#jack berle

July 12, 1908

Milton Berle was born Milton (Mendel) Berlinger in New York City on July 12, 1908. He started performing at the age of five. He perfected his comedy in vaudeville, early silent films, and then on radio, before taking his act to the small screen, where he would be proclaimed “Mr. Television” and later “Uncle Miltie.” He hosted “Texaco Star Theater” on NBC from 1948 to 1956. The variety show was re-titled "The Milton Berle Show” in 1954 when Texaco dropped their sponsorship. The program was briefly revived in 1958, but lasted only one season. One of his classic bits was to dress in drag. 

Berle won two Emmy Awards in 1950 for Most Kinescoped Personality and Best Kinescope show - a category that only existed in 1950. Here they are used as set dressing for his office on “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” in 1959. Desilu also reproduced his TV Guide cover from earlier in the year. The caricature is by Al Hirschfeld. Berle received an honorary Emmy in 1979 engraved “Mr. Television”. 

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz appeared on “The Milton Berle Show” on February 22, 1949, although Berle was out sick, replaced by Walter O’Keefe, delaying a Berle and Ball collaboration until 1950, when Berle hosted “Show of The Year: Cerebral Palsy Telethon” on June 10 and Lucy and Desi were guests.  In the decade that followed, Berle (on NBC) and Ball (on CBS) both became the biggest stars of television. 

Like Lucille Ball, Uncle Miltie had his own comic book!  This is the first issue dated December 1950. 

Ball and Berle returned for a second season of their respective TV shows in 1952, sharing the cover of this regional TV Guide. 

Lucille Ball was atop the TV totem pole on the cover of this April 1953 TV Guide while Milton Berle stands on the shoulders of Imogene Coca and Sid Caesar, flanked by the Texaco gas pump and holding a jester’s staff. This was only the third National issue and the second to feature Lucille Ball. 

‘Mr. Television’ and ‘The Queen of Comedy’ finally came together in 1959 on “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” episode “Milton Berle Hides Out at the Ricardos” (LDCH E11). Berle plays himself, promoting his new novel “Earthquake”.  As the above photo shows, Berle does his drag act while hiding out to finish his next book. That same year, Lucy and Milton both participated in a tribute to Eleanor Roosevelt on her Diamond Jubilee. It was broadcast on NBC. 

Also in 1959, Lucy and Desi returned the favor by appearing on “Sunday Showcase: The Lucy-Desi Milton Berle Special” on NBC.  The special was set in Las Vegas and the Arnaz’s played the Ricardos.  

In December 1965, shortly after Lucy Carmichael moved to Los Angeles on “The Lucy Show,” “Lucy Saves Milton Berle” when she thinks he has taken to drink. Berle (playing himself) is doing research for a movie, and tells Lucy that the drunk she saw was actually his brother Arthur!  

In payback, Lucille Ball appears on the first episode of Berle’s new variety show, “The Milton Berle Show” on September 9, 1966. The show only lasts one season. 

A few weeks later, once again trading appearances, Milton Berle does a brief wordless cameo in “Lucy and John Wayne” on “The Lucy Show.” 

Two seasons later, Lucy Carmichael will again meet Milton Berle for the first time in "Lucy Meets the Berles”. This time, however, she meets both Milton and his wife, Ruth Cosgrove Berle, who also plays herself. 

On “Here’s Lucy,” Berle finally gets to play a character different than himself as used car dealer Cheerful Charlie in a November 1969 installment that also features his real-life brother Jack (right).

For the opening of season 24 of “The Ed Sullivan Show” Ed hosts the ‘Georgie Awards’ for Entertainer of the Year, from Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas. Lucille Ball and Milton Berle are on hand to present awards.

“The 23rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards” were broadcast on NBC on . May 9, 1971. Lucy attended the Awards with her husband Gary, her daughter Lucie, and her son-in-law Phil Vandervoort. Milton Berle was also in attendance.

“Zenith Presents: A Salute to Television’s 25th Anniversary” on September 10, 1972, brought together many of the most popular names of early broadcasting and included classic film clips, kine-scopes, video tape segments, and the personal memories of those who were a vital part of entertainment history.  Naturally this included Ball, Berle, and Hope. 

In late 1973, the Friars Club celebrated presented “A Show Business Salute To Milton Berle”. Sammy Davis Jr. hosted with guests Lucille Ball, Jackie Gleason, Bob Hope, Kirk Douglas, Red Foxx, and Carol O’Connor.  

A few months later, Berle made his only appearance on “Here’s Lucy” (once again playing himself) in “Milton Berle is the Life of the Party”.  Lucy Carter bids on Berle’s appearance on a telethon in order to enliven one of her dreary parties. 

When “The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast” feted Lucille Ball in 1975, Milton Berle was one of the many colleagues on hand to roast and toast the Queen of Comedy. 

While America was celebrating its bicentennial in 1976, the National Broadcast Corporation was celebrating 50 years in show business with “NBC: The First 50 Years.”  Naturally, “Mr. Television” (an NBC star) and Lucille Ball (then very associated with CBS) were there to mark the occasion.  A few days later, CBS honored Lucille Ball for a quarter century of television with “CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years”.  Berle hopped over to the Tiffany Network to help pay tribute. 

Less than a month later, Lucy and Milton were back on “The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast” to rib their mutual friend Danny Thomas, who spent time on both NBC and CBS during his career. 

On March 26, 1978, Lucille Ball, Joey Bishop, George Carlin, Johnny Carson, Angie Dickinson, Kirk Douglas, Jim Henson, Bob Hope, Gabe Kaplan, Gene Kelly, Donny and Marie Osmond, Gregory Peck, and Carl Reiner were all on hand for “A Tribute to Mr. Television, Milton Berle”. 

Lucy and Milton were back in Vegas for yet another “Dean Martin Celebrity Roast” to honor actor Jimmy Stewart in 1979.  

In 1980, Lucy and Miltie were present for “Sinatra: The First 40 Years” at Caesar’s Palace Las Vegas. 

