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papermoonloveslucy · 20 hours
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RIP JENNIFER LEAK
1947-2024
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Jennifer Mary Leak was born in Cardiff, Wales, although her family quickly moved to Montreal, Canada. She began her film acting career in 1964 and four years later was seen as Colleen, the oldest daughter of Helen North (Lucille Ball) in Yours, Mine and Ours. While making the film she met her first husband, actor Tim Matheson, who played her step-brother Mike. The couple divorced in 1971.
Leak went on to appear in several soap operas, including as Olive Randolph on "Another World." She married James D'Auria in 1977.
Leak was 76 years old.
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papermoonloveslucy · 7 days
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RIP CLAUDE WOLFF
1932-2024
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French-born music producer Claude Wolff was the husband of British singer Petula Clark. The couple met in 1957 and stayed together for three decades before parting romantically, but remaining married. Petula was told that Claude would work with her if she recorded in French and she agreed. They collaborated on 1968 film "Petula" and on a 1972 episode of "Here's Lucy" in which he played himself, despite not speaking very good English. Clark was really pregnant during the filming of this episode with the last of their three children, Patrick.
"I always rushed back home whenever I could and turned down a lot of offers of work so I could be with them, but I still had to make a living. Whatever I may have got wrong then, I hope I've managed to put right since."
He was 93 years old.
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papermoonloveslucy · 21 days
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RIP STEVE LAWRENCE
1935-2024
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Steve Lawrence was born Sidney Leibowitz in New York City. Between 1958 and 1960 he served in the US Army and was a vocalist with the US Army Band and Orchestra. After he was discharged, he started his singing career on television, night clubs, and recordings, often with his wife Eydie Gormé, who he married in 1957. He appeared in the 1964 Broadway musical What Makes Sammy Run? (Tony nomination) and returned to Broadway in 1968 for The Golden Rainbow. His screen acting career began in 1963.
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Almost exactly two years later, Lucille Ball was a guest star on the very first “The Steve Lawrence Show” (1965) a variety hour on CBS. They made their first entrance on the back of an elephant outside the theatre in New York City.
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The show takes a suggestive turn when Lucy says “Stevie boy, I came all the way from California. What do you wanna do?” The audience laughs. Lucy says “Oh, that's the kind of audience you have!”
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“The Steve Lawrence Show” was one of the last television programs on CBS to be aired in black and white. The show was done in New York City. It lasted just seven episodes, with the last broadcast on December 13, 1965.
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On September 16, 1973, Lucille Ball appeared on “Steve and Eydie on Stage” from Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. It was aired on NBC.
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On September 24, 1973, just eight days later, he appeared with Eydie on “Here's Lucy” in an episode titled "Lucy, the Peacemaker." In it, Lucy moonlights as personal assistant to Lawrence while he is having a spat with Gormé. Instead, Lucy sets her sights on getting the two back together again.  
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On July 23, 1976, Steve and Eydie were the musical guests when Dinah Shore interviewed Lucy on her talk show "Dinah!"
In 1982, Lawrence and Ball joined many others in an "All-Star Party for Carol Burnett". He had appeared on "The Carol Burnett Show" and "The Garry Moore Show" alongside Burnett. Four years later, Ball and Lawrence were back for an "All-Star Party for Clint Eastwood."
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papermoonloveslucy · 2 months
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LUCY & THE SWANS
BALL, CAPOTE & PALEY
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The new FX series "Feud: Capote vs. The Swans" depicts a world that Lucille Ball knew all too well - wealth, fame and celebrity. Although she does not inhabit the New York Society of Babe Paley, Slim Keith, Ann Woodward, C.Z. Guest, Gloria Guinness and others, she and her Desilu empire lie just outside of it - her influence on the era keenly felt.
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Episode 1 of the teleplay ("Pilot") begins in 1958, and takes us to the executive boardroom of CBS in New York. There, Bill Paley (Treat Williams) holds forth, a photo of Lucy and Desi prominently hovering over his shoulder.
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In this room, the Paley and the CBS brass made programming moves played out on a schedule board. The Monday 9pm time slot is occupied by "I Love Lucy", with a small photo of Lucy and Desi (the same one that hung on the wall) tucked into the title card - as if they needed reminding of who they were! The only slight faux pas is that "I Love Lucy" (as a half hour series) did not run in 1958. Its final episode aired in May 1957. It then became an hour-long celebrity-driven musical comedy hour under the banner of "The Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse." Paley and CBS probably wanted Lucy and Desi for a 7th season, but Desi had other plans. He wouldn't kill the Ricardos (metaphorically) but relegate them to specials, interspersed with Desilu productions of new drama and comedy. It is possible that the action of "Feud" in this scene lies somewhere in that murky period between Desi's plans, and Paley's wishes for a seventh season of the half-hour format.
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In actuality, during 1958, the 9pm Monday time slot was occupied by "The Danny Thomas Show" (filmed at Desilu) and "The Ann Sothern Show" (produced by Desilu). Monday also featured the Desilu Western "The Texan," making the only half hour of CBS's Monday primetime NOT created by Lucy and Desi "Father Knows Best."
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Episode 6 ("Hats, Gloves, and Effete Homosexuals") set in 1978 includes a luncheon conversation at La Cote that mentions Lucille Ball and Lucie Arnaz. Truman's new boyfriend Rick (Vito Schnabel) is a handyman who once fixed Ball's air conditioner in Palm Springs.
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Truman has promised to bring Rick to see They're Playing our Song on Broadway starring Lucie Arnaz. Rick says that he met little Lucie while she was swimming laps.
BILL & BABE PALEY
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The power and influence of William S. Paley cannot be underestimated. He literally built CBS (the Columbia Broadcasting System) from a small radio station to a multi-media conglomerate, serving as Chairman for much of its existence. He shepherded CBS from radio to television, and was responsible for giving the green light to Lucille Ball making the transition from "My Favorite Husband" to "I Love Lucy," bringing her real-life husband along for the ride. Without Paley and Lucy, CBS would not have gotten a foothold in an industry dominated by the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC).
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Paley's second wife was socialite Barbara Cushing Mortimer, who he married the year before he met Lucille Ball. Mortimer is best known as Babe Paley, and she was Truman Capote's favorite of the Swans. In "Lucy's Barbershop Quartet" (1963), the group needs to find a replacement singer for the group and Viv suggests the unseen character of Barbara Cushing, who is a soloist in their church choir. Although Lucy, Viv, Thelma, and Dorothy were definitely not swans (more like Danfield Ducks) the writers were tipping their hat to the big boss's wife.
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A few years later, in "Lucy Meets Danny Kaye" (1964), Kaye telephones Bill Paley to see if he has any spare tickets for his show to give fan Lucy. The best he can do is tickets to "The Jackie Gleason Show." Paley does not appear, nor do we hear his voice.
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In real life, Paley and Ball were both in the first group of inductees to the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1984. Ball and Paley sat at the same table together at the ceremony.
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In 1976, he joined those paying tribute to Lucy on "Lucy and CBS: The First 25 Years." Paley and his wife Babe had homes in Manhasset Long Island, and Squam New Hampshire, respectively known as Kiluna Farm South, and Kiluna Farm North, where they entertained a myriad of celebrities, Lucille Ball among them.
TRUMAN CAPOTE
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On screen Lucille Ball had little to no interaction with writer Truman Capote. But in her personal life, Ball was guest at at least one of his lavish parties. Gary and Lucy's photo album included a photo of the Mortons at a December 13, 1975 party hosted by Capote, Allan Carr, and John O'Shea in Lincoln Heights, a wealthy neighborhood of Los Angeles. The 'mug shot' was part of a party game where guests were 'arrested' and forced to pay bail in order to get released. The money was usually donated to the host's favorite charity.
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In July 1978, Capote joined Lucille Ball at Westbury Music Fair to see Lucie Arnaz perform in "Annie Get Your Gun".
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Capote's one foray into acting was in Neil Simon's Murder By Death (1976), a camp comedy send-up of Agatha Christie-style murder mysteries where Capote played the eccentric host, Lionel Twain. The film featured a few stars with close connections to Lucille Ball.
Peter Sellars (Sidney Wang) starred in Will The Real Mr. Sellars...?, an oddball film from 1969 with a very brief cameo by Lucille Ball courtesy of hidden camera footage.
Elsa Lanchester (Jessica Marbles) famously guest-starred on "I Love Lucy" as a woman who may - or may not be - a hatchet murderess. In 1973, she appeared on "Here's Lucy" as kooky bank robber Mumsie Westcott.
Although screen writer Neil Simon never wrote for Lucille Ball, or even appeared on the same screen with her, they did share credits on two television shows. He was a staff writer on “The Garry Moore Show,” which Lucy appeared on in 1960. Simon and Ball were both featured on “Bob Hope’s World of Comedy” (1976), but were not onstage at the same time.  It was Lucie Arnaz who worked closest with Simon. She starred on Broadway in They’re Playing Our Song (for which Simon wrote the libretto) in 1978. She then took over the role of Bela in Simon's Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway play Lost in Yonkers in 1992.
MISC. SWANS
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Vivian Vance doing an in-character commercial for Swan dish soap on "The Lucy Show." Swan was made by Lever Brothers, and was discontinued in 1974.
SWAN SONGS
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LUCY: "Would you begrudge an expectant swan her song?" RICKY: "You seem to forget that this particular swan has no talent." ~ Lucy's Show Biz Swan Song (1952)
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LUCY: “It’s time for that swan to hit the come-back trail.” FRED: “That swan’s got a little ham in it.”  ~ The Indian Show (1953)
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papermoonloveslucy · 2 months
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RIP JOYCE RANDOLPH
1924-2024
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Joyce Randolph was born Joyce Sirola in Detroit Michigan. She is best remembered for playing Trixie Norton on "The Honeymooners" (1955-56). She revived the character various times over her career. Before entering television, she toured with the stage production of Stage Door, the 1937 film of which featured Lucille Ball.
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Although she never acted with Lucille Ball, all of her castmates on "The Honeymooners" did: Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, and Audrey Meadows. Her character of Trixie is often compared to Ethel Mertz on "I Love Lucy." She was one of the last surviving actors of the Golden Age of Television. In 1987, Randolph joined Ball at a dinner honoring the late Jackie Gleason.
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Randolph married Richard Charles, a marketing executive, on October 2, 1955, the day after "The Honeymooners" premiered. Charles died in 1997 at age 74. Their son, Randolph Charles (born 1960), is a marketing executive.
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papermoonloveslucy · 3 months
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RIP GLYNIS JOHNS
1923-2024
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Johns is probably best remembered for playing Winifred Banks in Disney's Mary Poppins (1964). Although it was a mainstream hit for Judy Collins, Johns introduced the song "Send in the Clowns" in the Broadway musical A Little Night Music (1974) for which she won a Tony Award.
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On August 5, 1963, CBS' "Vacation Playhouse" aired an episode titled "Hide and Seek," which was the pilot for "Glynis", a sitcom starring Johns and Keith Andes, who played the male lead in Lucille Ball's 1960 Broadway musical Wildcat and would go on to appear on "The Lucy Show." The series' working title was "The Glynis Johns Show", but eventually it was shortened to the star's first name. The series was produced by Desilu and created and executive produced by Jess Oppenheimer, one of the original creators of "I Love Lucy". A month later "Glynis" earned a spot on CBS' fall schedule, but only lasted 13 episodes.
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Johns was nominated for an Oscar in 1961 for The Sundowners. She worked with a lot of the same stars as Lucille Ball, although the two never acted together. She was in The Court Jester (1955) with Danny Kaye, Papa's Delicate Condition (1963) with Jackie Gleason, and Mary Poppins (1964) with Dick Van Dyke. Like so many of Ball's colleagues, she played a villain on "Batman": Penelope Peasoup in 1967.
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She was 'born in a trunk' to theatrical parents touring in South Africa, but raised in Wales. She was 100 years old. From four marriages she had one child whom she outlived by 15 years.
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papermoonloveslucy · 3 months
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RIP TOM SMOTHERS
1937-2023
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Tommy Smothers was one half of the comedy and music duo the Smothers Brothers, performing for nearly his entire career with his brother Dick. On September 10, 1967 CBS censored Pete Seegar's anti-war song “Waist Deep in the Big Muddy” during “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.” The network claimed the lyrics were an insult to President Johnson. This event was a landmark decision for television and affected the brothers' career.
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Lucille Ball and The Smothers Brothers often appeared on the same variety and awards shows together, although not at the same time. They were involved in "Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary Special" (1970), "The Ed Sullivan Show Georgie Awards" (1970), "Dinah Shore's Like Hep!" (1969). "The Dean Martin Show" (1970), "Zenith's Salute to 25 Years of Television" (1970), "Jack Benny's Carnival Nights" (1968), and "John Wayne's Swing Out Sweet Land" (1972).
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The brothers were mentioned on the very first episode of "Here's Lucy" (1968). When Harry balks about hiring family, Lucy says “Suppose the Smothers Brothers didn't hire relatives. We'd only have one Smother!” A month before “Here's Lucy” premiered, CBS presented a four episode series titled “The Summer Smothers Brothers Hour.” Season 3 of their popular variety show premiered a week later.
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When Mr. Mooney sees Lucy and Viv reunited in "Lucy and the Lost Star" (1968), he calls them the 'Smothers Mothers'.
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papermoonloveslucy · 4 months
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RIP MARTY KROFFT 
1937-2023
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Marty Krofft was born on April 9, 1937 in Montréal, Québec, Canada. With his brother Sid, Krofft created some of television's most fantastic and magical programs, mostly centered around puppetry. Lucille Ball's interaction with the Krofft was brief, but memorable.
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The Krofft puppets first gained attention at the 1962 Seattle Worlds Fair where they presented a show called "Les Poupees de Paris" that included marionettes impersonating popular celebrities. In 1964-1965, they presented the (updated) show at the Worlds Fair in New York. In 1967, Ball's recorded voice, along with Jackie Gleason, Liberace, and Mae West and many other stars, was heard in “Six Flags presents Sid and Marty Krofft’s Circus”.
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On September 30, 1977, Donny and Marie welcomed Lucille Ball, who plays the Tin Lady in a Krofft-style spoof of “The Wizard of Oz” starring Ray Bolger. The first three seasons of "The Donny & Marie Show" were produced by the Kroffts, who also created the variety series. Ball appeared on the 2nd episode of the show's 3rd season, and the Osmonds (after a long legal battle) had finally won creative control from the Kroffts feeling they had outgrown the child-like atmosphere created by them. They moved the show to Utah and took over as producers just two months after this episode aired. In this episode, however, the Krofft vibe is still palpably present.
A few Lucille Ball / Desilu performers were seen on Krofft's many television shows.
Johnny Silver played Ludicrous Lion on TV's "H.R. Pufnstuf" (1969) and appeared as Dr. Blinky in the 1970 feature film.
Charles Nelson Reilly and Jerry Maren (both seen on "Here's Lucy") were part of "Lidsville" (1971).
1972's telefilm "Fol-De-Rol" (a film of their 1968 fairy tale puppet show) included Lucy guest stars Ann Sothern, Mickey Rooney, and Totie Fields.
"Sigmund and the Sea Monsters" (1972) starred Ball's good friend Mary Wickes as Aunt Zelda, and also featured Sidney Miller as the voice of Sweet Mama Ooze.
"The Lost Saucer" (1975) included Lucy friends Ruth Buzzi, Jim Nabors, and Vito Scotti.
"Far Out Space Nuts" (1975) featured Hal Smith and John Carradine, both of whom had appeared on "The Lucy Show."
Also seen on "Donny & Marie" during the Krofft years were Desi Arnaz, Jack Albertson, Bob Hope, Milton Berle, Ruth Buzzi, Buddy Hackett, Edgar Bergen, Andy Griffith, Rich Little, Iron Eyes Cody, Arthur Godfrey, and Vincent Price.
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papermoonloveslucy · 4 months
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ANIMATED LUCY!
Lucille Ball & Animation
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Lucille Ball worked with many performers, and many of them were just as famous for their voices as their faces! As well as working for Desilu, actors worked for Warner Brothers, Disney, and other producers of animation - some of which is still popular today.
DISNEY
Walt Disney himself turned up on "Hedda Hopper's Hollywood" (1960), one of the gossip columnist's television specials that also featured Lucille Ball, among many others.
