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Meet the Mertzes: The Life Stories of I Love Lucy's Other Couple
Meet the Mertzes is an expansive dual biography chronicling the lives of two of America's most popular situation-comedy actors, William Frawley and Vivian Vance, who portrayed Fred and Ethel Mertz on I Love Lucy. This meticulously researched book contains interviews with Frawley's and Vance's colleagues, friends, and relatives, and explores their personal and professional lives before, during, and after I Love Lucy. With a complete filmography and videography of each, Meet the Mertzes finally sets the record straight on the lives and legacies of these compelling stars who detested one another.You'll learn successful Broadway career prior to I Love Lucy-Frawley's vaudevillian roots and his passion for baseball-Vance's nervous breakdown after the collapse of her first marriage-Frawley's drinking and carousing-Lucille Ball's caustic relationship with both of her costars-Vance's hatred of being known to the world as Ethel Mertz
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 18, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
July 13, 2013
There's a surprising amount of information packed into 281 pages of reading, and a lot of it was new to me, which was refreshing.
I'm one of those folks who watches old movies and looks for the character actors. That wouldn't do me a lot of good with Vivian Vance, who only appeared in three feature films, but William Frawley was all over movie screens in the Golden Age of Hollywood, and usually played the same type - the brusque cop, sports manager, barman, etc.
Many people already know that Vivian Vance and William Frawley detested each other in real life, which makes their television success as a married couple all that much more of a testament to their acting abilities. They even maintained the facade in publicity for the show, and didn't really discuss disliking one another until after I Love Lucy wrapped. But then, oh boy, then. Frawley was especially awful in his comments about Vance, and even played childish practical tricks on her when they were using adjoining studios in the years after "Lucy" ended.
There are problems with meet the Mertzes, but not serious ones. Sometimes assumptions are stated as facts. (It's apparently obvious to the authors that Vance did not marry her second husband because she loved him, though that is impossible to know without discussing it with the lady herself.) The text also suffers from an over-abundance of exclamation points and lists - in one sequence we are shown a long selection of the different Irish names that Frawley's characters were given in his career, when just telling us that he was often cast as an Irishman would have been sufficient.
My final bugaboo is that, if you don't know the correct definition of a word, you should not be allowed to use it. "Penultimate" means second-to-last, as in "Lucille Ball's penultimate television series was 'Here's Lucy.'" Penultimate does NOT mean the apex of a person's success, so saying that perhaps the "penultimate" moment of Vivian Vance's career was her winning an Emmy in 1954 is just wrong, and makes the reader wonder what qualifications and/or support the author has. This should have been caught, if not by the author, then by a proofreader or editor, or even a friend reading for the purposes of providing feedback.
For the information that I didn't already know from other sources, and for the sheer readability, Meet the Mertzes was definitely worth the time. I loved Lucy, but I loved the chemistry among the four main characters on the show, so this was an entertaining, informative read for me.
I'm one of those folks who watches old movies and looks for the character actors. That wouldn't do me a lot of good with Vivian Vance, who only appeared in three feature films, but William Frawley was all over movie screens in the Golden Age of Hollywood, and usually played the same type - the brusque cop, sports manager, barman, etc.
Many people already know that Vivian Vance and William Frawley detested each other in real life, which makes their television success as a married couple all that much more of a testament to their acting abilities. They even maintained the facade in publicity for the show, and didn't really discuss disliking one another until after I Love Lucy wrapped. But then, oh boy, then. Frawley was especially awful in his comments about Vance, and even played childish practical tricks on her when they were using adjoining studios in the years after "Lucy" ended.
There are problems with meet the Mertzes, but not serious ones. Sometimes assumptions are stated as facts. (It's apparently obvious to the authors that Vance did not marry her second husband because she loved him, though that is impossible to know without discussing it with the lady herself.) The text also suffers from an over-abundance of exclamation points and lists - in one sequence we are shown a long selection of the different Irish names that Frawley's characters were given in his career, when just telling us that he was often cast as an Irishman would have been sufficient.
