#cleo morgan

 1938-1939

“The Wonder Show” radio program was so named because it was sponsored by Wonder Bread, which at the time was made by Continental Baking Company, who also made Hostess Cakes.  Wonder Bread is a brand of bread which originated in the United States in 1921 and was one of the first to be sold pre-sliced nationwide in 1930. This led to the popular phrase "the greatest thing since sliced bread". The brand is currently owned by Flowers Foods in the United States. 

Before becoming “The Wonder Show” it was previously known as “Log Cabin Jamboree”, sponsored by Log Cabin Syrup. Like “The Wonder Show” “Log Cabin Jamboree” was helmed by Jack Haley, but without his ‘wonder woman’ Lucille Ball and ‘Wonderful’ announcer Gale Gordon.  

It began broadcasting on Friday, October 14, 1938, at 7:30pm and aired its final broadcast on April 7, 1939. 

It was hosted by Jack Haley, best remembered as the Tin Man in the The Wizard of Oz. Two weeks after “The Wonder Show” went on the air, Fox told Haley they were loaning him out to MGM, who needed a last-minute replacement for Buddy Ebsen in The Wizard of Oz. Ebsen, originally cast as the Tin Man, had been hospitalized with an allergic reaction to the aluminum-based make-up, and Metro was forced to replace him. For the next several months, Haley found himself filming an epic MGM fantasy musical by day, and working with his radio writers by night. He finished his scenes in the film in mid-January 1939 and celebrated by incorporating a Wizard of Oz sketch into the January 20th episode (#15) of “The Wonder Show.” 

"That was quite a winter. By the time we did the show Friday night, I was physically exhausted. Emotionally, however, I was very satisfied. I loved doing that radio show."

Regular cast included singer Virginia Verrill (above with Haley and Lucy), Lucille Ball, comedian Artie Auerbach, and Ted Fio Rita and His Orchestra. Gale Gordon was the announcer. While many believed that Gordon and Ball’s association only went back as far as 1948, “The Wonder Show” deepens that relationship by a decade.   

Lucy spent much of 1937-38 radio season as a regular on Phil Baker's “Gulf Headliner” series on CBS. Lucy reportedly enjoyed doing "The Wonder Show”. She credited it, along with her other early radio appearances, for helping her with her acting career. 

"[Radio] gave me a name in the trade as a good feminine foil. I could flip a comedy line, which a lot of actresses couldn't do. In radio I couldn't depend upon props or costumes or makeup; I had to rely on timing and tone of voice for comic effects, and this was invaluable training." 

At the time Gordon was 32 years old, recently married and had just starting to grow his trademark mustache. He was in such demand that he often did two or more radio shows in a day. 

"Luckily, the studios were nestled along Sunset Boulevard or in a nearby theater, so we could shuttle rather quickly back and forth from one broadcast to another."

During the first episode of “The Wonder Show”, Haley spoke briefly about his current movie release, Alexander's Ragtime Band, starring Tyrone Power, Alice Faye, Don Ameche, and Ethel Merman. He also mentioned Lucy's RKO films Room Service, The Affairs of Annabel, and Having Wonderful Time. 

Other weekly guests included Dizzy Dean, Joan Bennett, Reginald Gardiner, and Oliver Hardy.   

EPISODES 

Episode #1 - October 14, 1938 - “Pepe Sacola Haley, Jewel Thief” [Premiere; introduces a series of weekly Haley Family Album sketches] 

Episode #2 - October 21, 1938 - “Pony Bill Haley” [A forum entitled "Should a woman have a career?" Lucille Ball explored this theme on “I Love Lucy” in “Job Switching.”]

Episode #3 - October 28, 1938 - “Little Lord Fauntleroy Haley" [pre-empted in some areas for an address by President Roosevelt]

Episode #4 - November 4, 1938 - “Gaucho Haley”

Episode #5 - November 11, 1938 - “Julius Caesar Haley”

Episode #6 - November 18, 1938 - “Elephant Boy Haley”

Episode #7 - November 25, 1938 - “Sergeant O'Haley of the Northwest Mounted Police”

Episode #8 - December 2, 1938 - “The Hatfields and The McHaleys”

Episode #9 - December 9, 1938 - “Super Detective 'Wonder' Haley - The Secrets of the French Police or Where Did They Get Those Post Cards?”

