#gil stratton

November 20, 1948

“George Attends a Teenage Dance” is episode #19 of the radio series MY FAVORITE HUSBAND broadcast on November 20, 1948.

Synopsis ~ Liz gives advice to her adolescent neighbor, Sally Hopkins, on how to snare the boy she likes, but her meddling only makes things worse.

Note: This episode was aired before the characters names were changed from Cugat to Cooper. It was also before Jell-O came aboard to sponsor the show and before the regular cast featured Bea Benadaret and Gale Gordon as the Atterburys.

This program was used as a basis for "The Young Fans" (ILL S1;E20) first broadcast in February 1952.  

“My Favorite Husband” was based on the novels Mr. and Mrs. Cugat, the Record of a Happy Marriage (1940) and Outside Eden (1945) by Isabel Scott Rorick, which had previously been adapted into the film Are Husbands Necessary? (1942). “My Favorite Husband” was first broadcast as a one-time special on July 5, 1948. Lucille Ball and Lee Bowman played the characters of Liz and George Cugat, and a positive response to this broadcast convinced CBS to launch “My Favorite Husband” as a series. Bowman was not available Richard Denning was cast as George. On January 7, 1949, confusion with bandleader Xavier Cugat prompted a name change to Cooper. On this same episode Jell-O became its sponsor. A total of 124 episodes of the program aired from July 23, 1948 through March 31, 1951. After about ten episodes had been written, writers Fox and Davenport departed and three new writers took over – Bob Carroll, Jr., Madelyn Pugh, and head writer/producer Jess Oppenheimer. In March 1949 Gale Gordon took over the existing role of George’s boss, Rudolph Atterbury, and Bea Benaderet was added as his wife, Iris. CBS brought “My Favorite Husband” to television in 1953, starring Joan Caulfield and Barry Nelson as Liz and George Cooper. The television version ran two-and-a-half seasons, from September 1953 through December 1955, running concurrently with “I Love Lucy.” It was produced live at CBS Television City for most of its run, until switching to film for a truncated third season filmed (ironically) at Desilu and recasting Liz Cooper with Vanessa Brown.

MAIN CAST

Lucille Ball (Liz Cugat) was born on August 6, 1911 in Jamestown, New York. She began her screen career in 1933 and was known in Hollywood as ‘Queen of the B’s’ due to her many appearances in ‘B’ movies. “My Favorite Husband” eventually led to the creation of “I Love Lucy,” a television situation comedy in which she co-starred with her real-life husband, Latin bandleader Desi Arnaz. The program was phenomenally successful, allowing the couple to purchase what was once RKO Studios, re-naming it Desilu. When the show ended in 1960 (in an hour-long format known as “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour”) so did Lucy and Desi’s marriage. In 1962, hoping to keep Desilu financially solvent, Lucy returned to the sitcom format with “The Lucy Show,” which lasted six seasons. She followed that with a similar sitcom “Here’s Lucy” co-starring with her real-life children, Lucie and Desi Jr., as well as Gale Gordon, who had joined the cast of “The Lucy Show” during season two. Before her death in 1989, Lucy made one more attempt at a sitcom with “Life With Lucy,” also with Gordon.

Richard Denning (George Cugat) was born Louis Albert Heindrich Denninger Jr., in Poughkeepsie, New York. When he was 18 months old, his family moved to Los Angeles. Plans called for him to take over his father’s garment manufacturing business, but he developed an interest in acting. Denning enlisted in the US Navy during World War II. He is best known for his  roles in various science fiction and horror films of the 1950s. Although he teamed with Lucille Ball on radio in “My Favorite Husband,” the two never acted together on screen. While “I Love Lucy” was on the air, he was seen on another CBS TV series, “Mr. & Mrs. North.” From 1968 to 1980 he played the Governor on “Hawaii 5-0″, his final role. He died in 1998 at age 84.

Ruth Perrott (Katie, the Maid) was also later seen on “I Love Lucy.” She first played Mrs. Pomerantz, a member of the surprise investigating committee for the Society Matrons League in “Pioneer Women” (ILL S1;E25), as one of the member of the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League in “Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress” (ILL S3;E3), and also played a nurse when “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” (ILL S2;E16). She died in 1996 at the age of 96.

Bob LeMond (Announcer) also served as the announcer for the pilot episode of “I Love Lucy”. When the long-lost pilot was finally discovered in 1990, a few moments of the opening narration were damaged and lost, so LeMond – fifty years later – recreated the narration for the CBS special and subsequent DVD release.

GUEST CAST

Barbara Eiler (Sally Hopkins) started acting as a teenager and appeared regularly on the radio programs "The Life of Riley," "A Day in the Life of Dennis Day," "The Fabulous Dr. Tweedy" and "Glamor Manor." 

Gil Stratton (Jimmy Matthews) was a young actor who appeared in the stage and screen adaptation of Best Foot Forward (1943), the latter with Lucille Ball. He was also a professional sportscaster. 