My final bugaboo is that, if you don't know the correct definition of a word, you should not be allowed to use it. "Penultimate" means second-to-last, as in "Lucille Ball's penultimate television series was 'Here's Lucy.'" Penultimate does NOT mean the apex of a person's success, so saying that perhaps the "penultimate" moment of Vivian Vance's career was her winning an Emmy in 1954 is just wrong, and makes the reader wonder what qualifications and/or support the author has. This should have been caught, if not by the author, then by a proofreader or editor, or even a friend reading for the purposes of providing feedback.
For the information that I didn't already know from other sources, and for the sheer readability, Meet the Mertzes was definitely worth the time. I loved Lucy, but I loved the chemistry among the four main characters on the show, so this was an entertaining, informative read for me.
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August 13, 2015I wanted to read this mostly because I've always liked laughing at/with William Frawley ... the 'regular guy' with a gruff exterior, who surprisingly was also very musically talented. A song & dance man from Vaudeville, who went onto Broadway and then into Films and Radio, relocating to California in his adult years. Born in 1887, he worked all his life, almost to the time he passed away in 1966, making him older than I thought (79) all the years he was on television. He was married once, drank to excess, but somehow managed to keep working as a character actor. He spoke his mind to everybody, which may have cost him some wanted jobs, but in his latter years gained fame and celebrity status, outshining many of his fellow movie cohorts.
Vivian Vance was another story ... she was 22 years younger than William Frawley, and they had an immediate dislike for each other. She didn't think people would believe that he was her husband, and he didn't like her for what she thought about him. However, both were professionals, and put their differences aside for the sake of the show (and their jobs), becoming famous as the Mertzes.
Vivian was on Broadway during some of the same time Mr. Frawley was, and could deliver lines and sing well, and was always working. Her fears and doubts and marriages drove her to the brink of sanity though ... she was married four times in her life; the first two were barely touched on, the third to an actor named Philip Ober, and the fourth to a man who was bi-sexual, but who made her happy and gave her what she wanted most: a home. She suffered with a mental breakdown due to the fact that her life wasn't all roses and her first marriages weren't ideal; she came from a stable home, and this must have worked on her. However, she did pull it all together and went public with the fact that she had indeed suffered with mental issues, and went to the aid of others suffering with the same maladies.
I've given this book 5 stars because it was interesting reading, and I wanted to know about the people who entertained America so much during my growing up years... 2 thumbs up !
Vivian Vance was another story ... she was 22 years younger than William Frawley, and they had an immediate dislike for each other. She didn't think people would believe that he was her husband, and he didn't like her for what she thought about him. However, both were professionals, and put their differences aside for the sake of the show (and their jobs), becoming famous as the Mertzes.
Vivian was on Broadway during some of the same time Mr. Frawley was, and could deliver lines and sing well, and was always working. Her fears and doubts and marriages drove her to the brink of sanity though ... she was married four times in her life; the first two were barely touched on, the third to an actor named Philip Ober, and the fourth to a man who was bi-sexual, but who made her happy and gave her what she wanted most: a home. She suffered with a mental breakdown due to the fact that her life wasn't all roses and her first marriages weren't ideal; she came from a stable home, and this must have worked on her. However, she did pull it all together and went public with the fact that she had indeed suffered with mental issues, and went to the aid of others suffering with the same maladies.
I've given this book 5 stars because it was interesting reading, and I wanted to know about the people who entertained America so much during my growing up years... 2 thumbs up !
January 25, 2013
I just finished "Meet the Mertzes". I love "I love Lucy" and love Fred and Ethel and the actors that played them. Vivian Vance and William Frawley were each briliant in their roles. This book filled me in on the personal and private lives of these 2 stars. From their days in Vaudeville to superstardom of I Love Lucy, from both having mothers that each in their own ways made each of them to be the slightly damaged people that we fans hardly ever saw to both being such consumate professionals that no one watching would ever see even a tiny glimpse of the anomosity between them. This was a great read and I highly recommend it to everyone!!