“Bob Hope’s 30th Anniversary Television Special” on January 18, 1981, was a retrospect of Bob Hope’s first 30 years on TV. Celebrating with Bob are guests Lucille Ball, Milton Berle, Danny Thomas, George Burns, Sammy Davis Jr., and many others.

Milton Berle (in drag) joined Lucille Ball for “Bob Hope’s Women I Love - Beautiful But Funny” on February 28, 1982.  Other than Bob, Milton was the only other biological male in the show! 

Appropriately, Milton Berle and Lucille Ball were among the first inductees into “The First Annual Television Academy Hall of Fame Awards” on March 4, 1984. Steve Allen introduces Berle while Carol Burnett does the honors for Ball.

That same year “Bob Hope’s Unrehearsed Antics of the Stars”.  Ball tells Hope about her disastrous audition for Gone With the Wind. 

Berle and Ball (now an NBC employee) are there for the special “Bob Hope Buys NBC?” in 1985. Former President Gerald Ford also makes an appearance! 

As President of the Friars Club, Milton Berle was present for most all of their events, including their tribute to Gene Kelly in late 1985.  Lucille Ball and Gary Morton also attending the honoring. 

Lucille Ball was a presenter at “The 38th Primetime Emmy Awards” on September 21, 1986.  Milton Berle was also in attendance. 

The final performance of Lucille Ball on television was in “Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years at NBC” on May 16, 1988. She sang “Comedy is No Joke”.  Milton Berle was also in attendance. 

For the “AFI Life Achievement Award: A Salute to Jack Lemmon” on March 10, 1988 The audience is full of celebrity friends, including including Lucille Ball and Milton Berle.

“The Princess Grace Foundation Special Gala Tribute to Cary Grant” on October 19, 1988. Lucille Ball attends with her husband, Gary Morton. Milton Berle is also there. 

This would be the last time Ball and Berle shared the same television marquee.  Lucille Ball died six months later. A week before her passing, Ruth Cosgrove Berle died. In 1991, he married again to Lorna Adams. They remained married until Milton Berle died of colon cancer in 2002 at age 93.   

S3;E9 ~ November 9, 1970

Directed by Herbert Kenwith ~ Written by Martin Ragaway

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.

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter), Desi Arnaz Jr. (Craig Carter) and Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter)

Guest Cast

Vincent Price (Himself) was born in May 1911, just nine weeks before Lucille Ball.  He made his screen debut in 1938, and after many minor roles, he began to perform in low-budget horror movies, where he would make his mark on the horror genre.  Three days before this episode first aired, Price guest-starred on ABC's “Love American Style” in a Halloween-themed episode titled “Love and the Haunted House.” His final feature film appearance was in 1990's Edward Scissorhands. Besides acting, his other passions were art and cooking. This is his only time acting opposite Lucille Ball. He died in 1993 at age 82. 

Mary Jane Croft (Mary Jane) makes her sixth series appearance as Mary Jane. Croft played Betty Ramsey during season six of “I Love Lucy. ” She also played Cynthia Harcourt in “Lucy is Envious” (ILL S3;E23) and Evelyn Bigsby in “Return Home from Europe” (ILL S5;E26). She played Audrey Simmons on “The Lucy Show” but when Lucy Carmichael moved to California, she played Mary Jane Lewis, the actor’s married name and the same one she uses on all 31 of her episodes of “Here’s Lucy. Her final acting credit was playing Midge Bowser on “Lucy Calls the President” (1977). She died in 1999 at the age of 83.

Tol Avery (Auctioneer) was a Texas-born character actor making his only series appearance. He previously played the toy company owner in “Lucy and the Efficiency Expert” (TLS S5;E13).

Avery the actor is not a skilled auctioneer, so he comically garbles the sped-up bidding process.  

Jack Collins (Curt) appeared on the final two episodes of “The Lucy Show” in 1968. He played Russel Slater on “Dallas” from 1982 to 1987. This is the third of his six appearances on “Here’s Lucy.”  

Curt is Vincent Price's movie producer.

Jack Berle (Man at Auction, uncredited) was the older brother of Milton Berle. This is one of his eleven uncredited appearances on the series. He previously did two episodes of “The Lucy Show.”   

Chester Jones (Man at Auction, uncredited) makes the second of his four background appearances on “Here’s Lucy.”  

The other auction attendees are played by uncredited background performers. 

When the Auctioneer offers a four poster bed frame from Washington DC, he claims that it was slept in by the Washingtons and the Madisons. Craig jokingly thinks they slept in it at the same time: “George & Martha & James & Dolley.” Embarrassed, Lucy says it will be the first auction rated X. Craig is making a joke based on the 1969 comedy Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, which was filmed at Sunset Gower Studios, the former home of Desilu. The poster for the film depicted all four title characters in the same bed together. Lucille Ball did a satire on the film on “The Carol Burnett Show” in 1969. 

Lucy says she previously talked on the phone to Mrs. Vincent Price when arranging entertainment for a big party the Price's threw.  In 1970, Vincent Price was married to costume designer Mary Grant (inset photo), although her name is never mentioned here. Making small talk on the telephone, Lucy asks about Little Vicki. This is a reference to the Price's 8 year-old daughter, Victoria. Although Lucy visits their home, both characters remain off-screen.

Syndicated versions of this episode generally cut the entire scene with Kim and Craig fretting over their mother's visit to Price's home. In the scene, Craig is doing a book report on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. This makes them think that Vincent Price may be a bit of a split personality due to all the horror films he makes.  The scene was restored to the DVD release.

Price is filming a new horror film titled Who's Afraid of Virginia's Wolfman? He says it has the best title since he starred in The Giant Chihuahua That Ate Chicago. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? was a play by Edward Albee that was filmed in 1966 starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. The acting couple guest starred in “Lucy Meets the Burtons” (S3;E1) which was actually filmed after this episode, but aired before it. 

Price thinks Lucy is an actress who has come to his home studio to audition for the role of a victim in his new film.  He locks her in the study and straps her to an examining table. Lucy's terrified reaction makes Price wonder aloud if she uses the Stanislavski method. Konstantin Stanislavski (1863-1938) was a Russian actor, teacher, and director who developed a method of acting training that is still used today.  

