LUCY AND LAWRENCE WELK
S2;E18 ~ January 19, 1970
Directed by Herbert Kenwith ~ Written by Martin A. Ragaway
Synopsis
When Vivian visits, she expects Lucy to fulfill her promise to arrange a date with Lawrence Welk. Lucy doesn't know Welk, so she borrows a wax dummy of the bandleader and convinces nearsighted Vivian to give up her glasses. When the kids secretly convince the real Lawrence Welk to come to dinner, everything ends “wunerful wunerful”!
Regular Cast
Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter), Desi Arnaz Jr. (Craig Carter)
Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter) does not appear in this episode, although he does receive opening title credit. Harry is said to be playing golf.
Guest Cast
Lawrence Welk (Himself) was a musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted the television program “The Lawrence Welk Show” from 1951 to 1982 on ABC. His style came to be known to his audiences as ‘champagne music.’ His catchphrase was “wunerful, wunerful” spoken with his slight German accent. Welk's trademarks included his "uh-one, uh-two" song intro and a perpetual bubble machine. He died in 1992 at the age of 89.
Vivian Vance (Vivian Jones) was born Vivian Roberta Jones in Cherryvale, Kansas in 1909, although her family quickly moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where she was raised. She had extensive theatre experience, co-starring on Broadway with Ethel Merman in Anything Goes. She was acting in a play in Southern California when she was spotted by Desi Arnaz Sr. and hired to play Ethel Mertz, Lucy Ricardo’s neighbor and best friend. The pairing is credited with much of the success of “I Love Lucy.” Vance was convinced to join the cast of “The Lucy Show” in 1962, but stayed with the series only through season three, making occasional guest appearances afterwards. This is the second of her half a dozen appearances on “Here’s Lucy.” She also joined Lucy for a TV special “Lucy Calls the President” in 1977. Vance died two years later.
Vance uses her birth name as her character name in all of her “Here’s Lucy” guest appearances. Vivian Jones (the character) is from Cherrvale, Kansas, just like Vivian Vance.
Mary Jane Croft (Mary Jane Lewis) makes her fourth series appearance as Mary Jane. Croft played Betty Ramsey during season six of “I Love Lucy. ” She also played Cynthia Harcourt in “Lucy is Envious” (ILL S3;E23) and Evelyn Bigsby in “Return Home from Europe” (ILL S5;E26). She played Audrey Simmons on “The Lucy Show” but when Lucy Carmichael moved to California, she played Mary Jane Lewis, the actor’s married name and the same one she uses on all 31 of her episodes of “Here’s Lucy. Her final acting credit was playing Midge Bowser on “Lucy Calls the President” (1977) with Vivian Vance. She died in 1999 at the age of 83.
Nancy Howard (Secretary) appeared with Lucille Ball in Yours, Mine and Ours (1968). This is the third and final appearance on “Here’s Lucy.”
This is the first of five episodes written by Martin A. Ragaway, who won a 1961 Emmy Award for his work on “The Red Skelton Show.”
When this show first aired, Lucille Ball and her children were actually in New York City, having been introduced from the audience of “The Ed Sullivan Show” the night before, January 18, 1970.
The date this episode originally aired (January 19, 1970) CBS launched Operation 100, a plan to beat NBC's ratings in the last 100 days of the season, using the slogan "The man can't bust our network." This was a riff on the campaign CBS Records (Columbia) used to appeal to the youth market in the late 1960s.
Also on this date, actor Hal March (born Harold Mendelson) died at age 49 of lung cancer. March had appeared in two episodes of “I Love Lucy”, a 1966 episode of “The Lucy Show” (above), and the Lucy film A Guide For the Married Man (1967).
This episode was first aired on the 27th anniversary of one of the most-watched episodes of television to that time, “Lucy Goes To the Hospital” (ILL S2;E16). It is estimated that 72% of the American public who owned a television tuned in to see the birth of Little Ricky. The event was even more remarkable in that it coincided with the birth of Desi Arnaz IV (Craig Carter here), who turned 27 years old on the day this episode aired in 1970.