Episode #10 - December 16, 1938 - “Colonel Jack Haley and Sea Cookie”

Episode #11 - December 23, 1938 - “Super Sleuth 'Wonder' Haley - Murder in the Sweater Department or Much Ado About Knitting” [The subtitle “Much Ado About Knitting” was later used on “I Love Lucy” in “Lucy Writes A Play”] 

Episode #12 - December 30, 1938 - “Francois Villon Haley, The Pugnacious Poet of Paris”

Episode #13 - January 6, 1939 - “Captain Haley of the Marines”

Episode #14 - January 13, 1939 - “Haunted House” [Friday the 13th]

Episode #15 - January 20, 1939 - “Jack Haley the Clown: The Murder of the Bearded Lady”

Episode #16 - January 27, 1939 - “Jesse James Haley”

Episode #17 - February 3, 1939 - “The Czar of Russia” 

Episode #18 - February 10, 1939 - “Gone With the American Revolution” [Lind Hayes, impersonator, imitates the voices of Lionel Barrymore, Gary Cooper, Fred Allen and others.]

Episode #19 - February 17, 1939 [Lucille Ball introduces a new character; Jack Haley's tough, sassy little niece, a sort of "Dead End Girl".]  

Episode #20 - February 24, 1939 - “The Amazing Dr Jitterbug or A Scar Is Born” [A hunting lodge-themed episode]

Episode #21 - March 3, 1939 -  “The Amazing Dr Jitterbug or A Scar Is Born” [Chicago Cubs baseball player Dizzy Dean guest stars]

Episode #22 - March 10, 1939 - [Actress Joan Bennett guest stars]

Episode #23 - March 17, 1939 - [Comedian Hugh Herbert guest stars]

Episode #24 - March 24, 1939 - “Paul Revere Haley” [Actor Reginald Gardiner guest stars; Lucille Ball later played Mrs. Paul Revere on “The Jack Benny Program” in 1964.]

Episode #25 - March 31, 1939 -“On the Trail of the Lonesome Crime” [Oliver Hardy guest stars. On a 1966 episode of “The Lucy Show” Gale Gordon - as Mr. Mooney - was hypnotized into being Oliver Hardy to Lucy’s Stan Laurel.]

Episode #26 - April 7, 1939 - “Local Boy Makes Good” [series finale]

On March 29, 1938, Ed Sullivan’s newspaper column announced that Artie Auerbach would be marrying young actress Cleo Manning (later Cleo Morgan then Smith). Manning made her screen debut being kissed by Clark Gable in the 1941 film Honky Tonk. Cleo Manning's cousin, Lucille Ball, interceded in the marriage, because Manning was not of age. They were at the license bureau when Ball persuaded them to wait. Auerbach and Manning were married at a later date. Cleo was producer of “Here’s Lucy” and “Lucy in London”. 

Also in 1938, Lucy’s friend and fellow film actress Ann Sothern was also promoting Wonder Bread. Sothern was appearing in a Wonder Bread-sponsored radio show titled “Pretty Kitty Kelly” on CBS. 

After “The Wonder Show” finished on April 7, 1939, Lucy was still cranking out films doing more than 25 screen appearances before being cast as Liz Cooper in radio’s “My Favorite Husband” (also starring Gale Gordon), the series that led to “I Love Lucy” and her place in television history. Although she initially wanted to take Gordon with her to television as a regular, his schedule and salary demands made it impossible so William Frawley was cast instead. Although he made several guest appearances on Ball’s shows, it wasn’t until 1963 that the two became a team again.  

S4;E23 ~ February 28, 1966

Synopsis

Lucy convinces her new neighbor to invent a robot to keep Mr. Mooney's visiting nephew busy, but when the Robot falls down a flight of steps, Lucy must take its place.

