Larry was the lyricist for “Nobody Loves the Ump,” an original song featured on the memorable Bob Hope episode of “I Love Lucy.” Larry also wrote lyrics for the songs featured in “Lucy Goes to Scotland,” episode 144 of “I Love Lucy.” In this particular show he also appeared as the mayor of Kildoonan. They knew the same people, went to the same parties, and laughed at the same jokes. The role was that of a high-society dame, a character Croft had perfected on many shows over the years. Successful, the pair wrote for Ball’s popular program for its 2 1/2-year duration. Of her many co-stars, Lucille Ball was the one with which Mary maintained the closest relationship. Croft (known as "MJ" by her friends) was born in Muncie, Indiana, on February 15, 1916, and started her career as a teenager on the stage of the Muncie Civic Theatre. Doris appeared in numerous “I Love Lucy” episodes including “Lucy and Harpo Marx” and “Lucy and Superman.” Later she appeared in episodes of other classic television shows including Perry Mason, Hazel, The Twilight Zone, The Munsters, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and two episodes of The Lucy Show. She began her career in radio, appearing on such programs as The Adventures of Sam Spade, The Bill Goodwin Show, Four-Star Playhouse, Blonde and The Mel Blanc Show. and were called upon to do a wide variety of programs in a given week. The somewhat portly Gordon was not only adept at physical comedy, but could do a perfect cartwheel. Larry enjoyed multiple careers in several different creative disciplines. As film editor of “I Love Lucy,” Dann created a film editing system that revolutionized the television industry. Hollywood, in those days, was not only the movie capital of the world, but also the hub of network radio. Irma’s name can be seen on the credits of not only “I Love Lucy,” but also the Lucy Show, Here’s Lucy, Life with Lucy and the films The Facts of Life, Critic’s Choice, and Forever, Darling. Together they wrote some 400 television programs and roughly 500 radio shows. She used Gordon yet again–-this time as her irascible boss (and brother-in-law) Harry Carter, at an employment agency that specialized in unusual jobs. Together, with Oppenheimer and/or Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf, the team tackled all episodes of the series. That is, Mary Jane provided the voice of the dog -- who was often given the best lines in the show! When that show ended in spring 1963, Gordon joined The Lucy Show as Mooney for the 1963-64 season. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and a frequent guest at Jamestown’s annual festivals. In the final season (1956-57), she was Betty Ramsey, the Ricardo’s and Mertz’s neighbor in Connecticut. In addition, if my recollection is correct, only two women had that historical distinction: Vivian Vance and Mary Jane Croft. While at the station, she met and married a young actor named Jack Zoller, and in 1939 the couple relocated to Los Angeles. His films include writing and directing the popular beach movies starring Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon: Muscle Beach Party (1964), Bikini Beach (1964), and Beach Blanket Bingo (1965). The following year, she started a ten year association with the TV version of The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet, playing the Nelsons friend Clara Randolph. Mary Jane Croft sometimes credited as Mary Jane Croft-Lewis (February 15, 1916 – August 24, 1999) was a veteran stage and TV actress best known for her roles as Betty Ramsey on I Love Lucy, Mary Jane Lewis on The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy, and Clara Randolph on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. When Vivian Vance left The Lucy Show after the 1964-65 season, Croft became Lucy’s new sidekick, Mary Jane Lewis. Croft was born February 15, 1916 in Muncie IN. Mary Jane Croft Honored at "Loving Lucy ‘98" Mary Jane Croft, Lucille Ball’s longtime friend and co-star, was center of attention at the Opening Night ceremonies of Loving Lucy ‘98, the third annual Convention of Lucy Fans.Croft, the only performer to appear on a regular-basis on I Love Lucy, The Lucy Show and Here’s Lucy, received the convention’s first "Lifetime of Excellence" Award. (Daisy was something of a precursor to Betty Whites later Sue Ann Nivens character on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.) In “I Love Lucy,” she played two roles: one was a passenger on a plane from Europe to New York, sitting next to Lucy, who pretends to have a baby but instead it is a big hunk of cheese! The character remained until Here’s Lucy left the air in 1974. Emmy Award winner William Asher directed 110 episodes of “I Love Lucy” and produced and directed Bewitched, which ran for eight years (1964 to 1972). It's gratifying to know that people are still enjoying the shows. Join the conversation by checking our blog today. Mary Jane used her time doing guest appearances on other shows -- including a return visit to I Love Lucy as airline passenger Evelyn Bigsby in "Return Home from Europe."