What topical references were made on ILL? Whether it was fashion, celebs, politics, anything that is mentioned that was well known for that er or any other era, but may seem out of place now or make you ask, "What do they mean?" :lol:

Marilyn Monroe was THEE STAR of that era. She was mentioned several times in different episodes.

When Ricky is going to audition for Mr. Benjamin, Lucy dresses up like a "Marilyn Monroe type." :lol: Boy does she. ;)

When the boys dress in old clothes, the foursome talk abt a movie they are going to see, and it stars you know who...Marilyn Monroe.

In Hollywood, when Lucy wants to impress her friend Caroline/Lillian (pick your choice :lol:) she wonders if Ethel can pass for, you guessed it, Marilyn Monroe.

When Ricky reads the inscription on his cake in Hollywood, after finishing that movie he made, he reads "Marlon" and then says, "Marlon Monroe". :lol:

Ricky complains abt Marilyn Monroe -while in Hollywood - and asks, "What does she got that I haven't got?" :crazy:

In Connecticut when Ethel, Fred, Little Ricky and Lucy are making their own band for a show, Fred turns his violin upside down to which a bunch of confetti comes out. He mentions the last time he played that thing was at a Roosevelt rally.

When Lucy wants to mow the lawn for the Tulip contest, she thinks the mower needs to be cranked like the "old Model T's".

One that I never understood for years was when Lucy finds that card from 'Ricky' to Minnie Finch, and she and Ethel go to the apartment on the address, and Minnie is ... well, surely not Ricky's type. So to cover their purpose they say they are taking a survey and Minnie says, "Hey wait a minute-- your name ain't Kinzey, is it?" I bet I can remember 20 years of seeing that ep before I knew what that meant :lol: .

One that I never understood for years was when Lucy finds that card from 'Ricky' to Minnie Finch, and she and Ethel go to the apartment on the address, and Minnie is ... well, surely not Ricky's type. So to cover their purpose they say they are taking a survey and Minnie says, "Hey wait a minute-- your name ain't Kinzey, is it?" I bet I can remember 20 years of seeing that ep before I knew what that meant :lol: .
You are right. For the longest time I never knew what that meant either. I always wondered why the audience laughed so hard and I felt so clueless.:( That is a great example of something that is mentioned and unless you were born in that era, you would have no idea of what was being said.

I am glad though to know now what that whole Kinsey reference was abt. I felt so much better. :lol:

Let me add this to this thread: Rodgers and Hammerstein being mentioned in the anniversary episode when Lucy and Ricky lie to the Mertzes abt what their anniversary plans are.

I think in the episode where Lucy was learning how to drive, Ethel called her "Barney Oldfield".

Here's a link to the Barny Oldfield Wikipedia page, if you're interested to know who he was: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney_Oldfield

In the episode where Lucy gets drops put in her eyes and can't see Ethel calls her "Miss Magoo".



Irene, I didn't realize there were so many Marilyn Monroe references on the show! Rodgers and Hammerstein were also referenced in the episode where Lucy pretends to be Ricky's agent. "You can't have him Oscar; neither can you Dick".

Perhaps one topical reference which emerges from time to time is about unions. It's not only the Musicians' Union Ricky sometimes refers to, and "union trouble" at the club-- such as when he's on the phone and repeats someone's words, "Of course we have an automatic dishwashing machine.... we've gotta have WHAT??-- STAND-BY DISHWASHERS?!?" But occasionally they use the idea figuratively; such as when Ricky is at first going to buy Lucy a Jacque Marcel dress, and that makes Fred mad because Ethel will want one, and he tells Ricky he met a man who "shelled out 5 hundred clams" for one dress by that guy, and Ricky relents and hides Lucy's invitation to his fashion show. Fred says "Welcome back to the Husbands' Union." And before that European trip, Lucy pickets Ricky for (at first) saying he can't take her, with a sign "Ricky Ricardo Unfair." That also takes after union activism.