Both Lucille Ball and Lawrence Welk were known for their frequent (and unique) use of the word “wonderful.”
In February 1969, Lucille Ball had appeared on “The Jack Benny Birthday Special” which also featured Welk and singer Ann-Margret, who will guest star on “Here's Lucy” two weeks after this episode airs. Other “Lucy” supporting actors who participated in the special: Dennis Day, Carole Cook (ghost singer), Gail Bonney, Larry Blake, Robert Foulk, Frank Gerstle, John Harmon, Ray Kellogg, Tyler McVey, Benny Rubin (above, with Welk), Rolfe Sedan, and Olan Soule. It was written by Sam Perrin and George Balzer, who wrote several episodes of “Here's Lucy” and choreographed by “Here’s Lucy” choreographer Jack Baker.
On the series DVD the episode is introduced by Norma Zimmer, one of Welk's Champagne Dancers, who also was featured as a Kildoonan Townsperson in the dream musical episode “Lucy Goes to Scotland” (ILL S5;E17). Although not featured in this “Here's Lucy” episode, Zimmer recalls that Welk, who did not consider himself an actor, was thrilled and proud to be asked to share the screen with Lucy.
Gary Morton's loud laughter can clearly be heard on the soundtrack. Some sources mistakenly report this to be Desi Arnaz Sr.
KIM: “All the girls are ironing their hair!”
The episode opens with Craig ironing Kim’s hair with a clothes iron on an ironing board! As odd as this seems, this was actually done during the 1960s when straight hair became fashionable. In the 1970s, straight hair became easier with the advent of the hair iron, made specifically for hair use.
The studio audience starts applauding for Vivian Vance as the doorbell rings and before she's spoken or entered!
Vivian Vance wears the same type of white-frame eyeglasses she wore as Vivian Bagley on “The Lucy Show.”
When Mary Jane also gushes about Lawrence Welk, Lucy remarks “He turns on more people than warm Postum.” Postum is a powdered roasted-grain beverage once popular as a coffee substitute. It was developed by the Post Cereal Company (hence the name) in 1895 and is still sold in limited areas today. Later seasons of “I Love Lucy” were sponsored by Sanka, a similar caffeine-free coffee beverage.
Lucy says that Welk is in town performing at the Palladium. The Hollywood Palladium is a theater built in 1940 and located at 6215 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California. It has a dance floor including a mezzanine and a floor level with room for up to 4,000 people. Coincidentally, the Palladium is across the street from what was CBS Columbia Square, the home of CBS's Los Angeles radio and television operations from 1938 until 2007.
When Welk's secretary announces that there are a couple of teenagers (Kim and Craig) to see him, he asks if they are picketing and hostile. In the late 1960s teenagers were in the news as frequently involved in protests and marches involving the Vietnam War.
Lawrence Welk is first seen practicing his golf stroke in his office. Like Desi Arnaz Sr. and Gary Morton, Welk was a big fan of golf and in 1964 founded a company known as Welk Resort Group which still operates properties in North America including golf resorts.
Mary Jane tells Lucy that they have a wax figure of Lawrence Welk at the Movieland Wax Museum where her friend is the manager. She adds that they also have one of Cary Grant, both of which require nightly lipstick removal from amorous visitors! Grant was last mentioned in “Lucy Protects Her Job” (S2;E14) as well as several previous episodes of this and Ball's other sitcoms.
The real-life museum was located in Buena Park, Caliifornia. In addition to a wax Welk, a wax Lucille Ball was installed in 1963. Needless to say, the actual museum wax figure of Welk (seen above) was not used in the episode. The museum closed permanently in 2005.
Lucy phones Sam Lutz to find out how much Lawrence Welk is paid. He tells her that Welk gets $7,500 a night. Sam Lutz (inset) was the name of Welk's real-life manager and the producer of his television show.
