Lucy and Ethel's club activities were a sketchily achieved affair, that really didn't gain focus or consistency until
the third season, and then the whole "club" scenario was dropped entirely thereafter. Not a major loss, but a loss
nonetheless.
In "The Benefit" from season one (the very first GREAT offering of the series, in my opinion), it's Ethel alone who has
a "Woman's Club." By season two, it's Lucy and Ethel's club, plus those other older women. By season three,
Lucy and Ethel are co-presidents (as established in season two's "The Election").
While there aren't a lot of "club" shows, they tend to be the more entertaining, as it's fun to watch how catty and
competitive these women got. If memory serves, I think "Lucy's Club Dance" is the last of such shows. Here,
the women (Ethel, in particular), are really mean to Lucy. Her reaction (and manipulation - they get coaching from
Ricky if Lucy can join) is typically childish. This ep reminds me of when I was a kid, and cast all the neighborhood
children in a backyard production of "The Wizard of Oz." I was the director (we were all about eleven years old),
but got bossy, so they all "fired" me from the show (it was never produced, as everyone lost interest).
I wish there were more Caroline/Marion Strong episodes. The chemistry between Lucy, Ethel, Caroline and Marion
was terrific.
Incidentally, Doris Singleton once said in an interview that Ball originally wanted her to use her own name ("Doris
Appleby"). Singleton told Lucy that would've been very distracting and she preferred fictional name. What's
really distracting is Singleton being referred to as "Lillian Appleby" in her first show.
reply
share
AndrewHNPX2 (119)
4 years ago
There was also "Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress", which always used the club storyline, albeit not as heavily.
I never really noticed that it was more or less dropped after Lucy's Club Dance, but yeah it's true. Perhaps the benefit with Ricky's band dressed in drag didn't go over too well and the club couldn't survive the negative publicity it garnered.
Marion Strong was a fun little character, and her actress Shirley Mitchell was enjoyable to watch. I wish this character had appeared more frequently.
reply
share
[email protected] (5497)
4 years ago
The first "Women's Club" episode was populated with women much older than Lucy. It seemed to me that the actresses were cast on their ability to sing.
I did love Ethel's rendition of "Lily of the Valley", was that the first club episode? I forget (bad memory).
"Lucy's Club Dance" was never a big favorite of mine until a few years ago. Ricky's band members were sure GREAT sports to perform in drag! lol That scene was so hilarious. Put a guy in a dress and he still walks like a guy and (hilariously) sits like a guy (legs wide open).
As for Caroline, wasn't she also referred to as "Lillian" in a Hollywood episode? I remember Ricky mailing Lucy's postcards and referring to Lillian...I think.
reply
share