Fred & Ethel: "Carolina in the Morning"

Rare footage.
William Frawley & Vivian Vance (as Fred & Ethel Mertz) sing "Carolina in the Morning" at the Anti-Defamation League 40th Anniversary Dinner held at the Mayflower Hotel, Washington, D.C. 1953.

*** INFO UPDATE 04/07/2009 ***

(Credit: moriafinnie, at the TCM blog, MovieMorlocks)

"...in a bizarre moment in American cultural history, President Dwight Eisenhower presided at a Dinner With the President on Thanksgiving night, in 1953. Lots of high powered types showed up for the live program, which was broadcast on three networks [ABC, NBC, CBS]. The extravaganza, which was hosted by Rogers and Hammerstein ... commemorated the 40th Anniversary of the Anti-Defamation League of Bnai Brith and tried to promote an air of philosophical tolerance in a time of political darkness that characterized the McCarthy era. Numerous celebrities were anxious to participate, including everyone from media bigwigs such as David Sarnoff, Leonard Goldenson, and William Paley to Lucy and Desi. Helen Hayes even impersonated Harriet Beecher Stowe and Rex Harrison and Lili Palmer lent their sophisticated presence to a very American show while J. Edgar Hoover reportedly ducked his chance for a close-up behind a table lamp." The program opened with Thelma Ritter portraying a weary Statue of Liberty!

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[shane013a]

Great vid by two consummate pros. Yes they had the utmost contempt for each other and Mr. Frawley reclaimed his better rep by showing up sober for work all the years he was on I Love Lucy. It was an accepted fact that he first sang My Melancholy Baby, a drunken Damon Runyon called for encores all night the first time he sang it, and was the favored singer of My Mammy over Jolson on the vaudevillian circuit.

[NCeddie]

to: @shane013a

Thank you for commenting on the video, Fred & Ethel: "Carolina in the Morning" Too bad we can't ever see any vaudeville performances, but appearing on stage, live, at the Mayflower Hotel is the next-best thing.

[CharleyK4]

It really was a LIVE show and was not recorded properly for any kind of quality recast. That is why both voices sound off.

[NCeddie]

Yes, it is obviously a kinescope. Kinescopes were made by focusing a camera directly in front of a television monitor and recording the live broadcast in that fashion. The "I Love Lucy" show was shot on film directly.

[cool88roleplayer]

i also heard that they hated each other and that William was always telling Desi how she couldnt sing and Vivian told Desi William was way to old to be her husband

[NCeddie]

Frawley was the oldest cast member. At the time of the series premiere, Desi was 35, Lucille was 40, Vivian was 42, and William was 64!

[thejeanienyc]

I LOVE Vivian Vance. So talented. When I was a little girl I wished I were Ethel and Freds' child. Everyone loved Lucy...I loved Ethel and Fred. This is a sweet performance and a special memory.

[TomBarrister]

It should be noted that Frawley (who was born in 1886) started out as a song and dance man in vaudeville and had a fine singing voice until age caught up with it. Frawley introduced this song in 1912 and also "Melancholy Baby" (in 1922).

[montanerfan10]

@kerryincolumbus I don't know. I guess she just doesn't like it! lol

[kerryincolumbus]

@montanerfan10 ... LOL!!! why is your mother annoyed by that? it's a great song!! Unless you're singing it horribly off key on purpose, then I could see why she'd be annoyed. LOL

[teamdamon91girl]

ive heard that bill & vivan hated each other in real life wheather that is true or not I dont know but they never let there personal realtionship be known when it came to playing fred & ethel

[gooboo1000]

NOW, THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT!

[thelonelyslayer]

Considering that they both despised each other, they were always 100% professionals whenever it came to their duet performances. You would have never known there was any animosity between them. cheers to them both.

[tomjones333]

One person wasn't in Carolina in the morning

[Prizm2356]

I wonder why they introduced them as Ethel and Fred

[cheeriosinabowl]

Fred and Ethel look so cute and cuddly here.

Too bad they hated each other's guts.

[thelonelyslayer]

one of my greatest memories of watching "i love lucy" as a child was watching fred & ethel do their little perfromances together. i had no conception of time, so i didn't know that that some of their numbers were so old. i just liked how soft and cheery they always sounded.

[AshleyHelen100]

@dancebandleader

I want to read his book so much! Its 50 bucks to order :( I hope to buy it eventually,