Ep 18. Lucy Puts Main Street On the Map

Lucy Puts Main Street On the Map is an episode from season 5 of The Lucy Show, a classic American television sitcom from the 1960s. The show stars the legendary actress Lucille Ball as Lucy Carmichael, a recently widowed single mother who lives in Danfield, New York, and works for the Mooney Brothers Bank.

In this episode, Lucy gets involved in a contest that aims to promote the revitalization of downtown Danfield. The contest is sponsored by the city council, and the objective is to choose the best idea to make Main Street a more attractive and vibrant place for business and entertainment.

Lucy's idea is simple but ambitious: she wants to install a large billboard at the entrance of Main Street that promotes the town's unique history and attractions. Her inspiration comes from a conversation she had with her son Jerry (played by Jimmy Garrett), who complained about the lack of interesting places in Danfield. Lucy realizes that the town has a lot to offer but needs better publicity to attract visitors and customers.

At first, Lucy's idea is ridiculed by her boss Mr. Mooney (played by Gale Gordon), who thinks that spending money on a billboard is a waste of resources. He argues that Danfield is too small and insignificant to attract tourists and that there are more pressing issues to address, such as potholes and traffic lights.

However, Lucy is not deterred and decides to pursue her idea with the help of her friend Vivian (played by Vivian Vance), who is also a single mother and a fellow employee at the bank. Together, they start a campaign to gather support for the billboard proposal. They talk to local shop owners, restaurateurs, and civic leaders, explaining the benefits of advertising Danfield's cultural and historic treasures.

Their efforts pay off, as more and more people join their cause and the city council agrees to fund the billboard project. Lucy and Vivian are thrilled and start to plan the design and content of the sign. They enlist the help of a local artist, who creates a colorful and eye-catching mural that features Danfield's landmarks, such as the historic courthouse, the famous old oak tree, and the All-American Diner.

The day of the unveiling of the billboard is a big event for Danfield, and Lucy and Vivian are nervous but excited to see the reaction of the townspeople. As the cloth covering the sign is pulled down, the crowd cheers and applauds, and Lucy and Vivian beam with pride.

The billboard becomes a huge success, attracting more visitors and customers to Main Street than ever before. The town becomes known as a charming and picturesque destination, with plenty of interesting things to see and do. Lucy and Vivian become local heroes, and Mr. Mooney reluctantly admits that they were right all along.

The episode ends with Lucy and Vivian enjoying a delicious meal at the All-American Diner, surrounded by happy tourists and locals. They toast to their success and pledge to keep promoting Danfield as a great place to live, work, and visit.

In summary, Lucy Puts Main Street On the Map is a heartwarming and uplifting episode of The Lucy Show, featuring Lucille Ball's trademark comedic timing and charm. It showcases the power of creativity and community spirit, as Lucy and Vivian overcome skepticism and opposition to achieve their goal. The episode also highlights the importance of small towns and their hidden gems, reminding us that there is beauty and value in every corner of our country.