When Vincent Price says the painting under the painting could be a Peter Paul Rubens Lucy asks what a Peter Paul and Rubens is worth. Lucy is thinking of the folk music trio Peter Paul & Mary, which was made up of Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey, and Mary Travers. Between 1962 and 1969 they had three number one hits on the charts including “Puff the Magic Dragon” and “Leavin' on a Jet Plane.” Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) was a Flemish artist from the Netherlands. He is considered the most influential artist of the Flemish Baroque tradition. 

Harry says he could sell the painting to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for a tidy profit. Located in New York City, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is the largest art institution in the United States. It was established in 1870 and still welcomes guests today.  

At the end of the episode, Price says he charges $250 for art appraisals: “That's Vincent's price!”  

In “Paris at Last” (ILL S5;E18) much of the action revolves around a worthless painting bought by Lucy Ricardo on the streets of Paris.  

Lucy only goes to the art auction because of the free food and entertainment. This is the same reason Lucy Carmichael attends fashion shows in “Lucy and Pat Collins” (TLS S5;E11).  

“The Lucy Show” did a monster-themed episode titled “Lucy and the Monsters” (TLS S3;E18) but instead of airing at Halloween it aired in mid-January.  

Props!  In a close-up (possibly an insert shot) of the painting in the office, the file card boxes that it sits atop have been arranged in the wrong order: Q-R, S-Z, L-P.  

Batter Up! To save her mother from Price's clutches, Kim hits him over the head with a baseball bat that shatters into pieces. A break-away baseball bat? In a living room laboratory? Kim instinctively knows where the bat is and immediately goes to get it.

Title Trouble! The episode's title does not exactly come to pass since Lucy pays Vincent Price's exact fee for art appraisals and does not “cut” his price. The title probably should be “Lucy Pays Vincent's Price”.

“Lucy Cuts Vincent’s Price” rates 2 Paper Hearts out of 5

This is one of those episodes that has Lucy acting childish and silly. The premise is unbelievable enough (filming torture scenes in an actor's home) but it would feel more probable if the Lucy character approached the situation more realistically.  Her scene with Harry when she grovels at his feet is just plain embarrassing. Craig and Kim are also written as simpletons when they think actor Vincent Price might somehow also be a fiend because he plays so many predators in films. On the plus side, Price, usually a serious actor, gets the hang of Lucy’s brand of comedy quite easily and plays along with ghoulish glee. 

S3;E19 ~ January 18, 1971

Directed by Ross Martin ~ Written by Ray Singer & Al Schwartz

Synopsis

Kim wins a fast sports car in a raffle, but Lucy won't let her keep it. To pay the taxes on her win, they hold another raffle not knowing that it is illegal. Lucy, Kim, and Harry are all arrested and hauled in to court!

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter), Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter)

Desi Arnaz Jr. (Craig Carter) does not appear in this episode, but he does receive opening title credit.

Guest Cast

Hayden Rorke (Judge Gibson) played one of the “New Neighbors” (ILL S1;E21), Tom O'Brien, who moved into the Mertz apartment building and are believed to be spies (but actually are just actors).  Rorke trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and made his television debut on “I Love Lucy.” Ironically, so did Barbara Eden, who played the title role in the sitcom that Rorke is best known for, “I Dream of Jeannie.” In 1947, he appeared on stage with Lucille Ball in Dream Girl. Rorke played the incredulous Dr. Alfred Bellows from 1965 to 1970, even returning for a “Jeannie” reunion special in 1985, his last screen project. He died in 1987.

Although the Judge’s name is not spoken aloud, his daughter, Betty Gibson, is named earlier in the episode as the winner of the raffle. 

SPOILER: The Little Old Lady (Florence Lake) is his mother!  

Paul Picerni (IRS Agent Frank Williams) makes the second of his four appearances on “Here’s Lucy.” He also appeared with Lucille Ball in the 1975 TV movie “Lucy Gets Lucky.” Picerni was a cast member of Desilu's “The Untouchables” from 1959 to 1963.

Picerni introduces this episode on the series DVD.  

Rhodes Reason (Lieutenant Egan) marks the fourth of his five episodes of “Here’s Lucy” having previously appeared in “Lucy, the Matchmaker” (S1;E12) and “Lucy and the Gold Rush” (S1;E13). He also appeared with Lucille Ball (and Little Old Lady Florence Lake) in the 1974 TV movie “Happy Anniversary and Goodbye.”

Although the character identifies himself as Lieutenant Egan, the end credits list him as Detective Haggerty.  

Robert Foulk (Permit Office Clerk at Window D) played the policeman on the Brooklyn subway platform in “Lucy and the Loving Cup” (ILL S6;E12) and a Los Angeles Detective in “Lucy Goes To A Hollywood Premiere” (TLS S4;E20).  This is the first of his six characters on “Here’s Lucy,” two of which are also policemen. 

Sid Gould (Permit Office Clerk at Window C) made more than 45 appearances on “The Lucy Show,” and nearly as many on “Here’s Lucy.” Gould (born Sydney Greenfader) was Lucille Ball’s cousin by marriage to Gary Morton and was married to Vanda Barra (Waitress). 

Irwin Charrone (Permit Office Clerk at Window B) made five appearances on “The Lucy Show.” The expressive character actor also did an equal number of “Here’s Lucy” episodes. He died in January 2016 in Maplewood, New Jersey, at the age of 93.  

Jody Gilbert (Woman in Permit Line aka “Mrs. Kong”) appeared with Lucille Ball and Gale Gordon on the 1952 special “Stars in the Eye” celebrating the opening of CBS’s new Television City studios.  She played a prison matron in her only appearance on both “The Lucy Show” and in her next and final appearance on “Here's Lucy.”  

Larry J. Blake (Man at the Front of the Permit Line) appeared as a Native American Medicine Man in “Lucy the Rain Goddess” (TLS S4;E15). He was an ex-vaudevillian making the third of his eight “Here’s Lucy” appearances. 

