Unpopular Opinion: Gregor should have made it back with the droids and the Colonel and should have gotten a new squad
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As many of you may know, some of the episodes of Clone Wars were released out of order in the timeline. Some requested I put together a cohesive list of the episodes in Timeline Order to go with my timeline order show/movie list, and here it is:
Clone Wars Chronological Watch Order Broken Down By Episode:
S2 E16 - Cat And Mouse
S1 E16 - The Hidden Enemy
The Clone Wars Film
S3 E01 - Clone Cadets
S3 E03 - Supply Lines
S1 E01 - Ambush
S1 E02 - Rising Malevolence
S1 E03 - Shadow Of Malevolence
S1 E04 - Destroy Malevolence
S1 E05 - Rookies
S1 E06 - Downfall Of A Droid
S1 E07 - Duel Of The Droids
S1 E08 - Bombad Jedi
S1 E09 - Cloak Of Darkness
S1 E10 - Lair Of Grievous
S1 E11 - Dooku Captured
S1 E12 - The Gungan General
S1 E13 - Jedi Crash
S1 E14 - Defenders Of Peace
S1 E15 - Trespass
S1 E17 - Blue Shadow Virus
S1 E18 - Mystery Of A Thousand Moons
S1 E19 - Storm Of Ryloth
S1 E20 - Innocents Of Ryloth
S1 E21 - Liberty On Ryloth
S2 E01 - Holocron Heist
S2 E02 - Cargo Of Doom
S2 E03 - Children Of The Force
S2 E17 - Bounty Hunter
S2 E18 - The Zillo Beast
S2 E19 - The Zillo Beast Strikes Back
S2 E04 - Senate Spy
S2 E05 - Landing At Point Rain
S2 E06 - Weapons Factory
S2 E07 - Legacy Of Terror
S2 E08 - Brain Invaders
S2 E09 - Grievous Intrigue
S2 E10 - The Deserter
S2 E11 - Lightsaber Lost
S2 E12 - The Mandalore Plot
S2 E13 - Voyage Of Temptation
S2 E14 - Duchess Of Mandalore
S2 E20 - Death Trap
S2 E21 - R2 Come Home
S2 E22 - Lethal Trackdown
S3 E05 - Corruption
S3 E06 - The Academy
S3 E07 - Assassin
S3 E02 - Arc Troopers
S3 E04 - Sphere Of Influence
S3 E08 - Evil Plans
S1 E22 - Hostage Crisis
S3 E09 - Hunt For Ziro
S3 E10 - Heroes On Both Sides
S3 E11 - Pursuit Of Peace
S2 E15 - Senate Murders
S3 E12 - Nightsisters
S3 E13 - Monster
S3 E14 - Witches Of The Mist
S3 E15 - Overlords
S3 E16 - Altar Of Mortis
S3 E17 - Ghosts Of Mortis
S3 E18 - The Citadel
S3 E19 - Counterattack
S3 E20 - Citadel Rescue
S3 E21 - Padawan Lost
S3 E22 - Wookiee Hunt
S4 E01 - Water War
S4 E02 - Gungan Attack
S4 E03 - Prisoners
S4 E04 - Shadow Warrior
S4 E05 - Mercy Mission
S4 E06 - Nomad Droids
S4 E07 - Darkness On Umbara
S4 E08 - The General
S4 E09 - Plan Of Dissent
S4 E10 - Carnage Of Krell
S4 E11 - Kidnapped
S4 E12 - Slaves Of The Republic
S4 E13 - Escape From Kadavo
S4 E14 - A Friend In Need
S4 E15 - Deception
S4 E16 - Friends And Enemies
S4 E17 - The Box
S4 E18 - Crisis On Naboo
S4 E19 - Massacre
S4 E20 - Bounty
S4 E21 - Brothers
S4 E22 - Revenge
S5 E02 - A War On Two Fronts
S5 E03 - Front Runners
S5 E04 - The Soft War
S5 E05 - Tipping Points
S5 E06 - The Gathering
S5 E07 - A Test Of Strength
S5 E08 - Bound For Rescue
S5 E09 - A Necessary Bond
S5 E10 - Secret Weapons
S5 E11 - A Sunny Day In The Void
S5 E12 - Missing In Action
S5 E13 - Point Of No Return
S5 E01 - Revival
S5 E14 - Eminence
S5 E15 - Shades Of Reason
S5 E16 - The Lawless
S5 E17 - Sabotage
S5 E18 - The Jedi Who Knew Too Much
S5 E19 - To Catch A Jedi
S5 E20 - The Wrong Jedi
S6 E01 - The Unknown
S6 E02 - Conspiracy
S6 E03 - Fugitive
S6 E04 - Orders
S6 E05 - An Old Friend
S6 E06 - Rise Of Clovis
S6 E07 - Crisis At The Heart
S6 E08 - The Disappeared, Part I
S6 E09 - The Disappeared, Part II
S6 E10 - The Lost One
S6 E11 - Voices
S6 E12 - Destiny
S6 E13 - Sacrifice
S7 E05 - Gone With a Trace
S7 E06 - Deal No Deal
S7 E07 - Dangerous Debt
S7 E08 - Together Again
S7 E01 - The Bad Batch
S7 E02 - A Distant Echo
S7 E03 - On the Wings of Keeradaks
S7 E04 - Unfinished Business
S7 E09 - Old Friends Not Forgotten
S7 E10 - The Phantom Apprentice
S7 E11 - Shattered
S7 E12 - Victory and Death
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Star Wars: The Clone Wars Chronological Order
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Note: S7 E09 - S7 E12 take place at the same time as Episode III: Revenge of the Sith)
22 BBY:
S2 E16 Cat and Mouse
S1 E16 The Hidden Enemy
MOVIE Star Wars: The Clone Wars
S3 E01 Clone Cadets
S3 E03 Supply Lines
S1 E01 Ambush
S1 E02 Rising Malevolence
S1 E03 Shadow of Malevolence
S1 E04 Destroy Malevolence
S1 E05 Rookies
S1 E06 Downfall of a Droid
S1 E07 Duel of the Droids
S1 E08 Bombad Jedi
21 BBY:
S1 E09 Cloak of Darkness
S1 E10 Lair of Grievous
S1 E11 Dooku Captured
S1 E12 The Gungan General
S1 E13 Jedi Crash
S1 E14 Defenders of Peace
S1 E15 Trespass
S1 E17 Blue Shadow Virus
S1 E18 Mystery of the Thousand Moons
S1 E19 Storm over Ryloth
S1 E20 Innocents of Ryloth
S1 E21 Liberty on Ryloth
S2 E01 Holocron Heist
S2 E02 Cargo of Doom
S2 E03 Children of the Force
S2 E17 Bounty Hunters
S2 E18 The Zilo Beast
S2 E19 The Zilo Beast Strikes Back
S2 E04 Senate Spy
S2 E05 Landing at Point Rain
S2 E06 Weapons Factory
S2 E07 Legacy of Terror
S2 E08 Brain Invaders
S2 E09 Grievous Intrigue
S2 E10 The Deserter
S2 E11 Lightsaber Lost
S2 E12 The Mandalore Plot
S2 E13 Voyage of Temptation
S2 E14 Duchess of Mandalore
S2 E20 Death Trap
S2 E21 R2 Come Home
S2 E22 Lethal Trackdown
S3 E05 Corruption
S3 E06 The Academy
S3 E07 Assassin
S3 E02 ARC Troopers
S3 E04 Sphere of Influence
S3 E08 Evil Plans
S1 E22 Hostage Crisis
S3 E09 Hunt for Ziro
S3 E10 Heroes on Both Sides
20 BBY:
S3 E11 Pursuit of Peace
S2 E15 Senate Murders
S2 E12 Nightsisters
S3 E13 Monster
S3 E14 Witches of the Mist
S3 E15 Overlords
S3 E16 Altar of Mortis
S3 E17 Ghosts of Mortis
S3 E18 The Citadel
S3 E19 Counterattack
S3 E20 Citadel Rescue
S3 E21 Padawan Lost
S3 E22 Wookiee Hunt
S4 E01 Water War
S4 E02 Gungan Attack
S4 E03 Prisoners
S4 E04 Shadow Warrior
S4 E05 Mercy Mission
S4 E06 Nomad Droids
S4 E07 Darkness on Umbara
S4 E08 The General
S4 E09 Plan of Dissent
S4 E10 Carnage of Krell
S4 E11 Kidnapped
S4 E12 Slaves of the Republic
S4 E13 Escape from Kadavo
S4 E14 A Friend in Need
S4 E15 Deception
S4 E16 Friends and Enemies
S4 E17 The Box
S4 E18 Crisis on Naboo
S4 E19 Massacre
S4 E20 Bounty
S4 E21 Brothers
S4 E22 Revenge
19 BBY:
S5 E02 A War on Two Fronts
S5 E03 Front Runners
S5 E04 The Soft War
S5 E05 Tipping Points
S5 E06 The Gathering
S5 E07 A Test of Strength
S5 E08 Bound for Rescue
S5 E09 A Necessary Bond
S5 E10 Secret Weapons
S5 E11 A Sunny Day in the Void
S5 E12 Missing in Action
S5 E13 Point of No Return
S5 E01 Revival
S5 E14 Eminence
S5 E15 Shades of Reason
S5 E16 The Lawless
S5 E17 Sabotage
S5 E18 The Jedi Who Knew Too Much
S5 E19 To Catch a Jedi
S5 E20 The Wrong Jedi
S6 E01 The Unknown
S6 E02 Conspiracy
S6 E03 Fugitive
S6 E04 Orders
S6 E05 An Old Friend
S6 E06 The Rise of Clovis
S6 E07 Crisis at the Heart
S6 E08 The Disappeared: Part 1
S6 E09 The Disappeared: Part 2
S6 E10 The Lost One
S6 E11 Voices
S6 E12 Destiny
S6 E13 Sacrifice
S7 E05 Gone with a Trace
S7 E06 Deal No Deal
S7 E07 Dangerous Debt
S7 E08 Together Again
S7 E01 The Bad Batch
S7 E02 A Distant Echo
S7 E03 On the Wings of Keeradaks
S7 E04 Unfinished Business
19 BBY (Concurrent with Episode III: Revenge of the Sith):
S7 E09 Old Friends Not Forgotten
S7 E10 The Phantom Apprentice
S7 E11 Shattered
S7 E12 Victory and Death
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LUCY & BEDROCK! (TWIST! TWIST!)