July 11, 2012
Tediously written, but must-read for die-hard Lucy fans like me.
February 20, 2018
The reason I checked off "United States-History-20th Century" is that "I Love Lucy" was the number 1 television show of all the television shows of the 1950s. It's still considered one of the iconic television shows. So Vivian Vance (Ethel Mertz) and William Frawley (Fred Mertz) made history as the most famous co-stars in one of the most famous situation-comedies on television. Another reason is that William Frawley was a vaudeville performer in the early part of the century and a minor character actor in movies of the "studio era". His career spanned two thirds of the 20th century, so it is worth a look at in terms of the history of American entertainment.
That said, I love Fred and Ethel. I grew up watching them. They were more like the adults I knew than Lucy and Ricky Riccardo were. (Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, the stars of "I Love Lucy") My uncles and aunts were like them, in my childhood opinion. They still make me laugh, and I have seen "I Love Lucy" more than a dozen times. There are many books about Lucille and Desi and their company "Desilu Productions". Rightly so. They were great talents and "Desilu" made many one- and two- thumbs up television shows. But I think this book is the ONLY book devoted to the other two talents that made "I Love Lucy" great. I don't think the show would have been as funny with other actors.
For two people that hated each other almost on sight, "Bill" and "Viv" made "Fred" and "Ethel" look like a loving couple. Fred and Ethel verbally jabbed at each other, but married couples do that and still would not think of separating. Archie and Edith Bunker of "All in the Family" and Ralph and Alice Kramden of "The Honeymooners" were like Fred and Ethel Mertz. So were the cartoon Flintstones and Rubbles. As far as I know, the actors playing those roles got along fine off the set. At least they were not recorded as dissing each other. Not so Bill and Viv. They did it all the time, though not in front of fans. Fred and Ethel, as the "older couple", were good foils to Lucy and Ricky, and Bill and Vivian did well by their bosses Lucille and Desi. That was quite a feat, since Lucille and Desi were perfectionists with big egos, and Bill had to keep sober on the set and Vivian had to play the fat frump when she really liked to be fashionable (and she was fashionable when not playing Ethel). When actors have to "play down" their talent week after week to make the stars look great, tempers could explode and the show suffer.
The book is set in three parts. Life Before "Lucy". Life During "Lucy". Life After "Lucy". The chapters in Parts 1 and 3 alternate between Frawley and Vance, trying to keep apace chronologically.
That said, I love Fred and Ethel. I grew up watching them. They were more like the adults I knew than Lucy and Ricky Riccardo were. (Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, the stars of "I Love Lucy") My uncles and aunts were like them, in my childhood opinion. They still make me laugh, and I have seen "I Love Lucy" more than a dozen times. There are many books about Lucille and Desi and their company "Desilu Productions". Rightly so. They were great talents and "Desilu" made many one- and two- thumbs up television shows. But I think this book is the ONLY book devoted to the other two talents that made "I Love Lucy" great. I don't think the show would have been as funny with other actors.
For two people that hated each other almost on sight, "Bill" and "Viv" made "Fred" and "Ethel" look like a loving couple. Fred and Ethel verbally jabbed at each other, but married couples do that and still would not think of separating. Archie and Edith Bunker of "All in the Family" and Ralph and Alice Kramden of "The Honeymooners" were like Fred and Ethel Mertz. So were the cartoon Flintstones and Rubbles. As far as I know, the actors playing those roles got along fine off the set. At least they were not recorded as dissing each other. Not so Bill and Viv. They did it all the time, though not in front of fans. Fred and Ethel, as the "older couple", were good foils to Lucy and Ricky, and Bill and Vivian did well by their bosses Lucille and Desi. That was quite a feat, since Lucille and Desi were perfectionists with big egos, and Bill had to keep sober on the set and Vivian had to play the fat frump when she really liked to be fashionable (and she was fashionable when not playing Ethel). When actors have to "play down" their talent week after week to make the stars look great, tempers could explode and the show suffer.