Florence Lake (Little Old Lady aka Mrs. Gibson) did four films with Lucille Ball between 1936 and 1938. This is her second and final episode of the series – both times as a classic Little Old Lady.  She went on to appear in the 1974 TV movie “Happy Anniversary and Goodbye” starring Lucille Ball and Rhodes Reason (Lt. Egan).  

Emile Autuori (Officer Collins, First Bailiff) makes the second of his six appearances on “Here’s Lucy.”  He passed away in early 2017.  He was the uncle of writer / director P.J. Castalleneta.

Although not spoken aloud, his name tag reads “Collins.”  

John J. 'Red' Fox (Second Bailiff) was best known for playing policemen, which is what he did on five of his eight appearances on “The Lucy Show” as well as three of his five episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

Vanda Barra (Waitress) was Lucille Ball’s cousin-in-law and married to Sid Gould (Permit Office Clerk at Window C). This is just one of her over two dozen appearances on “Here’s Lucy” as well as appearing in Ball’s two 1975 TV movies “Lucy Gets Lucky” (with Dean Martin) and “Three for Two” (with Jackie Gleason). She was seen in half a dozen episodes of “The Lucy Show.” 

Jack Berle (Detective, uncredited, right) was the older brother of Milton Berle. This is one of his eleven uncredited appearances on the series. He previously did two episodes of “The Lucy Show.” 

Berle plays the Detective who arrests Harry, but has no dialogue.

Leon Alton (Courtroom Spectator, uncredited) appeared with Lucille Ball in The Facts of Life (1960) and Critic’s Choice (1963). He was in two episodes of “The Lucy Show.”  This is the last of his three episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” 

Shep Houghton (Courtroom Spectator, uncredited) began working as an extra while still a teenager, taking background jobs on weekends and attending high school during the week. Between 1934 and 1947 he made three films with Lucille Ball, including Too Many Girls, the movie that brought together Lucy and Desi Arnaz. He did two episodes of “The Lucy Show” and this, his only episode of “Here’s Lucy.” Houghton was one of the Winkie Guards in 1939’s The Wizard of Oz and a Southern Dandy in Gone With the Wind (1939).  

Joan Carey (Woman in the Permit Line, uncredited) was one of the only performers to appear on “I Love Lucy,” “The Lucy Show,” and “Here’s Lucy,” even serving as one of Lucille Ball’s camera and lighting stand-ins. [Thanks to the Lucy Lounge for this siting!]

Others at the Permit Office and in the courtroom are played by uncredited background performers.

January 19, 1971, the day after this episode first aired, Desi Arnaz Jr. (Craig Carter) celebrated his 18th birthday. Ironically, he does not appear in this episode.

When Lucy complains that the car her daughter won goes too fast (160mph!), Kim promises to put a governor in the car. Lucy says “Ronald Reagan has enough to worry about without riding around with you!”  Former Hollywood actor Ronald Reagan had been elected Governor of California in 1967, a position he held until 1975. He was later elected 40th President of the United States and served until 1989. He was previously mentioned in the second episode of the series, “Lucy Visits Jack Benny” (S1;E2).  

We learn that Harry plays croquet.

When the woman at the back of the line (Jody Gilbert) gets snide with Lucy, she says “Thank you Mrs. Kong. Give my regards to your son, King.” King Kong (1933) was a Hollywood film about a giant gorilla that attacked Manhattan.  A sequel titled Son of Kong was released that same year.

When Lucy and Kim stack up the money they've made from their raffle, Lucy says “Oh, ho ho!  You jolly green giant!”  The Jolly Green Giant was the advertising character used to promote Green Giant Frozen Vegetables.  Their ubiquitous TV commercial jingle went: “In the valley of the giant – ho ho ho – Green Giant!”  The character was previously mentioned in “Lucy and Tennessee Ernie's Fun Farm” (S1;E23).

The winning raffle ticket belongs to Betty Gibson, a college friend of Kim's. 

This episode is primarily based on "Ricky's European Booking" (ILL S5;E10) in which Lucy Ricardo and Ethel Mertz illegally raffle off a television set to fund their trip to Europe. 

The Lucy character has been in the courtroom in front of many judges over the past 20 years:

“The Courtroom” (ILL S2;E7) in 1952, in which Moroni Olsen was the judge.

“Lucy Takes a Cruise To Havana” (LDCH) in June 1957, in which Jorge Trevino was the judge.

“Lucy Makes Room for Danny (LDCH) in December 1958, in which Gale Gordon was the judge.

“Lucy and the Runaway Butterfly (TLS S1;E29) in 1963, in which Ernest Sarracino was the judge.

“Lucy is Her Own Lawyer” (TLS S2;E23) in 1964, in which John McGiver was the judge.

“Lucy, the Metermaid” (TLS S3;E7) in 1964, in which Parley Baer was the judge.

“Lucy and the Soap Opera” (TLS S4;E19) in 1966, in which Sid Gould (who appears here as one of the Permit Office Clerks), played a judge in a TV soap opera.  Which neatly brings things full circle!  

FAST FORWARD!

Alan Rich plays Judge Cameron Potter in “Lucy, Legal Eagle” (S1;E7) aired on November 8, 1986.

Props! When Kim is shaking up the basket full of raffle tickets for Lucy to pick the winner, one ticket pops out. Lucie Arnaz says “Woops!” and pops it back in again.

“Lucy and the Raffle” rates 3 Paper Hearts out of 5

S3;E13 ~ December 7, 1970

Directed by Herbert Kenwith ~ Written by Milt Josefsberg and Ray Singer

Synopsis

Lucy goes on the Art Linkletter show and is challenged not to lose her temper for 24 hours in order to win $500.  Little does she know that her friends and family are all in on the stunt and are determined to make her lose her cool!

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter), Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter), Desi Arnaz Jr. (Craig Carter)

Guest Cast

Art Linkletter (Himself) was born in 1912 in Moose Jaw, Canada.  He was the host of “House Party” (aka “The Linkletter Show”) which ran on CBS radio and television for 25 years, and “People Are Funny,” on NBC radio and TV for 19 years. Linkletter had one of the longest marriages of any celebrity in America, at nearly 75 years. He was the father of five children. Art Linkletter also played himself on a 1966 episode of “The Lucy Show.”  He died in 2010 at age 97.  