Lucille Ball & “The Flintstones”
“The Flintstones” was TV’s first primetime animated sitcom. It was produced by Hannah-Barbara animation and ran on ABC TV from 1960 to 1966. Following the show's cancellation, a film called The Man Called Flintstone, a musical spy caper that parodied James Bond, was released that same year. The show was revived in the early 1970s and several different series and made-for-TV movies. The original show also was adapted into a live-action film in 1994, and a prequel, The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, which followed in 2000.
Although not officially recognized by its creators, the show bears a very strong resemblance to TV’s “The Honeymooners”. Fred and Wilma Flintstone are reminiscent of Ralph and Alice Kramden, and they have best friends and neighbors Betty and Barney Rubble that are very similar to Ed and Trixie Norton. The original “Honeymooners” (1955-56) also was spun-off into future iterations, including musical episodes, just like “The Flintstones.”
Lucille Ball admired “Honeymooners” creator and Jackie Gleason and Gleason even played Ralph Kramden on “Here’s Lucy.” Ball also worked with the show’s other stars: Art Carney (in “Happy Anniversary and Goodbye” and “What Now Catherine Curtis”), Audrey Meadows (in “Mother of the Bride” on “Life With Lucy”) and even Jane Kean, who played Trixie in the color “Honeymooners” (who was seen on a 1966 episode of “The Lucy Show”).
CAST CONNECTIONS
Jean Vander Pyl (Wilma Flintstone / Pebbles) worked with Lucille Ball on several episodes of “My Favorite Husband” radio show in 1948.
Alan Reed (Fred Flintstone) played a train station luncheon counter attendant in “Lucy Visits The White House” (TLS S1;E23) in 1963, while also playing Fred Flintstone on ABC. He later appeared on an episode of Desi Arnaz’s “Mothers-in-Law”.
Bea Benadaret (Betty Rubble) was one of Lucille Ball’s favorite performers. She played Iris Atterbury on “My Favorite Husband” and was Ball’s first choice to play Ethel Mertz. Instead, she played Miss Lewis in “Lucy Plays Cupid” (ILL S1;E15).
Mel Blanc (Barney Rubble) was a master of voices best known for Bugs Bunny. He also worked extensively with Jack Benny, once with Lucille Ball. He did two films with Lucille Ball: The Fuller Brush Girl (1950) and G.I. Journal (1944). In 1969, Blanc did some ADR (dialogue replacement) work on “Here’s Lucy.”
Hal Smith (Various Voices) is probably best known as Otis the Drunk on “The Andy Griffith Show”. He appeared with Lucille Ball in the 1963 film Critic’s Choice and did three episodes of “The Lucy Show” and one of “Here’s Lucy.”
Howard Morris (Various Voices) played Howard Coe in “Lucy and the Golden Greek” (TLS S4;E2) in 1965.
Allan Melvin (Various Voices) is best remembered as Sam the Butcher on “The Brady Bunch” and Barney Hefner on “All in the Family.” In 1956, as Corporal Henshaw on “Sergeant Bilko,” he did was seen with Ball in “Bilko’s Ape Man.” Melvin and Ball also appeared together on the 8th Anniversary of “The Ed Sullivan Show” In 1954.
Harvey Korman (The Great Gazzoo / Various Voices) is best remembered for his work with Carol Burnett on “The Carol Burnett Show”, several times with Lucille Ball. He also appeared on “The Lucy Show” three times.
Janet Waldo (Mrs. Slaghoople / Hedda Rocker / Various Voices) is best remembered for voicing Judy Jetson on another Hanna-Barbera cartoon series, “The Jetsons” (1962-87). She played Peggy “Keep Jiggling” Dawson on “I Love Lucy” and Lucy Carmichael’s sister Marge on “The Lucy Show.”
Frank Nelson (Rockbind / Rocky Stone / Various Clerks) did two recurring characters on “I Love Lucy” - Freddie Fiillmore and Ralph Ramsey, in addition to other characters. His distinctive voice was heard on “My Favorite Husband” and he made one appearance, as the harried train conductor, on “The Lucy Show.”
June Foray (Granny / Nurses) was one of the most famous voice artists in Hollywood, most famous for Rocket J. Squirrel. Coincidentally, Warner Brothers recruited Foray to replace Bea Benadaret as Granny in their cartoons. On “I Love Lucy” she provided the bark of Fred the dog.
Paula Winslowe (Mrs. Slate / Various Voices) played Mrs. Martha Conklin on “Our Miss Brooks” opposite Gale Gordon. On “I Love Lucy” she was one of the passengers on the S.S. Constitution in “Second Honeymoon” (ILL S5;E14) and a patient (in wheelchair, above) in “Lucy Plays Florence Nightingale” (TLS S2;E14). She was the voice of Bambi’s mother in the 1942 Disney film Bambi.
Verna Felton (Pearl Slaghoople) received two Emmy nominations for her role in the Desilu series “December Bride,” playing Hilda Crocker from 1955 to 1959. She did two episodes of “I Love Lucy,” including playing Lucy’s stern maid, Mrs. Porter. Felton voiced many characters for Disney.
Howard McNear (Doctor) played Mr. Crawford, Little Ricky’s music teacher on “I Love Lucy.” McNear went on to play Floyd the Barber on “The Andy Griffith Show” from 1961 to 1967, filmed on the Desilu backlot. He was also seen in Lucy and Desi’s 1953 film The Long, Long Trailer.
Herb Vigran (Cop) was one of the busiest character actors in Hollywood. He played Jule, Ricky Ricardo’s music agent on two episodes of “I Love Lucy” in addition to playing movie publicist Hal Sparks in “Lucy is Envious” (ILL S3;23). He was seen in the Lucy-Desi film The Long, Long Trailer and six episodes of “The Lucy Show” - all as doctors!
Ginny Tyler (Daisy) voiced Clementine the sheep in “Lucy Buys a Sheep” (TLS S1;E5) and the bird voices in “Lucy Gets the Bird” (TLS S3;E12) and one episode of “Here’s Lucy.” She did the voice of the sheep in Disney’s 1964 hit Mary Poppins. Although she died in 2012, her voice can still be heard in the chorus of birds outside The Enchanted Tiki Room at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
Willard Waterman (Gus Gravel) was a versatile voice actor who appeared on hundreds of radio shows in the 1930s and 40s. He is probably best remembered for playing “The Great Gildersleeve” on both radio and TV. He was seen on “The Lucy Show” in “Lucy and The Plumber” (above) and “Lucy the Rain Goddess” (S4;E15).
Jerry Hausner (Clyde) was best remembered for playing Jerry, Ricky’s agent on “I Love Lucy” (including the pilot). He also did one appearance on “The Lucy Show.”
Sam Edwards (Agent) played the star-struck bellboy in “Lucy Meets the Queen” (ILL S5;E15). He was also the voice of the adult Thumper in Bambi (1942).
Sandra Gould (Various Voices) was best remembered as Gladys Kravitz on “Bewitched”. She made two appearances on “I Love Lucy” and one (above) on “The Lucy Show.”