Florence Halop (Lena the Hyena, Party Line Gossip) was cast to replace Bea Benadaret in a radio show moving to CBS TV called “Meet Millie” when she was hired to play on of the two women on Lucy Ricardo’s party line in “Redecorating” (ILL S2;E8) also featuring Hans Conried. She wouldn’t work for Lucy again until 1974, when she played a Little Old Lady on a Western-themed episode of “Here’s Lucy.” In 1985, she replaced Selma Diamond (who had died of lung cancer) as the bailiff on “Night Court.” Coincidentally, Halop, also a heavy smoker, died less than a year later of the same disease.

Halop previously played a party Line Gossip in “Katie and Roscoe” on a Novmber 5, 1948 episode of MY FAVORITE HUSBAND. 

Erwin Lee (Icky Williams) was also heard on the following week’s episode of MY FAVORITE HUSBAND, “Is There A Baby In the House?” 

THE EPISODE

ANNOUNCER: “It's morning, and Liz has just sat down to breakfast. George is still getting dressed upstairs.”  

Liz is looking at the morning paper.

LIZ: “Who do you suppose got married?” KATIE THE MAID: “Li’l Abner and Daisy Mae?”

The Al Capp comic strip Li’l Abner debuted in 1934. 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 corrects her: it was Madelyn Smith and Jack Carroll.

LIZ: “She always wanted to be Madelyn Carroll!” KATIE: “So did I, but I never got nearer than Marjorie Main!”

This joke must have pleased its writers, Madelyn Pugh and Bob Carroll Jr., who where a team, but not a couple. They must have pondered what her name would be if they did marry and came up with this joke.  It relies on the listener knowing that Madeleine Carroll (1906-87) was once the world’s highest paid actress. She was born in Britain and found success on both sides of the Atlantic. 

Katie claims she is more associated with Marjorie Main (1890-1974), a less glamorous actress who appeared with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in The Long, Long Trailer (1954). 

Liz takes credit for the marriage, bragging that she played matchmaker for the couple. 

LIZ: “George says I’m always teaching some mouse to build a better man trap!” 

Liz and Katie wonder why it takes George so long to shave in the morning. She knows his razor is sharp because she used it to scrape some chewing gum off her shoe. George finally comes down to breakfast, his face heavily bandaged. 

LIZ: “You smell nice, George. What do you have on your face? Yeardley’s After Shave?” GEORGE: “No, Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit.” 

Yardley is a British personal care brand and one of the oldest firms in the world to specialize in cosmetics, fragrances and related toiletry products. Established in 1770, it is now owned by Indian conglomerate Wipro. Wrigley’s is an American chewing gum company founded in 1891 and based in Chicago, Illinois.  It is the largest manufacturer and marketer of chewing gum in the world. Juicy Fruit was introduced in 1893 and is still sold today. 

George is grumpy because Liz is overdrawn once again. Liz decides to tell the truth: she bought Madelyn Smith a new dress for her date with Jack Carroll. George is upset to hear she’s been matchmaking again. The doorbell rings. It is Sally Hopkins (Barbara Eiler), a giggling school girl who is sweet on George. Rather than face her, George leaves for work. 

Sally assumes that George is middle-aged, guessing he is pushing 25. 

LIZ: “Oh, yes, he’s pushing 25 alright. In fact, he’s pushed it nearly all the way to 40.” 

The dialogue between young Sally and mature Liz, is nearly verbatim to the conversation between young Peggy (Janet Waldo), and Lucy Ricardo "The Young Fans" (ILL S1;E20). 

Sally wants Liz to give her some tips for dealing with men. Liz tells Sally how to tell the three different types of men apart.

LIZ: “The bachelor walks around the car and opens the door for you. The fiancé reaches across you and pushes the door open from the inside. And the husband gets out, stands on the sidewalk, and says ‘Well, we haven’t got all night!” 

Sally wants to ask Liz about one specific man: Jimmy Matthews.

SALLY: He’s really terrif!  Sensash!  Collos!  You know what I mean?” LIZ: “Oh, but natch!  He’s a patch!” SALLY: “Jimmy has  red hair, big sad eyes, and floppy ears. He looks just like Gregory Peck.” LIZ: “Sounds more like Lassie.”

At the time this episode was aired both were huge box office stars: earlier in 1948, Gregory Peck had already been nominated for his third Academy Award. and Lassie had made several films, including one opening just five days after this broadcast. In 1959, Lassie appeared on “The Desilu Revue” Christmas special.  

Sally wants to ask Jimmy on a date to a party, but she is not sure how. Liz tells her to make him jealous by making up a rival boyfriend and setting up a date with him.

Later, Sally rings the Cugat doorbell in tears. Jimmy merely congratulated Sally on getting a date and was not jealous at all. For her make-believe beau impetuous Sally made up the first name that came to mind: George Cugat. Liz promises that she’ll get George (aka ‘Smoothie’) to go on a date with her so Jimmy won’t know she was lying. 