VERNA FELTON
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Verna Felton (1890-1966) made her professional stage debut at the age of 10 as ‘Little Verna Felton,’ working extensively on stage.  On “I Love Lucy” Felton portrayed Mrs. Porter, the no-nonsense housekeeper in “Lucy Hires a Maid” (1953). and Mrs. Simpson in "Sales Resistance” (1953), a housewife to whom Lucy tries to sell a Handy Dandy vacuum cleaner - only to find out that she has no electricity!  She received two Emmy nominations for her role in the Desilu series “December Bride,” playing Hilda Crocker from 1955 to 1959 opposite Spring Byington as Lily. In one episode, producer Desi Arnaz guest-starred as himself. 
For Walt Disney, Felton voiced three elephants: Elephant Matriarch and Mrs. Jumbo in Dumbo (1941), as well as Winifred in The Jungle Book (1967). She played two Queens: The Queen of Hearts in Disney’s Alice in Wonderland (1951) and Queen Leah in Sleeping Beauty (1959). Her more human characters included Aunt Sarah in Lady and the Tramp (1955) and - a rare non-Disney female - Pearl Slaghoople, Wilma’s mother, on “The Flintstones”. She also voiced two wand-wavers: Flora in Sleeping Beauty and - perhaps most famously - The Fairy Godmother in Disney’s Cinderella (1950), where she introduced the song “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo” to the world.
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Her son, Lee Millar Jr., made four appearances on “I Love Lucy" and one episode of "The Lucy Show." He appeared with his mother in the 1955 animated feature Lady and the Tramp as Jim Dear and the Dogcatcher. Felton's husband and Millar's father, who did not appear with Lucy during his career, was most famous as the voice of Disney's Pluto from 1930 until his death in 1941.
ELEANOR AUDLEY
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Eleanor Audley (1905-1991) played Lucille Ball’s mother-in-law on “My Favorite Husband.” She would later play Eleanor Spalding, owner of the Westport home the Ricardos buy in “Lucy Wants To Move to the Country” (1957) as well as one of the Garden Club judges in “Lucy Raises Tulips” (1957). She was seen as a Society Reporter on a 1965 episode of "The Lucy Show."
She is probably best known, however, as the voice of two of Disney’s most memorable animated villainesses: Lady Tremaine, the wicked stepmother in Cinderella (1950); and the evil Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty (1959). She served as the physical model for both characters. 
HANS CONRIED
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Hans Conried (1917-1982) first worked with Lucille Ball in the 1942 film The Big Street and played a myriad of roles on her radio show “My Favorite Husband.” On “I Love Lucy” he had just played Mr. Jenkins, used furniture salesman (above), a month earlier in "Redecorating" (1952) and returned to play Percy Livermore, "The English Tutor" (1952).
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Early in the episode, Ricky reads from a children's book. While the story he reads is Little Red Riding Hood, the book cover is definitely Peter Pan. Coincidentally (or not), Conried had just finished voicing Captain Hook / Mr. Darling for Disney's animated feature Peter Pan, which would be released just a month later, in February 1953. That same year he voiced Thomas Jefferson in Disney's animated short, Ben and Me. Perhaps his best loved voice was that of Snidely Whiplash on the Bullwinkle and Dudley Do-Right cartoons starting in 1959. Conried made two appearances on "The Lucy Show" (both as acting / voice coach Dr. Gitterman) and on "Here's Lucy" with his long-time co-star Danny Thomas.
PINTO COLVIG
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Pinto Colvig (1892-1967) was the original voice of Disney’s Pluto and Goofy. He provided the neighs for Gulliver the horse in "Horseback Riding" (1949), an episode of Lucille Ball's radio series "My Favorite Husband". He also did all the dog barks for “Lucy is Her Own Lawyer” (1964).
GINNY TYLER
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Ginny Tyler (1925-2012) voiced Clementine the sheep in “Lucy Buys a Sheep” (1962), Greenback, Mr. Mooney's cockatiel, in "Lucy Gets the Bird" (1964), and Polly the Parrot in "Lucy in the Jungle" (1971).  She also did the voices of the sheep in Disney’s Mary Poppins and the singing squirrel in The Sword in the Stone. She started out narrating record albums for Disney, including “Bambi” and “Babes in Toyland.”
JUNE FORAY
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June Foray (1917-2017) was one of Hollywood's most famous and busiest voice actors. She did the voice of Lucifer the cat in Disney's Cinderella (1950), and voiced a mermaid and a squaw in Disney's Peter Pan (1953), among others. In 1957, she did the barks of Fred the dog on "I Love Lucy." She is probably best remembered as Rocky the Flying Squirrel and Natasha Fatale in the "Bullwinkle" cartoons.
CLEO
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When "The Ricardos Change Apartments" (1953), Lucy fills the flat with as many toys as possible, including a bathtub toy called Cleo, the goldfish from the Disney Pinocchio (1940). When Ricky squeezes her, Cleo spits in his face!  
SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS
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In 1938, Lucy modeled ladies' hats based on the characters Prince Charming and Sneezy from Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Needless to say, she looked “charming”. 
In a 1949 episode of "My Favorite Husband," Liz and Iris bemoan that they won't be going anywhere sunny for summer vacation. They say their goodbyes.
LIZ: “Goodbye, Paleface!”
IRIS: “See you later, Snow White!”
The Paleface was a Bob Hope / Jane Russell film released at the very end of 1948. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) featured the voices of future “Lucy” cast members Pinto Colvig and Moroni Olsen. 
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"LUCY AND THE MONSTERS" (1965) involves a shared horror movie dream. To find out who is the prettiest witch, Lucy and Viv ask the magic mirror: “Mirror, mirror on the wall; Who’s the fairest of them all?” This is the same query the Evil Queen asks her magic mirror in the Disney film Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. In the film, the voice was that of Moroni Olsen, who played the Judge in the "I Love Lucy" episode "The Courtroom" (1952).
CINDERELLA
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“Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo” a song written in 1948 by Al Hoffman, Mack David, and Jerry Livingston for the 1950 Disney animated film Cinderella, was heard in a 1950 episode of "My Favorite Husband" titled "Liz Writes a Song". For inspiration, George suggests they listen to the radio and hears "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo”.  Mr. Atterbury (Gale Gordon) questions what the nonsense lyrics mean. In "CHER...AND OTHER FANTASIES" (1979) a Cleaning Lady (Lucille Ball) pushes a cart and sings “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo,” Cher just wants to get out of the building. The Cleaning Lady suggests she wait till midnight when her white mice and pumpkin turn into a coach and horses. The special also includes a reference to....
BAMBI
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Winding her way through the warehouse, Cher encounters Shelley Winters, a purveyor of movie memorabilia.
CHER: “Do you have 'Bambi’?”
SHELLEY: “I don’t have that in stock, but I’ve got a rifle from 'Winchester 73.'”
Winchester 73 was a 1950 film about a prized rifle that starred Shelley Winters and James Stewart. Shelley fires the rifle in the air and Cher takes on the roles of Bambi’s mother and father.
DUMBO
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"Liz and the Green Wig" (1950), an episode of "My Favorite Husband" includes a mention of Dumbo, Disney's 1941 animated film about a flying circus elephant.
KATIE: “Well, maybe he’s forgotten.”
LIZ: “Not George. He has the memory of an elephant.”
GEORGE (from the other room): “Liz, is that you?  Come on in the breakfast room.”
LIZ: “There’s Dumbo now.”
In a 1948 episode of the radio sitcom, Sarah Selby played Louise Elliott, Liz’s Mother. Selby made her screen debut voicing Prissy the Elephant in Dumbo. 
DONALD DUCK
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"LUCY, THE DISC JOCKEY" (1965) Mr. Mooney deems any voice contest between him and Lucy like comparing Walter Cronkite to Donald Duck, one of Walt Disney’s most enduring cartoon creations. He first appeared in 1934 and his squawking raspy voice was provided by Clarence Nash.  
Other "Lucy" performers who voiced Disney animated characters:
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Paul Winchell (Winnie the Pooh / The Aristocats / The Fox and the Hound)
Phil Harris (The Jungle Book / The Aristocats / Robin Hood)
Buddy Hackett (The Little Mermaid)
James Hong (Mulan)
Charles Lane (The Aristocats)
Ruth Buzzi (The Aristocats)
Mickey Rooney (The Fox and the Hound)
Nancy Kulp (The Aristocats)
Hal Smith (several roles)
Joseph Kearns (Alice in Wonderland)
Norma Zimmer (Alice in Wonderland)
WARNER BROTHERS & OTHERS
ARTHUR Q. BRYAN ~ ELMER FUDD
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Arthur Q. Bryan (1899-1959) 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" (1952).
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"MOTHER OF THE BRIDE" (1986) ~ The final episode of Lucille Ball's final sitcom, "Life With Lucy."
LUCY: "When Margo was little she found my dress in the attic and she called it 'the most bootiful dwess in the world'!  When she was little she talked a lot like Elmer Fudd.”
MEL BLANC ~ BUGS BUNNY / PORKY PIG
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One of the most famous voices in show business belonged to Mel Blanc, who was most famous for voicing Bugs Bunny. Lucy worked with Blanc in her 1950 film The Fuller Brush Girl portraying a parrot. Blanc and Ball had also teamed for an Armed Services Radio broadcast in 1944.
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"LUCY GETS AMNESIA" (1964) involves a rabbit fur coat, causing Viv to say "What's up, Doc?", which was Bugs Bunny's famous tag line. Lucy's last line of the episode also mentions Bugs Bunny.
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"LUCY AND TENNESSEE ERNIE'S FUN FARM" (1969) Doing a commercial for the farm, Lucy plays a slovenly housewife who calls her husband Porky Pig and the Jolly Green Giant.
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In 1969, Mel Blanc did ADR (automatic dialogue replacement) for two characters on location footage in "LUCY GOES TO THE AIR FORCED ACADEMY: PART 2".
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Elvia Allman, who made multiple appearances on "I Love Lucy" and "The Lucy Show", did the voices of several cartoon characters for Warner Brothers, most notably Little Red Riding Hood.
In 1960, Blanc joined Alan Reed, Bea Benadaret and Jean Vander Pyl (all of whom had worked with Lucille Ball) as Barney Rubble in TV's first animated sitcom Hanna Barbera's...
"THE FLINTSTONES"
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Although ostensibly modeled on "The Honeymooners," "The Flintstones" owed a great debt to Lucille Ball. Many of the Bedrock storylines were borrowed from Lucycoms. Wilma Flintstone bore more than a passing resemblance to the famous redhead. Others who acted live with Lucy that loaned their voices to prehistoric characters: Janet Waldo, Harvey Korman, Howard Morris, Hal Smith, Verna Felton, June Foray, Howard McNear, Herb Vigran, Sandra Gould, Jerry Hausner, Paul Winchell, and many others.
"THE JETSONS"
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In the wake of the success of "The Flintstones", Hanna Barbera rocketing to the other end of the spectrum - from caves to space - with "The Jetsons"(1962). Leading the cast as Dad George Jetson was George O'Hanlon, who had played Charley Appleby on "I Love Lucy." His daughter Judy was played by Janet Waldo, who played Peggy Dawson on "I Love Lucy" and Lucy's sister Marge on "The Lucy Show". Jean Vander Pyl and Mel Blanc turned up as Mr. and Mrs. Spacely.
"TOP CAT"
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Allen Jenkins appeared with Lucille Ball in the film Five Came Back.  He then did three episodes of "I Love Lucy," all as policemen. It was natural that his animation legacy was as Officer Dibble on the Hanna-Barbera TV cartoon, “Top Cat” (1961–62).  Other Lucy alumni who appeared frequently on the show included Jean Vander Pyl, Bea Benadaret, Hal Smith, Gege Pearson, and Herb Vigran.
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Select episodes of Lucille Ball's radio sitcom "My Favorite Husband" have been computer animated and are available to view on Vimeo. They were animated by Wayne Wilson using the soundtracks of the original broadcasts.
In “Lucy and the Soap Opera” (1965), soap actor Mr. Vernon (John Gregory) brags his daytime drama role of Roger Gregory is the best part he’s played since doing the voice Oink-Oink in the [fictional] “Piggy Pete” cartoons! Lucy says she’d like to say Richard Burton go from playing “a pig in a poke to a teller in a bank.”
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Oh, and don't forget "The Simpsons"! Lucille Ball has had several representations on the long-running show, including as Oyster Shell Lucy, a handicraft sold by Moe in “Homer’s Barber Shop Quartet” (1993).
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Lastly, Lucy herself was an animated character. The original opening credits and commercial intros for "I Love Lucy" featured stick-figure animation of Lucy and Desi. The tradition continued during "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hours", adding Little Ricky. "The Lucy Show" also opened with stick figure animation, but it only lasted for one season. "Here's Lucy" took animation to the next level, with a stop-motion doll of Lucy presenting the opening credits.
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LUCY & THE SUNDAY FUNNIES
A Look at the Comic Strips of the Lucyverse
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Comic strips and comic books are part of pop culture history - just like Lucy - so it is natural that the two sometimes collided. Here are some examples of popular comics that went from the Sunday funny gage, to the Monday night tv fun!
DICK TRACY
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Dick Tracy is an American comic strip featuring a tough and intelligent police detective created by Chester Gould. It made its debut on October 4, 1931 in the Detroit Mirror, and it was distributed by the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate. Dick Tracy has also been the hero in a number of films, two of which were released in 1947.  From 1934 to 1948 "Dick Tracy" was also radio serial. Tracy was mainly heard about on Lucille Ball's radio show, "My Favorite Husband" (1948-1951).
"SECRETARIAL SCHOOL" (February 18, 1949) Liz begs the Blabbermouth on the party line to allow her to make a quick call.
LIZ: “Do you have to use the telephone?”
BLABBERMOUTH: “Whaddya expect me to use? A two-way wrist radio?” 
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In 1946, Dick Tracy introduced a two-way wrist radio. In 1948, that cartoon item was brought to reality, along with a myriad of other Dick Tracy-themed toys. 
"THE ANNIVERSARY PRESENTS" (May 13, 1949) Liz is positive that George will remember their anniversary. After dropping several hints, George still hasn’t said anything.  Finally, he looks up from his newspaper with something to tell her.
GEORGE: “Dick Tracy found the jewels!” 
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On May 13, 1949, the daily Dick Tracy comic strip revealed that the missing jewels has been found. The case involved a character named Pear-Shape, who owned a weight loss business but was overweight himself. He conned an elderly widow out of the jewels and sold them to a fence. 
"GETTING OLD" (May 20, 1949) Liz find a book she forgot to return to the library, long overdue. George wants to donate it to their tag sale, but Liz refuses to handle ‘hot’ merchandise. George sarcastically calls her Pear-Shape. 
George is not referring to Liz's waistline, but to the character in the Dick Tracy comic strip named Pear-Shape Tone, who was part of the storyline from April to July 1949. He was a racketeer who would steal jewelry from his wealthier clients, then fence it to make a profit.
"LIZ IN THE HOSPITAL" (May 27, 1949) As George speeds toward the hospital a cop pulls them over. Liz thinks that if she gets arrested she can’t go to the hospital so she tells the officer that they are driving a stolen car.  When George tries to interrupt, she calls him Pear-Shape to further reinforce her fake story of thievery.
Pear-Shape must have been quite popular in May 1949, because this is the third consecutive episode of “My Favorite Husband” where he is mentioned! 
"LIZ AND GEORGE ARE HANDCUFFED" (December 30, 1949) George overhears Liz playing out a scene from Dick Tracy with little Tommy Wood from next door, who got a Dick Tracy outfit for Christmas and has been playing cops and robbers ever since.  Liz says his sisters won’t play Tess Truehart to his Dick Tracy. George corrects her that she is now known as Tess Tracy, since Dick and Tess recently got married.  
LIZ: “You mean I’ve been playing around with a married man?”
On December 25, 1949, just five days before this broadcast, Dick finally married his girlfriend, Tess Truehart.
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Little Tommy ‘Tracy’ comes over to show ‘Pruneface’ Cooper (Liz) his badge, handcuffs, and finger print outfit.
LIZ: “Tommy, is it true that no two people in the whole world have the same fingerprints?” 
TOMMY: “Nah, that’s a lot of bunk. I’ve already found three people who have exactly the same fingerprints; my daddy, Santa Claus, and the crook who broke into my piggy bank.”