Mary Jane Croft (Mary Jane) played Betty Ramsey during season six of “I Love Lucy. ” She also played Cynthia Harcourt in “Lucy is Envious” (ILL S3;E23) and Evelyn Bigsby in “Return Home from Europe” (ILL S5;E26). She played Audrey Simmons on “The Lucy Show” but when Lucy Carmichael moved to California, she played Mary Jane Lewis, the actor’s married name and the same one she uses on all 31 of her episodes of “Here’s Lucy. Her final acting credit was playing Midge Bowser on “Lucy Calls the President” (1977). She died in 1999 at the age of 83. 

Vanda Barra (Mrs. Carol Carroll from Walla Walla) was Lucille Ball’s cousin-in-law and married to frequent day player Sid Gould. This is just one of her over two dozen appearances on “Here’s Lucy” as well as appearing in Ball’s two 1975 TV movies “Lucy Gets Lucky” (with Dean Martin) and “Three for Two” (with Jackie Gleason). She was seen in half a dozen episodes of “The Lucy Show.” 

This is a one-gag character based on her name. Because it wouldn’t be realistic for Art Linkletter to directly approach Lucy right off the bat, a throw-away character is created as a buffer to make it seem more natural.  

Richard Erdman (Supermarket Clerk) was seen in the Lucille Ball film Easy Living in 1949.  This is his only series appearance.

Scott Garrett (Kid) was a child actor who was eleven years old at the time of filming. He made his last screen appearance in 1980 and became a behind the scenes draper for motion pictures and television.  

Joan Carey (Kid’s Mother, uncredited) is one of the few performers to appear on “I Love Lucy,” “The Lucy Show”, and “Here’s Lucy” - all as background characters. She was also Ball’s camera and lighting stand-in during “The Lucy Show.”  

The studio audience of “The Art Linkletter Show” (all uncredited) are played by:

Leon Alton appeared with Lucille Ball in The Facts of Life (1960) and Critic’s Choice (1963). He was in two episodes of “The Lucy Show.”  This is the second of his three episodes of “Here’s Lucy.” 

Jack Berle was the older brother of Milton Berle. This is just one of his eleven uncredited appearances on the series. He also did two episodes of “The Lucy Show.”

Paul King makes the second of his five background appearances on the series.  

Leoda Richards made at least three background appearances on “I Love Lucy.” She also did four episodes of “The Lucy Show.”  Coincidentally, Richards was also in the studio audience of “The Art Linkletter Show” on “The Lucy Show” in 1966.  In 1968, she was in the Lucille Ball film Yours, Mine and Ours. In deference to her reputation, Richards gets prime seating for the camera shot, located just behind Lucy and Mary Jane. 

Walter Smith makes the third of his 13 mostly uncredited appearances on the series.  He also did one episode of “The Lucy Show.”  

Luree Wiese played a member of the Danfield Art Society in “Lucy Gets Her Maid” (TLS S3;E11).  This is her only appearance on “Here's Lucy.”

Other members of the studio audience, pages, shoppers, and security guards are all played by uncredited background performers.  

The DVD Box Set lists this episode as “Lucy LOOSES Her Cool” in the main menu.  

On the DVD, the episode is introduced by ‘TV Legend / Author’ Art Linkletter, who died shortly afterwards.

The date this episode first aired (Monday, December 7, 1970), Art Linkletter began a week of co-hosting “The Mike Douglas Show” interviewing Barbara Walters and football player Roosevelt Grier.

Craig says he is doing his biology homework by reading Playboy magazine. This is the first time the magazine has been named, but Harry has been seen ogling centerfolds in two previous episodes. Despite using the name, the magazine's cover has been removed. An ad for Lee Jeans is visible on camera. 

Oddly, Craig makes no attempt to hide the magazine from his mother. He then tells Lucy he got the magazine from his Uncle Harry!  

Lucy mentions borrowing earrings from Aunt Vivian during her last trip to California. Vivian Vance's last appearance was in “Lucy and Viv Visit Tijuana” (S2;E19) aired eleven months earlier.  Her next appearance will be “Lucy Goes Hawaiian” (S3;E23 & 24) in February 1971.

When Kim asks Lucy what day it is, Lucy naturally responds “Monday.” All of Lucille Ball's sitcoms aired on Monday nights!

In the supermarket, Lucy actually slips on a banana peel, a comedy trope dating back to vaudeville.

When she is about to lose her temper, Lucy 'hears' the voice of Art Linkletter in her head. This surreal technique is repeated three times throughout the episode.

Lucy Carter pronounces tomato as “toe-mah-toe”. This is how Lucille Ball would pronounced the word in real life. On “I Love Lucy”, however, Ball made a concerted effort to pronounces it “toe-may-toe” to make Lucy Ricardo sound less cultured.  

When Mary Jane asks Lucy to hold her groceries, they include boxes of Kellogg's Corn Flakes and Post Toasties, although the brand names of both have been covered with tape. Toasties were actually Post's version of Kellogg's Corn Flakes, so Mary Jane is buying two boxes of flakes.  Toasties were discontinued in 2016.  

Harry gives the Kid a dollar to squirt Lucy in the face with seltzer water, but naturally Harry ends up getting the shower instead!  

This episode is a combination of "Ricky Loses His Temper" (ILL S3;E19) and "Lucy and Art Linkletter" (TLS S4;E19).  Lucy Ricardo frequently got into tests of will with Ricky for a modest wager.  Above she tries to get him to lose his cool by using a dribble glass filled with “toe-may-toe” juice! 

In 1966, Art Linkletter dared Lucy Carmichael to not make a sound for 24 hours in “Lucy and Art Linkletter” (TLS S4;E16).  [Note: Background player Leoda Richards is seated just behind Lucy, just as she is in this episode.]