Ann-Margret (Ann Margrock) was one of several celebrity guest stars to be honored with character on “The Flintstones”. She was also a guest star (as herself) on “Here’s Lucy” in 1970 and had appeared on Ann-Margret’s 1969 special.
Elizabeth Taylor (Pearl Slaghoople in The Flintstones live action film, 1994) was one of Hollywood’s most glamorous and popular stars when she guest starred with husband Richard Burton on “Here’s Lucy” in 1970. It is odd, then, that she was cast as Pearl Slaghoople, a character that was previously considered frumpy.
Paul Winchell (Umpire / Thief / Reporter in "Wind Up Wilma” - 1981) was best known as a ventriloquist, but he was also an accomplished character actor who appeared in two episodes of “The Lucy Show” and two of “Here’s Lucy.”
Arte Johnson (”Flintstone Kids” - 1989) was best known as a cast member on “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In”. He also did an episode of “Here’s Lucy” as an eccentric bird watcher.
George O’Hanlon (”Flintstone Kids” - 1989) was best remembered as the voice of George Jetson on “The Jetsons,” another hit Hanna-Barbera cartoon. On “I Love Lucy” he was one of two actors to play Charlie Appleby.
"I Love Lucy” and “The Flintstones”
First, Lucille Ball bears more than a passing physical resemblance to Wilma Flintstone. In “The Flintstones” it is clear that Fred is the leading character and most stories revolve around Fred and Barney, rather than Lucy and Ethel. The tried and true formula of a leading couple and the best friends / neighbors as the secondary characters is used in “I Love Lucy”, “The Honeymooners” and “The Flintstones”.
Here are a few more tangible connections:
The animated Lucy and Desi that opened pre-syndication airings of “I Love Lucy” were created by the Hanna-Barbera unit at MGM.
And both shows were sponsored by cigarette companies; “I Love Lucy” by Philip Morris and “The Flintstones” by Winston.
Wilma and Betty trying to sneak into the Water Buffalo convention in "Ladies Night at the Lodge" (1964) while disguised as men was very close to Lucy and Ethel disguising themselves as male reporters to infiltrate Ricky’s daddy shower in “Ricky Has Labor Pains” (1953).
The plot of “Operation Switchover” (1964) recycles the premise and many of the same plot elements of “Job Switching” (1952) especially with the domestic disasters on Ricky and Fred's end: scorched clothes while ironing, a fallen cake, and overflowing rice on the stove.
Like Lucy Ricardo, Wilma Flintstone’s pregnancy was incorporated into the storyline. It was originally thought that like Lucy, Wilma would have a boy, but merchandisers pointed out that there were more opportunities for products for girls, so Pebbles was born. Like Lucille Ball, Jean Vander Pyl (who voiced Wilma) was pregnant at the time of recording and gave birth to her son on the day "The Blessed Event" originally aired on February 22, 1963.
Fred and Barney undertake a rehearsal for the big moment, including Betty rehearsing telephoning the doctor, just like Ricky and the Mertz’s do for Lucy when ‘the time has come’.
Wilma seems to get cravings for unusual foods including hot fudge and sardines that Fred dutifully supplies, just like Ricky did for Lucy.
In the father’s waiting room, a man worries his wife might deliver more than one baby, just like Mr. Stanley (Charles Lane) on “I Love Lucy.”
In “Operation Switchover” a character named Hedda Rocker from Good Cavekeeping Magazine is obviously inspired by Hedda Hopper, the famous gossip columnist who appeared on two episodes of “I Love Lucy” as herself.
Arthur Murray, who’s innovate dance instruction method and dance studios became iconic, is parodied on “The Flintstones” as Arthur Quarry. In a 1965 episode, he was named Arthury Murrayrock.
In “Lucy Meets the Mustache” (LDCH S3;E3) Lucy wants to open a sealed letter so she tries a inserting a knitting needle under the flap, a method she says she saw in an Alfred Hitchcock movie. The scene is underscored with “Funeral March of a Marionette” by Charles Gounod, which served as the theme tune of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”. On “The Flintstones” he is parodied as Alvin Brickrock.
Hollyrock star Rock Quarry is a tribute to Rock Hudson, but talks like Gary Cooper. Hudson guest-starred on an episode of “I Love Lucy” set in Palm Springs. Previously, Lucy dressed as Gary Cooper (complete with his trademark ‘yup’) to fool near-sighted Caroline Appleby.
An episode titled “The Soft Touchables” is modeled after Desilu’s hit gangster series “The Untouchables.” “The Lucy Show” parodied their own show in an episode titled “Lucy The Gun Moll” (TLS S4;E25) in 1966 starring “The Untouchables Cast” but using different character names.
Wilma and Betty’s favorite television show “Peek-A-Boo Camera” catches Fred and Barney acting silly in a 1963 episode that is clearly modeled after TV’s “Candid Camera” created by Allen Funt. In 1971, “Lucy and the Candid Camera” (HL S4;E14) also featured Funt in hidden camera shot plot. Lucy Carmichael also get involved in a hidden camera television show in “Lucy and the Beauty Doctor” (TLS S3;E24). In that show, the program was called “The Boiling Point.”
The hit Broadway and movie musical movie My Fair Lady inspired many satires (some in name only) including “My Fair Freddy” (1966) and “My Fair Lucy” (TLS S3;E20) in 1965!
In “Fred Flintstone Woos Again” (1961) Wilma convinces Fred to renew their wedding vows after realizing the official who originally married them wasn’t fully licensed! On “I Love Lucy” Lucy realized that their wedding was also invalid when she found an error on their license. They go to the spot they first wed to renew their vows, just like “The Flintstones”.
In “Dial ‘S’ for Suspicion” (1962) Wilma's devotion to a murder mystery novel causes Fred to wonder if Wilma is trying to away with him. In “Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying To Do Away With Her” (ILL S1;E4) Lucy's devotion to a murder mystery novel causes her to wonder if Ricky is trying to do away with her!
When Wilma can’t keep up with the housework, she hires a maid in “Wilma the Maid” (1963). The same situation happened in the Ricardo home in “Lucy Hires a Maid” (ILL S2;E23). While the Flintstone’s maid is an earthy Italian woman named Rockabrigida, the Ricardo’s maid is a humorless woman named Mrs. Porter. Coincidentally, Mrs. Porter was played by Verna Felton, who voices Pearl Slaghoople on “The Flintstones”.
When superhero “Superstone” is hired for a birthday party but can’t make it - Fred takes his place. On “I Love Lucy” when Superman is promised for Little Ricky’s party, but can’t make it, Lucy takes his place - nearly!
In “How To Pick A Fight With Your Wife” (1966) spats between spouses escalate to such a degree that the couples split: Fred and Barney are thrown together as roommates, while Wilma and Betty are bunking together at the other house. In “Vacation from Marriage” (ILL S2;E6) much the same thing occurs between the Ricardos and the Mertzes!
The real comparison with Lucy and Desi is something Joe Barbera could have only hoped for in 1960 — enduring popularity. Lucy is still justifiably loved by hoards of fans and “I Love Lucy” is on the air somewhere. “The Flintstones” remains a part of the popular culture, 60 years after the show’s debut.
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THE DARK CORNER
November 10, 1947
Synopsis ~ A former San Francisco private eye, just in back New York after two years in prison (the victim of a frame-up), finds himself a target for another send-up and murder.
Directed by Fred MacKaye with musical direction by Louis Silvers and sound effects by Charlie Forsyth
Adapted for radio by Sanford Barnett from the screenplay by Jay Dratler and Bernard Schoenfeld based on the book by Leo Rosten.
It was based on the 20th Century Fox motion picture of the same name released on May 8, 1946.
In later years, Lucille Ball was vocal about hating the experience of shooting The Dark Corner. Director Henry Hathaway's bullying reduced Ball to stuttering on set, at which point Hathaway accused her of being inebriated. At the time, Lucille Ball was suing to get out of her contract with MGM. As a result, MGM loaned her to Fox for this picture, which included a significant pay cut.
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 (Kathleen Stewart) 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.
Mark Stevens (Bradford Galt) reprises his role from the film version of The Dark Corner (1946). He became a contract player for Warners at $100 a week in 1943 but they darkened and straightened his curly ginger-colored hair and covered his freckles. At first he was billed as Stephen Richards, he later changed it to Mark Stevens at the suggestion of Darryl F. Zanuck when he switched to 20th Century-Fox. He died in 1994 at age 77.
Joseph Kearns (Ralph Wickett) appeared on “I Love Lucy” as the psychiatrist in “The Kleptomaniac” (ILL S1;E27) and later played the theatre manager in “Lucy’s Night in Town” (S6;E22). His most famous role was as Mr. Wilson on TV’s “Dennis the Menace” (1959). When he passed away during the show’s final season, Lucy regular Gale Gordon took over for him, playing his brother.