The book is set in three parts. Life Before "Lucy". Life During "Lucy". Life After "Lucy". The chapters in Parts 1 and 3 alternate between Frawley and Vance, trying to keep apace chronologically.
June 2, 2020
Fascinating, well researched biography of both William Frawley and Vivian Vance, the actors who portrayed the famous landlords and perennial best friends of Lucy and Ricky Ricardo in the groundbreaking American television sitcom, "I Love Lucy."
This biography reveals the lengthy resumes of both actors, most of which the general public knows little about. William Frawley (who was much older than Vance) was a vaudevillian who made the successful transition to motion pictures and had a long career as a character actor.
Miss Vance was less well known, but had been active in both local and Broadway theater.
Perennial second bananas, both of them however made an invaluable contribution to the huge success of the sitcom which lasts to this day.
I was particularly struck by the fact that Vivian was more beautiful, and more talented than she was allowed to display on the show. Without her spark and comedic talent, Lucy could never become "Lucy."
Both of them had their troubles and triumphs.
Both of them were extremely talented, brought expert comedic skills to the table and were consummate professionals.
A fitting tribute to two television history giants whose images still grace television screens around the world every day. Almost 60 years after they were first filmed, and their antics, scrapes, reactions and shenanigans still stand up, still entertain and always make us laugh.
This biography reveals the lengthy resumes of both actors, most of which the general public knows little about. William Frawley (who was much older than Vance) was a vaudevillian who made the successful transition to motion pictures and had a long career as a character actor.
Miss Vance was less well known, but had been active in both local and Broadway theater.
Perennial second bananas, both of them however made an invaluable contribution to the huge success of the sitcom which lasts to this day.
I was particularly struck by the fact that Vivian was more beautiful, and more talented than she was allowed to display on the show. Without her spark and comedic talent, Lucy could never become "Lucy."
Both of them had their troubles and triumphs.
Both of them were extremely talented, brought expert comedic skills to the table and were consummate professionals.
A fitting tribute to two television history giants whose images still grace television screens around the world every day. Almost 60 years after they were first filmed, and their antics, scrapes, reactions and shenanigans still stand up, still entertain and always make us laugh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2025
I loved the information given. The "before I Love Lucy" was a little slower to read, because I didn't know all of the plays and took me a min to wrap my head around the lengthy bit of information.
My trouble with the book was (1) it's almost like it was typed and copied several times before being published. I wish they would have revamped it because some things were downright difficult. (2) The timeline jumped all over the place and even some subjects broached others that it was a "wait, what?" Moment several times to reread and such.(3)I also didn't like that a whole chapter that was supposed to be for Vivian was usurped by Lucy. {Please note: I love Lucy. I've read her autobiography and other biographies about her. But this was supposed to be about William and Vivian. And to take an entire chapter they start off with about Vivian and usurp with a mini Lucy chapter pissed me off. I think Vivian deserved better than that.
I did learn a lot, though! Just a bit confusing in the process!
My trouble with the book was (1) it's almost like it was typed and copied several times before being published. I wish they would have revamped it because some things were downright difficult. (2) The timeline jumped all over the place and even some subjects broached others that it was a "wait, what?" Moment several times to reread and such.(3)I also didn't like that a whole chapter that was supposed to be for Vivian was usurped by Lucy. {Please note: I love Lucy. I've read her autobiography and other biographies about her. But this was supposed to be about William and Vivian. And to take an entire chapter they start off with about Vivian and usurp with a mini Lucy chapter pissed me off. I think Vivian deserved better than that.
I did learn a lot, though! Just a bit confusing in the process!