And this is prevalent because unions were a bigger part of many Americans' lives then. We read in certain histories that the 40's may have been the 'golden age' of unions in America, with the return of prosperity and the end of WWII, workers were demanding a bigger slice of the prosperity and company-paid training to compete in technological progress, along with job security and better pay and benefits. Most Americans were still not too formally educated, so unions to help raise their stations in life were more the thing than taking a couple of years off to try to get a degree, if that were possible, and for most it wasn't. I've read it was close to half of workers who belonged to unions in the 40's and 50's, but that has been gradually going down, and is now less than 20%. I pay no real attention to comedy shows made today, but I have a strong hunch there aren't allusions to unions, nor a couple of buddies saying "husbands' union" if their wives ask for too much.

I think in the episode where Lucy was learning how to drive, Ethel called her "Barney Oldfield".

Here's a link to the Barny Oldfield Wikipedia page, if you're interested to know who he was: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney_Oldfield

In the episode where Lucy gets drops put in her eyes and can't see Ethel calls her "Miss Magoo".



Irene, I didn't realize there were so many Marilyn Monroe references on the show! Rodgers and Hammerstein were also referenced in the episode where Lucy pretends to be Ricky's agent. "You can't have him Oscar; neither can you Dick".

Thank you for that link. Very informative and I learned something new. ;)
Yeah, I didn't realize the references to M.M. until I started posting them here and I was surprised it was that many. Thank you for reminding me of that moment where Lucy who is playing Ricky's agent mentions Rodgers and Hammerstein there as well.

TDR, you really know your stuff. That union information is interesting. To be honest, I never paid attention to that line where Fred mentions the husband union. I mean, I heard it, but it just flys on by.

Fortunately, there aren't that many topical references, which tend to date a show and make the humor hard to follow. But one that sticks out in my mind is from "Ricky Asks for a Raise" when Lucy is impersonating various people to try to book the Tropicana. She tells Ethel that she got the last table reserved for Harry and Bess Truman.

Fortunately, there aren't that many topical references, which tend to date a show and make the humor hard to follow. But one that sticks out in my mind is from "Ricky Asks for a Raise" when Lucy is impersonating various people to try to book the Tropicana. She tells Ethel that she got the last table reserved for Harry and Bess Truman.
Lucy: "Harry and Bess Truman got the last table." :lol:

Watching Lucy imitating Tallulah Bankhead when I was a kid was :confused: to me because I had no idea who she was. I had a great time watching her do this imitation of her though because it was hilarious..."HELLO DARLING!" :lol:

Let's not forget those hilarious and unforgettable HOSTESS PANTS that Ethel received for her birthday. :rofl:

What episode was it that Lucy and Ethel were arguing over which one of them looks more like Marilyn Monroe? They ask Fred and he said "I think I look more like her than either one of you!"

I thought of another old time reference. In the Van Johnson episode Lucy's trying to think of a plan so Caroline would think she knows a lot of celebrities. She asked Ethel if she had any ideas and Ehtel said, "If Einstein can't solve a problem you don't give it to Mortimer Snerd." For you youngsters, Mortimer Snerd was one of ventriloquist Edgar Bergen's dummies.

http://www.shannonandrod.com/bergen/M06.gif

What episode was it that Lucy and Ethel were arguing over which one of them looks more like Marilyn Monroe? They ask Fred and he said "I think I look more like her than either one of you!"

I thought of another old time reference. In the Van Johnson episode Lucy's trying to think of a plan so Caroline would think she knows a lot of celebrities. She asked Ethel if she had any ideas and Ehtel said, "If Einstein can't solve a problem you don't give it to Mortimer Snerd." For you youngsters, Mortimer Snerd was one of ventriloquist Edgar Bergen's dummies.

http://www.shannonandrod.com/bergen/M06.gif
That episode is when Ricky is going to audition for DON JUAN and the girls read the script where it states the lead actress is a "Marilyn Monroe type"...hence, the scene I mentioned in my post where Lucy comes out dressed like Marilyn, looking like Marilyn.