The end of the episode has Lucy presented with a bill for the damage to the supermarket that comes to $499.99, leaving her with just one cent. In “Bonus Bucks” (ILL S3;E21) the prize is $300 but when the damage done to the laundry to retrieve the lucky buck comes to $299, Lucy Ricardo is left with just one dollar - and extremely starched!

Lucy Carter wreaked havoc in a supermarket where Craig was employed in “Lucy, the Shopping Expert” (S1;E20).  

Lucy Carmichael also terrorized the market place in “Lucy and Joan” (TLS S4;E4)... 

...and in “Lucy the Bean Queen” (TLS S5;E3).  

The stunt with the pyramid of oranges was first done in “Lucy, the Shopping Expert” (S1;E20). The display table and scales look to be the same ones in each episode. 

Wireless! Art Linkletter's microphone cord is tucked into his jacket pocket!  He is literally wired for sound! 

Where the Floor Ends! The camera pulls out too far in Lucy's living room and reveals where the carpeting meets the cement stage floor.

“Lucy Loses Her Cool” rates 3 Paper Hearts out of 5  

The comic premise of this episode is familiar, but still funny.  Lucy in a supermarket spells comedy gold.

S2;E9 ~ November 17, 1969

Directed by George Marshall ~ Written by David Ketchum and Bruce Shelley

Synopsis

When the Carters want to become a two-car family, Kim and Craig visit a used car dealer named Cheerful Charlie (Milton Berle).  When the car turns out to be a lemon, Lucy and Harry turn the tables on the huckster.

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter), Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter), Desi Arnaz Jr. (Craig Carter)

Guest Cast

Milton Berle (Cheerful Charlie) this is the first time that Milton Berle has not played Milton Berle on a Lucille Ball sitcom. He was born Milton Berlinger in New York City on July 12, 1908. He started performing at the age of five. Berle perfected his comedy in vaudeville, early silent films, and then on radio, before taking his act to the small screen, where he would be proclaimed “Mr. Television” and later “Uncle Miltie.” He hosted “Texaco Star Theater” on NBC from 1948 to 1956. The variety show was re-titled “The Milton Berle Show” in 1954 when Texaco dropped their sponsorship. The program was briefly revived in 1958, but lasted only one season. In 1959 he played himself in “Milton Berle Hides out at the Ricardos.” In return, Lucy and Desi appeared on his Sunday Showcase special that same year. Berle continued to perform live, in films, and on television specials for the remainder of his career. Berle previously appeared on "The Lucy Show” in “Lucy Saves Milton Berle” (TLS S4;E13) and did a cameo in “Lucy Meets John Wayne” (TLS S5;E10). He will also do one more episode of the series: “Milton Berle Is the Life of the Party” (S6;E19).  Berle died of cancer in 2002.

Jack Berle (Jack, uncredited) was the older brother of Milton Berle.  This is the second of his eleven uncredited appearances on the series.  He also did two episodes of “The Lucy Show.”  

The character has no dialogue.

The cameraman and cue card holder are played by uncredited performers.  

This is the first episode written by David Ketchum and Bruce Shelley. The pair will also return to write “Lucy and Rudy Vallee” (S3;E12).  Ketchum and Shelley began writing together in 1967 and their partnership ended in 1984.  The pair were nominated for a Writer's Guild of American (WGA) Award for a 1973 episode of “M*A*S*H”.  Ketchum was also an actor.  He played Agent 13 on “Get Smart” (1965-70).  

Milton Berle had a previous professional engagement he canceled in order to star in this episode.

This is the second episode in a row to be set among parked cars.  The previous episode took place at a drive-in movie theatre, which is really just a used car lot with entertainment. In fact, seven of the last ten episodes have featured automobiles. Interestingly, none of the vehicles seen previously are used here.  

Kim's new boyfriend is named Herbie Hofferman (“Hoffy”).  In the previous episode she was dating a college graduate named Alan.  

Craig is now dating Susan. In the previous episode he was dating Patty.  He is planning to use the car to double date with Steve & Peggy, and Billy & Debbie. They are all going to a drive-in movie – just as Craig & Patty and Kim & Alan all did the previous week! Susan (or Susie, as Lucy calls her) may be a reference to Susan Callahan-Howe, a model that Desi Arnaz Jr. had a relationship with (and had a child with) the previous year.  The name Patty may refer to Patty Duke, another of Desi Jr.'s romances, but it is generally thought the two didn't meet until 1970, a year after this episode was shot.  The name Billy is probably a reference to Desi's good friend and band-mate Billy Hinsche of Dino Desi & Billy. The names Susie and Steve were mentioned as friends of Craig's in “Lucy the Fixer” (S1;E14).

Craig tells Kim that it is his night to use the car, so she should “take the bus and leave the driving to us!” This was the advertising slogan of the Greyhound Bus Company.  It was previously quoted in “Lucy Helps Craig Get a Driver's License” (S1;E24).  

Lucy says they have $147 in IOU's in their Emergency Fund but only $75 in cash. Pooling their resources, they find they have $97 to spend on a second car.  

Searching between the sofa cushions for coins, Kim finds a 'Win With Willkie' button. Wendell Lewis Willkie (1892–1944) was the 1940 Republican nominee for President.  His Democratic opponent, incumbent President Franklin D. Roosevelt, handily won a third term (pre-term limits). Lucy calls him Mendell Willkie. Later in the episode, Harry asks if anyone's found his Willkie button.

Cheerful Charlie's lot is located on the corner of Cherokee and Chatsworth. In the 1940's Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz had a ranch in Chatsworth, California. 

The brightly painted lemon that is the subject of the transactions is actually a 1940 Packard One-Twenty [1397].  Harry calls the paint job “sick-o-delic.”  

The gray 1966 Volkswagen Beetle selling for $1,250 (more than $10,000 today) was actually owned by Lucille Ball’s secretary, Wanda Clark (inset). Clark made a cameo appearance on “Here’s Lucy” in “Lucy Protects Her Job” (S2;E14). 