"THE JIMMY DURANTE SHOW" (April 29, 1948) Lucille Ball guest stars in an episode where they take a magic carpet around the country to see how things might be different if women were captains of industry. In Paris, Illinois, they visit the second largest perfume factory in the country, owned by Hot Breath Houlihan. 
DURANTE: “Now I know who set B.O. Plenty’s house on fire!” 
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B.O. Plenty was a character from Dick Tracy comic strip. In March 1948, his house mysteriously burned down and everyone feared the character was dead. Readers actually wrote to the newspaper begging Chester Gould not to kill off B.O. Plenty and Gravel Gertie! 
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From 1950 to 1951, "Dick Tracy" was a television series, ending just a few months before "I Love Lucy" went on the air. Dick Elliott (right) made his television debut as Officer Murphy. He had done several films with Lucille Ball and appeared on "I Love Lucy" in two episodes. Likewise, Pierre Watkin played Police Chief Pat Patton. He had also done several films with Lucy and two episodes of "I Love Lucy."
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Ten years later there was an animated series titled "Dick Tracy" featuring Lucille Ball alumni Jerry Hausner, Benny Rubin, and Mel Blanc.
In 1967 there was a pilot for a new live-action "Dick Tracy" series that went unsold. It featured Eve Plumb and Victor Buono, who later did episodes of "Here's Lucy," but were far more famous for other shows.
LI'L ABNER
Li'l Abner was a satirical comic strip that featured a fictional clan of hillbillies living in the mountain village of Dogpatch USA. Written and illustrated by Al Capp (1909–1979), the strip ran for 43 years, from August 13, 1934, through November 13, 1977. The strip inspired a 1956 Broadway musical that was filmed in 1959. Prior to that there was a non-musical film in 1940. A radio series was heard from 1939 to 1940.
"GEORGE ATTENDS A TEENAGE DANCE" (November 20, 1948) This episode of "My Favorite Husband" opens with Liz reading the morning papers over breakfast.
LIZ: “Who do you suppose got married?”
KATIE THE MAID: “Li’l Abner and Daisy Mae?”
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Almost from the start, Abner Yokum was being pursued for matrimony by Daisy Mae Scragg. The reading public found it quite a tease that the two were clearly destined to get together. They finally married in 1952, nearly four years after this broadcast. The event made the cover of LIFE Magazine. 
"LIZ LEARNS TO DRIVE" (November 13, 1948) George reads about his old college girlfriend, Myra Ponsenby, in the morning paper. Liz is unenthusiastic. 
LIZ: “What’s new in Lower Slobbovia?” 
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“Lower Slobbovia” was a term first used in 1946 by Capp to describe a place that was unenlightened and socially backward. The term entered popular culture when referring to any place hopelessly stuck in the past.
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"FIRST STOP" (January 17, 1955) Fred Mertz calls the rundown Ohio roadside diner "Lower Slobbovia.”
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In "Tennessee Ernie Visits" (May 3, 1954) Fred calls Cousin Ernie "Little Abner".
The Broadway musical and film adaptation starred Peter Palmer as the title character. Palmer played Brother Peter in Lucille Ball's failed NBC sitcom "Bungle Abbey" (1980). On Broadway, Daisy Mae was played by Edie Adams (aka Mrs. Ernie Kovacs), who played herself in the very last episode of "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour" (1960). The film also featured Lucy players William Lanteau, Alan Carney, Bern Hoffman, Bobby Jellison, and Torben Mayer.
The 1940 film featured Lucy's mentor Buster Keaton as Lonesome Polecat and Dick Elliott as Marryin' Sam. A new 1971 musical special featured Lucy alumni Carol Burnett, Ken Berry, Eddie Albert, and Donald O'Connor. In 1967, "Here's Lucy" director Coby Ruskin created a pilot for a "Li'l Abner" series that failed to sell.
LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE
Little Orphan Annie was a daily comic strip created by Harold Gray and syndicated by the Tribune Media Services. It made its debut on August 5, 1924, in the New York Daily News. In 1930 it became one of the first comic strips adapted to radio, and attracted about 6 million fans before leaving the air in 1942. It was adapted to film in 1932 and 1938, and (like Li'l Abner) even became a Broadway musical. The success of the 1977 musical is credited with revitalizing the popularity of the franchise. The musical was filmed in 1982, 2014, and for television in 1999.
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"LUCY WANTS NEW FURNITURE" (June 1, 1953) Lucy likens her over-permed hair to a chrysanthemum, while Fred calls her Little Orphan Annie.
Annie is generally depicted with a mass of red hair and a red dress with a white collar.
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"THE STAR UPSTAIRS" (1955) Cornel Wilde is trying in vain to read a soaking wet newspaper thrown to him in the bathtub by Lucy disguised as a bellboy.
 WILDE: “I thought President Eisenhower was playing golf with Little Orphan Annie.” 
Eisenhower was famous for playing golf and Annie was famous on the comic pages, so it easy to see a mash-up of the two from a soggy paper.
"LUCY AND ART LINKLETTER" (January 10, 1966) Seeing Lucy’s wide-eyed look, Mr. Mooney tells her to "stop looking like an over-aged Orphan Annie.”
In the comic strip, Annie's eyes have no pupils!
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"LUCY GETS TRAPPED" (September 18, 1967) Lucy calls in sick, but goes shopping instead. When she's named Customer of the Year in a big celebration, she tries to hide the newspaper with her picture in it from Mr. Mooney. She tells him there's nothing new in the newspaper.
LUCY (about the news): "Oh, the temperature’s up, the stock market’s down, and Little Orphan Annie is lost again!”  
During its 86 years of publication, Annie being lost or having disappeared was a frequent storyline. In fact, when the strip finally ceased publication in 2010, it ended with Daddy Warbucks "resigning himself to Miss Annie's being lost forever."
SUPERMAN
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The Man of Steel was introduced to the world in comic book form in June 1938, created by Jerry Siegel and Joel Shuster. Beginning in January 1939, a daily comic strip appeared and a color Sunday version was added that November. Since then, the character, and characters from his world, has been seen in virtually every form of media, including, of course, television.
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"LUCY AND SUPERMAN" (January 14, 1957) is considered one of television's first 'cross-over' shows. "The Adventures of Superman" aired from 1951 to 1958 in syndication, concurrent with "I Love Lucy". It starred George Reeves as Superman, a role he also plays on this episode of "I Love Lucy." While "Superman" made the transition to color in 1954, CBS kept "Lucy" in black and white for its entire run. Reeves is never mentioned by name in the dialogue or in the original credits, although it is pretty clear that Lucy and Ricky are recruiting "the actor who plays Superman" to entertain at Little Ricky's birthday party, not the superhero himself. Keith Thibodeaux (Little Ricky) later said that this was his very favorite episode. Because Desilu had obtained the license to use the actual Superman logo, they weren’t shy about using it! They even got permission to use the show’s theme music, composed by Leo Klatzkin. 
Actors who were also seen on “Adventures of Superman” and their (characters) on “I Love Lucy”: Doris Singleton (Caroline Appleby), Elizabeth Patterson (Mrs. Trumbull), Tristram Coffin (Harry Munson), Herb Vigran (Jule / Al Sparks / Joe), Claude Akins (Himself aka ‘Giant Native’), Hayden Rorke (Mr. O’Brien), Phil Arnold (Harry Henderson / Man in Hotel Hallway), Milton Frome (Bill Henderson), Pierre Watkin (Mr. Dorrance), Dick Elliott (Tourist at Empire State Building / Yankee Stadium Spectator), Maurice Marsac (Maurice / Waiter), Frank J. Scannell (Buffo the Clown), Lou Krugman (Hollywood Director / Jewelry Salesman / Club Manager), Joi Lansing (Herself / Miss Low Neck), Larry Dobkin (Counterman / Waiter / Counterfeiter), Rolfe Sedan (Paris Chef), Eve McVeagh (Roberta the Hairdresser), Norman Varden (Mrs. Benson), Danni Sue Nolan (Mr. Reilly’s Secretary), Harry Cheshire (Sam Johnson), Ken Christy (Ken the Detective / Dock Agent), Robert Foulk (Brooklyn Policeman), Sid Melton (Jockey / Bellboy / Shorty), Bert Stevens (Tropicana Patron), Harold Miller (Theatre Patron / Ship Passenger), Hans Moebus (Man on Dock), Ernesto Molinari (Vineyard Boss), Jack Chefe (Bellhop / French Waiter), Bess Flowers (Tropicana Patron / Theatre Patron), and Monty O’Grady (Ship’s Passenger / Man at Airport).
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Picking up Little Ricky’s toys, Lucy holds one of his “Superboy” comic books. It is the December 1956 issue (#53), hot off the presses during filming. Ironically, on the cover, Superman is looking at television!   Even more ironically, inside the comic book was an ad titled “Draw Bob Hope”. Hope had just appeared on the season opener of “I Love Lucy.”
BATMAN
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Batman was created by Bill Kane and Bill Finger in May 1939, just a year after Superman. As with Superman, there were numerous radio, film, and television adaptations of the characters, most notably a series starring Adam West that aired from 1966 to 1968.
Alas, there is no direct reference to the Caped Crusader in the Lucyverse. There are, however, plenty of indirect references due to the large number of actors who appeared on the television series who had also appeared with Lucy: Madge Blake, Cesar Romero, Van Johnson, Shelley Winters, Liberace, Tallulah Bankhead, Ethel Merman, Milton Berle, Rudy Vallee, Ida Lupino, Howard Duff, Stafford Repp, Victor Buono, Vincent Price, Edward Everett Horton, Vito Scotti, Norma Varden, Tristram Coffin, Ellen Corby, Sammy Davis Jr., Allen Jenkins, Art Linkletter, Alan Hale Jr., Jessyln Fax, Ben Welden, Dick Kallman, Alberto Morin, Bryan O'Byrne, and Larry Anthony.
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Most notable among these is Madge Blake, who played Aunt Harriet on "Batman" as well as two characters on "I Love Lucy" and one on "The Lucy Show." She was also seen with Lucy and Desi in The Long, Long Trailer (1954). Coincidentally, she played Martha, a prospective new tenant in "Lucy and Superman" (see above). When she sees something outside the apartment window, her husband Herbert is concerned.
HERBERT: “Was it a bird?”
MARTHA: “No.”
HERBERT:  “Was it a plane?”
MARTHA: “No.”
HERBERT: “Well, what was it, dear?”
MARTHA: “It was Superman!”
A 1949 film titled Batman and Robin featured Lucy performers Jack Chefe, Lyle Talbot, William Fawcett, and Phil Arnold.
DENNIS THE MENACE
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Dennis the Menace, a comic strip centered around a mischievous but good natured young suburban boy, made its debut on March 12, 1951 syndicated in newspapers. Its success inspired comic books and (most famously) a television series that aired from 1959 to 1963.
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"LUCY THE ROBOT" (February 28, 1966) Jay North, who played Dennis, guest-starred on a 1966 episode of "The Lucy Show" playing the 13 year-old nephew of Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon). Lucy dresses as a toy soldier robot to divert him.
“You will keep that MENACE subdued for the next eight days!” ~ Mr. Mooney to Lucy about Wendell
During the final season of "Dennis", the long-suffering character of neighbor George Wilson was written out due to the death of actor Joseph Kearns. Kearns had played two characters on “I Love Lucy” - a psychiatrist in season one, and a theatre manager in season six. Gale Gordon was added to the cast as George’s brother, Henry.
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When Lucille Ball was finally convinced to return to network television in 1962, she naturally wanted Gordon to join her, but he was unavailable due to his prior commitment to “Dennis the Menace” so Mrs. Carmichael’s put-upon banker was played by Charles Lane. Lane was also on “Dennis” as the recurring character of druggist Mr. Finch. He played the role six times before leaving for “Lucy”, his final episode airing just a day before his penultimate episode of “Lucy”! 
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When “Dennis” was canceled and Gordon was finally free, Ball wasted no time in hiring him and had Lane’s character was written out in order to make way for a new banker, Theodore Mooney.  “Dennis the Menace” also had a character named Theodore Mooney - a police sergeant (George Cisar). He was often seen in the company of a woman named Lucy (Mrs. Lucy Elkins played by Irene Tedrow, and John Wilson (Gale Gordon).  
Another cast member that "Lucy" and "Dennis" had in common was Danny, a cairn terrier who played Fred the dog on "I Love Lucy" and Freemont, Mr. Wilson's dog, on "Dennis the Menace." Danny was trained by Bill Blair and owned by Frank Inn, Hollywood's busiest animal actor supplier.
Besides Gordon, Lane, and Kearns, “Dennis” also featured “Lucy Show” and/or “I Love Lucy” alumni: Mary Wickes (Miss Cathcart), Edward Everett Horton (Uncle Ned), Kathryn Card (Mrs. Biddy), Parley Baer (Captain Blast), Elvia Allman (Edna), Tyler McVey (Mr. Carlson), Dub Taylor (Opie Swanson), Norman Leavitt (various roles), Bob Jellison (Announcer), Richard Reeves (Mr. Kelly), Lurene Tuttle (Mrs. Courtland), Nestor Paiva (Gamali), Jonathan Hole (Addison Brook), Stanley Adams (Jerry Richman), Willard Waterman (Otis Quigley), Harry Cheshire (Mr. Petry), Eve McVeagh (Mrs. Purcell), Harvey Korman (Bowers), Stafford Repp (Lt. Wheeler), Verna Felton (Aunt Emma), Madge Blake (Mrs. Porter), Ellen Corby (Miss Douglas), Eleanor Audley (Mrs. Pompton), and frequent extras Leoda Richards, Leon Alton, Olan Soule, Larry J. Blake, George DeNormand, and Monty O’Grady.
THE GUMPS
The Gumps is a comic strip about a middle-class family headed by hen-pecked husband Andy. It was created by Sidney Smith in 1917, launching a 42-year run in newspapers from February 12, 1917, until October 17, 1959, just six month before the last time America saw the Ricardos and Mertzes for the last time.
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"The Adagio" (December 31, 1951) Ricky says “All this shaving is liable to wear my chin away,” to which Lucy replies “Okay, Andy Gump.”
The character had a bushy mustache but no lower jaw. Cartoonist Smith based him on real-life Andy Wheat who had his jaw removed after a tooth infection.
BUSTER BROWN
Buster Brown is a comic-strip character created in 1902 by Richard F. Outcault. Adopted as the mascot of the Brown Shoe Company in 1904, Buster Brown, along with Mary Jane, and with his dog Tige, became well known to the American public in the early-20th century. The character's name was used to describe a popular style of suit for young boys, the Buster Brown suit.
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"THE ENGLISH TUTOR" (December 29, 1952) Lucy hires a grammar instructor so her new baby will grow up surrounded by well-spoken friends and family. Fred sarcastically shows up to the first session wearing a Buster Brown suit.
ETHEL: "All right, Buster Brown, go downstairs and get out of that silly outfit."
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"THE RICARDOS CHANGE APARTMENTS" (May 18, 1953) To give Ricky the feeling their apartment is too small, Lucy fills the flat with toys, including a frog with a tongue that popped out when squeezed. This was actually a TV tie-in (one of the first) called Froggy the Gremlin. The character made its debut on radio’s “Buster Brown Gang” in 1944, which was brought to television in 1951 as “Smilin’ Ed’s Gang” with Froggy as a puppet and – occasionally – a life-sized costume character. In various formats, the program was seen from 1951 to 1960 (also on CBS) and featured "Lucy" performers June Foray, Vitto Scotti, Lou Krugman, Alan Reed, and Jerry Maren as Buster Brown.
BRENDA STARR, REPORTER
Brenda Starr is a comic strip started by Don Messick in 1940 about an adventurous and glamourous female reporter. The strip ended in 2011.  
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"LUCY BECOMES A REPORTER" (January 21, 1963) When Lucy takes a job as the editor of the Danfield Tribune's social column, Mr. Foley, the Tribune’s editor, sarcastically refers to Lucy as Brenda Starr.
Like Lucy, Brenda had red hair.
THE KATZENJAMMER KIDS
The Katzenjammer Kids was a comic strip created by German immigrant Rudolph Dirks which appeared from 1897 to 2006. Dirks was said to be the first to use 'thought balloons' in a comic strip.
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"LUCY AND THE DIAMOND CUTTER" (November 16, 1970) Wally Cox plays Gustav, a nervous diamond cutter who stays at the Carter home while waiting to cut an expensive gem. Gustav calls Kim and Craig “the Katzenjammer Kids.”