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carmichael), Gale Gordon (Theodore J. Mooney)

Mary Jane Croft (Mary Jane Lewis) does not appear in this episode.

Guest Cast

Jay North (Wendell Mooney) will forever be remembered for giving life to the comic strip hellion “Dennis the Menace” (1959) on TV.  During the show's final season, North played opposite Gale Gordon as John Wilson. “Dennis the Menace” was canceled in 1963. In the ensuing three years North became a teenager with a deeper voice and red hair instead of blonde. Two weeks prior to this episode airing, North guest starred on an episode of “My Three Sons” with Barry Livingston, who played Mr. Mooney's youngest son, Arnold (so Wendell's cousin) in two season 2 episodes. North left Hollywood and screen acting in 1985. He later reported that he was unhappy as a child actor and was abused by his aunt, who was his guardian. He died at age 73 of colo-rectal cancer. 

Wendell is Mr. Mooney's 13 year-old nephew. He is staying with his Uncle Theodore and Aunt Irma while his parents are on a two week vacation. The character is described as a rambunctious child, not unlike Dennis Mitchell. The difference is that Wendell has a sour disposition, while Dennis's outlook was generally sunny.  

Vito Scotti (Sam Boscovitch) played the Fencing Instructor in “Lucy Digs Up a Date” (S1;E2), the second episode of the series in 1962. He was born in San Francisco, but spent much of his youth in Naples, Italy. His first role with Lucille Ball was as a Tijuana shopkeeper in “Lucy Goes to Mexico,” a 1958 episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.” He also had a small role in the Bob Hope / Lucille Ball film The Facts of Life (1960). Scotti is probably best remembered for his recurring role as Captain Fomento on “The Flying Nun” (1967-1969). He died in 1996 at age 78.

Sam lives in the apartment downstairs from Lucy. 

Dorothy Konrad (Mrs. Fletcher, Wendell's Babysitter) played Danfield volunteer firefighter Dorothy Boyer in several season one episodes as well as several other characters. This is her final series appearance.

In the scope of the plot, Mrs. Fletcher might well have been Irma Mooney. Konrad certainly matches Mr. Mooney’s previous descriptions of her. Instead, however, Mr. Mooney claims his wife is at a commando reunion. It is likely that that they wanted to continue the gag of keeping Mrs. Mooney off-screen. 

Larry Dean (Major Fun Fun, the Robot) was a mime who specialized in playing robots, which he also did on episodes of “Lost in Space” and “Bewitched.” He previously played the Mechanical Butler (another robot) in Bigelow’s Department Store window in “Lucy and the Ceramic Cat” (S3;E17). 

Dean’s first entrance gets a round of applause from the studio audience, although it sounds very much like ‘canned’ applause, added later to fill the slight pause of his march step. 

Sid Gould (Delivery Man) made more than 45 appearances on “The Lucy Show,” all as background characters. He also did 40 episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” Gould (born Sydney Greenfader) was Lucille Ball’s cousin by marriage to Gary Morton.

Bennett Green (Bennett, Delivery Man) was Desi Arnaz’s stand-in during “I Love Lucy.” He does frequent background work on “The Lucy Show.”

Green is barely seen on camera here, staying behind the large gift wrapped box containing Lucy the robot during its delivery to the Mooney home. If Sid Gould had not addressed him by name, he would be impossible to identify because he is also uncredited.

Although they do not get any screen time, Lucy’s long-time stand-ins Hazel Pierce and Joan Carey both worked on the episode. 

The TV sitcom “Dennis the Menace” (based on the comic strip) aired from 1959 to 1962. In the show’s final season, the long-suffering character of neighbor George Wilson was written out due to the death of actor Joseph Kearns. Gale Gordon was added to the cast as George’s brother, Henry. Kearns had played two characters on “I Love Lucy” - a psychiatrist in season one, and a theatre manager in season six. 