Yes, Mortimer Snerd is another reference I didn't know of for the longest time. When I was abt 9 I had seen one of those specials abt Edgar Bergen and when they mentioned the name Mortimer Snerd, it hit me that is what was said on ILL. :lol:

How many times was Gary Cooper mentioned? I noticed in the episode LUCY'S SCHEDULE Ricky mentions Gary Cooper when arguing with Lucy abt choosing a dress for going out.

Gary was also mentioned in Hollywood when Lucy imitated him for her friend Caroline Appleby.

Wasn't there another mention?

There was a reference to the recent presidential conventions in "The Club Election." Oh, and I think it was in "Lucy Meets the Queen" that Lucy made reference to Prince Phillip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth (either she or Ricky called him "Phil"). Of course, that reference still works today.

Ricky didn't call the Prince Consort "Phil,", but Lucy thought he had. After Ricky found out that the invitation to meet the Queen mentioned him only and it would not be proper to bring anyone else including his wife, he called his agent in Britain, Phil Wilcox, addressing him as Phil, and that's what Lucy heard. "Talk about Americans being forward,..." she said.

Amendment to my earlier post about unions: A recent Wall Street Journal article said union membership in the US is now at 12%, down from 24% 30 years ago.

When the Ricardos show home movies, we see a film projector that for the longest time was not outdated. We had film projectors when I was in elementary school. By the time I hit high school, VCR's were the way to show a film.

The way Fred, Ethel and Lucy dress up and pretend to be fans of Ricky's to impress Dore Schary in Hollywood. They came up with the idea because of the fans and the following that Frank Sinatra had at that time, along with many other celebs of that era. We even see the trio dressed as young 50's style kids.

How many times was Gary Cooper mentioned? I noticed in the episode LUCY'S SCHEDULE Ricky mentions Gary Cooper when arguing with Lucy abt choosing a dress for going out.

Gary was also mentioned in Hollywood when Lucy imitated him for her friend Caroline Appleby.

Wasn't there another mention?

Wasn't Gary Cooper's shrivelled up autographed orange one of the souveniers Lucy had in the stealing John Wayne footprints episode? I know the grapefruit was Richard Widmark's. I love the faces she made while trying to read those signatures!

Wasn't Gary Cooper's shrivelled up autographed orange one of the souveniers Lucy had in the stealing John Wayne footprints episode? I know the grapefruit was Richard Widmark's. I love the faces she made while trying to read those signatures!
It was an orange which was signed by Robert Taylor. And there was a rusty tin can run over by Cary Grant's left rear wheel. :lol: That sounds like something I'd save. :lol:

In LUCY WRITES A PLAY, she writes a play called A Tree Grows In Havana. I rip-off of the title A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, a 1945 movie. :lol:

George Reeves appearing as Superman. When I seen this episode over and over up until the age of 9, I had no idea that the man who played Superman had died. I remember my brother telling me the supposed story of his death.

It was an orange which was signed by Robert Taylor. And there was a rusty tin can run over by Cary Grant's left rear wheel. :lol: That sounds like something I'd save. :lol:



You're correct, Irene; it was Robert Taylor's orange. I puckered my lips while saying his name and it sounded right!

Sorry about that

You're correct, Irene; it was Robert Taylor's orange. I puckered my lips while saying his name and it sounded right!

Sorry about that
:rofl: You puckered your lips...so did I. :lol:

Don't be sorry, I wasn't sure myself, I had to check my ILL book to see whose orange it was. :lol:

Ok, in the Kleptomaniac episode, we see an elephant that Lucy claims she took from Clyde Beatty Circus. Obviously a reference you wouldn't know abt unless you were from that era. I checked Wikepedia (I made sure the info was correct before using it as a source) and I came upon something abt Clyde Beatty that I never knew before. He died in 1965 in Ventura. Ventura is the city right next to where I live. It is less than 10 minutes away. Our county is called VENTURA.

Anyhoo, here is the link for Clyde Beatty: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clyde_Beatty

Also in the episode where Lucy dances with Van Johnson, when they sing "How About You?," when Van sings the line about 'Greta Garbo's looks,' Lucy says, "Greta Garbo -- did you see 'Camille'?"