In the film, the character was named Hardy Cathcart and was played by Clifton Webb.
Norma Jean Nilsson (Little Girl at the Boarding House) was a child actress who left Hollywood at age 19 after appearing in 16 films and television shows.
In the film, the character carries a slide whistle, which is not used here. She was played by Colleen Alpaugh.
Wally Maher (Fred Foss aka Stauffer) was born on August 4, 1908 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was known for Mystery Street (1950), The Reformer and the Redhead (1950) and Hollywood Hotel (1937). He was married to Molly Bruno. He died on December 27, 1951.
In the feature film, the role was played by William Bendix, who would go on to fame as the title character in TV’s “The Life of Riley.”
Dan O'Herlihy (Anthony Jardine) was an Irish-born actor nominated for an Oscar in 1954 for Robinson Crusoe. In 1960 he made an appearance on Desilu’s “The Untouchables.” He was in two of the RoboCop movies. He died in 2005 at age 85.
In the feature film, the role was played by German-born actor Kurt Krueger.
Fay Baker (Mari Wickett) was born on January 31, 1917 in New York City as Fanita Baker Schwager. She was known for Notorious (1946), The House on Telegraph Hill (1951) and Deadline - U.S.A. (1952). She died on December 8, 1987.
In the feature film, the role was taken by Cathy Downs, making her first credited screen appearance.
ENSEMBLE
Trude Marson was seen in uncredited roles in four films from 1937 to 1947.
Noreen Gammill started her screen career as the voice of Catty the Elephant in Disney’s Dumbo (1941). She made two background appearances on “The Andy Griffith Show” (1963 and 1964), filmed on the Desilu backlot.
William Johnstone is probably best remembered as Judge Lowell on the long-running daytime drama “As The World Turns”. Prior to that he worked extensively in radio and took over the role of Lamont Cranston on "The Shadow" playing opposite Agnes Moorehead when Orson Welles left the series.
Janet Scott was a regular background voice on “Lux Radio Theatre” with dozens of episodes to her credit from 1937 to 1955.
Lois Corbett was married to Don Wilson of “The Jack Benny Program” and as such did more than a dozen episodes of the television shows with him from 1954 to 1964.
Edward Marr was seen in The Affairs of Annabel with Lucille Ball in 1938. He was also in two Bob Hope TV specials with Hope and Ball in 1966 and 1970.
Stanley Farrar was seen on “I Love Lucy” in “Home Movies” (ILL S3;E20) and “Staten Island Ferry” (ILL S5;E12). He on “The Lucy Show” in “Lucy and Arthur Godfrey” (TLS S3;E23) and “Lucy Meets Danny Kaye” (TLS S3;E15).
Herb Butterfield was born on October 28, 1895 in Providence, Rhode Island. He was known for The Halls of Ivy (1954), The House on Telegraph Hill (1951) and Shield for Murder (1954). On radio, he portrayed the Commissioner on NBC 's "Dangerous Assignment" (1949-53) and Clarence Wellman on "The Halls of Ivy" (1950-52). He died on May 2, 1957
Cliff Clark was seen with Lucille Ball in Her Husband’s Affairs (1947), Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949), and The Fuller Brush Girl (1950).
OTHERS
William Keighley (Host and Producer) was the director of nearly 40 feature films between 1932 and 1953. His film The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) was selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being culturally significant.
Dorothy Lovett (Commercial Spokeswoman as Libby Collins, Hollywood Reporter) appeared as Meta Bauer on radio’s “The Guiding Light" (1945-47) and as Toni Sherwood in "The Adventures of Rocky Jordan". She did three films with Lucille Ball from 1939 to 1941.
Betty Ann Lynn (Herself, Act Two Intermission Guest) is best known for playing Thelma Lou on “The Andy Griffith Show” (1961 to 1965) which was filmed on the Desilu back lot.
John Milton Kennedy (Announcer) was the announcer of all 35 episodes of “The Loretta Young Show” from 1954 to 1955.
ACT ONE
William Keighley introduces the program, noting that many years earlier, director Fred Kohlmar saw a titian-haired young model who had great possibilities - Lucille Ball. He later had the privilege of presenting her in the film version of The Dark Corner. After a mention of Lux Toilet Soap, the program begins.
The action opens in a New York City office building on a sultry summer afternoon. Police detective Reeves visits the Offices of Bradford Galt, Private Investigator and speaks to his secretary, Kathleen Stewart.
Galt enters and Reeves wonders why Galt didn’t notify him that he moved offices after his prior unpleasantness. Galt asks Kathleen to have dinner with him. After dinner, Galt asks her to go dancing but she’s wise to his advance. As they walk down the street, they realize that they are being followed.
Kathleen takes a cab back to the office, while Galt confronts the pursuer at gunpoint, taking him back to his office for questioning. He says his name is Fred Foss, and that he’s also a private detective. Galt doesn’t believe him and decides to beat the truth out of him.
After some roughing up, Fred discloses that he is being paid to tail Galt by Anthony Jardine. In the tussle, some ink spills on Foss’s white suit. He lets Foss leave. Kathleen was supposed to tail Foss after he left the office, but he tricked her and got away.
Back at his rooming house, Foss uses the hall telephone to call art gallery owner Ralph Wickett, and his ink-stained suit is noticed by a Little Girl neighbor.
At a party for his third wedding anniversary, Wickett hangs up and is greeted by Jardine, a lawyer. Mrs. Lucy Wilding takes Jardine aside pretending to ask legal advice, but it is revealed that he is blackmailing her.
Meanwhile, Galt confides in Kathleen about his past. Jardine is trying to kill Galt because he was a former partner that Galt confronted about his blackmailing female clients. Now Jardine wants to finish the job.
Mari Wickett, Ralph’s wife, is having an affair with Anthony Jardine. She wants to run away with him. At the same time, Galt is headed there to settle the score.
End of Act One
A Lux commercial break takes the form of a story from Libby Collins, Hollywood Reporter. She says she saw Universal’s The Lost Moment starring Robert Cummings and Susan Hayward. Libby says she was on location when they filmed the big fire scene, the biggest fire ever done on a sound stage. She says that she and Susan Hayward washed the soot off their faces with Lux Toilet Soap!
At the time of the broadcast, The Lost Moment was still two weeks from being released. It opened in cinemas on November 27, 1947. The story is set in Italy, so the cast included Edward Ciannelli, who played pizzeria owner Mr. Martinelli in “Visitor from Italy” (ILL S6;E5) and Saverio LoMedico who played the Rome hotel bellboy in “Lucy’s Italian Movie” (ILL S5;E23). The film was not a box office success.
ACT TWO
An hour has past since the end of Act One and Galt is at Jardine’s door. Galt threatens Jardine, who denies tailing him.The two fight while Mari is hiding in the other room. After Galt leaves, she convinces him to run away with her.
At the Gallery, Wickett is visited by Foss. It is clear Wickett is setting up Jardine to take the fall when he has Galt killed. Foss calls Galt to betray Jardine for a price. Galt suggests a one-on-one meeting at his apartment - 904 West 52nd, apartment 307 at 8pm sharp. Wickett will send Jardine to Galt’s apartment at 7:30pm.
In reality, there is no such address. West 52nd Street in New York City ends at the the 600s block. This is similar to the Ricardo and Mertz apartment building. 623 East 68th Street, which, if real, would be in the East River!
Kathleen and Galt are supposed to meet at the movies, but he doesn’t show so he goes to his apartment at 8:30. Galt opens the door and reveals that Jardine is dead. Galt was ambushed with and knocked out with ether. He woke up to find Jardine’s body bludgeoned by the fireplace poker. Galt realizes he was set up.
Later, Galt meets Kathleen at her apartment. He couldn’t find Foss and doesn’t know where to look next.
Wickett reminds Mari that they are due at the Kinsglsey’s that night, but she begs off. He strongly hints that he knows that Mari is stepping out on him and looking to run off.
Galt suddenly realizes that Foss would have to have his white suit cleaned, so he is determined to search all the cleaners for the suit and get his address.
Foss phones Wickett, and the Little Girl is there to overhear his conversation. Foss makes a plan to meet Wickett on the 31st floor of the Grant building.
Galt and Kathleen are about to give up on the search for the suit when a cleaner comes through. They get his address and trace Foss to the rooming house where he lives. His name turns out to be Stauffer, not Foss. The landlady reports that he moved out an hour ago and doesn’t know where he went. But the Little Girl does - and spills the beans for a quarter! Galt and Kathleen head for the Grant Building.
End of Act Two
In the break, Keighley interviews Fox contract player Betty Ann Lynn, who saw filming of Daryl F. Zanuck’s Gentleman’s Agreement starring Gregory Peck and Dorothy McGuire in a “very unusual picture”.