Liz turns on the romance to soften George up, but he refuses to go on a date with a teenage girl. Liz soon convinces him, however.  

At the party, Sally is having a ‘keen’ time with her ‘keen’ date, George. Jimmy Matthews approaches and asks Sally to dance. She rejects him saying she prefers older men like George. 

Back at the Cugat home, Liz and Katie wonder what is keeping George. She decides to call, but the phone is occupied by the party line. A woman (Florence Halop) who Liz calls Lena the Hyena is chatting away about her fear of heights. She claims she is using the line for psycho analysis. Liz listens in. 

LENA: “Every night I dream about Joe DiMaggio, doctor. I dream he picks me up and swings me around. What does that mean?” LIZ: “It means you’re an old bat!” 

Joe DiMaggio (1914-99) was a center fielder who played his entire 13-year professional baseball career for the New York Yankees. He was mentioned several times on “I Love Lucy.”  In 1954, he married Marilyn Monroe. 

Liz cleverly gets rid of the party line patient by imitating her voice saying that she can’t pay the doctor, who promptly hands up!  ‘Lena’ calls her therapist by name before hanging up: Dr. Lastfogel.

Abe Lastfogel was the long-time president and agent of the William Morris Talent Agency. When he died in 1984 he had worked for the agency for 72 years.  When Lucille Ball guest-starred on Dinah Shore’s “Like Hep” in 1969, Lastfogel’s name was used as a visual joke on a fairy tale protest sign. It is no coincidence that he was Shore’s agent. 

No sooner is the line free than the phone rings!  It is Jimmy Matthews reporting that George is at the party with his girl!  He says that Sally has fallen for George. Liz is jealous and tells Jimmy she will come right down and be his date.  Liz overhears Sally praising George’s dancing. 

GEORGE: “It’s nothing that Arthur Murray couldn’t do.” LIZ (to Jimmy): “He’s the only man Arthur Murray ever gave his money back to!” 

Arthur Murray (1895-1991) taught dance and franchised his dancing schools starting in 1925. He even had a television program from 1950 to 1960 called "The Arthur Murray Party.” The song “Cuban Pete,” includes the line "And Cuban Pete don’t teach you in a hurry, like Arthur Murray.”

SALLY (to George) “You’re smarter than Doctor IQ!” LIZ (interrupting loudly): “Give that lady a box of Snickers!” GEORGE: “Liz!”  LIZ: “I’m going to push that lady off the balcony, doctor!” 

“Dr. I.Q.” (1939-1950) was radio’s first major quiz show. It popularized the catch phrase "I have a lady in the balcony, Doctor."  The show was sponsored by M&M Mars, makers of Snickers candy bars. The television version ran from 1953 to 1954, and again from December 1958 to March  1959.

SALLY: “George was going to be my partner in the Big Apple.”  LIZ: “That’s where he belongs: in a big apple, the worm!” 

“The Big Apple” is a dance that was named from the location of  its revival in the 1930s: The Big Apple Club in Columbia, South Carolina. In 1937, it became a national dance craze. The dance is discussed in “Lucy Becomes a Reporter” (TLS S1;E17) in 1963. 

Jimmy announces that they are all going to play Post Office. 

JIMMY: “Do you know how to play Post Office, Mrs. Cugat?” LIZ: “Know how? When I was your age they used to call me Jim Farley.” 

James Farley was the the 53rd US Postmaster General from 1933 to 1940.  A native New Yorker, he was instrumental in the political careers of Alfred E. Smith and Franklin D. Roosevelt, having served as campaign manager to both. Farley was a Democratic candidate for US president in the 1940 presidential election, running against Roosevelt in the primary. In 1982, New York City’s iconic Penn Station post office was dedicated as the James A. Farley Building. It was seen in the film Miracle on 34th Street (1947) featuring William Frawley. 

Post Office is a kissing party game played at teenage parties. It has been referred to in popular culture since at least the 1880s.  The group playing is divided into two groups. One group goes into another room which is called "the post office". To play, each person from the outer group individually visits "the post office". Once there, they get a kiss from everyone in the room. They then return to the original room. In "The Charm School" (ILL S3;E15), Ethel mentions that Fred suggested they play Post Office the previous night when a beautiful guest arrived at their dinner party. In "Kiddie Parties Inc." (TLS S2;E2) Vivian says she played Post Office when she was younger.

When it is George’s turn, his ‘letter’ is for Sally Hopkins, although Liz cuts front of her.  In the dark closet, Liz giggles like Sally. George whispers that she should just stay in the closet with him a few moments to make her jealous.  Liz kisses him and George knows instantly that it is Liz.  They ‘mail a few letters’ before opening the door. Everyone has gone home and the party is over!  George and Liz go back into the closet to smooch!  

Stalag 17 (1953) Billy Wilder

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