The line is humorous due to Cox's thick German accent.
BRINGING UP FATHER
"VIV VISITS LUCY" (1967) A hippie named Itchy (Les Brown Jr.) tells Viv he doesn't miss his parents because “that 'Maggie and Jiggs' action was pretty hard to take.” Maggie and Jiggs (or Jiggs and Maggie) was the colloquial name for a comic strip actually titled “Bringing Up Father.” It was created by George McManus and ran from 1913 to 2000.  The strip presented the life of a nouveau-riche American family. It was translated to stage, radio, television and six films.
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It is often forgotten that "I Love Lucy" was also a comic strip which appeared daily from 1952 until 1955. In fact, it was the comic strip that broke the news that Lucy Ricardo had given birth to a boy! These were then collected into "I Love Lucy" comic books. "The Lucy Show" was also a series of comic books, published by Gold Key from 1963.
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THE FACE IS FAMILIAR… BUT I CAN’T PLACE THE NAME!
Same Actor / Different Character ~ Part 3: “Here's Lucy"
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It used to be quite common for actors to be cast in multiple roles on the same series. Not in principal parts, certainly, but in supporting and minor characters. Lucycoms were no exception. Although the world created by these shows was representative of reality, the characters who populated them often gave viewers Deja vu. By the time "Here's Lucy" premiered in 1968, Lucille Ball had developed a repertory company of actors that she used time and time again.
For the purposes of this discussion, we won't include background performers (aka extras) as they were nearly always drawn from the same pool of actors. Also, those who played multiple characters need to have at least one of them identified by name.
MARY WICKES
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Lucille Ball's good friend tops the list of actors who played multiple roles, with seven characters in nine appearances. When the series premiered, she played a secretary friend of Lucy Carter's named Isabel in two episodes. Perhaps there was no room for Isabel, so she disappeared, but Wickes did not! Due to the fact that she played a nurse in her breakout role in The Man Who Came to Dinner (both stage and screen), she also played several nurses. She even showed up as Lucy's sister-in-law, a nun, another type that she was often cast as in films. In addition, she was a maid to an eccentric dowager, a Montana matriarch, and a nosy neighbor.
JACK COLLINS
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Collins' six appearances span from season one in 1968 to the series finale in 1974. He played secret agent Johnson, expectant father Mr. Phillips, Vincent Price's producer Curt, Harry's eye optometrist Dr. Proctor, Harry's accountant Arthur Collins, and Harvey Stevens, proprietor of Harvey's Welcome Inn. Perhaps Collins is best compared to versatile actor Charles Lane on "I Love Lucy"?
CAROLE COOK
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Lucy's protege is back with more interesting characters - five of them, to be exact. She started the series as a wacky woman in Carol Burnett's audience, played crusading neighbor Sheila Casten, bridge club member Lillian Rylander, gangster Ma Parker, and Cynthia Duncan, a Lucille Ball look-alike. Ma Parker was by far Cook's largest and most adventurous role on the series.
IRWIN CHARONE
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Charone made five appearances on “The Lucy Show” and an equal number of “Here’s Lucy” episodes. Mr. Garfield of the Nippy Whippy Whipped Cream Company , dog owner Mr. Farnsworth, neighbor Chester P. Franklin, a permit office clerk, and college dean Phillips.
ROY ROBERTS
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Roberts made an impact as Mr. Cheever on "The Lucy Show." His first appearance on "Here's Lucy" was as the Superintendent of the Air Force Academy in a two-part season opener filmed on location. He returned as a NASA's Dr. Jensen in "Lucy and the Astronauts" (1971), Warden Maginetti when "Lucy Goes To Prison" (1973), and Dr. Honeycutt when "Lucy is N.G. as an R.N." (1974).
RHODES REASON
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Reason was a handsome leading man type who easily played a variety of roles from 1968 to 1973: Bradley Henshaw, Jim Simpson, Sam Toliver, Lieutenant Egan, and Keith Davidson.
ROBERT CARSON
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Carson was a busy Canadian-born actor. While he never played supporting roles, he wasn't just an extra either. On "Here's Lucy" he played Martin Philips, Buzzy Brock, Sergeant Lou Holmes, and Officer Hurlow.
ROBERT ALDA
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Alda (father of Alan) was best known for originating the role of Sky Masterson on Broadway in Guys and Dolls (1950). He did four episodes of "Here's Lucy," the first as himself, hosting the Secretary Beautiful Contest. The role was originally written for Don Ameche, then re-cast with Ross Martin, before Alda was finally given the part.  He got to use his musical theatre skills singing the pageant’s theme.  He put his musical skills to use again as Dean Butler in "Lucy, the Co-Ed" (1970). He also sang as Captain MacClay in a two-parter set on a cruise ship to Hawaii.
WALLY COX
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Cox had come to the nation's attention as Mr. Peepers. On "Here's Lucy" he played ex-con safecracker Rock Barnett, wimpy Wally Manley, diamond cutter Gustav Vandermeer, and toy tycoon Tommy Tucker.
DORIS SINGLETON
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Singleton created the role of Caroline Appleby on “I Love Lucy.” She was slated to appear as Doris, a secretary colleague of Lucy's, on "Here's Lucy," but the role was eliminated after the first episode. She returned, however, for three more appearances, all as secretaries to the stars: Petula Clark's secretary Miss Perkins, Eddie Albert's secretary Patty, and Lucille Ball's secretary Doris, a role modeled after Ball's own secretary Wanda.
WILLIAM LANTEAU
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William Lanteau was a theatre actor who was most famous for playing Charlie the Mailman in On Golden Pond. His theatrical background surely helped him disguise himself in his four roles on "Here's Lucy". Unlike past guest actors, he looks significantly different in each one: Mr. Sherwood, a supermarket manager; Mr. Minkle, building superintendent; Spike, Ginger Rogers' secretary; and Edgar St. Vincent Kinkaid, antiques store manager.
DICK PATTERSON
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Patterson was seen by Lucille Ball performing on stage and cast on "The Lucy Show." He continued his relationship with the redhead on "Here's Lucy" where he played computer matchmaker Mr. Morton (Ball's real surname), TV host Dick Dunkirk, Joe Namath's football coach Hennessy, and director of Lucy's pickle commercial Steve Thompson.
RETA SHAW
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Shaw was a star of stage and screen (big and small) and Lucille Ball enjoyed working with her. This time, in the series' third episode, she played Mabel Ryker, using the same first name she had in The Pajama Game on stage and screen. She played Rita Forrester in "Lucy and The Group Encounter" (1972), and Mrs. Witherspoon, Lucy's prospective new boarder in "Lucy's Tenant" (1973).
LOLA FISHER
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Fisher understudied and replaced Julie Andrews on Broadway in the musical My Fair Lady.  She was seen as in "Lucy's Working Daughter" (1968), as Mrs. Pomeroy in "Lucy in the Jungle" (1971), and Bunny in "Lucy and the Franchise Fiasco" (1973).
CLIFF NORTON
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Norton played Sam the Plumber who's overalls turn up on Richard Burton. He was an undercover detective looking for scalpers in an episode starring O.J. Simpson. Lastly, he got title billing in "Mary Jane's Boyfriend", playing accident prone Walter Butley.
BEN WRIGLEY
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Wrigley was a British actor who appeared in My Fair Lady (1964) and Bednobs and Broomsticks (1971). so he was a natural to play butlers to Liberace and Jack Benny. He also played Homer Pomeroy in "Lucy in the Jungle" (1971).
BRUCE GORDON
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Gordon was best known for playing gangster Frank Nitti in the Desilu television series "The Untouchables" (1959-63), a role he satirized on "The Lucy Show". He trades on that reputation again as Doc Porter in "Lucy and the Ex-Con" and Rocky in "Dirty Gertie", another organized crime scenario. For a change of pace, he played Grandfather Konstantine Kasos in "Lucy's Wedding Party."
ELLIOTT REID
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Reid's work with Lucy goes back to "I Love Lucy". Here he plays three roles: Detective Harvey Gaines, Sammy Davis Jr.'s Director, and the host of Milton Berle's telethon.
PHIL VANDERVOORT
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Vandervoort was (briefly) Lucille Ball's son-in-law and Lucy believed in keeping it in the family, casting her children, her husband, and her cousin-in-laws on the series. Vandervoort, a handsome young man, makes only three appearances but each one is made to look dramatically different, perhaps to obscure his leading man good looks. He plays Kim and Craig's musician friend Steve (the most 'normal' of his appearances), computer geek Joe Hackley, and beaded handman Tommy.
BARBARA MORRISON
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Morrison returns to play two more imposing and imperious women: Harry's date Lady Agatha Warren, and finicky shopper Mrs. Murdock. With many other members of Lucy's acting company, she turns up as a diner in the series' penultimate episode.
HARRY HICKOX
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Hickox was best known for playing anvil salesman Charlie Cowell in the 1962 film The Music Man. He played a drill sergeant on "The Lucy Show". He played three different policemen on “Here’s Lucy.”
BILLY SANDS
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Sands played Mr. Larson, Lucy's milkman, in two episodes, but he also played Billy the bookie in a third appearance.
DON CRICHTON
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Crichton was a dancer on "The Carol Burnett Show" and also did small roles, just as he did on "Here's Lucy". He danced in the series premiere, and then acted, playing Don in "Lucy, The Conclusion Jumper" (1968), and Steve in "Lucy, The American Mother" (1970).
LEW PARKER
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Parker, best known as Marlo Thomas' father on "That Girl", was seen on the very first episode of "Here's Lucy" in 1968 as Mr. Caldwell. He returned in 1971 as Mr. Adams, the manager of an All-Nun Band.
LYLE TALBOT
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Talbot, a veteran film actor, played Harry's Lawyer and his best pal from Bullwinkle U, Freddy Fox.
JACK MANNING
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Manning played Mr. Walters, the manager of the showroom presenting teen idol Donny Osmond as well as Mr. Hubbell, a ceramics store owner who runs art classes, both during season 5.
RICHARD DEACON
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Deacon was one of Desilu's favorites, appearing on "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour," "The Mothers-In-Law" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show." For "Here's Lucy" he played unemployment office worker (with show biz aspirations) Harvey Hoople, and Loan Officer Elmer Zellerbach.
ALAN OPPENHEIMER
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Oppenheimer played the part of the previously unknown Uncle Herb Hinkley, Lucy's brother. He then turned up as Lucy's doctor, Dr. Matt Parker.
OTHERS WHO 'HIT A DOUBLE'
Robert L. Stevens (River Guide / Alan Stevens)
James Brodhead (Tilford / Mr. Miller)
Mike Howden (Ski Instructor / Flight Attendant)
Ivor Barry (Producer / French Chef)
Hal Dunlop (Major Dunlop / Mr. Greenway)
R.G. Brown (Office Manager / Walter, Eva Gabor's Assistant)
Ernest Sarracino (Mr. Nicoletti / Tony)
Cecil Gold (Fred / Cecil)
Jimmy Bates (Clarence / Billy Joe Jackson)
Robert Hogan (Captain Perry / Jack Lucas)
Johnny Silver (Mountie / Benny)
Jody Gilbert (King Kong Woman / Prison Matron)
Ed Hall (Officer Egan / Numbers Smith)
Marc Lawrence (Joe Grapefruit / Ruby)
Florence Lake (Little Old Lady / Trixie)
Eddie Quillan (Cabbie / Mr. Jackson)
Al Checco (Detective Bobby / Dr. Crawford)
Dick Winslow (Harvey / Nightclub Emcee)
Susan Tolsky (Sue Ann Ditbenner / Miss Quigley)
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CELEBRITIES WHO DID 'DOUBLE DUTY'
CAROL BURNETT (Carol Krausmeyer / Herself)
MILTON BERLE (Cheerful Charlie / Himself)
ROBERT CUMMINGS (Bob Collins / Bob Henning)
EVA GABOR (Eva Von Graunitz / Herself)
PAUL WINCHELL (Carlo the Tailer / Little Old Jeweler & The Great Pierre Barmarche)
ED MCMAHON (Ed McAllister / Himself)
LUCILLE BALL (Lucy Carter / Herself)
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THE FACE IS FAMILIAR… BUT I CAN’T PLACE THE NAME!
Same Actor / Different Character ~ Part 2: “The Lucy Show"
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It used to be quite common for actors to be cast in multiple roles on the same series. Not in principal parts, certainly, but in supporting and minor characters. Lucycoms were no exception. Although the world created by these shows was representative of reality, the characters who populated them often gave viewers Deja vu.
For the purposes of this discussion, we won’t include background performers (aka extras) as they were nearly always drawn from the same pool of actors. Also, those who played multiple characters need to have at least one of them identified by name.
MARY JANE CROFT
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Croft (a veteran of "I Love Lucy") was introduced to viewers as Audrey Simmons in 8 episodes from episode 8 in 1962. When the show's location was changed to Los Angeles, Croft also changed - into Mary Jane Lewis, which was her legal name during her marriage to producer / director Elliott Lewis. When Vivian Vance left the cast, and Lucy failed to fill her 'second banana' spot, Croft's role became increasingly more integral to the show. The second MJ was seen in 31 episode, including the series finale.
CAROLE COOK
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A protege of Ball's from the Desilu Playhouse, Cook was introduced as Thelma Green in five episodes set in Danfield. Unusually, during that time she also played Betty Jo Hanson at "Lucy's College Reunion" (1963). Perhaps the episodes were aired out of filming sequence. When the show moved West, she played socialite Mrs. Valance for three episodes, and a variety of other characters (large and small) in 11 more.
ROY ROBERTS
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Roberts was best known as Bank President Mr. Cheever, a role he played in 14 episodes starting halfway through season five and including the series finale. But he first appeared as the Admiral in "Lucy and the Submarine" (1966). Roberts was likely typecast as Mr. Cheever after playing a similar role on "The Beverly Hillbillies" from 1965 to 1967.
MARY WICKES
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Wickes was a great friend of Lucille Ball's. While she only made one appearance on "I Love Lucy", she was seen much more frequently on "The Lucy Show". In her first appearance she played a character named Mary Wickenhauser, Wickes' birth name. It wasn't long before she was back as Fran, one of the Danfield volunteer firefighters, in three episodes. When the series went to LA, she was Lucy's Aunt Gussie in two episodes, followed by one-offs Miss Winslow, Miss Hurlow, and Aunt Agatha. In total, she played 6 characters in 9 episodes over 6 seasons! And that's just on one series!
LUCIE ARNAZ
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Before she joined the cast of "Here's Lucy" as a series regular in 1968, Lucy's daughter was given opportunities to perform on "The Lucy Show", although in small roles. In Danfield she was seen as Chris's friend Cynthia in several episodes. In LA, she played several different teenagers in five episodes.
HERB VIGRAN
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Vigran started out as Dr. Jacoby, the umpire of Danfield's softball team, in two episodes. He went on to play a variety of others: a doctor, a vet, a postman, and a computer salesman that was referred to as "Mr. Vigran"!
DOROTHY KONRAD
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Konrad used her own first name as a member of the Danfield Volunteer Fire Brigade in two episodes, then used her last name as one of Lucy's college alumni in another. She also played bank secretary Mrs. Hutton, and babysitter Mrs. Fletcher.
JOAN SWIFT
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Swift was most often seen using her own first name as a Los Angles co-worker of Mrs. Carmichael's. She also played an airline passenger, a French maid, and characters named Laurie and Dottie.
KAREN NORRIS
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Norris was seen in six episodes, each time as a different character, but all with dialogue. Her most significant role was as Babette Edwards, a woman about to have her sixth child in "Lucy and Viv Play Softball" (1963).
LEW PARKER
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Parker played Joan Crawford's agent, a movie producer scouting Frankie Avalon, Phil Harris' music producer, Mr. Mooney's lawyer AND his psychiatrist! In some episodes he used his own first name, in others he used his own last name.
PARLEY BAER
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Baer Started his "Lucy Show" life playing the man who sells Lucy Clementine the sheep. He went to be seen as two judges, an army colonel, and a doctor. Is it any wonder he was one of the most familiar faces on television?
KATHLEEN FREEMAN
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1964 was a big year for Freeman, who appeared on "The Lucy Show" five times in four different characters. She was known by her own first name in two episodes, but also played Olga the cook, Mrs. Putnam the maid, and Mrs. Blake the nurse.
