I'm a huge fan of sitcoms, especially those produced back in the 1960s and 1970s. Over the next few days, I'm going to be reflecting on some of my favorite sitcoms, particularly those that featured musical numbers.
First up is The Lucy Show. After I Love Lucy ended, Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance re-teamed in a new sitcom where Lucy played widow Lucy Carmichael and Vivian played divorcee Vivian Bagley. Lucy and Viv shared a house in Danfield, Connecticut while raising their children. After three seasons, Vance left The Lucy Show and the series was revamped with Lucy moving to California. Her children soon disappeared as the series refocused on Lucy Carmichael as a single harebrained woman coping with a tyrant of a boss (Mr. Mooney).
One of the most memorable Lucy Show episodes (first aired in 1967) dealt with Lucy and Mr. Mooney heading to the quaint, small town of Bancroft, a hamlet threatened by the imminent construction of a freeway. Like so many other activists before and after her, Lucy mobilized the town to bring a halt to the freeway construction plans. The episode (part of a special two-part episode set in Bancroft) culminated with Lucy and the denizens of Bancroft staging a triumphant protest set to music. Their anthem, "Main Street, U.S.A." is a rousing tribute to simpler times and days, and a song I often sing as I go about my day. Accompanying Lucy are singer Mel Torme as Lucy's neighbor and friend Mel Tinker and singer/dancer John Bubbles.
So stand up, put your feet on the pavement of Main Street U.S.A., and return to a time that was sweet and slow. Hope you enjoy! I know I will.
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