Cheerful Charlie's lot also offers:

A light blue 1961 Ford Falcon

A blue 1964 Chevrolet Biscayne

Upon seeing the car Cheerful Charlie has sold the kids Harry says “Well, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!” That was the title of a 1968 musical fantasy film (based on a novel by Ian Fleming) about a colorful flying car.  Harry then refers to it as “a purple people eater.”  “Purple People Eater” was the title of a hit kids novelty song written by Sheb Wooley in 1958.

When Craig tries to start the car by kicking the floorboard, Harry asks him “What in the name of Kaiser-Frazer are you doing?” The Kaiser-Frazer Corporation was a car company that briefly thrived after World War II.  When the car finally starts and fills the garage with smoke, Harry says it is “a one-car smog alert.” References to Los Angeles' smog problem were topical and frequent in this time period.  

Posing as a British dandy, Harry calls the car a Pierce-Ruxton with a sundial in place of a clock. 

Pierce-Ruxton is a combination of two automakers names. Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company was an manufacturer based in Buffalo, New York, active from 1901 to 1938. The Ruxton was a front-wheel drive automobile produced by New Era Motors Company during 1929 and 1930.

Posing as Texan 'Laredo Lucy,' Lucy calls the car a combination Hudson Edsel Tucker Reo and Packard - all defunct automobile companies. Laredo Lucy sings a bit of “Deep in the Heart of Texas,” a 1941 song by June Hershey and Don Swander.

When Craig and Kim return to claim their car, Cheerful Charlie says “Go away kid, you bother me.” This is a quote attributed to W.C. Fields, talking to his nemesis Baby Leroy.

Lucy Carmichael drove a Packard in “Lucy Buys a Sheep” (TLS S1;E5).  

Looking for loose change in the sofa cushions was something Lucy Ricardo and Ethel Mertz did in “Ricky's European Booking” (ILL S5;E10).  

While Kim finds a 'Win With Willkie' button in the sofa, Lucy Carmichael found a ‘Vote for Dewey’ button under the sofa in “Lucy Gets the Bird” (TLS S3;E12).  

Lucy Ricardo also had trouble with an antique lemon when Fred Mertz bought a 1929 Cadillac for their trip across the country in “Getting Ready” (ILL S4;E11).  

Over The Line! When returning the car for a refund, Desi jumps one of Milton Berle's lines and has to repeat himself.

“Lucy and the Used Car Dealer” rates 5 Paper Hearts out of 5 

S6;E19 ~ February 11, 1974

Directed by Jack Donohue ~ Written by Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Davis

Synopsis

Lucy's parties are a bore, so she calls a telethon to make a very low bid on Milton Berle to attend her next soiree – and wins!  

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter)

Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter) does not appear in this episode, although the final credits do state “Lucie Arnaz Wardrobe by Alroe”

Guest Cast

Milton Berle (Himself) previously played Cheerful Charlie in “Lucy and the Used Car Dealer” (S2;E9), the first time that Milton Berle has not played Milton Berle on a Lucille Ball sitcom. He was born Milton Berlinger in New York City on July 12, 1908. He started performing at the age of five. Berle perfected his comedy in vaudeville, early silent films, and then on radio, before taking his act to the small screen, where he would be proclaimed “Mr. Television” and later “Uncle Miltie.” He hosted “Texaco Star Theater” on NBC from 1948 to 1956. The variety show was re-titled “The Milton Berle Show” in 1954 when Texaco dropped their sponsorship. The program was briefly revived in 1958, but lasted only one season. In 1959 he played himself in “Milton Berle Hides out at the Ricardos.” Berle continued to perform live, in films, and on television specials for the remainder of his career. Berle previously appeared on “The Lucy Show” in “Lucy Saves Milton Berle” (S4;E13) and did a cameo in “Lucy Meets John Wayne” (S5;E10). Berle died of cancer in 2002.

Elliott Reid (Elliott, Telethon Emcee) played Edward Warren, a parody of Edward R. Murrow, in “The Ricardos Are Interviewed” (ILL S5;E7) and appeared in two episodes of “The Lucy Show.” This is his third appearance on “Here’s Lucy.”

Reid is only credited as “Emcee” but Milton Berle calls him Elliott.

James Joyce (Man at TV Station) passed away just three months after this episode was first aired. He posthumously appeared in the film A Woman Under the Influence (1974).  He was 53 years old.

Mary Jane Croft (Mary Jane, left) played Betty Ramsey during season six of “I Love Lucy.” She also played Cynthia Harcourt in “Lucy is Envious” (ILL S3;E23) and Evelyn Bigsby in “Return Home from Europe” (ILL S5;E26). She played Audrey Simmons on “The Lucy Show” but when Lucy Carmichael moved to California, she played Mary Jane Lewis, the actor’s married name and the same one she uses on all 31 of her episodes of “Here’s Lucy. Her final acting credit was playing Midge Bowser on “Lucy Calls the President” (1977). She died in 1999 at the age of 83. 

Vanda Barra (Vanda, right) makes one of over two dozen appearances on “Here’s Lucy” as well as appearing in Ball’s two 1975 TV movies “Lucy Gets Lucky” and “Three for Two”. She was seen in half a dozen episodes of “The Lucy Show.” Barra was Lucille Ball’s cousin-in-law by marriage to Sid Gould.

Sid Gould (Sam, above right center) made more than 45 appearances on “The Lucy Show” and nearly as many on “Here’s Lucy.” Gould (born Sydney Greenfader) was Lucille Ball’s cousin by marriage to Gary Morton.  

Robert Hitchcock (Marvin, uncredited, above left center) was seen in in one episode of “The Lucy Show.” This is his sixth and final appearance on “Here’s Lucy.”

Marvin has no lines and no 'date' for the party.  Hitchcock appears uncredited.

John Clavin (Bill McCormick) makes his very first screen appearance with this episode of “Here's Lucy.”  

Shirley Anthony (Mrs. Thalken) makes the tenth of her 13 appearances of “Here’s Lucy.”

Bob Whitney (Mr. Thalken, uncredited) appeared with Lucille Ball in The Facts of Life (1960).  He played one of the jurors (unnamed but credited) in “Lucy and Joan Do Jury Duty” (S6;E9).

