIA
RKO borrowed Guy Kibbee from Warner Bros., Una Merkel from MGM, and Lynne Overman from Paramount for this film.
Hattie McDaniel, who played Mamie, Nancy’s maid, won an Academy Award for playing Mammy in Gone With the Wind (1939). Her brother Sam McDaniel became the first black actor on “I Love Lucy.” Hattie appears uncredited here, which speaks volumes about the struggle of black actors in Hollywood.
In October 1936 it was announced that Robert Sisk would be producing Once Over Lightly, from a screenplay by Nat Perrin. Fred Stone was slated to headline the cast. Constance Worth and Barbara Pepper were attached to the project the following month. In the middle of January 1937, RKO announced that the project’s name had been changed to Don’t Tell the Wife. By the beginning of February 1937, the picture was in the editing room. The National Legion of Decency rated the picture as a class A-1, making it unobjectionable for general audiences.
Overman make $15 on $200,000 worth of stocks from 1929!
Lucille Ball was cast to “boost box office value”! In retrospect, there’s no way Gene Raymond could darken Lucille Ball’s future!
Winthrop is the editor of a newspaper based in Yonkers, a suburb of Manhattan. Yonkers was used as a punch line on “I Love Lucy” when the locksmith says he has a key that might open the handcuffs but has to go back to his shop for it – in Yonkers!
The subject of the stock market was handled with a light touch on “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show”.
Making money from mines was the subject of a 1968 episode of “Here’s Lucy”.
REVIEWS
The Film Daily gave the picture a good review, calling it a good satirical comedy. They singled out Kibbee’s performance, and gave good marks to Sisk’s production, Cabanne’s direction and Wilde’s cinematography. They called the film a “Well-paced humor-filled feature whose frothy dialogue pop audiences will enjoy”.
Harrison’s Reports was less kind, calling it a “below average program picture”. They felt the comedy consisted of routine gags, and an unbelievable romantic element.
Motion Picture Daily enjoyed the film calling it an amusing comedy, despite its predictable plot. They gave good marks to Cabanne’s direction and Sisk’s production, and felt that Perrin’s dialogue was well done. In terms of the cast, they felt that Guinn Williams, Lucille Ball, Bradley Page, and William Demarest all gave good performances.
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RADIO GUIDE
March 5, 1938
Lucille Ball heard with Phil Baker on Sunday nights over the CBS Network
Radio Guide for the week ending March 5, 1938 (Volume 7, #20). Radio Guide published listings network radio programming schedules and programs with articles about the stars, stations and networks.
Photographs by Gene Lester of Lucille Ball on “The Phil Baker Radio Show” during February 1938. Lucy worked with some wonderful comics and learned to rely on timing and tone of voice for comic effects. She had previously been featured on “The Wonder Show” hosted by Gale Gordon starring Jack Haley.
Phil Baker (left) and British actor Harry McNaughton (right).
Phil Baker (1896 – 1963) was an American comedian and emcee on radio. His solo act included him singing, playing the accordion, telling jokes and being heckled by a planted audience member called Jojo. With this act, Baker played the Palace Theatre in 1930 and 1931. Baker appeared with Carmen Miranda in the musical The Gang’s All Here (1943). On radio, he starred in his own series The Armour Jester on NBC. In the 1940s he appeared on Duffy’s Tavern on February 22, 1944, and was the host of the quiz show Take It or Leave It, which later changed its title to The $64 Question. Phil Baker appeared briefly on television but his show “Who’s Whose” was canceled after one episode.
“’Radio Guide’ began in Chicago and New York in November 1931, as a venture of Moe Annenberg, a former hood and strong-arm man for the Hearst newspaper distribution interests in Chicago (his duties usually involved blackjack-and-brass-knuckle confrontations with distributors of rival publications), who went legit in the twenties as publisher of the ‘Daily Racing Form.’ For about its first year it was presented in a tabloid newspaper format, with most of its editorial content coming from press releases – although New York Journal radio critic Mike Porter and music critic Carleton Smith were regular contributors from very early on."