GARY MORTON
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Morton was Lucille Ball's real-life husband, and also a producer on "The Lucy Show". His first role (not surprisingly) was as Lucy's boyfriend, named Gary Stewart. As a stand-up comedian, he was able to handle dialogue and was cast in three more small roles, one time using his real surname. In the end credits, he used his birth name Morton Goldaper. Speaking of Lucy's boyfriend...
KEITH ANDES
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Andes had played Lucy's love interest on Broadway in Wildcat (1960), so it wasn't a reach for him to do it again on "The Lucy Show." He played Bill King on two episodes set in Danfield. In Los Angeles he was back as Lucy's love interest, but this time named Brad Collins. Collins is an airline pilot, just like Lucy's boyfriend in Danfield, Harry Connors (Dick Martin).  Collins was also the surname of Viv's steady boyfriend, Eddie (Don Briggs), back in Danfield.
LOU KRUGMAN
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Krugman was one of Lucille Ball's favorite performers. He was instantly recognizable as the film director coping with Lucy Ricardo and her ungainly headpiece. On "The Lucy Show" his first appearance was as a Chemistry teacher named Dr. Adrian Vance (after Vivian, of course). He played a music producer named Barney Miller (no relation to the TV detective), and finally returned to playing a film director, again coping with Lucy as she watches John Wayne film a western.
JONATHAN HOLE
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Hole made his first appearance with Lucille Ball in 1966, playing a department store manager named Mr. Collins. That same year he was Mr. Haskell, a Palm Springs hotel manager where Lucy and Carol sing. Finally, he used his first name to play Jonathan Winslow, father of three rambunctious chimps babysat by Lucy.
RETA SHAW
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Shaw was a popular character actress from film (Mary Poppins), stage (The Pajama Game), and television ("The Ghost and Mrs. Muir"). She was seen as 3 different characters on "The Lucy Show" starting as a girthy granny at the fairgrounds when "Lucy Misplaces $2,000" (1962). In "My Fair Lucy" (1964) she was dominating Dora Dunbar, wealthy socialite. Finally, she played Mrs. Foley, owner of a roadside stand selling maps to the stars homes when "Lucy Goes to a Hollywood Premiere" (1966).
HARVEY KORMAN
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Korman is best remembered from his hilarious work on "The Carol Burnett Show", but he was also worked with Carol's mentor, Lucille Ball, playing 3 roles on "The Lucy Show." First he was Mr. Slater, manager of a day camp where "Lucy and Viv are Camp Cooks" (1964). The next year he was twitchy stockbroker Mr. Phillips. During the series' first LA episode, Korman played Major Grayson, who is in charge of a military academy.
PAUL WINCHELL
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Paul Winchell was best known as a ventriloquist and the inventor of an artificial heart (seriously). In 1966 he played himself on "Here's Lucy," also showcasing some of his most famous creations. The following year he was cast as Doc Putnam, a little old man, in a two part musical episode "Main Street USA". He was barely recognizable. The role required him to sing and dance, which led to a falling out between his daughter and Lucy. She felt that Lucy was working him too hard and being exceptionally cruel.
KASEY ROGERS
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Rogers is best remembered for playing Louise Tate on “Bewitched” from 1966 to 1972.  For Lucy, she played Miss Cavanaugh, manager of a flight attendant training school attended by Lucy and Carol (Burnett). In the final season, she played Miss Carroll, secretary to Phil Harris.
LLOYD CORRIGAN
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Corrigan appeared in two films with Lucille Ball before joining her on the small screen as Mr. Holly of Holly Cleaners on the first season of "The Lucy Show". He returned to play gentleman crook Carter Harrison (a name that when reversed is given to Gale Gordon's character on "Here's Lucy" and the unnamed proprietor of a Los Angeles Christmas Tree stand.
TED ECCLES
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Teddy Eccles was the second child actor to play Arnold Mooney. When Mr. Mooney and Lucy moved to Los Angeles, their children were hardly ever discussed. So Eccles was given the roles of cadet Harold, and Barry the choirboy.
HAL SMITH
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Smith was best known as Otis the drunk on "The Andy Griffith Show," filmed at Desilu. For "Lucy" he played Mr. Wilson, one of the dads on an all-dad (plus Lucy) camping trip, and tuba-toting Mr. Weber in the two episodes set on "Main Street" of Bancroft.
WILLARD WATERMAN
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Former "Great Gildersleeve" on radio, Waterman played TV host Greg Gregory in “Lucy and the Plumber” (1964), followed by Tex Critter at the dude ranch in "Lucy the Rain Goddess" (1966).
DICK PATTERSON
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Patterson was a Broadway performer who played the "doctor" in "Lucy and the Beauty Doctor" (1966). The "doctor" was actually a TV host for a hidden camera show. He returned seven months later to play Marty King, director of Danny Thomas’s television show. 
DORIS SINGLETON
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Doris had originated the role of Carolyn Appleby on "I Love Lucy". On "The Lucy Show" she first played Ruth Cosgrove in "Lucy and Art Linkletter" (1966). Her character name was the real-life name of Milton Berle's wife, who would actually appear in season five as herself! Singleton returned to the series when "Lucy Gets Her Diploma" (1967) using her own first name. Doris (the character) has very little to do with the plot.  Her scene might have been originally meant for Mary Jane but reassigned to Singleton due the indisposition of Croft.
RUTA LEE
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Lee made her big screen debut in MGM’s Seven Bride for Seven Brothers in 1954. She was seen in many Desilu shows, finally acting opposite Lucille Ball on “The Lucy Show” as “Lucy’s Substitute Secretary” (1967). That same year she played herself opposite the aforementioned Ruth Cosgrove-Berle!
JACKIE COOGAN
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One of the first child actors in Hollywood, Coogan is best remembered as Uncle Fester on "The Addams Family." He was mentioned on "I Love Lucy," but finally meets her face to face as Lieutenant Ruggles in "Lucy and the Military Academy" (1963). Five years later he was back as Mr. Burton, manager of a drive-in hamburger stand when "Lucy Gets Involved" (1968).
JAY NOVELLO
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Novello started acting with Lucy on her radio show and was also seen on "I Love Lucy." In this series he plays Mr. Bundy, candy shop owner and safe cracker , and (1963) Tony DiBello, owner of an Italian Restaurant (1964) where Lucy takes her millionaire date.
OTHERS WHO HIT A DOUBLE
Jack Benny (Harry Tuttle / Himself)
Lyle Talbot (Mr. Stanford / Howard Wilcox)
Dan Rowan (Colin Grant / Dan McGowan)
Barbara Morrison (Mrs. Walker / Mrs. Winkler)
Cliff Norton (Mr. Bentley / Ike)
Tommy Farrell (Pete Murdock / Harry)
Jack Collins (Rocky / Ernie)
Howard Caine (Harold / Paul Roney)
Byron Foulger (Fred Dunbar / Mr. Trindle)
Eddie Quillan (Mr. Vincent / Briggs)
Elliott Reid (Ross Dowd / Dr. Oscar Kurtzman)
Phil Vandervoort (Alan / Tommy Watkins)
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BALLOWEEN ~ Spooky Kooky Lucy!
A Handy Dandy Guide To Halloween in the Lucyverse
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FILM
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LURED is a 1947 suspense film directed by Douglas Sirk starring Lucille Ball, George Sanders, and former Frankenstein monster Boris Karloff.
SYNOPSIS: Sandra Carpenter (Lucille Ball) is a London-based dancer who is distraught to learn that her friend has disappeared. Soon after the disappearance, she's approached by Harley Temple (Charles Coburn), a police investigator who believes her friend has been murdered by a serial killer who uses personal ads to find his victims. Temple hatches a plan to catch the killer using Sandra as bait, and Sandra agrees to help. But complications arise when Sandra becomes engaged to a nightclub owner.
This example of film noir is more suspenseful than scary, but it is nice to see Ball in a different genre than comedy.
RADIO
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"Liz’s Superstitions” (aka “Superstition”) is episode #59 of the radio series MY FAVORITE HUSBAND broadcast on October 21, 1949.
SYNOPSIS: A chirping cricket in the Cooper’s hearth is driving George crazy, but Liz is convinced it means good luck. When Liz insists that it isn't lucky to banish a cricket, George gets upset with her superstitions.
MR. ACME: “There are only three of us in this room. Only two of us will leave here alive.”
LIZ: “I hope one of them is not a cricket!” 
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"Halloween Surprise Party” (aka “The Halloween Party” aka “The Surprise Halloween Party”) is episode #60 of the radio series MY FAVORITE HUSBAND broadcast on October 28, 1949.
SYNOPSIS: The Atterburys decide to throw a Halloween surprise party for Liz and George, but when Liz hears about their party at the beauty salon, she thinks that she and George just weren't invited. When the subject turns to everyone’s plans for Halloween, the Atterburys lie and tell the Coopers that Iris’s mother is ill so they are having dinner with her.
RUDOLPH: “Yes, we always spend Halloween with the old witch!” 
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“The Ten Grand” was an episode of radio’s Suspense broadcast on June 22, 1944. The script is by Virginia Radcliffe. It was her only Suspense script in a long radio writing career. This story was included in Suspense Magazine #3.
SYNOPSIS: A broke chorus girl inexplicably finds ten thousand dollars in her purse after it’s been temporarily stolen on the subway. She’s not sure what to do about it, and it soon leads to trouble. She has been set up.
Lucille Ball had done a previous episode of Suspense in January 1944 titled “Dime a Dance”. 
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"Early To Death" is an episode of Suspense that aired April 12, 1951. It starred Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in a script by John Michael Hayes and E. Jack Newman, produced and directed by Elliott Lewis.
SYNOPSIS: Ben is a co-pilot on a plane and he and his partner Evie (Lucille Ball) call in that their plane is in trouble. But the plane wasn’t in trouble, it was carrying the company’s payroll and the two of them jumped from the plane with the money and took it as they had planned and buried it in the mountain where they planned to leave it until things had died down. A few days later they strolled in to a nearby town like two plane crash survivors. They knew there would be questions to answer but they had rehearsed for this over the year. When the wreckage was found it was assumed that the money had burnt in it. It seemed that they were clear and all they had to do was wait but then a guy named Rico Sebastian turned up claiming that he had seen them bury the money in the mountains.
“I’d killed, then he’d killed. The way I looked at it, it was my turn again.” ~ Evie
TELEVISION
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"The Seance" is the seventh episode of season one of "I Love Lucy" aired on November 26, 1951. Directed by Marc Daniels. Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh and Bob Carroll, Jr.
SYNOPSIS: Lucy is obsessed with astrology and numerology just as Ricky is about to be interviewed by a producer who also believes heavily in the supernatural.  To appease him, the gang hosts a séance to contact his dear departed Tilly.   
This episode is based on an episode of Lucy’s radio show “My Favorite Husband” titled “Numerology,” which was first broadcast on Christmas Day 1948. 
MEDIUM RAYA (in a trance): "Ethel to Tilly. Ethel to Tilly. Come in, Tilly. Over."
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"Little Ricky's School Pageant" is the tenth episode of season six of "I Love Lucy" aired December 17, 1956. Directed by James V. Kern. Written by Madelyn Martin, Bob Carroll, Jr., Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf.
SYNOPSIS: Little Ricky is cast as the lead in his school play, with Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel also getting into the act. Lucy plays a wicked witch who threatens to kidnap Susie and her little brother Billy.
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"Lucy and the Monsters" is 18th episode of season three of "The Lucy Show" aired January 25, 1965.
SYNOPSIS: When Lucy and Viv decide to check out the horror movies their boys have been watching, Lucy has a nightmare in which she and Viv are trapped in a haunted castle where they encounter a variety of horror movie characters - until their host turns them into witches themselves!  
LUCY: “The over-abundance of spooky stuff in movies and TV can cause traumatic experience in our youngsters.”
This is as close as Lucy gets to a Halloween episode, although it was first aired in January! It includes all the horror movie tropes: haunted house, vampires, werewolves, witches, mummies, and creatures.
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"Lucy Cuts Vincent's Price" is the 9th episode of season three of "Here's Lucy" aired November 9, 1970, one week after Halloween.
SYNOPSIS: Lucy mistakenly buys a painting at an auction and brings it to art connoisseur actor Vincent Price to be appraised.  Price thinks Lucy is an actress coming to audition for his new horror movie and terrorizes Lucy in his study turned laboratory.
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"Lucy and the Little Old Lady" is the 17th episode of the fourth season of "Here's Lucy" aired January 3, 1972, starring Helen Hayes.
SYNOPSIS: When a kindly widow from out of town (Helen Hayes) comes to the Unique Employment Agency looking for a part-time job, Lucy gives her a place to stay and Harry buys some real estate from her. Kim becomes suspicious that she may be running a con game so they plan to hold a fake séance to get Harry’s money back.
To be truthful, there's nothing particularly scary about this episode, even the séance!
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THE FACE IS FAMILIAR... BUT I CAN'T PLACE THE NAME!
Same Actor / Different Character ~ Part 1: "I Love Lucy"
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It used to be quite common for actors to be cast in multiple roles on the same series. Not in principal parts, certainly, but in supporting and minor characters. Lucycoms were no exception. Although the world created by these shows was representative of reality, the characters who populated them often gave viewers Deja vu.
For the purposes of this discussion, we won't include background performers (aka extras) as they were nearly always drawn from the same pool of actors. Also, those who played multiple characters need to have at least two of them identified by name. We will, however, include "the "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hours" in our discussion of "I Love Lucy".
FRANK NELSON
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A busy character actor, Frank Nelson has the distinction of being the only performer to play more than one recurring character (a character seen in more than one episode) on "I Love Lucy": Quizmaster Freddie Fillmore and Westport neighbor Ralph Ramsey. In addition, he played a nearsighted waiter, a TV host, a policeman, a a talent scout, a customs officer, a cruise director, and (perhaps most famously) a train conductor. His turn as the conductor was so memorable, he reprised it on "The Lucy Show" in 1963. Lucy has worked with Nelson on her radio show and new that audiences loved him - so she had no problem engaging him time and time again.
CHARLES LANE
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Another familiar face was veteran character actor Charles Lane. Instead of radio, Lane came from the world of film, having done several pictures with William Frawley. He played a total of six characters, including Mr. Stanley, father of nine girls when "Lucy Goes to the Hospital." He followed up with Mr. Hickox "The Business Manager", a casting director, a passport office clerk, a uranium claims officer, and (like Nelson) a customs official, this time at the Mexican border. Lucille Ball created a role for him on "The Lucy Show", only to let him go to make way for a similar character when Gale Gordon finally became available. But that didn't stop Lane, who kept acting until he died at the age of 102!
MARY JANE CROFT
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Before settling into the role of Betty Ramsey (with Frank Nelson as her husband Ralph), Croft played the role of Lucy Ricardo's old chum Cynthia Harcourt, who's request for a charitable donation forces Lucy to take a job as a woman from Mars. She returned to new mother Evelyn Bigsby, who sits next to Lucy on the plane home from Europe. Interestingly, Frank Nelson is also in this episode. Just a few months later the pair are back as the Ramseys. Viewers didn't need to have long memories to think the Ricardos' Westport neighbors looked familiar.
ELIZABETH PATTERSON
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Viewers fondly remember Patterson as Mrs. Trumbull, the lovable spinster who babysat Little Ricky. On her first episode in 1953, the character was irascible, but grew more likeable over the seven more appearances that followed. Many forget that when Lucy and Ricky renewed their vows in Greenwich Connecticut, Patterson played Mrs. Willoughby the mayor! Mr. Willoughby was played by....
IRVING BACON
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Bacon wore many hats (literally) as the man who greeted the Ricardos in Greenwich. But he must've done something right because he was asked back to play Will Potter when the gang drove through "Ethel's Hometown" on their way to Hollywood.
KATHRYN CARD
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Best remembered as the scatterbrained Mrs. McGillicuddy, Card was nearly unrecognizable when she was first seen on the series, as Minnie Finch's brusque neighbor in "Fan Magazine Interview" (1954). Mother (she never had a first name) was seen in seven episodes in 1955 and 1956.
HERB VIGRAN
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Busy character man Herb Vigran started on "I Love Lucy" playing Jule, Ricky's music agent in two 1952 episodes. But when Lucy's washing machine goes on the fritz, Vigran shows up as Joe, a repairman who also happens to be Mrs. Trumbull's nephew. He also was seen as Hal Sparks, the publicity man who convinces Lucy and Ethel to dress as women from Mars at the top of the Empire State Building.