'Camille' was one of Garbo's best films IMHO, and coincidentally co-starred the ol' orange-signing Robert taylor himself, as Armand. For those of you unfamiliar with the great Taylor, here's a picture of Mr Delicious ;) himself, as he appeared in 'Camille.'

Thanks for that info. He sounds like an earlier version of those two guys (can't think of their names right now) who had that Las Vegas lion act until one of them was attacked a couple years ago and nearly died.

Ok, in the Kleptomaniac episode, we see an elephant that Lucy claims she took from Clyde Beatty Circus. Obviously a reference you wouldn't know abt unless you were from that era. I checked Wikepedia (I made sure the info was correct before using it as a source) and I came upon something abt Clyde Beatty that I never knew before. He died in 1965 in Ventura. Ventura is the city right next to where I live. It is less than 10 minutes away. Our county is called VENTURA.

Anyhoo, here is the link for Clyde Beatty: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clyde_Beatty

I forgot the episode, but it's the one where Ethel says "That Elvis what's his name...".

Also, on the "Gossip" episode, when the boys were caught listening to Lucy & Ethel gosspin' through the furnace vent, Lucy blows soot in their faces. When Ricky and Fred come back upstairs with black soot on their faces, Lucy says "Well, if it isn't the Coal Dust Twins". This line was muted out in the 1970s syndicated versions (in the NYC/Philly stations at least) due to its potentially racial reference. It has long since been put back in though (which in today's PC world is odd :confused: ). When I was a preteen/teen back then, I always wanted to know what she said.

Also, when Lucy says "That story's had more performances than South Pacific!" in "No Children Allowed".

Also, on the "Gossip" episode, when the boys were caught listening to Lucy & Ethel gosspin' through the furnace vent, Lucy blows soot in their faces. When Ricky and Fred come back upstairs with black soot on their faces, Lucy says "Well, if it isn't the Coal Dust Twins". This line was muted out in the 1970s syndicated versions (in the NYC/Philly stations at least) due to its potentially racial reference. It has long since been put back in though (which in today's PC world is odd :confused: ). When I was a preteen/teen back then, I always wanted to know what she said.

Why would that reference be considered racist? The Coal Dust Twins were a couple of lawyers in a case involving an uprising in 1920s West Virginia that involved coal miners. I don't think that even had anything to do at all with a racial incident.

Thanks for that info. He sounds like an earlier version of those two guys (can't think of their names right now) who had that Las Vegas lion act until one of them was attacked a couple years ago and nearly died.
Yes, Sigried and Roy.


Mowerdan, that episode you are referring to is the one where the Ricardos moved to Connecticut and the Mertzes wanted to surprise them and drop on by. Ethel said that line while waiting for a girl to leave the phone booth so she could call the Ricardos. Good catch Mowerdan! Elvis is definitely someone everyone knows, but in that era, an extremely hot topic.

I forgot the episode, but it's the one where Ethel says "That Elvis what's his name...".

That's in the ep in which the Ricardos move into their new house in Connecticut. Their first night "alone in the country" they don't know what to do [so they say], so they are going "to the city" to see the Mertzes, who happen to be coming out to see them. Then they are at the 'station' at the same time but don't see each other :crazy:, and Ethel is delayed in using one of the phones because, she says "...some teenager was talking to her girlfriend about that Elvis-- what's-his-name."

Both ILL and Ed Sullivan were on CBS. I wonder if that happened to precede one of the times Elvis was on Sullivan's show.

Also, in a later Connecticut episode, the one with Barbara Eden as "Diana," a reference to Pat Boone is made. Ralph Ramsey, after dancing with her, says, "It's a amazing how little I have in common with a 20-year-old...by the way, who is Pat Boone?"

LUCY MISSES THE MERTZES is the title of that episode that referenced Elvis. It first aired on Feb. 11, 1957.

Why would that reference be considered racist? The Coal Dust Twins were a couple of lawyers in a case involving an uprising in 1920s West Virginia that involved coal miners. I don't think that even had anything to do at all with a racial incident.

