the banker that Charles Lane played on the early episodes, before Mr. Mooney joined the cast?

TV KNOWLEDGE FAN, do you know?

I'm sure some other people know.

Charles Lane stopped playing the role of Mr. Barnsdahl, the banker early in the first season (episode #11 "Vivian Sues Lucy"). He had been having a lot of trouble remembering his lines, and had been causing a lot of retakes for his scenes. :)

He turned 101 in January. A fine vetran character actor. He played "Homer Bedloe" on Petticoat Junction.

...Charles Lane departed "THE LUCY SHOW" after its first season for the simple reason that Gale Gordon (who had just finished his stint on "DENNIS THE MENACE" in 1963) was available, and Lucy wanted HIM as her "comic foil", as he was on her radio show, "MY FAVORITE HUSBAND". In the book "Desilu", Lane was quoted as saying he had no hard feelings for Lucy choosing him over Gordon, knowing that was what she really wanted. However, he never worked with her on-screen again.

He turned 101 in January. A fine vetran character actor. He played "Homer Bedloe" on Petticoat Junction.
yea, he seems to turn up in almost every other sitcom from the 60s sometimes. I've seen him on F TROOP, THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES, DOBIE GILLIS just to name a few.
He was mostly cast as a banker, or something, and he was always mean.

Those early episodes with Charles Lane as Mr. Barnsdahl and of course Viv are my favorites. I liked Gale Gordon, but tired of Lucy and Mr Mooney doing the same routine all the time.

...Charles Lane departed "THE LUCY SHOW" after its first season for the simple reason that Gale Gordon (who had just finished his stint on "DENNIS THE MENACE" in 1963) was available, and Lucy wanted HIM as her "comic foil", as he was on her radio show, "MY FAVORITE HUSBAND". In the book "Desilu", Lane was quoted as saying he had no hard feelings for Lucy choosing him over Gordon, knowing that was what she really wanted. However, he never worked with her on-screen again.

Actually, Charles Lane's departure from the show was unrelated to Gale Gordon being brought onto the show the following season. Charles Lane only appeared in a couple episodes of the show EARLY in the first season (I think "Vivian Sues Lucy," episode 11, was his last episode). Lucy was not satisfied with his work and dismissed him from the show very early on (supposedly he was having some trouble with his lines). This was many months before it was learned that Gale Gordon would be available to do the show. But all worked out for the best as Charles Lane (now 101 years old) got to move on to "Petticoat Junction."

Charles Lane stopped playing the role of Mr. Barnsdahl, the banker early in the first season (episode #11 "Vivian Sues Lucy"). He had been having a lot of trouble remembering his lines, and had been causing a lot of retakes for his scenes. :)

Sorry, I just posted my response (saying the same thing you're saying) without seeing yours first.