Gentleman’s Agreement premiered on November 11, one day after this broadcast, in both New York City and Chicago. It dealt with anti-Semitism and went on to win three Oscars, including Best Picture. The cast included Lucycom alumni Mike Lally, Shep Houghton, Roy Roberts, and Amzie Strickland in uncredited roles. Betty Ann Lynn says that she also likes to watch the filming of a costume picture like The Foxes of Harrow starring Rex Harrison and Maureen O’Hara, who had 26 costumes made just for her. She notes that O’Hara has a Lux complexion.
The Foxes of Harrow was released September 13, 1947. "Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a sixty minute radio adaptation of this movie on December 6, 1948, with Maureen O'Hara reprising her movie role. The movie was the screen debut of William Schallert, who did several episodes of “The Lucy Show.” O’Hara and Lucille Ball became lifelong friends after their 1940 film Dance, Girl, Dance. Like Gentleman’s Agreement, The Foxes of Harrow also features Roy Roberts, who went on to play bank president Mr. Cheever on “The Lucy Show.”
ACT THREE
Kathleen and Galt rush to the Grant Building, where Mr. Wickett is about to settle accounts on a remote fire escape. Foss / Stauffer brings proof that Jardine is dead but Wickett throws him from the fire escape to his death.
Galt and Kathleen witness the whole incident from the street, as does the cab driver who was waiting for Foss / Stauffer. Thinking fast, Galt steals the cab which still contains Foss’s luggage. Later, we hear that the bags were only full of clothes. Kathleen urges him to keep thinking.
Kathleen suddenly remembers that the Little Girl mentioned galleries. They put the pieces together and all evidence leads them to the Wickett Galleries. Galt heads there and questions the clerk. Under the guise of buying a painting, Galt inquires about meeting Mr. Wickett, and the clerk departs. Mari comes in the side door, and Galt tells her that Anthony Jardine has been murdered. She faints. Wickett comes in and when Galt tells him the truth, Ralph locks him in the gallery vault. Mari has revived and overhears Ralph’s threats, holding a gun on him. She shoots her husband dead.
Kathleen has tipped off the police, who only want to charge him with stealing a taxi cab. Kathleen asks if he can be booked at another time because they have a date at the City Hall - to get married.
End of Story
As a curtain call, Keighley chats with Lucille Ball and Mark Stevens. He congratulates Ball on the success of her stage show, Dream Girl, a play she says she will do again in San Francisco. When Keighley asks how Lucille’s busy schedule and that of her husband Desi Arnaz’s leave any time for a personal life, Ball says that they will be playing in San Francisco at the same time.
In June 1947, Lucille Ball performed at New Jersey’s McCarter Theatre in Dream Girl, a play by Elmer Rice. It also played Brooklyn, Detroit and Boston.
The San Francisco production opened just a week after this radio telecast. As Ball states, Desi Arnaz was also in San Francisco at the time, playing in the Rose Room of the Palace Hotel, a fact that was advertised in the Dream Girl program. During the Los Angeles engagement in January 1948, Ball fell ill and had to withdraw. Although she love performing on stage, her radio career and then television success did not allow her to return to the footlights until 1960.
Lucy notes that like many other busy stars, she owes her good complexion to Lux Soap!
Turning to Mark Stevens, Lucille notes that he will play an FBI man in his next project at Fox, with Keighley as director.
Although the film’s title is not mentioned, they are referring to The Street With No Name, which won’t be released until June 1948. Stevens plays Gene Cordell aka George Manley, a covert FBI agent who infiltrates a ruthless gangster mob. "Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60-minute radio adaptation of the movie on January 31, 1949 with Mark Stevens reprising his film role.
Keighley notes that next week “Lux Radio Theatre” will present Jane Wyman and Ronald Reagan in Nobody Lives Forever.
The Warner Brothers picture Nobody Lives Forever was released on November 1, 1946. It originally starred John Garfield and Geraldine Fitzgerald in roles taken on radio by Reagan and Wyman, who were husband and wife at the time. Of course, Reagan left Hollywood for a grander stage, first in California as Governor, then as President of the United States. He bestowed Lucille Ball with The Kennedy Center Honor in 1986.
A public service announcement asks housewives to salvage kitchen fats and turn them in at their local butcher for cash!
These were used to make supplies for wartime, such as ammunition and weapons.
Announcer Kennedy notes that Mark Stevens appeared through the courtesy of 20th Century Fox, producers of Forever Amber.
Forever Amber is a 1944 romance novel by Kathleen Winsor set in 17th-century England. It was made into a film in 1947 starring Cornel Wilde, who appeared in “The Star Upstairs” (ILL S4;E25). When “Lucy Writes A Novel” (ILL S3;E24), Ethel jokes about finding Lucy’s hidden manuscript and burning it: “We pulled down the kitchen blind and changed the name of your novel to 'Forever Ember.'”
‘DARK’ TRIVIA
In a September 1985 episode of “Remington Steele,” a character played by Stephen Dillane has the name Bradford Galt! The stories, however, are not otherwise connected.
In both the film and the radio show, Fred Foss gives his phone number as CH-elsea 4-43510. However, according to the Manhattan phone book for 1946, there were only CH-elsea 2 and CH-elsea 3 exchanges. Real phone numbers were rarely used in film or television.
When television began to supplant radio, “The Lux Video Theatre” was introduced. It was seen from 1950 to 1959. Initially, the show was a thirty-minute weekly show featuring live stage plays, but when it moved to NBC in August 1954, the show was extended to sixty minutes. As on radio, the programs were then primarily adaptations of motion pictures. The host would introduce each act, and would conduct an interview with the stars at the end of the play. Of the cast of this radio version of The Dark Corner:
William Keighley directed an episode in 1951.
Mark Stevens did an episode in 1955.
Dan O’Herlihy did five episodes.
Joseph Kearns did three episodes.
The character name Ralph Wickett replaced Hardy Cathcart for the radio show. It is likely that they could no longer get legal clearance to use the name Hardy Cathcart, necessitating the change.
The film featured Ellen Corby as a maid, a role not in the radio drama. Corby went on to be seen as Lucy Ricardo’s high school acting teacher and in several small roles on “The Lucy Show” before her best-loved role of Grandma on “The Waltons.”
The film also features background work by Sam Harris, who did 15 films with Lucille Ball, in addition to multiple episodes of “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show” as well as Harold Miller, who did eight films with Lucy and two episodes of “I Love Lucy”.
The film is available on DVD complete with DVD commentary and original trailer.
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SHIRLEY MITCHELL
November 4, 1919
Shirley Mitchell was born in Toledo, Ohio, on November 4, 1919. She started her acting career on radio in Chicago but soon moved to Los Angeles. Mitchell was a regular on radio in series such as "Fibber McGee and Molly" and "The Great Gildersleeve". She became friends with Lucille Ball in the late 1940s when she was featured in four episodes of “My Favorite Husband.”
She made her screen debut in 1944′s Jamboree, about two rival bands competing for the same spot on a radio show. Mitchell played Alice Darling.
She made her television debut on August 17, 1951 on an episode of “Hollywood Theatre Time” (aka “Hollywood Premiere Theatre”) an anthology series. “I Love Lucy” writers Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Pugh were writers on the series, and had also been writers of “My Favorite Husband.” That was quickly followed by an episode of “Personal Appearance Theatre” (December 1951) opposite Jane Darwell.
In 1952 and 1953, Mitchell made four appearances as different characters on “I Married Joan,” NBC’s answer to “I Love Lucy.” There she worked with “Lucy” alumni Margie Liszt, Ross Elliott, Hal March, and Joseph Kearns. “Lucy” and “Joan” were both filmed at General Service Studio.
Starting in 1953, and for the next ten years, Mitchell would make a total of eight appearances on “Make Room for Daddy” aka “The Danny Thomas Show”. The series was filmed at Desilu, and Danny Thomas and Lucille Ball had a long-lasting work relationship. When the series moved to CBS for the final years of its run, it took the timeslot of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.” The two shows did reciprocal crossover appearances.
Mitchell reunited with Lucille Ball on “I Love Lucy” playing Marion Strong, a member of the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League. Her first episode was “Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress” (ILL S3;E3) in October 1953. This is not, however, the character’s first appearance. Marion was previously played by Margie Liszt, an actress Mitchell worked with on “I Married Joan.”
Mitchell went on to play the character twice more. In “Lucy Tells the Truth” (ILL S3;E6) three weeks later, Lucy has to tell the honest truth to Marion about her featured hat and inane cackling:
LUCY: “I’ve been waiting ten years for you to lay that egg.”
In “Lucy’s Club Dance” (ILL S3;E25) Lucy creates an all-girl band. Marion is the troupe’s publicist and doesn’t play in the band. This is the character’s last appearance on the series, but we learn her husband’s name is Bill. The need to have actresses who could play specific instruments probably side-lined Mitchell from the main action of this episode.