August 26, 2023
Very well researched book which focuses on, unusually, two unrelated people, after a fashion. That is, the two protagonists only shared a t.v. program of the 1950's. Loathing one another, nevertheless their lives were forced together for the sake of a popular black and white television show, this for about 8 years. The two threatened (and kept their promise) never to work together again. At any rate, their acting abilities were certainly showcased as they performed in the very popular I Love Lucy t.v. show. No one would ever have guessed the rancor between the two even though Frawley as Fred was compelled to insult his screen wife, Ethel, on a regular basis. This book is great for its character study and for its exposure of acting techniques little known to the average non-actor.
March 30, 2019
I was born in 1950, so pretty much grew up with "I Love Lucy" and have enjoyed it in reruns over the years. Much has been written about Lucy & Desi, but I never knew much about William Frawley or Vivian Vance beyond their "I Love Lucy" rolls & subsequent stints on "My Three Sons" and other Lucy shows. This is an excellent book covering the lives of the 2 in their pre-Lucy days, as well as during Lucy and post-Lucy.
December 28, 2021
Depressing!
In many biographies, we learn that the subject/s strived, overcame setbacks, and prevailed. Such stories leave us feeling uplifted. This biography isn't one of those.
Here, we earn that William Frawley and Vivian Vance loathed each other, and were insecure about their talent and their futures - which were, in his case; dismal, and in hers; sad.
If any hope remains for an uplifting resolution, the tales of their deaths ruthlessly extinguishes it.
In many biographies, we learn that the subject/s strived, overcame setbacks, and prevailed. Such stories leave us feeling uplifted. This biography isn't one of those.
Here, we earn that William Frawley and Vivian Vance loathed each other, and were insecure about their talent and their futures - which were, in his case; dismal, and in hers; sad.
If any hope remains for an uplifting resolution, the tales of their deaths ruthlessly extinguishes it.
December 16, 2016
As a huge Lucy fan I looked forward to reading about the other actors on the show. I enjoyed learning more about their personal lives but am left with a lot of questions. The authors interviewed many people and different people seemed to have different opinions so I don't know what to think about Vivian and William.
July 9, 2021
My only issue with the book is in regards to William Frawley’s death. The author said that he collapsed at Hollywood & Vine and was carried to the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. One: he collapsed near the Knickerbocker. And two: It is impossible and ridiculous for someone, a nurse I think, to carry Frawley from Hollywood & Vine to the Roosevelt Hotel! That’s several blocks away!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2022
Great read on two wonderful actors. There is not much out on these two (known as 'second bananas'), but without them the I Love Lucy show would have never been the hit it was/is/will be. Here's to Vance and Frawley for making it work even though they couldn't stand each other. You can put your differences aside and make things work... may we all learn from them!
September 13, 2025
Really get to know two great actors and their off screen lives.
Anyone who is a hard core Lucy fan of original show. Vivian and William both had extremely well honed comedy, song and dance talent. Watching them on ILL together, natural, seamless performances. Two showbiz professionals who had "it" to succeed.
Anyone who is a hard core Lucy fan of original show. Vivian and William both had extremely well honed comedy, song and dance talent. Watching them on ILL together, natural, seamless performances. Two showbiz professionals who had "it" to succeed.
December 10, 2021
Writing a biography about two unrelated people is a challenge. The author does an admirable job. Any gaps in content are likely due in part that neither subject has any descendants. The organization is simplistic, but logical.
February 9, 2019
A good way to learn about Vivian Vance's and William Frawley's lives before and after I Love Lucy.
January 6, 2022
Very good book
Quite interesting book about two of Americas tv pioneers. Did not want to put down when I started reading it. Q
Quite interesting book about two of Americas tv pioneers. Did not want to put down when I started reading it. Q
January 17, 2022
I liked the two actors very much. However, there was no love lost between them
May 22, 2022
A good read
Always heard the story, but a thorough and fascinating read on two of the most memorable characters in tv’s early history.
Always heard the story, but a thorough and fascinating read on two of the most memorable characters in tv’s early history.
August 16, 2022
average read
I Not the best book about Vivian Vance And William Frawley, but I learned a few things I didn’t know.
I Not the best book about Vivian Vance And William Frawley, but I learned a few things I didn’t know.