When Lucille Ball was finally convinced to return to network television in 1962, she naturally wanted Gordon to join her, but he was unable to 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”! 

This was the second time that Gordon and Ball failed to connect contractually, when he was offered, but turned down, the role of Fred Mertz in 1951 after playing a similar character on Lucy’s radio show “My Favorite Husband.” When “Dennis” was canceled and Gordon was finally free, Ball wasted no time in hiring Gordon and had Lane’s character Mr. Barnsdahl written out in order to make way for 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 Lucy Elkins (Irene Tedrow) and John Wilson (Gale Gordon).  

Besides Gordon, Lane, and Kearns, “Dennis” also featured “Lucy Show” and/or  “I Love Lucy” alumni like: 

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

On the date this episode first aired (February 28, 1966) “The Lucy Show's” CBS TV lead-in was an episode of “I've Got a Secret” with guest star Vivian Vance (Ethel Mertz / Vivian Bagley). It would be her last of six appearances on the quiz show.

Also on February 28, 1966, actor Jonathan Hale died at age 74. He had appeared with Lucille Ball in Her Husband’s Affairs (1947) and Easy To Wed (1946).

Following the previous week's episode, an episode of “The Andy Griffith Show” (also filmed at Desilu Studios) featured Vito Scotti (Sam Buscovitch). The episode also co-starred Jamie Farr (above left), who was featured in “Lucy the Rain Goddess” (S4;E15). 

After Sam's explosion causes Lucy's TV to short out, she asked if he was in New York during the big blackout. 

The Northeast Blackout of 1965 occurred on Tuesday, November 9, 1965, affecting parts of Ontario in Canada, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. Over 30 million people were left without electricity for up to 13 hours.

Lucy says she's a big fan of inventors like Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell because she's always making telephone calls and turning on lights. 

Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922, left) is the inventor of the telephone. Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931, right) is credited as the inventor of the light bulb. 

Sam tells Lucy that he was a fat kid. Lucy confesses to Sam that she had braces and flaming red hair. This confession indicates that Lucy Carmichael’s hair is naturally red (albeit maybe not that particular shade), and not dyed, as Lucy Ricardo’s was. 

We learn that Mr. Mooney has a cat named Cleo. It was probably named for Cleo Morgan (nee Mandicos aka Cleo Smith) who was Lucille Ball's first cousin, although the two were raised as sisters. Morgan later became a producer on “Here's Lucy.” Mr. Mooney also has a Sheepdog named Nelson. Neither Cleo nor Nelson appear on camera in this episode.

MR. MOONEY: (Into telephone) “Tell him not to put Cleo’s head in the goldfish bowl!” 

Hearing that Wendell is putting Cleo’s head in the goldfish bowl is reminiscent of the relationship between Figaro the cat and Cleo the goldfish in Disney’s 1940 animated film Pinocchio. The pair were given their own short film in 1943. 

Cleo (the toy) made an appearance on “I Love Lucy” in May 1953. 

This is the first time we see the inside of Mr. Mooney's California house. In “Lucy Helps the Countess” (S4;E8) he flirted with the idea of moving into an ultra-modern high rise apartment in Cucamonga.

Lucy suggests the expressionless Robot would be a good replacement for Ed Sullivan. The famous TV show host was nicknamed "Old Stoneface" for his unsmiling demeanor. From 1954 to 1968 Lucille Ball made 10 appearances on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Ed Sullivan and his show were also mentioned several times on “I Love Lucy.”  

When the Robot is leaving Sam's apartment as well as when Lucy is marching around the Mooney living room, the underscoring is  "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" (also known as "Parade of the Tin Soldiers" or “March of the Wooden Soliders”) composed by Leon Jessel in 1897.

‘In’ Jokes!  

Wendell to Lucy / Major Fun Fun: “Boy, I'm gonna have a BALL with you!”

Wendell to Lucy / Major Fun Fun: “This HAIR doesn't look real.” [Lucille Ball's color was the result of Henna dye and she sometimes wore wigs on the show.]  