PARLEY BAER
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Baer’s first collaboration with Lucille Ball was playing MGM’s Mr. Reilly in "Ricky Needs an Agent” (1955). He returned to the series as Connecticut furniture salesman Mr. Perry in "Lucy Gets Chummy with the Neighbors” (1957).
SHEPARD MENKEN
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Menken did four different characters from season one to season six. He adopted a French accent to teach Lucy to Apache dance as Jean Valjean Raymond, sold Lucy clay as art store salesman William Abbott, examined Lucy's vision as an eye doctor, and reverted to his French accent to sell Lucy mass-produced art as Parisian con-man Charpontier.
DAYTON LUMMIS
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Also in "Lucy Has Her Eyes Examined" (1953) we see Dayton Lummis for the first time as producer Bill Parker ("Parker Preps Prod for Pittsburgh Preem"). He returned the following year as publisher Mel Eaton when "Lucy Writes a Novel" (1954) and yet a third time as MGM producer Mr. Sherman in "LA at Last!" (1955).
LOU KRUGMAN
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Viewers didn't meet Lou Krugman until season four, when he played the film director coping with Lucy and her unwieldy headdress. Ball was so impressed by him that she immediately cast him as the FBI agent on the train back to New York. When Lucy reprised her heavy headgear routine on a TV special, Krugman was again at her side. In season six, he was cast as the manager of the Club Babalu, formerly the Tropicana. The job lasted just two episodes before the action of the show shifted to Connecticut.
JAY NOVELLO
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Novello was one of Lucille Ball's favorite performers from her radio show, playing Mr. Negley the postman and other quirky characters. On "I Love Lucy" he was first (perhaps best) remembered as theatrical producer Mr. Merriweather, who longs to talk to his beloved Tilly in "The Seance" (1951). He returned to play Mr. Beecher, the skittish tenant in "The Sublease" (1954), and "The Visitor From Italy" (1956), who arrives looking for his brother Sam Franchesca. Or maybe San Francisco.
JOHN HART
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Another actor to score a trifecta was John Hart.  Producer Jess Oppenheimer didn’t want to pay too much for the actor who would play Tom Henderson in "Lucy Changes Her Mind" (1953), a character who only says two words at the very end of the show. He wrote in the script that he wanted “the most handsome hunk of man anyone ever saw for $15.56.”  Hart was cast. He returned (hopefully with a pay raise) to play the lifeguard who saves Lucy (despite her best efforts) in "The Hedda Hopper Story," and to play Jim Stevens, a studio executive meeting with Dore Schary poolside (the same pool he guarded in the previous episode) in "Don Juan is Shelved" (1955).
ELVIA ALLMAN
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Another of Lucy's favorites from her radio sitcom was Elvia Allman. Even the most casual fan of "I Love Lucy" will recognize her as the barking foreperson at the chocolate factory ("Speed it up a little!") but she also returned to play one of Minnie Finch's neighbors ("Do you wanna see Minnie or don't ya?"). In a change of pace, she played Nancy Graham, the prim columnist who thinks Lucy should "cherish" Ricky. She also encountered Lucy Ricardo as Ida Thompson of the Westport PTA, and as Milton Berle's officious secretary.
HANS CONRIED
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Perhaps no other performer was as beloved by Lucy and Desi as Hans Conried. He was seen on all of Lucy's TV and radio shows as well as in a film with her. On "I Love Lucy" he had time to do just two roles: the foppish English tutor Percy Livermore and the unscrupulous used furniture dealer Dan Jenkins. These two diverse characters showed Conried's range as an actor, so viewers can be forgiven for not noticing that they were the same actor - even though their airdates were just a month apart!
BOB JELLISON
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Most viewers remember Jellison as the bell hop at the Beverly Palms Hotel. He played the portly luggage jockey for six episodes in 1955. Jellison was so convincing in the role that in "Lucy Hunts Uranium" (1958), he was once again cast as the bellboy, this time named Henry. But few remember him in his first series appearance, as the milkman (or “cow juice peddler”, as Bill Foster called him) in "The Gossip" (1952).
JOSEPH KEARNS
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Kearns was another veteran of Lucille Ball's radio series. He found fame as Mr. Wilson on "Dennis the Menace". He played Dr. Tom Robinson, a psychiatrist, in "The Kleptomaniac" (1953). He returned to the show in its final season as the Theatre Manager in "Lucy's Night in Town" (1956). "If four people are seeing the show, then four have got to pay!" He died while still playing Henry Wilson so instead of recasting, George's brother arrived in town, played by...
GALE GORDON
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Gordon's relationship with Ball goes back to 1938 on radio. She spent the rest of her career casting him on her various shows. She had intended for him to play Fred Mertz, but he was too busy - and too expensive - so Desi cast William Frawley. Lucy, however, wanted Gordon on the show, so the role of Mr. Littlefield, manager of the Tropicana, was created. The character appeared in two episodes. He wasn't seen with Lucy again until 1958, when he played a Judge that is tasked with deciding a case between the Ricardos, the Mertzes, and the Williams', in "Lucy Makes Room for Danny".
PHIL OBER
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Ober was Vivian Vance's husband, so it makes sense that he would make at least one appearance - and he did - as the fake husband sent to the Ricardo apartment by "The Quiz Show" (1951). Ober's marriage eventually ended when Vance accused him of cruelty, but before that could happen, he was a last minute replacement for Dore Schary when "Don Juan is Shelved" (1955). Schary was a real-life MGM movie producer who was scheduled to appear as himself. He either got sick or (more likely) got cold feet. So Ober played Schary instead, leaving many unsavvy viewers thinking that Ober WAS Schary! Speaking of bad marriages and "The Quiz Show"...
JOHN EMERY
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...played Harold the Tramp that was confused for Ober's character. Emery had been married to tempestuous Tallulah Bankhead from 1937 to 1941. Their four short years together were compared by Emery to "the decline of the Roman Empire". He played a Doctor in Lucy and Desi's 1956 film Forever Darling. It wasn't long before he was back at "I Love Lucy" to play the pet-hating Mr. Stewart when "Little Ricky Gets a Dog" (1957).
MADGE BLAKE
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Blake is best remembered as Batman's Aunt Harriet, but after her notable role of the gossip columnist in Singin' in the Rain (1952), she was cast on "I Love Lucy" as Mrs. Mulford, the owner of the hat shop when "Ricky Loses His Temper" (1954). Lucy and Desi were introduced to her talent when she played  Aunt Anastacia in The Long, Long Trailer.  She was asked back in late 1956 to play Martha, the acrophobic prospective tenant for apartment 3B in "Lucy and Superman" (1957).
VERNA FELTON
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Felton is probably best remembered as Lucy's demonstrative maid Mrs. Porter, but she first appeared as Mrs. Simpson, a housewife living without electricity but with lots of "Sale Resistance" (1953). The two roles aired just three months apart. A few months later Lucy and Desi cast her as series regular Hilda Crocker on their new sitcom "December Bride" (1954-57).
HAZEL BOYNE
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A former dancer, Boyne was born on Independence Day 1883 and was 68 years old when "Men Are Messy" (1953) was filmed. She charmed audiences as Maggie, the Tropicana's Irish cleaning woman, dancing with Ricky during his rehearsal. She would go on to play one of Minnie Finch's neighbors in "Fan Magazine Interview" (1954) and a (don't blink) passenger on "The Great Train Robbery" (1955).
HAL MARCH
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March had been an original cast member of "My Favorite Husband." In the first season of "I Love Lucy" he played an actor named Hal March who Ricky asks to masquerade as a doctor when "Lucy Fakes Illness" (1951). At the end of the show, announcer Johnny Jacobs says “The part of Hal March was played by Hal March.”  March returned to the show to play womanizing lingerie salesman Eddie Grant in “Lucy Is Matchmaker” (1953).
WILL WRIGHT
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Wright did two films and a radio show with Lucille Ball before being seen on "I Love Lucy." First, he played Mr. Walters, the locksmith from Yonkers, in “The Handcuffs” (1952). He returned to the series to play Bent Fork Sheriff (and father of Teensy and Weensy) in “Tennessee Bound” (1955). 
ALBERTO MORIN
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Morin was Carlos, one of Ricky's "Cuban Pals" (1952). He had appeared in some of Hollywood's most cherished films: Gone with the Wind (1939), Casablanca (1943), and Key Largo (1948). He was invited back to play Robert Dubois, waiter turned tutor in "The French Revue" (1953).
HY AVERBACK
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Averback played two different Charlies on "I Love Lucy": Appleby and Pomerantz. Charlie Appleby was seen twice on the series, but was only played by Averback on his first appearance in 1953. Charlie Pomerantz was Ricky's press agent in Hollywood in 1955, coming up with the brilliant idea for Ricky to save Lucy from drowning in the hotel pool.
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Naturally, there were many other actors whose did double (or triple) duty on "I Love Lucy", chief among them Bennett Green and Hazel Pierce, Lucy and Desi's camera and lighting stand-ins and were omnipresent throughout the series, although not always with specific character names.
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THE NAME IS FAMILIAR... BUT I CAN'T PLACE THE FACE!
Same Character / Different Actor
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Sometimes circumstances require the recasting of a role on a long-running television show. Unlike soap operas - which often use a voice over to announce that a role has been recast - the change is hardly ever acknowledged on sitcoms. Did recasting happen in the Lucyverse? Yes - but not quite as prominently as on, say, "Bewitched". But more on that later.
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Let's start with radio, where it was far easier to replace actors, often without the listener even noticing. On the pilot episode of Lucille Ball's radio sitcom "My Favorite Husband" (1948-1951) her spouse George was played by Lee Bowman. When the show was picked up as a weekly series, Bowman was not available, so the role went to Richard Denning.
George's boss Mr. Atterbury was famously played by Gale Gordon, but before the boss became a regular character, the recurring role was played by Hans Conried and Joseph Kearns. All three actors would later be seen on "I Love Lucy."
Liz's mother-in-law Mrs. Cooper was first played by Bea Benadaret, but when she assumed the regular role of Iris Atterbury, Mrs. Cooper was voiced by Eleanor Audley. Both women were featured on "I Love Lucy."
Minor characters Corey Cartwright and Marge Van Tassel were first played by Hal March and Frances Chaney. March was replaced by John Heistand, but the role was quickly written out. Elvia Allman turned up as Marge when the character re-surfaced in a second appearance. March and Allman were both seen on "I Love Lucy."
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Viewers probably didn't realize it, but many different actors actually played the role of Ricky Ricardo Jr. aka Little Ricky. Even more surprising, considering that his birth date coincided with that of the Arnaz's real-life son, none of them were Desi Arnaz Jr. The practical and legal matters of having a child on a film set necessitated that the role be played by twins. There were also two 'dream' Little Rickys, bumping the total number of actors to eight!
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JAMES JOHN GANZER (newborn) ~ insert shots of the baby were used in "Lucy Goes to the Hospital" (1953) and the flashback opening of “The Club Election” likely taken from this same shoot. He was five days old at the time.  The above closeup was shot before the episode was filmed and pictures were projected for the studio audience to see. 
THE SIMMONS TWINS (infants) ~ Richard and Ronald Lee Simmons played the role in just two episodes: "No Children Allowed" and "The Indian Show", both in 1953.
THE MAYER TWINS (toddlers) ~ Michael and Joseph Mayer alternated in 11 episodes from November 1953 to April 1956. Although they looked nearly identical, the pair reportedly had very different personalities.
DREAM LITTLE RICKYS ~ Two uncredited actors (one young and small, the other older and large) were featured during Lucy's dream about "Ricky's Old Girlfriend" (1953). Although the younger performer looks a great deal like Jerry Mathers ("Leave it to Beaver"), Mathers denies ever appearing on "I Love Lucy." Since the dream has no dialogue, a bunny-themed outfit is used to indicate to viewers that the three actors are the same character.
KEITH THIBODEAUX aka RICHARD KEITH (adolescent) ~ The character was quickly aged during season six, necessitating an actor capable of handling dialogue and with some musical ability. Louisiana-born Keith Thibodeaux was favored by Desi for his drum skills, but Lucy needed some convincing. Desi simplified Keith's professional name, although it was never seen on screen. He played the role for 15 episodes as well as in 12 out of 13 "Lucy-Desi Comedy Hours" (1957-1960).
For what it's worth - two more actors provided the off-screen crying of Little Ricky: Pepito Perez and Jerry Hausner, both of whom also appeared on screen as other characters. Which brings us to our first adult cast switch...
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The role of Jerry, Ricky's agent, was the only character outside of Lucy and Ricky to be carried over from the unaired pilot. Jerry was played by Jerry Hausner (hence the name), who had been heard on "My Favorite Husband." He was intended to be a series regular on "I Love Lucy", but when landlords Fred and Ethel Mertz were added to the series, his role was scaled back. Jerry the Agent would appear in 8 episodes, all during the first 3 seasons of the series.
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Inexplicably (perhaps due to illness) in “The Handcuffs” (1952), Jerry the Agent is not played by Hausner but by Paul Dubov. Two months later, Hausner returned to the role that he originated.  During the filming of “Fan Magazine Interview” (1954), Hausner and Desi Arnaz got into a heated argument on the set. Hausner claimed that he was not able to hear his cues during a telephone scene where he was located across the soundstage from Desi. He quit the show and never appeared on the series again. But things were eventually patched up and he did appear on "The Lucy Show."
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Charlie Appleby was originally played by Hy Averback (inset) in "Baby Pictures" (1953). The next time viewers saw him - in "Lucy and Superman" (1956) - he was played by George O'Hanlon. Averback returned to the show to play another Charlie, Charlie Pomerantz, in “The Hedda Hopper Story” (1955). Confused?  Not half as much as poor Caroline (Doris Singleton)!  Whichever actor played him, they were both proud of their son, Little Stevie.  But which Stevie?
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The first time we see Little Stevie (a name suspiciously sounding like Little Ricky) he is played by an uncredited infant in "Baby Pictures" (1953), the same episode where his dad is played by Hy Averback. The infant had just gotten over the measles. Ricky and Stevie are both said to be 13 months old.
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The next time we see Stevie he is played by Steven Kay in "Lucy and Superman" (1956), the same episode that switched his dad to George O'Hanlon. Although Kaye’s first name was also Stevie (in a show where Lucy played Lucy), the character was created three years earlier. The question is - if Little Ricky has a father named Ricky - why does Little Stevie have a father named Charlie? The previous year Kaye had played Jordan Benedict III (age 4) in the film Giant.  In the above screen shot with his screen mom Doris Singleton he is caught breaking the cardinal rule - looking into the camera!  Didn’t he learn anything working with James Dean? 
Marion Strong was one of Lucy and Ethel's friends and a member of the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League. The character's name is the same as one of Lucille Ball's Jamestown friends. We meet Marion during "The Club Election" (1953) in the person of Margie Liszt. Liszt may also have been playing Marion in "No Children Allowed" (1952), although none of the bridge players are called by name. In her first appearance on the series ("Redecorating" in 1952), she played Agnes, a gossipy woman on a telephone party line.
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The next time we see Marion she is played by Shirley Mitchell in 3 episodes from season three. Mitchell became friends with Lucille Ball in the late 1940s when she was featured in 4 episodes of “My Favorite Husband.”
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In the same episode that we got Strong, we also got Grace! Grace Munson was yet another character that was named after one of Lucille Ball's hometown friends. In "The Club Election" Grace is embodied by Hazel Pierce, who was also Lucille Ball's camera and lighting stand-in. She was first pick when small roles and background assignments were doled out.
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The next time we see Grace, she has moved to Westport with her husband Harry (Tristam Coffin), inspiring Lucy and Ricky to do the same. This time, nearly five years later, Grace is played by Ruth Brady. The Munsons have a son named Billy (who stays off-screen) and a cousin named Diana Jordan played by a pre-Jeannie Barbara Eden. Brady was featured as Laura in Lucy and Desi's 1956 film Forever, Darling and likely made such a positive impression that she was rewarded with Grace. Literally. At the Westport Country Club things get surreal when Hazel Pierce, who originated the role of Grace, also shows up!