December 23, 2023
Repeated itself several times. Overall it was informative but wordy at times
November 4, 2024
Interesting to me as an I Love Lucy fan, but I thought the writing was clunky and sometimes mean-spirited. Too many negative comments about Vance’s appearance, for example.
October 1, 2025
As a diehard "I Love Lucy" fan, I had no idea the extent of the bad feelings between "Fred" and "Ethel." Interesting tidbits came along like chocolates on a conveyor belt, and I couldn't keep up! Vivian Vance's beauty and glamour. William Frawley's drinking and fanatic baseball fan lifestyle. Their Broadway and Vaudeville careers. All this together made my enjoyment of the "I Love Lucy" show even deeper—a great book for anyone wanting the backstory of the first great TV show. Don't miss it! I gave it four out of five stars because I wanted more of a showbiz biography than a textbook.
December 23, 2012
First, I assume you are a fan of "I Love Lucy" or I can't imagine wanting to read this book. That assumption made, this is a dual biography of Vivian Vance and William Frawley, forever known as the battling couple "Fred and Ethel Mertz" from the iconic 50s TV show "I Love Lucy". Alternating chapters cover Vance's and Frawley's childhood and early years in show business, each actor's experience in doing "Lucy" (it was well known within the business that each actor despised the other personally, but both did a very good job of hiding it on the show), and their lives after the show, both personal and professional.
The book is a modest-sized volume but the level of information is probably enough for all but the serious scholars. I thought it held my interest well, and I have read a couple other books on the subject. Overall, I give it 3 stars. Worth reading for the Vance and/or Frawley fan.
The book is a modest-sized volume but the level of information is probably enough for all but the serious scholars. I thought it held my interest well, and I have read a couple other books on the subject. Overall, I give it 3 stars. Worth reading for the Vance and/or Frawley fan.
January 12, 2009
After watching "I Love Lucy" episodes for the gazillionth time, I began to realize what fantastic actors Vivian Vance and William Frawley were, and how much their talents contributed to the success of the show. This dual biography fills in the background information about their lives before and after "Lucy," and gives insight into what it was like for them to work with Lucy and Desi. After reading this book, I wish I could have met both Frawley and Vance, especially Vance. Recommended for anyone who wants to know more about "Lucy's other couple".
July 18, 2022
I'm not a big biography reader, but I was proud to have finished this book. It took me awhile because the writing was so 'bleh.' The information was very interesting though. It's funny because I've always loved 'I Love Lucy,' and my friend and I would argue over who was the Lucy and who was the Ethel in our friendship. We always fought over Lucy, but after reading this, I'd be proud to be Ethel (Vivian Vance). :)
October 18, 2017
I've loved Lucy ever since I used to watch the episodes with my grandma in her living room...we'd laugh and laugh...I think Viv was incredible; a perfect friend and straight-woman for Lucy and Fred was perfect. Parts of this are sad; as they're not the lovable couple behind the scenes - a must for Lucy fans.
January 3, 2016
An excellent book
After reading this book, watch the first few episodes of "I Love Lucy." You will see them in a new light and enjoy them on a new level of understanding ! Thanks to this wonderful treatment of "Fred and Ethal " I will watch T.V. re runs with with greater respect to the people behind the camera as well as the players.
After reading this book, watch the first few episodes of "I Love Lucy." You will see them in a new light and enjoy them on a new level of understanding ! Thanks to this wonderful treatment of "Fred and Ethal " I will watch T.V. re runs with with greater respect to the people behind the camera as well as the players.
June 20, 2012
It was a little slow at first - it might not be for others. It picked up for me and I found the subjects, Vivian Vance and William Frawley, very interesting. It is interesting to know who they were outside of I Love Lucy.
September 5, 2014
This was a much "lighter" and faster read than the Desilu book. Obviously there was some repeated information since Vivian and Bill were profiled a bit in that book, but it was nice to get a deeper look at THEIR lives.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews