No Children Allowed – I Love Lucy season 2, episode 57, originally aired April 20, 1953
No Children Allowed is actually a favorite episode of I Love Lucy. A nd not only because it introduces the recurring character of Mrs. Trumbull. There’s a golden moment with Fred early in the episode – but I’m getting ahead of myself. Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball) and her newborn baby, Little Ricky, are home from the hospital …. And Little Ricky’s night time crying is bothering everyone in the building. Lucy and Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance) are trying unsuccessfully to get the little boy to go to sleep. Then godfather Fred Mertz (William Frawley) enters and, despite Ethel’s protestations he succeeds. However, the other tenants in the building are getting quite tired of the noise. Mrs. Trumbull (Elizabeth Patterson, in her first appearance in the recurring role) is insisting that the Mertzes hold the Ricardos to the terms of their lease, or she’ll move out!
Godmother Ethel Mertz is not about to be pushed around, however. She promptly tells off Mrs. Trumbull, telling her that her friendship with the Ricardos is worth more than money. However, Ethel begins retelling the story over and over again, until Lucy is sick to death of it. And she tells Ethel so during their bridge club, resulting in half of the members siding with Ethel …. And carrying their card tables out with them. In a very funny bit, Lucy walks over to Ethel and says “Just a moment, that’s my tablecloth!” and pulls it away like a magician, not spilling anything! Lucy is as surprised as anyone else, and does a “take” — while the ladies march out.
One thing leads to another, and soon the Mertzes and Ricardos are in an all-out brawl, paying no attention to the baby … Who was here a minute ago … where did he go? Thankfully, the baby’s been found and is being kept safe … By Mrs. Trumbull! Who, in a very sweet closing, promises Little Ricky that he’ll never be alone as long as she’s around.
No Children Allowed is available as part of the I Love Lucy season 2 DVD collection.
Funny quotes from No Children Allowed – I Love Lucy
Fred Mertz (William Frawley): What’s going on here, and what are you doing to my godson?
Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): We’re sticking needles in him.