Whitney has no lines.    

Joyce McNeal (Mrs. Helen Maurer) was a stunt performer and actor making her very first screen appearance with this episode. She later worked extensively on the “Star Trek” franchise, which began at Desilu.

John Calvin (Bob Maurer, uncredited) grew up in New York City and started his film career in 1971 at age 24.

Helen and Bob Mauer are the names of Lucille Ball's in-laws. Helen is Gary Morton's siter.  John Calvin has no lines. 

Jack Berle (Telethon Stage Manager, uncredited) was the older brother of Milton Berle. This is one of his eleven uncredited appearances on the series.  He previously did two episodes of “The Lucy Show.” 

Bob Harks (Telethon Cameraman, uncredited) was seen in the background of Mame (1974). In 1970 he popped up on his first television show and was seen in more than a dozen episodes of “Here's Lucy.” He died at age 83 in 2010.

Those working the phone bank at the telethon appear uncredited.

There was no new episode of “Here's Lucy” on Monday, February 4, 1974.

Director Jack Donohue replaces Coby Ruskin, who Lucille Ball fired during “Lucy, the Sheriff” (S6;E19).  Donohue was the first director of the series, having staged 29 episodes from 1968 to 1971.

At the start of the episode, Lucy, Mary Jane and Harry are playing cards. Harry asks Lucy, “Don't you ever get tired of playing games?” Lucy bluntly replies “No!” In real life, Lucille Ball adored games. She was well-known for her addiction to backgammon, Scrabble, and charades, the latter two being incorporated into several scripts. She even endorsed a couple of mass marketed games with her photo appearing on the box.

Harry and Mary Jane suggest an alternative to party games: singing barbershop quartet – launching into a chorus of “You Tell Me Your Dream, I'll Tell You Mine.” The song was written in 1899 by Seymour Rice and Albert Brown.

Everyone seems to have an excuse NOT to attend Lucy's party. Harry has to go to Santa Barbara to see an ill client, Mary Jane has to go to Laguna to see her sick aunt, Vanda and Sam are going to Arrowhead, the Maurers are going to Palm Springs, and the Thalkens are going to San Diego. 

Instead of playing another game, they watch a TV telethon auction raising money for a Day Care Center Fund. When they tune in, the Emcee is just thanking Mrs. Dorothy Culbertson, who phoned in the highest bid to hear The Franklin Brothers' latest song. The bidding is still open on one of Lawrence Welk's autographed batons. It ends up fetching $780 from the Sun City Shuffleboard Club. Combining Sun City (a 55+ gated community) and shuffleboard, a game associated with senior citizens, the writers are making a joke about Welk's old fashioned music and style. What's even funnier is the idea of signing a baton – essentially a thin dowel of wood!

The KBEX TV camera is seen for the third time on the series. KBEX are the fictional call letters used for broadcast stations depicted in movies and on TV. The telethon's phone number is 555-7236, which utilizes the 555 prefix generally assigned to on-screen phone numbers.  

Milton Berle offers his services as a guest at a party thrown by the highest bidder. The first bid is phoned in by (an unseen) Don Rickles, an insult comedian who Berle calls “the Merchant of Venom,” a pun on Shakespeare title The Merchant of Venice.

Just in case she wins, Lucy gives Berle directions to her home. Westlake is a planned community of similar homes that straddles the Los Angeles and Ventura county line. 

Harry isn't going to change his RSVP because Milton Berle will be the guest of honor.  He says he wouldn't be influenced by Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Clint Eastwood, or Princess Anne and her new husband. Anne, the Princess Royal, and Queen Elizabeth's daughter, married Mark Phillips on November 14, 1973, which indicates that this episode was filmed sometime after that date. The couple divorced on April 23, 1992.

When Harry rushes through the living room headed to the barbecue with two chickens on a spit, Lucy calls him the Galloping Gourmet. That is the name of the persona of Graham Kerr, an English chef who is best known for his 1969–71 television cooking show “The Galloping Gourmet.”

Milton Berle tries in vain to tell a joke about a foursome at Hillcrest County Club but is constantly interrupted by latecomers to Lucy's party. Hillcrest Country Club is a private social club located in the Cheviot Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles. For years, many of the city's top comedians, including Jack Benny, George Burns, George Jessel, Groucho Marx, Danny Kaye, and later Milton Berle and Don Rickles, got together for a regular Friday lunch at Hillcrest, where they would socialize, try new material out on their friends, and talk "shop."

Harry and Milton Berle mention his old TV sobriquet “Uncle Miltie” as well as his well-known gag of appearing in drag, something he did on “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” in 1959.  

This episode includes a lot of name dropping of Hollywood celebrities. Click on the names to read about their appearance and/or mention on a “Lucy” show (if any)! 

Kirk Douglas

Bert Parks

Pinky Lee

Soupy Sales

Durwood Kirby

Lawrence Welk

Elizabeth Taylor

Frank Sinatra

Clint Eastwood

Princess Anne and her Husband (Mark Phillips)

Don Rickles

Dean Martin

Jack Benny

Buddy Hackett

The Galloping Gourmet (aka Graham Kerr)

In “Lucy and the Good Skate” (TLS S3;E1) a country club doorman announces “Mr. and Mrs. Robert Maurer.” at a dinner dance where Lucy Carmichael is hiding roller skates under her evening gown.

The Emcee tells Milton Berle that someone bid five – which Berle thinks is $500. This is what happened to Lucy Ricardo when she pledged money to the charity of philanthropist Cynthia Harcourt (coincidentally played by Mary Jane Croft) in “Lucy is Envious” (ILL S3;E23).  

The Maurer's cancel their trip to Palm Springs because of a forecast of rain, just as it does when Lucy Ricardo and Ethel Mertz travel there during “In Palm Springs” (ILL S4;E26). Rainstorms are a rarity for the California desert resort.

Wardrobe Malfunction! Lucy fiddles with the collar of her jacket during the first scene. Unbeknownst to her, it gets stuck with one side up and the other down.

“Milton Berle is the Life of the Party” rates 3 Paper Hearts out of 5