Even though the character never appeared again, Marion was someone Lucy sometimes mentioned, as in this telephone conversation from “Staten Island Ferry” (ILL S5;E12) in 1956. In real life, Marion Strong was a high school friend of Lucille Ball’s who later married Norman Van Vlack. Lucy Ricardo interchangeably uses Marion’s surnames and mixes her fictional and real husbands!
In early 1956, Mitchell did two episodes (playing two different characters) on “Our Miss Brooks” opposite Gale Gordon and Eve Arden. The series was produced at Desilu Studios and Lucille Ball counted Arden and Gordon as two of her most cherished co-stars. Desi Arnaz even appeared on one episode of the series.
In 1957, Mitchell did a day on the Desilu series “The Real McCoys” starring Richard Crenna. Although Crenna was a regular on “Our Miss Brooks,” he did not appear on either of Mitchell’s episodes.
In 1954 and 1958 she appeared on episodes of Desilu’s “December Bride” starring Verna Felton and (in one episode) Elvia Allman. Like “Our Miss Brooks” Desi also made an appearance on this show as well.
In 1960 and 1961, Mitchell re-teamed with Doris Singleton (Caroline Appleby) on the Desilu series “Angel”. Mitchell played Blanche and Doris played Susie on this short-lived comedy.
In 1960, she became a recurring character on “Pete and Gladys” a sequel sitcom to Desilu’s “December Bride” that was otherwise not connected to Desilu. Mitchell played Janet Colton in 13 episodes of the series.
In 1962 and 1964, Mitchell made appearances on “The Dick Van Dyke Show” which was filmed at Desilu.
In 1968 Mitchell played Sally on two episodes of “My Three Sons” shot on the Desilu backlot.
That saem year she did two episodes of Desi Arnaz’s sitcom “The Mothers-in-Law” where she was reunited with Desi and Eve Arden. She played Margaret Cornell in both appearances. In one, she was joined by June Whitely Taylor who had also been a member of the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League! Taylor here played a character named Mrs. Trumbull! This is not surprising as Desi had managed to employ his “I Love Lucy” writers to pen the series.
In 1970, she again played a character named Marion on “The Debbie Reynolds Show”. Naturally, the writer was “Lucy” scribe Jess Oppenheimer.
Mitchell continued to act up through her final screen appearance in 1990 on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Aire.”
In 1946, she married Dr. Julian Frieden. The engagement party was held at the home of Dinah Shore. They had two children and were divorced in 1974. In 1992, she married songwriter Jay Livingston, and the two remained married until his death in 2001.
Shirley Mitchell died of heart failure on November 11, 2013, seven days after her 94th birthday.
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LUCY’S SAFARI
S1;E22 ~ March 3, 1969
Directed by Jack Donohue ~ Written by Milt Josefsberg and Ray Singer
Synopsis
When a rare Gorboona escapes from the zoo, Lucy, Harry and the kids help a big game hunter (Howard Keel) trap him!
Regular Cast
Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter), Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter), Desi Arnaz Jr. (Craig Carter)
Guest Cast
Howard Keel (Stanley Livingston, a Big Game Hunter) was discovered by Oscar Hammerstein II during auditions for John Raitt's replacement in Broadway's Carousel in 1946. After that, he also went on to play Curly in Oklahoma! He is probably best remembered for his role in MGM's Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954), a film that was mentioned on “I Love Lucy.” On TV he played Clayton Farlow on “Dallas” (1981-91). This is his only appearance with Lucille Ball. Keel died in 2004.
According to the Unique Employment Agency's file card on Livingston, he is 6'4” tall, 220 lbs, dark hair, blue eyes, and single. He has spent many years living in Africa.
Janos Prohaska (Gorboona) was an actor, stunt man, and animal imitator who is probably best remembered as the talking cookie-mad bear on “The Andy Williams Show” (1969) although due to his thick Hungarian accent, his voice was dubbed. He first played a simian on “Lucy and the Monkey” (TLS S5;E12). This is the first of three times playing animals on “Here’s Lucy.” Prohaska died in a plane crash in 1974.
The Gorboona escaped from the Topanga Zoo. A Gorboona is a rare, nearly extinct, cross between a GORilla and a baBOON.
Lucy, Desi Jr., and Lucie were on the cover of TV Guide the week this show premiered.
Lucille Ball was so hoarse from rehearsing the jungle mating call that she nearly lost her voice. This show is not a favorite of anyone involved in the episode. Not to mention many who weren't!
Howard Keel's character is named Stanley Livingston so that Lucy (and later Harry) can say the iconic line “Mr. Livingston, I presume” a paraphrase of “Dr. Livingstone, I presume.” Doctor David Livingstone was a 17th century missionary and explorer in central Africa, the first European to see Victoria Falls. When reporter H.M. Stanley finally found him in 1871, he supposedly greeted him with “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” In 1939, a film called Stanley and Livingstone was released, starring Spencer Tracy as Stanley and Cedric Hardwicke as Livingstone. The quote was included in the film and is majorly responsible for its continued use today.
Livingston tells Lucy that back in Africa he was enamored of an athletic (though feminine) woman named Rachel Weatherby, who could single-handedly skin and quarter a buffalo.
Lucy reluctantly tells the handsome and eligible Mr. Livingston that Kim is 16 and Craig is 15.
Lucy tells Mr. Livingston that back home she used to work for a blacksmith – handing him the horses! She is likely bragging to impress Mr. Livingston and vanquish his memories of Miss Weatherby. [A blacksmith? In this episode it could very well be true!]
There is a $10,000 reward for the safe return of the Gorboona. It was last seen in the Topanga Canyon. Topanga Canyon is located in western Los Angeles County, California, in the Santa Monica Mountains, between Malibu and the city of Los Angeles.
Lucy calls Mr. Livingston “bwana,” an East African word for boss or master. In 1963 Bob Hope starred in the safari movie Call Me Bwana.
Livingston demonstrates the mating call of the Gorboona, which in reality has the same melody as "Indian Love Call," from Oscar Hammerstein II and Otto Harbach's operetta Rose Marie. Lucy echos him (off key) and says “That is pretty.” Not coincidentally, Howard Keel starred in the 1954 film version.
The Jungle Dance was choreographed by Jack Baker and Anita Mann. In the DVD introduction to the episode, Desi Arnaz Jr. says that the dance sequence had him wearing “some of the worst clothes of the entire series.” At least Kim and Craig get to show off what they do best: Craig drums and Kim does a dance solo. As usual, Lucy turns the dance into an ad lib free-for-all that features a Charleston! When the Garboona appears, Lucy and the creature Tango together.
Harry's dance steps conjure up a rain storm that only falls on him – not once but twice. The rule on “Here’s Lucy” is that where there's water, Harry will get wet. Earlier in the episode, he was the only one to fall in the creek when swinging across it on a vine.
“Dr. Livingston, I presume” was first uttered by Lucy Ricardo in “Never Do Business With Friends” (ILL S2;E31) when Lucy 'discovers' Ricky through the laundry lines before begging him for a new washing machine.
The costumes for the dance are reminiscent of what Claude Akins wore as the Giant Native in “Desert Island” (ILL S6;E8). When Harry is told to look for footprints but only discovers those of Livingston, it is very similar to when Lucy tracked the footprints of a Giant Native only to discover they were Ethel's!
The Topanga Canyon area is verdant, but it is not a jungle!
After being shot with the tranquilizer gun, Lucille Ball does a slow motion run from the Gorboona, including a slow motion swing on a vine. Why would the vine also be in slow motion? Was it also affected by the tranquilizer? Just one of many unanswered questions in this fantasy fiasco of an episode!
“Lucy’s Safari” rates 1 Paper Heart out of 5
This episode is more like a live action Saturday morning kids show than a primetime sitcom. The premise is unbelievable, silly, and (worst of all) rarely funny. With all the show’s musical episodes, it is a shame that Lucille Ball wasted singer Howard Keel's only appearance in a non-musical episode.
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Lucy and Viv Open a Restaurant
S2;E20 ~ February 17, 1964
Synopsis
Lucy talks Viv buying a run-down cafe. Unable to attract even a single customer, they transform it into a gypsy tea room and then a Colonial themed restaurant – all to no avail. When Mr. Mooney learns a highway will be built nearby, he offers to become a partner. Unfortunately, blasting for the highway ruins both the café and any chance for success.
Regular Cast
Lucille Ball (Lucy Carmichael), Vivian Vance (Vivian Bagley), Gale Gordon (Theodore J. Mooney)
Candy Moore (Chris Carmichael), Ralph Hart (Sherman Bagley) and Jimmy Garrett (Jerry Carmichael) do not appear in this episode. Jerry, however, is mentioned.
