I Married Joan S3-09 "Manhole Cover" 11/24/1954

"Manhole Cover" Director Ezra Stone. Writers Sherwood Schwartz, Jesse Goldstein, Phil Sharp. One of Steven's favorites. An episode fondly remembered. In the opening scene, the noise from a loose manhole cover keeps Joan awake. Joan and Brad sleep in what looks like a king-sized bed with one headboard. Pretty racy for 1954! In the first two seasons they had twin beds, as was the case with many TV shows of the 1950s. Joan's Ladies' Club's singing chorus needs a conductor to help them win that year's competition. Brad is hearing the case of famous conductor Professor Friedrich Gottschalk, played by Sig Ruman ("Stalag 17"). Joan visits the professor and tries to get him to do it gratis by dropping Brad's name. He agrees to hear them audition. The professor sings through a little ditty and Joan does an impromptu dance unabashedly silly and brilliant, old school at its best. Meanwhile, back at the house, the loose manhole cover continues to drive Joan batty, and eventually Brad plays the Judge Card and arranges to have it fixed. Of course, the manhole cover gets fixed simultaneously with the audition. "Voices of the Earth" gets quite an interesting "spin" combined with the abrasive construction sounds on the street. Features Sig Ruman, Robert Jellison (Bobby the Bellboy on "I Love Lucy"), Paula Blythe, Don Brodie, Dick Rich, Martha Wentworth, and Geraldine Carr as Mabel. Geraldine Carr died in a car accident on September 21, 1954. This episode aired posthumously. Please join the Joan Davis facebook page by clicking 'Like' at www.facebook.com/JoanDavisComedian