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On "The Lucy Show" there were far fewer examples of recasting. The role of Arnold Mooney, Mr. Mooney's youngest son, was first played by Barry Livingston in “Lucy Gets Locked in the Vault” (1963), the same episode that also introduced Gale Gordon as banker Theodore J. Mooney. Livingston returned to the role in “Lucy and the Scout Trip” (1964).  Not even a year later, Arnold is being played by Ted Eccles in "Lucy's Contact Lenses." Apparently, Livingston's schedule playing Chip on "My Three Sons" (also filmed on the Desilu lot) became too much for him to do double duty. When the series location moved from Danfield to Los Angeles, Eccles appeared as two other characters, one of them in a scene with Gale Gordon, who formerly played his father! More surreal still, the new character's name was Barry.
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Another early recast was the role of Dorothy Boyer, Danfield volunteer firefighter. The part was originally given to Ruth Crews. The character is never called by name, but she is one of the few firefighters to speak distinct dialogue.
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The next time we hear about Dorothy she is played by Dorothy Konrad, probably because the character now needed to be able to sing four part harmony in "Lucy's Barbershop Quartet". Both performers were sturdily built women. Crews, meanwhile, turned up as an unnamed patron at Wilbur's Ice Cream Parlor when "Lucy is a Soda Jerk" (1963). Like Little Stevie, it is odd that Konrad's first name matches her character's, despite them being originated by other performers!
I SAW THAT FACE ON...
Probably the most famous example of recasting on a sitcom is the role of Darrin Stevens on ABC's long-running "Bewitched" (1964-1972). The part was originated by Dick York, but he became ill and was replaced by similar-looking Dick Sargent for the rest of the series.
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On New Year’s Eve 1973, Dick Sargent was seen as a policeman on “Here’s Lucy”, his only time acting opposite Lucille Ball. 
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On the same series, Darrin's nosy neighbor Gladys Kravitz was originated by Alice Pearce. When she died in 1966, Sandra Gould took over the role. On "I Love Lucy" Gould played Texan Nancy Johnson in “Oil Wells (1957) and made a brief appearance as a subway strap-hanger in “Lucy and the Loving Cup” (1953). In 1962 she appeared on “The Lucy Show” as a bank secretary.
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As if that wasn't confusing enough, Darrin's boss's wife Louise Tate was played by Irene Vernon, then Kasey Rogers. In 1967 Rogers was seen in a two-part airline-themed "Lucy Show" starring Carol Burnett. She also played a music publisher's secretary (above) in "Lucy and Phil Harris" (1968).
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The character of Aunt Hagatha was only seen in eight episodes of "Bewitched," yet it was played by five different actors:
Nancy Andrews (1967)
Diana Chesney (1965)
Doreen McLean (1969)
Kay Elliot (1970)
Ysabel MacCloskey (1971)
and Reta Shaw (1966 & 1971)
Shaw is probably the most recognizable Hagatha as she originated the role and was the last to play it. She was a popular character actress from film (Mary Poppins), stage (The Pajama Game), and television ("The Ghost and Mrs. Muir"). Shaw was seen as 3 different characters on "The Lucy Show" and 3 more on "Here's Lucy."
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When "The Munsters" premiered in 1964, the role of Marilyn Munster was played by Beverly Owen. After one season, Owen decided not to return to the series, and was replaced by Pat Priest. Few viewers could tell the difference as they both were intentionally made to look like Marilyn Monroe. In October 1966, Priest played a flight attendant on "The Lucy Show."
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On Desi Arnaz's sitcom "The Mothers-in-Law" (1967-1969), Roger C. Carmel played Roger Buell during season one. But during a contract dispute Desi was dared to recast - and he did! Carmel was replaced with Richard Deacon for the show's second (and last) season. Deacon was no stranger to Desi, having played Tallulah Bankhead's chauffeur in "The Celebrity Next Door" (1957), an episode of "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour", as well as many other Desilu shows. Deacon later went on to do two episodes of "Here's Lucy."
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On CBS's "Petticoat Junction" (1963-1970) the recurring character of Selma Plout was originated by Susan Walther (aka Susan Johann). She played the role for 5 episodes until she was mysteriously replaced by Elvia Allman, who played Selma for the rest of the series. Allman started acting with Lucille Ball on radio, and was famously seen as the barking candy factory foreperson on "I Love Lucy." She returned to play Minnie Finch’s neighbor in “Fan Magazine Interview” and magazine reporter Nancy Graham in “The Homecoming.” She made 2 appearances on “The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour“ and 2 more on “The Lucy Show."
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Doris Ziffel (mother of Arnold the Piggy) was a character that was seen on both "Petticoat Junction" and "Green Acres." The part was originated by Lucille Ball's friend Barbara Pepper. After doing films together at RKO, Pepper was on the short list to play Ethel Mertz on "I Love Lucy." When she didn't get the part, Lucy cast her in a variety of small roles on the series. When Pepper died in 1969, Fran Ryan assumed the role. Ryan had already been seen on the series as Minnie Holcombe in March 1969, just a few months earlier, so viewers could be excused for doing a double-take.
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On Eve Arden's "Our Miss Brooks" (1952-1956), filmed at Desilu, the role of Mrs. Martha Conklin was first played by Virginia Gordon, Gale Gordon's real-life wife. She had originated the role on radio. Starting in season two, Paula Winslowe took over playing the part. In 1964, Winslowe appeared briefly on "The Lucy Show" as a hospital patient.
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In Mayberry, "The Andy Griffith Show" (filmed on the Desilu backlot) had several casting swaps. Miser Ben Weaver was first played by Will Wright (top), but then by Tol Avery (bottom) and later Jason Johnson. Wright played two roles on "I Love Lucy" and Avery played characters on "The Lucy Show and "Here's Lucy".
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Mayberry gas pumper Wally was first played by Norman Leavitt (left), then by Trevor Bardette and Cliff Norton (right). Coincidentally, Leavitt also played a filling station attendant in "Lucy Hunts Uranium" (1959), as well as being seen in several other Desilu projects. On "Here's Lucy" Cliff Norton played Sam the plumber when "Lucy Meets the Burtons" and also played "Mary Jane's Boyfriend" Walter. Speaking of which...
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The TV pilot of "Gilligan's Island" featured John Gabriel as The Professor. When the sitcom went to series, he was replaced by Russell Johnson. Gabriel (above) later played Jack Thomas in "Mary Jane's Boyfriend" (1974).
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On "Happy Days" (1974-1984), Ralph's father Dr. Mickey Malph was first played by Allen Oppenheimer, but after an extended absence, returned as Jack Dodson. Oppenheimer had a couple of roles on "Here's Lucy," most notably as Kim's Uncle Herb in an episode that was a back-door pilot for a spin-off that would have starred Lucie Arnaz.
Other noteworthy re-castings that did not touch the Lucyverse include the roles of Catwoman, the Riddler, and Mr. Freeze on "Batman", Billie Jo and Bobbie Jo Bradley on "Petticoat Junction", Lionel on "The Jeffersons", Becky Conner on "Roseann", Carol on "Friends", Chris on "The Partridge Family", Morty on "Seinfeld", and Chuck Cunningham on "Happy Days."
Recasting can also happen when a show changes form. For example the various iterations of "The Honeymooners" and "The Brady Bunch" both caused recasting.
By now you are probably wondering about the photo that began this blog entry. No, that is not Desi Arnaz, and the scene is not from "I Love Lucy," although Lucille Ball is playing Lucy Ricardo. It is from "The Bob Hope Chevy Show" of October 21, 1956.
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The sketch featured the entire cast of "I Love Lucy" and was performed in what appeared to be the Ricardo living room. The premise: Hope wondered what "I Love Lucy" would have been like had he married Lucille instead of Desi. With Bob as Ricky, Desi is recast as Fred Mertz. Naturally, this case of multiple recasting is as hilarious as it is fascinating.
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Lucy in Beverly Hills
Part 2 ~ The Episodes
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'Thank God I'm doing "Lucy" and thanks for "The Beverly Hillbillies", "Dick Van Dyke", and the rest.' ~ Lucille Ball, November 4, 1963
~ Parallel Universes ~
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Sometimes hillbillies turned up on Lucycoms - just not necessarily Beverly Hillbillies. Lucille Ball often blacked out her teeth and deepened her voice to play backwoods type characters.
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In "Lucy and Tennessee Ernie Ford" Homer (Ernie Ford) and his family walk into a palatial penthouse and “The Lucy Show” suddenly feels very much like an episode of “The Beverly Hillbillies”.  It is very likely that “The Lucy Show” cast Roy Roberts as the much-anticipated Mr. Cheever after seeing him play banker Mr. Cushing on "The Beverly Hillbillies". Robert Easton (who plays Iffie on "The Lucy Show") appeared in both the TV series and the 1993 film adaptation of “The Beverly Hillbillies.”  
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"Turkey Day" (S2;E4) presents what appears to be stereotypical Native American characters (aka "Indians") who are really just actors on a gig. On "Hillbillies" the faux 'Indians' are played by Benny Rubin and George Suwaya, two performers who were also seen on "I Love Lucy." Lucy's "The Indian Show" (1953) featured Ray Kellogg and Frank Gerstle as the pair. in both cases, the 'white' characters (Mrs. Drysdale / Lucy Ricardo) indulge in broken English and use now-offensive terms in a humorous context.
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"Pygmalion and Elly" (S1;E10) riffs on the George Bernard Shaw play Pygmalion (filmed in 1938), which was the basis for the 1956 musical My Fair Lady (filmed in 1964). Both play and musical deal with the transformation of a lowly woman into the epitome of beauty and class. In 1962 Sonny Drysdale sets to remake Elly from a hillbilly into a woman of society. In 1972, Lucy transformed wallflower Annie Whipple (Ruth Buzzi) into a brazen showgirl on "Here's Lucy." This was Ball's second take on the story, having previously produced "My Fair Lucy" (1965) on "The Lucy Show."
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In 1964, the Hillbillies went on location to Marineland of the Pacific. But they weren't the only only ones. A year later, "The Lucy Show" also shot on location at the marine park, kicking off the show's 'move' to California. CBS had previously shoots at Marineland for “The Munsters”. Coincidentally, Sid Gould, Gary Morton's cousin and a bit player in 45 episodes of “The Lucy Show,” played the Munsters' Marineland tour guide.
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"Dog Days" (S6;E27) trots out most all of Frank Inn's canine cast - and then some. Dozens of dogs were also involved in "Lucy and Viv Learn Judo" (1963). Prominent among Elly's pooches is Lord Nelson, the sheep dog who played Mr. Mooney's pet on "The Lucy Show."
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1963's "The Clampetts in Court" (S1;E32) finds the family being sued by the Johnsons (Murvyn Vye & Kathleen Freeman) who claim to have been injured in an auto accident caused by Jed. They are faking, of course. In addition to Vye and Freeman, the episode features "Lucy" regulars Roy Roberts and Bert Stevens. Similarly, in a 1972 episode of "Here's Lucy," the Carters find themselves in court when a dancer and his unscrupulous agent (Jim Bates & Jesse White) claim injuries from Lucy's negligence - until Lucy and Harry spy him dancing up a storm with an undercover Kim.
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Elly Mae's affection for her 'critters' is not unlike Wayne Newton's on "The Lucy Show" and "Here's Lucy". In both episodes that the singer appears in (as himself), he is surrounded by a variety of barnyard animals. Lucy and Donna Douglas ignored the old show-business axiom: "Never work with children or animals."
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"Jed and the Countess" (S3;E26) introduced Jean Willes as the Countess Maria. While she made only one appearance, Countess Henri Gaston Armand Jean-Louis Philippe Framboise Le Cul-de-Sac  (aka Rosie Hannigan) played by Ann Sothern made seven appearances on "The Lucy Show" in 1965. Burt Mustin played Countess Maria's chauffeur. Mustin played Old Uncle Joe on two episodes of "The Lucy Show." Countess Framboise flirted with Mr. Mooney the same way Countess Maria flirted with Jed. Willes was seen in two films with Lucille Ball as well as an episode of "Here's Lucy."
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The Commerce Bank of Beverly Hills and The Westland Bank were the banks featured (respectively) on "The Beverly Hillbillies" and "The Lucy Show."
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When "Elly Becomes a Secretary" (S1;E35), Millburn Drysdale is guest speaker at the National Bankers Convention. Two years later, in 1964, Vinnie Meyers (Max Showalter) takes over for Mr. Mooney while he is away at a banker's convention in Bridgeport on "The Lucy Show." Meyers is said to be from the Jamestown (NY) branch of Mr. Mooney's bank.
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In a 1967 episode of "Here's Lucy," Mrs. Carmichael is volunteered as a date for the 90 year-old president of the bank (Dennis Day) so he can attend the Annual Bankers Banquet. Naturally, she disguises herself as a little old lady and finds that although he is old, he is still very interested in the opposite sex!
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"The Clampetts Play the Rams" (S4;E7) tackles two hot topics of the day: Football and Color Television. Lucycoms were no stranger to pigskin plots, the LA Rams in particular. The entire team was featured in the 1949 Lucille Ball film Easy Living. Other mentions include: "The Football Game" (1950), Lucy is a Referee" (1962), "Lucy The Skydiver" (1970), and "Lucy and Aladdin's Lamp" (1971).
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Although not played by Stretch (aka Duke), Lucy Ricardo briefly encountered a Basset Hound named Rocky aboard the S.S. Constitution in 1956. Lonely, she briefly considers the dog as a ping pong partner!
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"The Little Monster" (S5;E29) introduces banker Drysdale's obnoxious nephew, Little Millby, played by Teddy Eccles. A year earlier on "The Lucy Show," banker Mooney's unruly nephew Wendell, played by Jay North, visits his uncle Theodore in "Lucy The Robot" (1965). North is best remembered for playing cherubic menace named Dennis on his own sitcom. Coincidentally, Eccles played Arnold Mooney, banker Mooney's youngest son, on a 1964 episode of "The Lucy Show."
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The Clampetts found themselves in England on several occasions. Most of their adventures were filmed in Hollywood, but the shows did include some location shooting with the principal cast, including of Buckingham Palace, a location visited by Lucy and Ethel in 1955. On "I Love Lucy," however, the Palace was recreated at Desilu. In 1966, Lucy Carmichael went to London in a special titled "Lucy in London." This time Ball and company actually visited England. Both the Clampetts and Mrs. Carmichael flew Pan American Airlines. Lucy Carter went to London in 1971 as traveling companion to talk show host David Frost. Once again Pan Am carried the characters across the pond. In return, stock footage of one of their jets was used, but viewers never saw anything more than Hollywood recreations of the interior of the jet and Frost's London TV studio. Faversham!
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In "Race for the Queen" (S2;19) in 1964, Miss Jane competed with Elly Mae (and Granny!) for the titled Queen of Beverly Hills. In 1970, Lucy Carter competed with Carol Krausmeyer for the title of Secretary Beautiful. Both pageants featured celebrity judges: Bob Cummings on "Hillbillies" and Robert Alda on "Lucy". Naturally, and somewhat regrettably, both contests included swimsuit competitions!
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In "Clampett City General Store" (S3;E3) Granny gets cast as Cleopatra in Mammoth Pictures' new epic. A year earlier, in 1963, Lucy Carmichael played Cleopatra for the Danfield Community Players. In both scripts, Theda Bara, who played Cleopatra in 1917, and the 1963 Liz Taylor epic are mentioned. Neither scripts acknowledge the 1934 Cecil B. DeMille epic starring Claudette Colbert.
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A bus tour of Beverly Hills is part of "Dr. Jed Clampett" (S3;E5) and a 1955 episode of "I Love Lucy" titled "The Tour". Both feature second unit film footage of a tour bus driving through the palm-lined streets. On the bus, an obnoxious woman is aching to get off, despite the warnings of the bus driver. In "Dr. Jed Clampett", that woman is the mother of a tap dancing prodigy and the home is that of movie studio owner Jed Clampett. In "The Tour," that woman is Lucy Ricardo, and the home is that of movie star Richard Widmark.
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In "Jed the Movie Mogul" (S3;E1), TV viewers (and the Clampetts) get a preview of a scene from the upcoming Universal film Send Me No Flowers. The scene features Rock Hudson and Doris Day and is shown to the Clampetts as dailies from a film being shot at Jed's Mammoth Studios. On a 1955 episode of "I Love Lucy" titled "Lucy and the Dummy" the host of the MGM executive show introduces a clip from their upcoming movie musical Guys and Dolls. After the first airing, the clip was removed from the syndicated print, while Send Me No Flowers remains part of "The Beverly Hillbillies" to this day. That same season, Lucy Ricardo met Rock Hudson on "In Palm Springs." BTW, both films were released in color, but seen on television shows filmed and aired in black and white.
