Tag: Betty Grable
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LUCY SHUNS AUDITIONS
July 21, 1950 [In the below article, reprinted verbatim, Johnson writes using a lot of imagery and insider jargon. This sort of article was common in trade papers like Variety, but seems odd in a daily newspaper.] Hollywood—(NEA) Lucille Ball slipped me the lowdown on her failure to pin to the canvas the dumb chick role…
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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…
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HARRY JAMES
March 15, 1906 Harry Haag James was born in Albany, Georgia, the son of a bandleader in a traveling circus. He started performing with the circus at an early age, first as a contortionist, then playing the drum in the band. James started taking trumpet lessons from his father at age eight, and by age twelve…
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PIANO & VIOLIN LESSONS
January 14, 1949 “Piano and Violin Lessons” (aka “Professor Krausmeyer’s Talent Scouts”) is episode #26 of the radio series MY FAVORITE HUSBAND broadcast on January 14, 1949 on the Armed Forces Radio Network. Synopsis ~ Liz takes up the piano to win a radio talent contest. To get even, George starts playing the violin. Who will…
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LIZ TEACHES IRIS TO DRIVE
January 13, 1950 “Liz Teaches Iris To Drive” is episode #71 of the radio series MY FAVORITE HUSBAND broadcast on January 13, 1950. Synopsis ~ The Atterburys have bought a new car but Rudolph refuses to teach Iris how to drive. Liz readily volunteers to be Iris’s driving instructor. This was the 20th episode of…
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BETTY GRABLE
December 18, 1916 Elizabeth Ruth Grable was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the youngest of three children. Nicknamed ‘Betty’ as a child, she was pressured by her mother to become a performer. She was entered in multiple beauty contests, many of which she won or for which she achieved considerable attention. A 12-year-old Grable and her…
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THE FRENCH LESSONS
December 9, 1949 “The French Lessons” (aka “Eavesdropping on French Lessons”) is episode #66 of the radio series MY FAVORITE HUSBAND broadcast on December 9, 1949. Synopsis ~ Liz and Iris are humiliated when they can’t read the menu at a French restaurant, so they decide to take French lessons. The lessons lead to the prospect…
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YOUNG MATRONS’ LEAGUE TRYOUTS
October 2, 1948 “Young Matron’s League Tryouts” is episode #11 of the radio series MY FAVORITE HUSBAND broadcast on October 2, 1948. Synopsis ~ Liz tries to butter up George in hopes that he’ll let her try out for the play that the Young Matrons League will be performing. Note: This episode was aired before the characters…
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LUCY: 40 YEARS OF TELEVISION
1958 A few months into the hour-long format of “I Love Lucy”, Desilu joins forces with Westinghouse to create “The Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse” which will showcase new talent, new writing, and “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.” “Lucy Hunts Uranium” (LDCH E3) ~ January 3, 1958 Fred MacMurray and his wife June Haver guest star in the first hour-long…
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SALUTE TO STAN LAUREL
November 23, 1965 on CBS Directed by Seymour Berns Produced by Henry Jaffe, Seymour Berns Written by Hugh Wedlock Jr., Charles Isaacs, Alan Manings with Carl Reiner and Aaron Ruben Cast (in order of appearance) Dick Van Dyke (Host, Himself) was born Richard Wayne Van Dyke in West Plains, Missouri, in 1925. Although he’d had…