True for its initial run in the '50s, but they probably thought some viewers in a '70s America would perceive it as racial because Ricky & Fred's faces were black from the soot. I'm sure most of the viewers in the '70s (like myself) did not know that the Coal Dust Twins were lawyers.

What other reason could they have had to mute out that line?

I was looking through the Starz movie channel guide yesterday and noticed the movie version of "Forever Amber" is airing in January. That reminded me of Ethel's line in "Lucy Writes a Novel" that went something like, "We put your book in the fireplace and changed its title to Forever Ember." I didn't know for years that was a reference to the book "Forever Amber".

^^^ Yes, another good example of things that would fly right over your head unless you were from that era. :lol: Many movies were mentioned on ILL. Just got to learn to spot them. ;)

When the fab four are trapped in the Swiss mountain cabin they mention the movie, SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS. That movie is also mentioned in the Hollywood episode when Lucy poses as Ricky agent (several movies are mentioned actually). Except Lucy calls the movie SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN CUBANS. :lol:

Was that movie hot at that time? Had it been recently released?

When the fab four are trapped in the Swiss mountain cabin they mention the movie, SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS. That movie is also mentioned in the Hollywood episode when Lucy poses as Ricky agent (several movies are mentioned actually). Except Lucy calls the movie SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN CUBANS. :lol:

Was that movie hot at that time? Had it been recently released?
From what I could find about it on the net, it was a pretty popular musical film that came out in 1954 and was set in a cabin in the mountains, so I guess that's why it was referenced in that first episode. IMDb has a list of awards it won and was nominated for here (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047472/awards), and here's some additional info courtesy of Crappypedia (as you like to call it ;)), but don't worry, I looked it up elsewhere and it checks out...

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers came third in a BBC Radio 2 listener poll of the UK's "Number One Essential Musicals". [2]

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers came eighth in the top 10 MGM musicals in the book Top 10 of Film by Russell Ash.

In 2004, this film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

In 2006 Seven Brides for Seven Brothers ranked #21 on the American Film Institute's list of best musicals.

When the fab four are trapped in the Swiss mountain cabin they mention the movie, SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS. That movie is also mentioned in the Hollywood episode when Lucy poses as Ricky agent (several movies are mentioned actually). Except Lucy calls the movie SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN CUBANS. :lol:

Was that movie hot at that time? Had it been recently released?


Yup Seven Brides for Seven Brothers came out in 1954.

I think in that same scene, Lucy refers to another of Ricky's movies and calls it "Meet Me In St. Ricky", a reference to "Meet Me In St. Louis" (pronounced "Louie" in that movie), which was released in 1944 and starred Judy Garland.

From what I could find about it on the net, it was a pretty popular musical film that came out in 1954 and was set in a cabin in the mountains, so I guess that's why it was referenced in that first episode. IMDb has a list of awards it won and was nominated for here (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047472/awards), and here's some additional info courtesy of Crappypedia (as you like to call it ;)), but don't worry, I looked it up elsewhere and it checks out...
Thank you for that info. :wave:

IIRC:While they were visiting Ethel's Dad on their way to Hollywood, Fred is at the piano and Ricky comes down the stairs and address' him as "Liberace." Liberace had his own show which started in 1952.

Also, in the episode where Lucy is trying to hide the Frenchman, Jean Valijean Raymand, Ricky lights two cigarettes and hands one to Lucy and making a reference to making like Paul Henried; Hendried did the same thing with Bette Davis in a scene from the 1942 film Now Voyager.

Also, in the episode where Lucy is trying to hide the Frenchman, Jean Valijean Raymand, Ricky lights two cigarettes and hands one to Lucy and making a reference to making like Paul Henried; Hendried did the same thing with Bette Davis in a scene from the 1942 film Now Voyager.
Thank you for that. Interesting. I tell ya, learn something new everyday. ;)

I made a thread abt this but let me put it here.

Lucy references the silent version of Ben-hur in the handcuffs episode. I always thought it was the Charleton Heston version, but I found out last night it was not.

