#ruxton

The 1930 Ruxton is a stunning American front wheel drive sedan. They were often painted in these incredible colours.

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