I noticed something about the "Return Home From Europe" episode: - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Frank Gannucci · 06-13-2009, 11:02 PM

When the Ricardos and Mertzes are on the plane, the person on the P.A. says: "Welcome aboard. Please fasten your seat belt and observe the no smoking sign. Thank you."

Now, I know this episode was made in 1956 and I know that the writers didn't want to waste time and probably bore viewers with real-life flight safety instructions that every airline tells you about. I would imagine in real-life if any airline today (or in any other past generation) just told people to fasten your seat belt and observe the no smoking sign, well, I would imagine that that airline would get a bad rep.

Otherwise, I love this episode. Especially the ending.

OH Nuts! · 06-28-2009, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank Gannucci

When the Ricardos and Mertzes are on the plane, the person on the P.A. says: "Welcome aboard. Please fasten your seat belt and observe the no smoking sign. Thank you."

Now, I know this episode was made in 1956 and I know that the writers didn't want to waste time and probably bore viewers with real-life flight safety instructions that every airline tells you about. I would imagine in real-life if any airline today (or in any other past generation) just told people to fasten your seat belt and observe the no smoking sign, well, I would imagine that that airline would get a bad rep.

Otherwise, I love this episode. Especially the ending.

Interesting. I never thought of that. I guess the way I'd interpret this ep now is that they probably did say this but left it to our imagination. I love this ep, its my personal favorite of the series. It really captures Lucy at her insane daffiest. Only she would wrap a 25 lb cheese up and try to pass it off as a baby.

esl · 06-28-2009, 02:36 AM

What I find more interesting is that the PA announcement refers to a no smoking sign. I am only in my mid-40's but can remember as a child when smoking was allowed on airplanes.

Dusty's Fan · 06-28-2009, 01:59 PM

I'm in my 40s as well. Younger people today almost can't imagine how prevalent smoking was, more-or-less everywhere, in decades past. And that includes cigars and pipes as well. On My Three Sons, Steve Douglas lit his pipe right across a small table from his very young new stepdaughter, Dodie (1969). It was actually important to the script, as the pipe tobacco scent reminded the girl of her deceased father.

That was a very memorable episode of ILL, and kudos also to Mary Jane Croft's performance. As much as I liked the episode, however, I believe Lucy's airplane antics were even more funny on "Lucy Goes to London," from The Lucy Show era.

tdr · 06-29-2009, 04:25 PM

While this ep is not a favorite of mine, it is funny. "Lucy, your mother has already cost me a fortune, and I'm not spending another penny on that big hunk of cheese!"

Then Lucy tells the 'other mother' that Ricky is not interested in the 'baby,' but it "looks just like him"... then that's what she tells the customs inspector

. The only thing not believable is that the band members didn't know the cheese was in their instruments until they tried to play on Ricky's downbeat.

I don't remember when smoking became prohibited on all flights, though it was barred on domestic flights before international. France, I remember, held it up for quite a while. It was in the mid-80's that I was flying out of DFW adn accepted a seat in the rear of the plane, which then was still the smoking section, and had some good conversation with a man who flies 'for fun' and lived in Toronto. I had quit smoking a few years before that, and his smoke didn't bother me very much. But in a similar such case, I'm sure it would, now.

Anyway, a fun, though cheezy, episode.

PJudith · 01-12-2012, 07:53 PM

I always laugh when Lucy's seatmate asks her what is the baby's name and Lucy replies "Cheddar, er, Chester." Cracks me up every time!

summer.breeze · 01-13-2012, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusty's Fan

I'm in my 40s as well. Younger people today almost can't imagine how prevalent smoking was, more-or-less everywhere, in decades past. And that includes cigars and pipes as well. On My Three Sons, Steve Douglas lit his pipe right across a small table from his very young new stepdaughter, Dodie (1969). It was actually important to the script, as the pipe tobacco scent reminded the girl of her deceased father.

That was a very memorable episode of ILL, and kudos also to Mary Jane Croft's performance. As much as I liked the episode, however, I believe Lucy's airplane antics were even more funny on "Lucy Goes to London," from The Lucy Show era.

I just read a book about the 1920s. Interestingly, at the beginning of that decade, smoking among women was frowned upon and not commonplace, but had become widespread by the 1930s. I had no idea ... I will have to look up the exact statistics.

Coffeecup · 01-22-2012, 11:24 AM

Yeah it is amazing how things change. My mom told me if a lady dyed her hair in the early 1900's you were looked upon as a loose woman. Now half the ladies in America dyed their hair. I do remember taking the train to the city and there were sections for smokers and non smokers. I also remember a water jug, the jugs you see in companies where one could get a cup of water and rest rooms on board. Don't see that today.

missy's pop pop · 01-14-2014, 09:27 PM

As late as the 1970s, smoking was allowed on aircraft, but in the interest of safety, you couldn't light up until the plane was off the ground and well into the air (there were "No Smoking" signs that lit up when you couldn't...and went off when you could safely smoke. (Of course, as history has shown, that phrase is an oxymoron!)