Double Trouble
With so many episodes and so many seasons, it was inevitable that "Hillbillies" and "I Love Lucy" shared the same titles.
"The Ballet" (S3;E10) of the "Beverly Hillbillies" concerns Jed financially rescuing the Los Angeles ballet. Leon Belasco played the ballet master. He was seen on several episodes of "The Lucy Show," often in the context of classical music. "The Ballet" (S1;E10) of "I Love Lucy" has Lucy learning ballet to get into Ricky's act. Mary Wickes played the ballet mistress. Wickes played social climber Adaline Ashley on a 1967 episode of "Hillbillies."
"The Diner" (S6;E19) of "The Beverly Hillbillies" and "The Diner" (S3;E27) of "I Love Lucy" have more than titles in common. They both concern the main characters purchasing a diner. Jethro named his eatery The Happy Gizzard. The feuding Ricardos and Mertzes divide their diner. One half is named A Little Bit of Cuba, and the other side is named A Big Hunk of America.
~ Epilogue: Y'all Come Back Now!
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When the Clampetts made the cover of TV Guide in November 1962, it was Lucille Ball who got top billing - with a line over the masthead promoting her TV special with Danny Kaye. "The Beverly Hillbillies" made the cover nine times - while Lucille Ball reigned as queen of the Guide with 39 covers.
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"Return of the Beverly Hillbillies" (1981) featured Lucy regulars Lurene Tuttle as Mollie Heller as Charles Lane as Chief, both of whom were in the original series. Lucille Ball never presented a 'reunion' show as such, she simply reinvented her Lucy character with a new last name, just as she did in 1986's short-lived "Life With Lucy."
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In addition to comic books, both shows were novelized for young readers.
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papermoonloveslucy · 6 months
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Lucy in Beverly Hills
Part 1 ~ The Cast
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Although thematically the shows created by Lucille Ball were worlds apart from the down-home humor at the Clampett Mansion, there were artistic and creative commonalities that are worth discussing.
"The Beverly Hillbillies" ran from 1962 to 1971, while "The Lucy Show" ran from 1962 to 1968, both on CBS TV. Interiors were filmed at General Service Studios, where "I Love Lucy" began filming until it moved to larger quarters.
Like Jed Clampett, Lucy Carmichael and Lucy Carter are single parents, raising teenage girls, a popular trope of the 1960s and '70s.
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The Desilu sitcoms "I Love Lucy," "Make Room for Daddy," "The Andy Griffith Show," and "Gomer Pyle USMC" are all related shows with characters in common much in the same way the Henning sitocms, "The Beverly Hillbillies," "Petticoat Junction" and "Green Acres" were related. Interestingly, "The Beverly Hillbillies" was mentioned during two episodes of "The Danny Thomas Show", in 1963 and 1964.
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Jed Clampett's fortune is made from striking oil. In the 1960 Broadway musical, Lucille Ball played a wildcatter looking to find black gold. On "I Love Lucy," new neighbors the O'Briens move from Texas, where they made their fortune in oil. Soon the Ricardos and Mertzes have dreams of riches from Texas tea.
Animal trainers Frank and Juanita Inn worked on both shows, as well as on "Here's Lucy."
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Both shows went from black and white to color in October 1965. Although "The Lucy Show" had filmed its second season in color (1963-1964), CBS declined to air it in color.
Editor Dann Cahn (1963 to 1964), was also an editor for "I Love Lucy" and many Desilu shows.
Shared Casting
Their “Petticoat Junction” characters are in parentheses, followed by their Lucycom / Desilu credits.
Irene Ryan (Granny) performed with Lucille Ball on a May 3, 1949 episode of "The Bob Hope Radio Show." In 1963, Ryan and Ball both appeared on CBS specials featuring their TV shows.
Buddy Ebsen (Jed Clampett) appeared in a 1958 episode of "The Westinghouse-Desilu Playhouse" introduced by Desi Arnaz. He appeared with Lucille Ball on several CBS specials and numerous award shows.
Donna Douglas (Ellie Mae Clampett) performed in a 1960 episode of Desilu's helicopter series "Whirlybirds." She was seen with Lucille Ball on a 1963 CBS special "The Stars' Address".
Max Baer Jr. (Jethro Clampett) was seen with Lucille Ball on a 1963 CBS special "The Stars' Address".
Raymond Bailey (Millburn Drysdale) never acted opposite Lucille Ball, but was seen in episodes of Desilu's "The Whirlybirds," "The Untouchables," "The Ann Sothern Show" and "Westinghouse-Desilu Playhouse" introduced by Desi Arnaz.
The bankers of "The Lucy Show" (Theodore J. Mooney) and "The Beverly Hillbillies" (Millburn Drysdale) were remarkably similar: loud, quick-tempered, miserly, abusive to their secretaries, and willing to grovel and sacrifice their dignity to land a big account. 
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Stretch (Duke) the Clampett's lethargic bulldog, also played Thunderbolt on "Kiddie Parties, Inc." (1963) on "The Lucy Show." Stretch was one of Frank Inn's biggest stars.
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Nancy Kulp (Miss Jane Hathaway) played the Cockney maid who teaches Lucy Ricardo ow to curtsy in "Lucy Meets the Queen" (1955). She also appeared in the Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz film Forever Darling, again playing a maid. Kulp returned to Desilu for a 1959 special with Milton Berle and Lucille Ball and a 1962 episode of “The Lucy Show” where she played Navy Officer Jane Corey.
Miss Jane's relationship to Mr. Drysdale was not dissimilar to Lucy Carmichael's relationship to her banker boss, Mr. Mooney.
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Bea Benadaret (Cousin Pearl Bodine) first starred with Lucille Ball on her radio series “My Favorite Husband” (1948-1951), primarily as best friend Iris Atterbury. Benadaret was Ball’s first choice to play Ethel Mertz on “I Love Lucy,” but she was already contracted to play Blanche Morton on “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show”, another best friend character. Ball still managed to cast her as a one-off character, Miss Lewis, an elderly spinster, on season one of “I Love Lucy.”
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Frank Wilcox (John Brewster) appeared with Lucille Ball in the films Her Husband’s Affairs (1947) and The Fuller Brush Girl (1950). He played Frank Spaulding, owner of the Connecticut house in "Lucy Wants To Move To The Country" (1957).
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Elvia Allman (Elverna Bradshaw) was heard with Lucille Ball on “My Favorite Husband” before playing the strident Candy Factory Forewoman on “I Love Lucy.” Allman returned to the show as one of Minnie Finch’s neighbors in “Fan Magazine Interview” (1954) and prim magazine reporter Nancy Graham in “The Homecoming” (1955). She made two appearances on “The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour“ - first as Ida Thompson, Westfield’s PTA director, then as Milton Berle’s private secretary. Allman would also be seen on two episodes of “The Lucy Show" as a customer in a department store and the manager of an employment agency. Allman’s final screen appearance with Lucille Ball reunited her with Bob Hope: “Bringing Back Vaudeville” in 1971. For Desilu, Allman was seen on “December Bride” (1954-59), and “The Ann Sothern Show” (1958).
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Milton Frome (Lawrence Chapman) played Sam, who Lucy Ricardo tried to fix up with Dorothy, in “The Matchmaker” (1954).  He played Milton Berle's agent in a "Lucy Saves Milton Berle" (1965). He also played a waiter in a 1972 episode of “Here’s Lucy” starring Donny Osmond.
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Ray Kellogg (Gate Guard / Police Officer) played the barking Assistant Director (“Roll ‘em!”) in “Ricky’s Screen Test” (1954) and later appeared in “Bullfight Dance” (1955). He was seen on 7 episodes of “The Lucy Show” and two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” In many of his appearances he played policemen or guards, just as he does here.
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Charles Lane (Foster Phinney / Homer Bedloe / Billy Hacker) appeared in 7 films with Lucille Ball between 1933 and 1949. He was also heard on her radio show "My Favorite Husband". On "I Love Lucy," he played 4 characters and 2 more on "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour." He was cast as banker Barnsdahl on "The Lucy Show," but was released after 4 episodes so that Ball could hire Gale Gordon. He went from Desilu to Hooterville with his role of Homer Bedloe on "Petticoat Junction," which he also plays on "The Beverly Hillbillies".
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Phil Silvers (Shifty Shafer aka Honest John) gave Lucille Ball a cameo on his show "Sergeant Bilko" in 1959. In 1963, Ball and Silvers performed the classic ‘Slowly I Turn’ sketch for “CBS Opening Night.” In December 1966, Silvers guest-starred as Oliver Kasten in “Lucy and the Efficiency Expert”. A year later Ball and Silvers both had bit parts in the film A Guide for the Married Man (1967). 
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Roy Roberts (John Cushing / Judge) appeared with Lucille Ball in Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949). On “The Lucy Show” he first appeared as a Navy Admiral in “Lucy and the Submarine” before creating the role of Mr. Cheever, the president of Mr. Mooney’s bank, a recurring character he played through the end of the series. On “Here’s Lucy” he played the Superintendent of the Air Force Academy in season two’s two-part opener.  He also played doctors in “Lucy and the Astronauts” (1971) and in "Lucy is N.G. as an R.N." (1973).  
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Shirley Mitchell (Opal Clampett) became friends with Lucille Ball in the late 1940s when she was featured in 4 episodes of “My Favorite Husband.” Mitchell reunited with Lucille Ball on “I Love Lucy” playing Marion Strong, member of the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League. She also played Mae Belle Jennings on "Petticoat Junction."
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Joi Lansing (Gladys Flatt) first worked with Lucille Ball on “I Love Lucy” in “Desert Island” (1956) and returned to play Miss Long Neck in "Lucy Wants a Career" (1959). She did an episode of Desilu's "The Untouchables" and appeared for Desi Arnaz on an episode of "The Mothers-in-Law".
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Alan Reed Jr. (Sheldon Epps / Buddy) is probably best remembered as the voice of Fred Flintstone, acting opposite Bea Benadaret (Cousin Pearl). He was heard with Lucille Ball on "My Favorite Husband" (1949). In 1963 he played a café owner in “Lucy Visits the White House”. In 1967, he made an appearance on the Desi Arnaz series “The Mothers-in-Law”. 
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Most of the principal cast of "The Flintstones" (1960-1966) appeared on "The Beverly Hillbillies": Bea Benadaret (Betty), Alan Reed Jr. (Fred), and Mel Blanc (Barney) all appeared on the show. Jean Vander Pyl did not act on "The Beverly Hillbillies," but did appear on its sister show "Petticoat Junction" and voiced Maw on the cartoon "The Hillbilly Bears" (1966). All four also worked with Lucille Ball on radio and/or television. There was also an episode of "The Flintstones" titled "The Bedrock Hillbillies" (above) featuring animated characters named Granny and Jethro Hatrock with voice talent Howard Morris, John Stephenson, and June Foray, all of whom also worked with Lucille Ball.
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Richard Deacon (Dr. Klinger / Mr. Brubaker) made two guest star appearances on Desilu's “December Bride” in 1956 in one of which he played Desi Arnaz’s butler. It’s not surprising that he was cast as Tallulah Bankhead’s butler Winslow in “The Celebrity Next Door,” a 1957 episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.”  In 1963 he played Harvey Rittenhouse in the Ball / Hope film Critic’s Choice. In October 1964, Deacon and Lucille Ball both played themselves on “Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theatre: Have Girls, Will Travel”.  He was employed again by Desi Sr. as a regular on “The Mothers-in-Law” (1968-69).  He was seen on two episodes of "Here's Lucy."
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Paul Winchell (Grandpa Winch) was just 40 years old when he donned old age make-up to play Grandpa Winch in "Home for Christmas" (S1;E13). Four years later he was aged again to play Doc Porter on a two-part episode of "The Lucy Show" set in a the small town of Bancroft.
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Mary Wickes (Adaline Ashley) was one of Lucille Ball's best friends of screen. She appeared on "I Love Lucy," "The Lucy Show," and "Here's Lucy," in addition to many other TV specials alongside Ball. The 1967 episode of "The Beverly Hillbillies" Wickes appeared on was aired between two of her "Lucy Show" appearances and featured Gail Bonney, who was seen on "I Love Lucy" and "The Lucy Show."
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Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor (Oliver and Lisa Douglas) ~ were visitors to Beverly Hills from Hooterville, but both stars were also favorites of Lucille Ball. Gabor appeared in two episodes of "Here's Lucy", one as herself, and Albert played himself in a 1973 episode. In 1950, he co-starred with Lucille Ball in The Fuller Brush Girl. 
Star Casting
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John Wayne made a cameo appearance on "The Beverly Hillbillies". When asked how he wanted to be paid, he is best remembered answering back with: "Give me a fifth of bourbon--that'll square it." Wayne appeared as himself on "I Love Lucy" (1955) and "The Lucy Show" (1966). His uncredited cameo on "The Indians Are Coming" (S5;E20) was aired in 1967.
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Sammy Davis Jr. (Sergeant Patrick Muldoon) made two appearances on the series during November 1968 episodes set in NYC. Although he plays a character here (an Irish cop!), he played himself on "Here's Lucy" in September 1970. His first "Hillbillies" appearance also features Lucy's friend and co-star Phil Silvers as Shifty Shafer (aka Honest John), a recurring character that was seen in eight episodes.
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Impressionist Rich Little played himself in the season nine opener of "The Beverly Hillbillies." Mr. Drysdale convinces him to impersonate President Richard Nixon over the telephone to fool Jed. Nixon was one of Little's most popular impressions. When he played himself on a 1971 episode of "Here's Lucy," Nixon wasn't mentioned, but he did do his impression of John Wayne (see above).
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Hedda Hopper played herself in "Hedda Hopper's Hollywood" (S3;E4) in 1964, an episode named after her newspaper column and television specials, one of which featured Lucille Ball. That same 1960 special featured Gloria Swanson, who did a cameo as herself in a 1966 episode titled "The Gloria Swanson Story" (S5;E12). Curiously, Hopper played herself in a 1955 episode of "I Love Lucy" titled "The Hedda Hopper Story." An episode of "The Lucy Show" titled "Lucy and the Lost Star" was intended for Swanson, but the lost star eventually cast was Joan Crawford.
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Robert Cummings appeared as himself in "The Race for Queen" (S2;E19) playing the celebrity judge of the Queen of Beverly Hills beauty contest. He was known as Bob Collins on "The Bob Cummings Show" (aka "Love That Bob!"), which ran from 1955 to 1959. The same year it ended he played himself on a 1959 episode of "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour" set in Japan. He reprised the character of Bob Collins on a 1972 episode of "Here’s Lucy” (above) and returned the following season for another episode as a different Bob. His sitcom had featured many of the same actors as "The Beverly Hillbillies" and various Lucycoms, but especially Joi Lansing, Nancy Kulp, and Elvia Allman. Cummings' appearance on "Hillbillies" is primarily attributable to the fact that BH creator Paul Henning produced "The Bob Cummings Show"!
Other Common Cast Members
Jack Bannon, Wally Cox, Peter Leeds, Bobs Watson, Lyle Talbot, Doris Packer Eleanor Audley, Maurice Marsac, Leon Ames, Jesse White, George Barrows, Herb Vigran, Jean Willes, Norman Leavitt, Leon Belasco, Burt Mustin, Iris Adrian, Foster Brooks, Ted Eccles, Robert Foulk, Tristram Coffin, Byron Foulger, Gil Perkins, Hal Taggart, Robert Cummings, Natalie Schaffer, Mel Blanc, John McGiver, Don Rickles, John Carradine, Jacques Bergerac, Hans Conried, Murvyn Vye, Bernie Kopell, Barbara Morrison, Phil Arnold, Ellen Corby, Robert Carson, Barry Kelley, William Newell, Lurene Tuttle, Karen Norris, Hayden Rorke, Benny Rubin, Helen Kleeb, Bill Quinn, Frank J. Scannell, Irwin Charrone, Gail Bonney, Fritz Feld, Norma Varden, Murray Pollack, Jil Jarmyn, Olan Soule, John Gallaudet, George N. Niese, Dick Winslow, Tommy Farrell, Cliff Norton, Robert Osborne, Nestor Paiva, Larry J. Blake, Hans Moebus, Norman Stevans, Monty O'Grady, Steve Carruthers, and Bert Stevens.
~ Stay Tuned for Part 2 : Episodes ~
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