Guest Cast
Kathleen Freeman (Olga, the Cook, below left) was ‘born in a trunk’ to a family of vaudevillians. She made her stage debut at age two in her parents’ act. Equally at home on screen and stage, Freeman was appearing on Broadway in The Full Monty in 2001 when she died of lung cancer. This is the second of her five appearances in various character roles on “The Lucy Show.”
This episode was first aired on Freeman’s 45th birthday!
Jack Albertson (Herbert, the Waiter, above right) played the airport dispatcher arranging the helicopter when Lucy misses the ship in “Bon Voyage” (ILL S5;E13). He went on to win a 1969 Oscar for The Subject Was Roses. He would also play Grandpa Joe in the 1971 movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, but is perhaps best known as ‘the man’ on the TV series “Chico and the Man,” which won him a 1974 Emmy.
Alan Hewitt (Mr. Dutton, Society Columnist for the Danfield Tribune) was a veteran of sixteen Broadway shows, including the original production of Death of a Salesman (1949) and Call Me Madam starring Ethel Merman (1950). From 1964 to 1966 he played Detective Brennan on “My Favorite Martian.” This is his only appearance opposite Lucille Ball.
Benny Rubin (Mr. Smith, Linen Supplier, below center) played the snarky Hollywood Bus Driver in “The Tour” (ILL S4;E30). His first “Lucy Show” appearance was in “Lucy and the Runaway Butterfly” (S1;E29). The recognizable character actor is probably best remembered for his association with Jack Benny.
Jay Ose (Mr. Jones, Linen Supplier, above right) made a career combining gambling and up close magic involving cards. He was a favorite at Hollywood’s Magic Castle Club. In this episode, he demonstrates his skills by pulling the table clothes off the tables without disrupting the place settings. Ose has no dialogue; Rubin does all the talking for the pair.
Rubin and Ose are not referred to by their last names in the episode. At one point, however, Rubin does call Ose “Charley.”
Sid Gould (Mailman) made 46 appearances on “The Lucy Show,” all as background characters. He also played a Mailman in “Lucy and the Military Academy” (S2;E10). He did more than 40 episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” Gould (born Sydney Greenfader) was Lucille Ball’s cousin by marriage to Gary Morton. Gould was married to Vanda Barra, who also appeared on “The Lucy Show” starting in 1967, as well as on “Here’s Lucy.”
James Gonzales (Mr. Dutton’s Dinner Guest) was a popular Hollywood extra who first acted with Lucille Ball in the 1953 film The Long, Long Trailer. He was previously seen on the series as Stan Williams in “Lucy Digs Up a Date” (S1;E2). He was seen in more than 20 episodes of “The Lucy Show” and 3 episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” In this episode, he has a line of dialogue when ordering dinner.
William Meader (Mr. Dutton’s Dinner Guest) had appeared as an airport extra in “The Ricardos Go to Japan,” a 1959 episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.” He made many appearances on “The Lucy Show,” most times as a clerk in Mr. Mooney’s bank. In this episode, he has a line of dialogue when ordering dinner.
Three uncredited women play Mr. Dutton’s other dinner guests.
This episode was filmed on December 19, 1963, the last before the holiday hiatus. The final draft of the script was dated December 12, 1963. It was the 50th episode of the series to be filmed. Although filmed in color, CBS originally aired it in black and white.
The night this episode originally aired (Monday, February 17, 1964) opposite “The Lucy Show” on ABC, “Wagon Train” featured Eliva Allman (left) Marjorie Bennett (center), and Amzie Strickland (right), all of whom had been seen on “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show.”
Lucy responds to an ad in the Danfield Tribune.
“For Sale: Beautiful Restaurant! Great Location! Real Money-Maker! A-1 Condition!”
Viv puts down $1,000 of her ‘nest egg’ to buy the restaurant.
VIV: “If I want to spend a thousand dollars for a meal, I’ll rent a couple of togas and fly in Cary Grant for a Roman banquet.”
Viv may be referring to the 1961 romantic comedy Come September, starring Cary Grant and Gina Lollobridgida and set in Italy. The handsome actor was first mentioned on the series in “No More Double Dates” (S1;E21). He was mentioned in four episodes of “I Love Lucy,” all during the gang’s stay in Hollywood.
Lucy and Viv’s newly refurbished Four Corners Cafe brings in no customers in five days of being “Under New Management”!
Chef Olga’s Advice: “Push the lobster. In one more day he has to go bye-bye.”
Lucy and Viv apply for a GI Loan due to their service in the WAVES. Viv says 'serving their country’ consisted of typing eight hours a day in the Navy purchasing department. Lucy and Viv’s experience in the WAVES was established in “Lucy Becomes an Astronaut” (S1;E6). Unfortunately, they discover they are one week past the ten year window of eligibility. The special delivery letter from the Veteran’s Administration is signed John Foley. In real life, John Foley was the name of the series’ editor.
LUCY: “How about making it a Spanish restaurant?
VIV: “Great! How about calling it El Fiasco.”
They settle on a Gypsy Tea Room serving Hungarian fare.
The Gypsy Tea Room – In “No More Double Dates” (S1;E21) Lucy wanted to go to a restaurant called Café Tambourine.
Chef Olga’s Advice: “Push the Hungarian Goulash.”
Lucy Ricardo played Camille, the snaggle-toothed Queen of the Gypsies in “The Pleasant Peasant” during the episode “The Operetta” (ILL S2'E5). This time, Lucy plays the violin while Viv has the tambourine. Lucy Carmichael first played the violin in “Lucy the Music Lover” (S1;E8). Lucille Ball learned to play violin for that episode, but only managed to muster a squeaky rendition of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” In this episode, Lucille Ball is not actually playing.
When the Gypsy Tea Room doesn’t work out, they change to an Early American motif, complete with the George and Martha as greeters.
The Colonial Inn - This was also the name of a Colonial-themed establishment mentioned in “No More Double Dates” (S1;E21).
Chef Olga’s Advice: “Push the Yankee Pot Roast.”
Before quitting, Olga suggests that Viv (dressed as Martha Washington) close the restaurant and open a candy store. The Martha Washington Candy stores were a national chain started in the 1890s, selling ice cream and chocolates, and furnished in an early American motif. By their peak in the twenties, there were several hundred stores across the country, but the Depression and the death of their founder hit them hard and most of the stores had closed by the mid-thirties, although a few lingered into the mid-forties.
The writer of the society column for the Danfield Tribune comes to the Colonial Inn because the bridge to Ridgebury is out. In “Lucy Becomes a Reporter” (S1;E17) Lucy fills in for The Danfield Tribune’s society column editor Betty Gillis.
Mr. Mooney mentions that the new highway to New Rochelle will bypass Brewster and tunnel through Stone Mountain providing the restaurant lots of potential customers. Or so he thinks!
Genealogists say that Lucille Ball is a distant cousin of George Washington!
Lucille Ball in front of the show curtain for publicity stills. (photos by Getty Images)
Callbacks!
This story resembles “The Girls Go Into Business” (ILL S3;E2), where Lucy and Ethel buy Hanson’s Dress Shop, which becomes a potentially much bigger real estate deal when a developer wants to turn the property into a skyscraper. In “The Diner” (ILL S3;E27) the Ricardos and the Mertzes partnered to open a restaurant: A Little Bit of Cuba / A Big Hunk of America.
The bank of wooden ice box doors glimpsed in the kitchen area are the same units used on “I Love Lucy” in “The Diner”, in Tony’s during “The Black Wig”, and in the kitchen of the unnamed Italian restaurant in “Equal Rights”!
Fast Forward!
George Washington (Don Wilson) dropped by for a word with Mr. and Mrs. Paul Revere (Lucy and Jack Benny) on “The Jack Benny Program” in October 1964, eight months after “Lucy and Viv Open A Restaurant”.
The construction of a new highway through town is what galvanizes Lucy Carmichael and all of Bancroft into action in “Main Street U.S.A.” and “Lucy Puts Main Street On the Map” during season five.
Mr. Mooney briefly appeared as ‘the Father of His Country’ (in painting form) when “Lucy Gets Mooney Fired” during season six.
Blooper Alerts!
Memory Lapse! Viv says they started to live together six years ago. Just ten shows earlier, in "The Loophole in the Lease” (S2;E12), Lucy said they had lived together for 5 years.
Where There’s Smoke... When Lucy backs into the candle setting her wig on fire, the smoke is clearly emanating from the wall panel behind her, even after she moves away. Also, the 'smoke’ behaves very much like dry ice, clinging to the counter top.
“Lucy and Viv Open a Restaurant” Rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5
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Lucy and the Runaway Butterfly
S1;E29 ~ April 22, 1963
Synopsis
Helping Jerry with his Cub Scout project, a rare butterfly escapes and Lucy vows to hunt it down. On a dinner date with a lawyer, she leaps into action when she thinks she spots the rogue insect, resulting in chaos at dinner, the park, and eventually a courtroom.
Regular Cast
Lucille Ball (Lucy Carmichael), Vivian Vance (Vivian Bagley), Jimmy Garrett (Jerry Carmichael), Ralph Hart (Sherman Bagley), Candy Moore (Chris Carmichael)
Guest Cast
Mary Wickes (Mrs. Wickenhauser) was one of Lucille Ball's closest friends and at one time, a neighbor. She made a memorable appearances on “I Love Lucy” as ballet mistress Madame Lamond in “The Ballet” (ILL S1;E19). In her next three “Lucy Show” appearances her character name is Frances, but then makes four more as a variety of characters. Wickes appeared in nine episodes of “Here's Lucy.” Their final collaboration on screen was “Lucy Calls the President” in 1977.
Wickenhauser is Mary Wickes' birth name.
Philip Carey (Howard McClay) was born Eugene Carey on July 15, 1925, in Hackensack, New Jersey. He is probably best known as Asa Buchanan on the soap “One Life to Live.” This marks his only appearance with Lucille Ball.
Howard McClay is the name of Desilu's publicist. Here he is a lawyer, but Mr. McClay was previously mentioned (but not seen) in “Lucy and Her Electric Mattress” (S1;E12) as working at the hardware store. In “Lucy and the Little League” (S1;E28) Mr. Crescent (William Schallert) also talks about working at the hardware store.
Carl Benton Reid (Jack Donohue) appeared with Lucy in the 1950 film The Fuller Brush Girl. He played Oscar Hubbard, Bette Davis' brother in the 1941 film The Little Foxes. This is his only role on “The Lucy Show.”
Jack Donohue is the name of the director of this episode and 106 other episodes of the series. He even made two on-camera appearances on the show. He went on to direct 35 episodes of “Here's Lucy,” appearing on-camera in three of them. His last collaboration with Lucille Ball was the TV special “Lucy Moves to NBC” in 1980.
Doris Packer (Pauline Donohue) was one of the latecomers sharing the theater box with the Ricardos and the Mertzes at The Most Happy Fella during “Lucy's Night in Town” (ILL S6;E22). She later who later returned to play Paul Douglas’ prim secretary in “Lucy Wants a Career,” a 1959 episode of The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour.” She is probably best remembered for her recurring roles on "Leave it to Beaver” (1957-63) and "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis” (1960-63).
Although the end credits list Jack and Pauline Donohue, neither first name is mentioned in the episode.
Karen Norris (Ella, the maid) previously appeared as Della Fox (aka Student #2 with a head cold) in “Lucy and Viv Take Up Chemistry” (S1;E26). She will makes four more background appearances on “The Lucy Show.” She also did one episode of “Here’s Lucy” in 1968.
Ellen Corby (Woman in the Park) made a memorable appearance on “I Love Lucy” as Miss Hannah, Lucy Ricardo's High School drama teacher in “Lucy Meets Orson Welles” (ILL S6;E3). She went on to fame as the kindly grandmother on the long-running series “The Waltons,” playing the role from 1971 till 1997, two years before her death.
Benny Rubin (Man in the Park) played the snarky Hollywood Bus Driver in “The Tour” (ILL S4;E30). He will make one more “Lucy Show” appearances when “Lucy and Viv Open a Restaurant” (S2;E20). The recognizable character actor is probably best remembered for his association with Jack Benny.
Jim Boles (Mr. Harris, prosecuting attorney) played the Delivery Man for Barney’s Catering Service when “Lucy Builds a Rumpus Room” (S1;E11). He was a character actor who began acting on television in 1949.
Ernest Sarracino (Judge) makes his only series appearance, but will return for two episodes of “Here's Lucy.” His screen acting credits span from 1939 to 1994.
Hazel Pierce (Juror, above left) was Lucille Ball’s camera and lighting stand-in throughout “I Love Lucy.” She also made frequent appearances on the show, although only once did she speak, when she won the television auctioned off by Ladies Overseas Aid in “Ricky’s European Booking” (ILL S5;E10) and she shouted “I won!”. This just one of her 21 un-credited on-camera appearances on “The Lucy Show.” In the opening of season two, “Lucy Plays Cleopatra” (S2;E1), she received screen credit as Mary Lou. She was also an un-credited extra in the film Forever Darling (1956).
William Meader (Nut Vendor) had appeared as an airport extra in “The Ricardos Go to Japan,” a 1959 episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.” He made 15 appearances on “The Lucy Show,” mostly as a clerk in Mr. Mooney’s bank.
Alberto Morin (Man in Park, uncredited) was born in Puerto Rico, and appeared in some of Hollywood’s most cherished films: Gone with the Wind (1939), Casablanca (1943), and Key Largo (1948). He was Carlos, one of Ricky’s “Cuban Pals” (ILL S1;E28) and the Robert DuBois in “The French Revue” (ILL S3;E7). His many background appearances on “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy” were all uncredited.
Monty O'Grady was first seen with Lucille Ball in The Long, Long Trailer (1953), and played a passenger on the S.S. Constitution in “Second Honeymoon” (ILL S5;E14). With William Meader he was at the airport when “The Ricardos Go to Japan” (1959). With Hazel Pierce, he was also in “Chris’s New Year’s Eve Party” (S1;E14). He made a dozen appearances on the series and a half dozen on “Here’s Lucy.”
Hal Taggart makes the second of five appearances on “The Lucy Show” after having been seen in the Lucille Ball film The Facts of Life (1960).
This episode was originally titled “Lucy and the Runaway Moth.” It was filmed on March 21, 1963.
There was no actual butterfly on the set. The butterfly was optically inserted later. In most prints, however, no butterfly can be seen at all.
When Howard McClay calls Lucy at 8am and her hair is up in curlers Lucy says she's glad it isn't ‘phone-a-vision’! Lucy couldn't have known that in the 21st century Skype, Zoom, and Facetime would be a part of daily life.
Bell Labs developed the PicturePhone in the late 1950s, and by 1963 (the same year this episode was filmed and aired) it was available in the Chicago area. The units transmitted pictures and sound over existing phone lines but were expensive to operate -- and people still feared the prying eyes of the person on the other end of the line. The product never took off.
Lucy says she's gone on three dates with Howard so far. No mention is made of Harry, her former neighbor and sometimes boyfriend.
Viv says that Howard's law firm is named Donohue Pomerantz Lombardy & (hopefully) McClay. In real life, Jack Donohue was the episode's director, Charles Pomerantz was Lucille Ball's publicist, and Joe Lombardi was a Desilu special effects man.
Jerry's nature project is for Cub Scouts. In “Lucy Visits the White House” (S1;E25, above) it was established that Lucy was Den Mother of Jerry's den. When Lucy mistakenly thinks Jerry is collecting “buds” instead of “bugs” he quips “I'm a Cub Scout, not a Camp Fire Girl.” As a den mother, it is odd that Lucy doesn't know anything about his project or the date of the next den meeting. The Camp Fire Girls of America was the nation's first non-sectarian, multicultural organization for girls. Its programs emphasize camping and other outdoor activities for youth. Today they are simply known as Camp Fire.
Jerry's bug collection consists of:
Cicindelidae Limbada aka the Tiger Beetle
Stagmomantis Carolina aka the Praying Mantis
Lepidoptera Blancas aka the Royal White Butterfly (above)
The man in the park (Benny Rubin) is reading The Danfield Tribune. Lucy and Viv appeared on the front page in “Lucy Becomes an Astronaut” (S1;E6, above). Lucy worked for the paper in “Lucy is a Reporter” (S1;E17).
Viv mentions Mr. Hoffstedder at the drug store. He was first mentioned as Dr. Hoffstedder in “Lucy and Viv Become Tycoons” (S1;E20).
Callbacks!
This isn't the first time Lucille Ball has been before a judge. Lucy Ricardo was seen in “The Courtroom” (ILL S2;E7)...
...and then again in “Lucy Makes Room for Danny,” a 1958 episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” where Gale Gordon (soon to be Mr. Mooney) was the judge.
Fast Forward!
The series returns to the Danfield Court House in “Lucy is Her Own Lawyer” (S2;E23)
....and again in “Lucy the Meter Maid” (S3;E7).
Lucille Ball played a butterfly and actually flies (on wires) in “Danny Thomas’ Wonderful World of Burlesque” (1965).
Blooper Alert!
In the courtroom, the judge addresses the witness as “Mrs. Wickenhauser” but the first time the lawyer addresses her he calls her “Mrs. Wickenhauer.” The second time he addresses her he gets the name right.
“Lucy and the Runaway Butterfly” rates 4 Paper Hearts out of 5
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