Mr. Mooney to Lucy about Wendell: “You will keep that MENACE subdued for the next eight days!”

Callbacks!

The exploding television set is reminiscent of “The Courtroom” (ILL S2;E7) in which both the Mertzes and the Judge's TV sets explode.  

Lucy spanking Wendell as punishment, is reminiscent of the many episodes Ricky spanked Lucy, one of the most controversial aspects of the show to modern audiences. Today, even corporal punishment of one’s own children is frowned upon and would not be depicted on television in a comic way. 

Lucy Carmichael previously encountered a robot butler (also played by mime Larry Dean) in “Lucy and the Ceramic Cat” (S3;E16).   

In Sam's kitchen cupboard, there is a box of Kiddie Cookies, a fictional product first seen on “The Talent Discoverers Show” in “Lucy and the Plumber” (S3;E2) and then again in the Los Angeles supermarket during “Lucy and Joan” (S4;E4). 

Lucy Carmichael: “What would keep a 13 year-old boy happy?”

Sam Boscovitch: “How about a 13 year-old girl?” 

~ “Lucy the Robot” 1966

Lucy Ricardo: “It's just a little boy. Now, what do you think I better have ready for him when he gets here?” 

Ethel Mertz: “How about a little girl?”

~ “The Amateur Hour” (ILL S1;E14, above) 1952

In Sam's apartment there is a toy Ferris wheel that was first seen back in Danfield in “Vivian Sues Lucy” (S1;E10). It belonged to Jerry, Lucy's son.  

After the Robot leaves Sam's apartment there is an off-camera crash, and Lucy Carmichael walks back in carrying the Robot's head and leg. In “The Ricardos Dedicate a Statue” (ILL S6;E27), Lucy Ricardo leaves her Westport home, there is an off-camera crash, and Lucy walks back in carrying the statue's head and leg. Lucy Ricardo pleads with Mr. Silvestry, the statue's creator, to make another statue, just as Lucy Carmichael pleads with Sam to make another robot. Lucy Ricardo then takes the statue's place for the unveiling, just as Lucy Carmichael assumes the identity of the Robot in the gift box. 

Blooper Alerts

Me Too! When Lucy meets Sam Buscovitch for the first time, he says he just moved from New York. Oddly, Lucy does not say “Me too!”  This would be a natural response from a recent transplant to the West Coast.

Sitcom Logic Alert! It takes Sam a total of 15 seconds to ‘fix’ and ‘adjust’ Lucy’s television set!  It then receives broadcasts from Hong Kong, more than 7,000 miles away! 

Door is Ajar! When Sam rushes into Lucy's apartment after the explosion, he leaves the door wide open, which is usual on “The Lucy Show.” After the Delivery Men leave the Mooney house, they also leave the front door open. 

Sitcom Logic Alert 2!  Both Wendell and Mrs. Fletcher touch Lucy but still don’t realize she is a real person, not a robot. 

Floor Plan! During the second scene in Sam's apartment, his kitchen table and chairs have disappeared. Lucy's desk at the bank is now back inside Mr. Mooney's office. In the previous episode, “Lucy and Bob Crane” (S4;E22), she was re-assigned to New Accounts with a desk in the bank's lobby.  

Fast Forward!

On May 1, 1966, the CBS special “The Magic of Broadcasting” took viewers behind the scenes of the filming of this episode. It was the only time that non-Desilu cameras were allowed to film production footage of a Lucy sitcom. Lucille Ball provided narration and Hazel Pierce and Joan Carey were both featured. 

A more realistic robot will be featured in the “Life With Lucy” episode “Lucy Makes Curtis Byte the Dust” (LWL S1;E6) in 1986. His name is Rupert. 

Soon after this episode aired, Jay North could be seen on the big screen in the film “Maya”. In it, his father was played by Clint Walker, the guest star in the following week’s episode of “The Lucy Show”.

A still from this episode was incorporated into the photo montage on the Season 4 DVD box cover. 

“Lucy the Robot” rates 2 Paper Hearts out of 5