Silent film star Ramon Navarro (Ben-hur) was referenced twice. Once in the HANDCUFFS episode, however his name wasn't referenced, but the movie was mentioned.

In HEDDA HOPPER, Lucy's mother mentioned him by name during the scene where Lucy states to her Ricky is being billed as the new Rudolph Valentino.

I don't recall the name of the episode; there was a scene where Ricky and Fred are sitting on the couch talking about how stubborn both Lucy and Ethel are. Fred makes a comment about being stubborn as a mule; as he gets up he refers to Ethel as Francis. This refers to a series of popular movies that began in 1950 starring Donald O'Connor, about a talking mule named, Francis. On a side note, Artur Lubin who directed the majority of the Francis films went on to direct the TV series Mr. Ed.

Artur Lubin who directed the majority of the Francis films went on to direct the TV series Mr. Ed.

Wow, talk about a one trick pony (pun intended).

I always wondered who Lucy was referring to in the episode abt her writing a novel when she said the name BENNET CERF:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennett_Cerf

If you like watching the old game shows on Game Show Network, Bennett Cerf was a regular panelist on "What's My Line" in the early 60s. That's how I found out who he was!

^^^I need to tune into that channel. It's been a long while since I have seen the game channel.

^^^I need to tune into that channel. It's been a long while since I have seen the game channel.


For a while, the Game Show Network (which now calls itself "GSN") ran re-runs of "What's My Line" and "I've Got a Secret" shows, originally produced in the mid-late 1950s and 1960s. GSN would run these shows at 6:00 pm (EST) on Sunday evenings. They also would run a couple of other shows like "Beat the Clock" and "The Name's the Same", as part of a "block" of old game shows.

They then moved the times for these broadcasts to the middle of the night, 3:00 and 3:30... since then, they've done away with them altogether.

They now run a crappy modern version of "To Tell the Truth", which is the closest they really get to any of the old, classic TV Game shows... I think they have a "modern" "What's My Line" show as well, but the quality of the "celebrity" panelists left a great deal to be desired (on both shows, actually). I'm not sure if either shows are still being produced.

GSN has totally gotten away from the real old, classic game shows, except for on weekends...I think they run some 1960s Monty Hall episodes of "Let's Make a Deal" on Saturday or Sunday afternoon (maybe both) around 1:00 pm EST . But their weeknight prime time and late night shows aren't worth watching. They'll also run old "Blockbusters", "Pyramid" and a couple of other shows from the 70s/80s , during some afternoons.

GSN has almost totally abandoned everything that got them where they are today. They produce their own shows now, and pretty much all of them are total crap.

^^^^Sounds like GSN has strayed away from what made themselves popular. They sound like TVland. :crazy:

I'm glad we no longer pick up GSN.



But, back to the original topic: in the Hollywood episode where the Ricardos meet William Holden; Ricky asks him what he's been up to lately, and he says "Well, I've just finished filming 'THE COUNTRY GIRL' with Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly". As you've probably guessed, that was a real movie that those 3 stars made back then, and that was an obvious plug for it.
Also, Lucy and Ethel; in another Hollywood episode, steal John Waynes footprints from Gromanns Chinese Theater-but the name's since been changed to MANNS Chinese Theater.

Speaking of all that; when I was a "little shaver":lol: and I saw all those Hollywood episodes for the first time; I had NO IDEA who a lot of the celebrities in them were. I knew who John Wayne was, because I had just seen the movie "THE GREEN BERETS". And the one with Van Johnson; I only knew him because I had seen one of his old movies on TV.



And the one with Hedda Hopper; I had NO IDEA who she was.

^^^^Sounds like GSN has strayed away from what made themselves popular. They sound like TVland. :crazy:

lol, I was gonna say just that (about TV Land), but that's a WHOOOOOLE 'nother thread! (although TV Land does seem to run more of the old shows now than they did a couple of years ago... the dumbest thing now about TV Land, imo, is 1) The Movies they run, which everyone who likes them already has them uncut on video... and 2) Extreme Home Makeover... wtf?

But yes, that's exactly right...TV Land, "GSN" and the Cartoon Network all got away from what made them big.

In the episode NO CHILDREN ALLOWED, Lucy fumes at Ethel repeating the story of how she had it out with Mrs. Trumbell. Lucy then tells Ricky how that scene has had more performances that SOUTH PACIFIC. Another reference to a broadway musical at the time.

BTW, notice how Ethel slips up and calls Mrs. Trumbell, "Mrs. TRIMBELL"? When she is telling one of the women club members the story, that is what she says when mentioning her.

lol, I was gonna say just that (about TV Land), but that's a WHOOOOOLE 'nother thread! (although TV Land does seem to run more of the old shows now than they did a couple of years ago... the dumbest thing now about TV Land, imo, is 1) The Movies they run, which everyone who likes them already has them uncut on video... and 2) Extreme Home Makeover... wtf?

But yes, that's exactly right...TV Land, "GSN" and the Cartoon Network all got away from what made them big.
let's not turn this into another "bashing TV LAND" thread!! There's a loooot of threads doing that already.

lol, I was gonna say just that (about TV Land), but that's a WHOOOOOLE 'nother thread! (although TV Land does seem to run more of the old shows now than they did a couple of years ago... the dumbest thing now about TV Land, imo, is 1) The Movies they run, which everyone who likes them already has them uncut on video... and 2) Extreme Home Makeover... wtf?

But yes, that's exactly right...TV Land, "GSN" and the Cartoon Network all got away from what made them big. Well, you certainly have a point about Extreme Makeover, what the heck is that doing on their schedule?

I always wondered who Lucy was referring to in the episode abt her writing a novel when she said the name BENNET CERF:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennett_Cerf

To get a good idea of Bennett Cerf and his sense of humor, watch this clip from a WML showing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgib4c4MG0Y

Bennet was famous for his many PUNS, my all time favorite as told by him on What's My Line one night went like this . . . this Checkoslovakian midget was running away from this mob and he runs into a bank and he's frantic about hiding from the mob there and he asks the teller, CAN YOU CACHE A SMALL CHECK?

When Lucy messed up the budget and Desi took over, he rattled off a bunch of items and how much they cost. That's topical.

...in a February 1957 episode, when the Ricardos finally move to Westport, Ethel is trying to phone them at the station to let them know they're coming over. She complains to Fred that a kid was tying up the line, chatting away about "Elvis".....an obvious reference to the #1 rock and roll singer making headlines at the time.

When the Ricardos and the Mertzes visit New York in March 1957 to see a Broadway show, which musical do they see? "The Most Happy Fella", which was one of the most popular shows on the Great White Way at that time {AND which was partially financed by Desilu!}. During the episode, you get to hear snippets of songs from the original cast recording [on Columbia Masterworks, whose parent company, CBS, also had a major investment in the production] while everyone scrambles to get inside seats inside the theater....

And a month later, when Lucy, Ethel, and Betty Ramsey try to keep their husbands away from sultry Diana Jordan in "Country Club Dance", Ralph Ramsey complains at the end that he can't understand much of what Diana is
talking about. "Who's Pat Boone?", he wonders. That was the time Pat's career as a singer {he was a regular on "THE ARTHUR GODFREY SHOW" at that time and a popular Dot Records artist} and performer {his first feature film, "April Love", was released around that period} was starting to take off....

:tv:

^^^^Yeah, that Elvis reference has been mentioned on this thread on the previous pages.

The cost of rent for the Ricardos and the cost of the Cadillac Ricky bought. Hearing those costs just amazes me.

Speaking of the cost of things back then, when The Mertzes applied for the hired hand job, Fred put an Easter Seal on the envelope because they delivered the letter in person. Ethel said, "You don't think Fred would waste 3¢, do you?" That must have been the price of a first class stamp then.

Speaking of the cost of things back then, when The Mertzes applied for the hired hand job, Fred put an Easter Seal on the envelope because they delivered the letter in person. Ethel said, "You don't think Fred would waste 3¢, do you?" That must have been the price of a first class stamp then.
Yeah, hearing that 3 cent reference really makes you think especially since I remember the price of stamps being 10 cents in the late 70's. :eek: 20 years and the price of a postal stamp ONLY went up 7 cents????? :crazy: How lucky we were.

Here are some topical references:

The Golf Game-Jimmy Demaret (I never heard of him until this ep.)

Bon Voyage-U.S.S. Constitution (important ship of that time)

The Moustache-Smith Brothers (bearded guys on the cough drop label); Monty Wooley (bearded actor of the '30's & '40's); "What is this, a stranded Major Boze unit?"(?); "There was a guy named Ben who won a chariot race" (silent movie Ben Hur, 1925)

Lucy's Night in Town-"The Most Happy Fella" (popular musical of the time, running from 1956-1960).

^^^I think I also mentioned the Ben-Hur reference on here. I am too tired to look. :lol: I do know I mentioned it, if not on this thread, it was another thread.

Monty Wooley...where in ILL was he referenced? The time Lucy had that beard glued on her face?

Monty Wooley...where in ILL was he referenced? The time Lucy had that beard glued on her face?

Yes, that's it. Ricky called her that when he called from the club to say he was bringing the talent scout home.

Two people, going to Europe on a ship, hotel fare, expenses...$3000!!!! Sign me up on that trip. :lol: What would that cost NOW????

As far as I know, the only liner that still does regular service between the U.K. and the U.S.A. is the Queen Elizabeth II. But as people do not ordinarily cross the Atlantic by that method, it's hard to get a quote on a vacation package going in that way. However, looking up a vacation package for 3 weeks in Europe (what the estimate was for in the ILL ep) by air, comes out to $4992 for the best deal; but that assumes staying in the same hotel the entire 3 weeks in London. Wow. Since the only "international" travel I have done before is a couple of miles south of the border from Texas, I'm obviously no expert on how to plan a trip to Europe. And if-- as for me-- it would be considered a probable once-in-a-lifetime experience, it's hard to see that going to 3 different countries according to a desired schedule would be less than $8000; and going by cruise on the QEII would probably add $2500 or more.

But if we are at all interested in going to Europe, shouldn't we do it for just once in our lives, even if it's a financial strain? That is a question I am considering.

As far as I know, the only liner that still does regular service between the U.K. and the U.S.A. is the Queen Elizabeth II. But as people do not ordinarily cross the Atlantic by that method, it's hard to get a quote on a vacation package going in that way. However, looking up a vacation package for 3 weeks in Europe (what the estimate was for in the ILL ep) by air, comes out to $4992 for the best deal; but that assumes staying in the same hotel the entire 3 weeks in London. Wow. Since the only "international" travel I have done before is a couple of miles south of the border from Texas, I'm obviously no expert on how to plan a trip to Europe. And if-- as for me-- it would be considered a probable once-in-a-lifetime experience, it's hard to see that going to 3 different countries according to a desired schedule would be less than $8000; and going by cruise on the QEII would probably add $2500 or more.

But if we are at all interested in going to Europe, shouldn't we do it for just once in our lives, even if it's a financial strain? That is a question I am considering.

I'd love to see Europe. But seeing that I am terrified of flying, I think the ship method would be my ideal way of going. Whoopi Goldberg is terrified of flying herself and when she travels to Europe, she goes by ship. ;)

The mention of Ike and Mamie in the episode THE SUBLEASE.

Don Loper in the Hollywood episode. Obviously he was a big thing THEN. I couldn't find much info on him on the internet.

I think Don Loper had his 15 or maybe 4 minutes of fame on "I Love Lucy".

:rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:

^^^^:rofl:

in the HEDDA HOPPER episode, Lucy's mother mentions the actor RAMON NAVARRO. Ramon was in the original Ben-hur movie, not the Charleton Heston version. The Heston version had not been made yet when this ILL episode aired.

And of course, HEDDA HOPPER herself appeared. I had no clue who she was for the longest time.