"Beginning in 1933, ‘Radio Guide’ began to feature two-color art covers and was presented in a saddle-stitched large-magazine format. There was also a new emphasis on original editorial content, and Chicago Herald-Examiner radio editor Evans Plummer became a regular contributor with his ‘Plums and Prunes’ column.”
“Full color art covers were featured beginning in the spring of 1935, and continued until the magazine switched to black-and-white photo covers in early 1938. Many of these covers were elegant portraits of stars-of-the-moment painted by Charles Rubino, and these issues are perhaps the most collectible of the run. This period also marked the peak of Radio Guide’s editorial quality – it published substantial criticism and serious journalism about radio, such as its 1935 expose revealing that elements of ‘Major Bowes Original Amateur Hour’ were rigged.
”’Radio Guide’ changed both its title and focus in 1940, as a direct result of Moe Annenberg being sent to prison for tax evasion – the magazine was taken over by his son Walter (later publisher of ‘TV Guide’) and the change to a combination radio-movie format was an attempt to pump up the cash flow by merging ‘Radio Guide’ with ‘Screen Guide,’ another troubled Annenberg publication of the era. The transition to ‘Movie Radio Guide’ was unfortunately accompanied by a sharp drop in editorial quality – the publication became much more of a shallow celebrity-oriented fan rag.“ ~ Elizabeth McLeod, Radio Historian
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JACK CASSIDY
March 5, 1927
John Joseph Edward Cassidy, known as “Jack” was born in Richmond Hill, Queens, and became an actor and singer known for his work in the theatre, television and films.
He received multiple Tony Award nominations and a win as well as a Grammy Award for his work on the Broadway production of the 1964 musical She Loves Me. His career on Broadway began in 1943 at the Alvin Theatre, the same venue that later hosted Lucille Ball in Wildcat. He was also Tony nominated for Fade Out – Fade In (1965) starring Carol Burnett and Maggie Flynn (1968) with his second wife, Shirley Jones.
He made his television debut in August 1952 on “All-Star Summer Revue,” a summer edition of “All-Star Revue” aka “Four Star Revue”. His acting debut on TV came in “Shadow of Evil” a February 1957 episode of the “United States Steel Hour.” He co-starred with his new wife, Shirley Jones.
In October 1962, he guest-starred on Desilu’s “The Real McCoys” as Jack Masters in “The Roofing Salesman” co-starring Doris Singleton.
He returned to Desilu for “Lucy and the Undercover Agent” (TLS S4;E10) aired on November 22, 1965.
Cassidy played Professor Zoorkin in an episode that that was appropriately Broadway-themed, with Lucy dressed as Carol Channing from Hello, Dolly! Coincidentally, Cassidy’s next two TV acting roles were on “I Spy” and “The Girl From U.N.C.L.E”, both in 1967.
In September 1967, he was cast as an egotistical actor playing a TV superhero named Jetman in “He & She” starring Paula Prentiss and Richard Benjamin (who were husband and wife in real life as well). Coincidentally, Cassidy had been in Superman on Broadway the year before. Although he did not play the man of steel, he earned another Tony nomination. “He & She” only lasted one season on CBS. It was his only time as a series regular and as usual, it earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
He earned a second Emmy nomination for “The Andersonville Trial” in 1970.
The role of Ted Baxter on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” (1970–1977) was reportedly written with Cassidy in mind, but he turned down the role, feeling that it was not right for him; the part went to Ted Knight. Cassidy later appeared as a guest star in a 1971 episode as Ted’s brother Hal.
Cassidy’s final screen role was playing Broadway writer Damon Runyon in The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover, which premiered posthumously in 1977.
He was the father of teen idols David Cassidy and Shaun Cassidy. David was the son of Cassidy’s first wife, Evelyn Ward. In addition to Shaun, Jones and Cassidy also had two more sons, Patrick and Ryan.
In the last years of his life, Cassidy suffered from bipolar disorder and alcoholism. In her 2013 memoir, Shirley Jones wrote that Cassidy had many same-sex affairs, including one with Cole Porter. In the early morning hours of December 12, 1976, Cassidy lit a cigarette and fell asleep, igniting the couch. The flames spread throughout the apartment and building. Cassidy’s remains were later scattered into the Pacific Ocean. He was 49 years old.
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