Ironically, Philip Morris had cancelled their contract to sponsor "I Love Lucy" in March 1955, 13 months before this episode first aired! By then, Procter and Gamble (Cheer detergent and Lilt home permanent) and General Foods (Jell-O) were co-sponsors.

WalterTheDrinker · 06-18-2014, 10:46 AM

The part that I never understand in that episode is when Ricky says, "Come on, Fred" and Fred gets up, and they disappear!

They're on a plane! Where the heck did they go?

Coffeecup · 06-18-2014, 09:00 PM

I felt they had a lounge in the back. As for funniest, Ethel said I can't eat 25 lbs of cheese.

06-13-2009, 11:02 PM	#1
Frank Gannucci Member Forum Star Join Date: Mar 05, 2007 Posts: 16,043	I noticed something about the "Return Home From Europe" episode: When the Ricardos and Mertzes are on the plane, the person on the P.A. says: "Welcome aboard. Please fasten your seat belt and observe the no smoking sign. Thank you." Now, I know this episode was made in 1956 and I know that the writers didn't want to waste time and probably bore viewers with real-life flight safety instructions that every airline tells you about. I would imagine in real-life if any airline today (or in any other past generation) just told people to fasten your seat belt and observe the no smoking sign, well, I would imagine that that airline would get a bad rep. Otherwise, I love this episode. Especially the ending.

06-28-2009, 01:59 PM	#4
Dusty's Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 13, 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,092	I'm in my 40s as well. Younger people today almost can't imagine how prevalent smoking was, more-or-less everywhere, in decades past. And that includes cigars and pipes as well. On My Three Sons, Steve Douglas lit his pipe right across a small table from his very young new stepdaughter, Dodie (1969). It was actually important to the script, as the pipe tobacco scent reminded the girl of her deceased father. That was a very memorable episode of ILL, and kudos also to Mary Jane Croft's performance. As much as I liked the episode, however, I believe Lucy's airplane antics were even *more* funny on "Lucy Goes to London," from The Lucy Show era.
	__________________ ~~The stunning beauty of Ruta Lee

01-14-2014, 09:27 PM	#9
missy's pop pop Hooray for "Hazel!" Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 19, 2013 Location: St. Louis Posts: 396	Philip Morris Had Nothing to Do with It! As late as the 1970s, smoking was allowed on aircraft, but in the interest of safety, you couldn't light up until the plane was off the ground and well into the air (there were "No Smoking" signs that lit up when you couldn't...and went off when you could safely smoke. (Of course, as history has shown, that phrase is an oxymoron!) Ironically, Philip Morris had cancelled their contract to sponsor "I Love Lucy" in March 1955, 13 months before this episode first aired! By then, Procter and Gamble (Cheer detergent and Lilt home permanent) and General Foods (Jell-O) were co-sponsors.

06-28-2009, 02:36 AM	#3
esl Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 24, 2007 Location: Yokohama, Japan Posts: 50	What I find more interesting is that the PA announcement refers to a no smoking sign. I am only in my mid-40's but can remember as a child when smoking was allowed on airplanes.

06-29-2009, 04:25 PM	#5
tdr Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Posts: 1,454	While this ep is not a favorite of mine, it is funny. "Lucy, your mother has already cost me a fortune, and I'm not spending another penny on that big hunk of cheese!" Then Lucy tells the 'other mother' that Ricky is not interested in the 'baby,' but it "looks just like him"... then that's what she tells the customs inspector . The only thing not believable is that the band members didn't know the cheese was in their instruments until they tried to play on Ricky's downbeat. I don't remember when smoking became prohibited on all flights, though it was barred on domestic flights before international. France, I remember, held it up for quite a while. It was in the mid-80's that I was flying out of DFW adn accepted a seat in the rear of the plane, which then was still the smoking section, and had some good conversation with a man who flies 'for fun' and lived in Toronto. I had quit smoking a few years before that, and his smoke didn't bother me very much. But in a similar such case, I'm sure it would, now. Anyway, a fun, though cheezy, episode.

01-12-2012, 07:53 PM	#6
PJudith Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 13, 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 29	I always laugh when Lucy's seatmate asks her what is the baby's name and Lucy replies "Cheddar, er, Chester." Cracks me up every time!

01-22-2012, 11:24 AM	#8
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,183	Yeah it is amazing how things change. My mom told me if a lady dyed her hair in the early 1900's you were looked upon as a loose woman. Now half the ladies in America dyed their hair. I do remember taking the train to the city and there were sections for smokers and non smokers. I also remember a water jug, the jugs you see in companies where one could get a cup of water and rest rooms on board. Don't see that today.

06-18-2014, 10:46 AM	#10
WalterTheDrinker Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 19, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 168	The part that I never understand in that episode is when Ricky says, "Come on, Fred" and Fred gets up, and they disappear! They're on a plane! Where the heck did they go?

06-18-2014, 09:00 PM	#11
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,183	I felt they had a lounge in the back. As for funniest, Ethel said I can't eat 25 lbs of cheese.