Vivian is reported to be doing touristy things like visiting Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm. When Ethel Mertz was a tourist in Hollywood, she wanted to visit Knotts Berry Farm, but jealous Lucy was too angry with Ricky to enjoy it. “The only knots you'll see today will be on Ricky's head.” Disneyland would open a month later and be mentioned in “Lucy the Bean Queen” (TLS S5;E3) in 1966.
When Vivian returns from the Universal Studios Tour she says she saw:
John Wayne's Saddle - In “Lucy Dates Dean Martin” (TLS S4;E21) John Wayne's saddle was an auction item for the Bank Charity Ball. Wayne played himself on a season 5 episode of “I Love Lucy” and did so again on a season 5 episode of “The Lucy Show.” The last time Vivian Jones visited Lucy Carter on “Here's Lucy” she lied and said that she was in town to be in a movie with the western star.
Doris Day's Bicycle - In real life, Doris Day was an avid bike rider. She rode to the studio on many occasions and pedaled around Beverly Hills until the police finally told her they couldn't guarantee her safety.
Dean Martin's Bartender - This is a joke at the expense of Martin's reputation as a heavy drinker. It is coincidental that it follows a mention of John Wayne's saddle, which was seen in “Lucy Dates Dean Martin” (TLS S4;E21).
Vivian visited the studio commissary and sat in the very chair Bob Hope sat in, which was still warm. Vivian Vance and Bob Hope worked together on “Lucy and Bob Hope” (ILL S6;E1).
VIV (To ‘LAWRENCE WELK’): “I watch your show every Saturday night!”
“The Lawrence Welk Show” began airing in June 1955 and had a remarkable 16 year run on ABC TV before being syndicated for a further 11 years ending in 1982. Welk was as associated with Saturday nights as Lucille Ball was with Mondays. Two days before this episode first aired (January 17, 1970) Welk’s guest was Ted Mack, legendary bandleader and talent scout.
This episode is closely modeled on “Lucy Meets Harpo Marx” (ILL S4;E28). Vivian takes on the part of the nearsighted Carolyn Appleby and Mary Jane helps Lucy arrange the deception much like Ethel (Vivian Vance) did in 1955. The premise somehow comes off as more believable here. Lucy does not have steal Viv's glasses but simply convinces her to take them off to look better for her date. Instead of Lucy wearing a disguise, she borrows a wax mannequin of the star.
Lawrence Welk was one of the most-mentioned celebrities on “The Lucy Show” (1962-67) despite never appearing on it in person. He rectifies that here.
In “The Loophole in the Lease” (TLS S2;E12), the plot hinged on Lucy stealing Viv's white-framed eyeglasses.
Although this is the first time Welk has actually been on set with Lucille Ball, his face was seen on a record album that Lucy Carmichael won at a bank picnic in “Lucy and Clint Walker” (TLS S4;E24).
In “Lucy and the Starmaker” (TLS S6;E4), Mr. Mooney cuts off Tommy Cheever’s (Frankie Avalon) 'audition’ after just a few notes. Lucy remarks that “Dizzie Gillespie would have had a better chance with Lawrence Welk!” Gillespie was famous for free-form jazz riffs on the trumpet, while Welk was best known for the polka, waltzes, and more structured genres of music.
When Viv goes to shake the wax Welk’s hand, quick thinking Lucy extends her own hand for Viv to shake instead. The gag also got big laughs in “The Handcuffs” (ILLS2;E4), “Lucy The Music Lover” (TLS S1;E8), and “Lucy Meets the Burtons” (HL S3;E1).
In the second episode of “Here’s Lucy”, When Kim and Craig are on vacation at Jack Benny’s home in Palm Beach, Kim compares her brother’s ping pong game with Lawrence Welk. This line was likely an ad-lib by Lucie Arnaz to time the hitting of the ball over the wall.
Welk facetiously claims to be writing a song for The Beatles. In “Lucy's Birthday” (S1;E18), Welk was contrasted with Ringo Starr, the drummer for the Beatles, when the kids are trying to find their mother a date for her birthday.
In “Lucy The Shopping Expert” (S1;E20) a year earlier, Lawrence Welk was the punchline of a joke when Lucy insists on shaking the canned goods and listening to the noise they make.
In “Lucy and the Drum Contest” (S3;E4), Craig says that Buddy Rich is his favorite musician. Uncle Harry says his is Guy Lombardo, who Lucy tells the kids is the Lawrence Welk of Harry’s generation. Lombardo and Welk were both popular bandleaders and cultural icons. The above photo of the two men (and Gila Rosenhause) was taken in 1971.
Sitcom Logic Alert!
The premise of this episode seems to ignore the fact that Vivian visited Lucy in Los Angeles less than a year before. She says that Kim “must have grown a foot”!
When talking to the kids about Vivian, Lucy refers to “back East” which confirms that Lucy previously was from New York, but ignores that Vivian was last living in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Lucy lies about knowing Lawrence Welk, but in “Lucy the Matchmaker” (S1;E12) it was Vivian who lied about knowing John Wayne.
While Lucy Carter admits to her children that she's lied to Vivian about knowing celebrities, she forgets that she has met (to date) Jack Benny, Van Johnson, Oscar-winner Shelley Summers (aka Winters), novelist Eva Von Graunitz (aka Eva Gabor), Carol Burnett, country singer Ernie Epperson (aka Ernie Ford), Patty Andrews, Johnny Carson, and Liberace!
The ultimate lapse in believable coincidence comes when Welk wears the exact same outfit to the dinner date as the wax figure (above).
Vivian really should be able to recognize Lucy’s deep voice saying “wunerful wunerful’.
Inexplicably, Welk (the character) seems to want imitate the waxworks instead of be himself.
Not being an actor, Welk's eyes often distractingly glance over at the teleprompter for his lines. He smiles at his own jokes, and anticipates rather than reacts.
“Lucy and Lawrence Welk” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5
This is a really funny episode that is also a treat for Lucy lovers who know its inspiration. Of course, the classic Harpo mirror routine is a classic compared to a wax figure sitting at a dinner table, but in many ways this episode feels less contrived and more real than Lucy Ricardo's costumes and gruff voices. Welk, as expected, is a total fail as an actor, but it doesn't really matter. It is wonderful to see Mary Jane Croft play an integral role in the plot. Her facial expressions at dinner are priceless! Not having Gale Gordon involved is never noticed thanks to the glorious presence of Vivian Vance.
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Here's a serious childhood memory, for me. This was before there were Madame Tussaud's wax museums everywhere.
Movieland was in Buena Park, CA, near Knott's Berry Farm. We visited my Grandma, in Pasadena, CA several times, in the 70s, driving there, from Denver. This museum was a huge operation, a large layout with lots and lots of wax statues.
The artists didn't always get the look of the 'stars' exactly right, but it was a fun place. Some wax figures had actual screen worn costumes on them, either bought from or donated by the actual movie studios. Their renditions of what the people looked like got better, over the years, with newer artists. I saw it 2 other times, that I remember, without my family. The brochure shown here was from 1963.
Our high school Jazz choir sang at Disneyland, in 1983 and we stopped at Movieland, as part of our California trip. And, I lived in nearby Anaheim, for a few months, in 1987 and I worked right down the street from Movieland, in Buena Park and I went there, at last once, when I lived out there.
The museum even had their own outdoor courtyard area of real celebrity handprints and autographs, in cement, a la Grauman's, in Hollywood. They held events at the museum and Hollywood celebs would show up and do the foot and handprints.
Sadly, It's a now lost piece of roadside Americana. On October 31, 2005, after forty-three years in business and 10 million visitors, Movieland went away. The figures were auctioned off.
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