I had never thought of her being qualified for the Television Crossover Hall of Fame as a member of the League of Themselves. She barely made a blip in Toobworld, unlike others better known for the fictional televersions of themselves like Jack Benny, George Burns, Milton Berle, and Bob Hope among many others.
But over the years I’ve softened my stance on several fronts, including the premise that if someone is refeenced then it verifies their existence in Earth Prime-Time. And so it is for the iconic pin-up girl of the 1940s….
RITA HAYWORTH
From Wikipedia:
Margarita Carmen Hayworth (née Cansino; October 17, 1918 – May 14, 1987) was an American actress and dancer. She achieved fame during the 1940s as one of the era's top stars, appearing in 61 films over 37 years. The press coined the term "The Love Goddess" to describe Hayworth after she had become the most glamorous screen idol of the 1940s. She was the top pin-up girl for GIs during World War II.
Hayworth is perhaps best known for her performance in the 1946 film noir “Gilda”, opposite Glenn Ford, in which she played the femme fatale in her first major dramatic role. She is also known for her performances in “Only Angels Have Wings” (1939), “The Lady from Shanghai” (1947), “Pal Joey” (1957), and “Separate Tables” (1958). Fred Astaire, with whom she made two films, “You'll Never Get Rich” (1941) and “You Were Never Lovelier” (1942), once called her his favorite dance partner. She also starred in the Technicolor musical “Cover Girl” (1944), with Gene Kelly. She is listed as one of the top 25 female motion picture stars of all time in the American Film Institute's survey, AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars.
For her movies, “Gilda” and “Lady From Shanghai” are the two that definitely links for her in Toobworld, with “Gilda” actually seen by characters on our TV screens. But it’s her iconic role as the pin-up queen which cements her place in pop culture. She serves as a signpost to alert many viewers that what they’re watching is taking place in the 1940s.
Here are those referential touchstones which cement the existence of her televersion in the main Toobworld. Let’s begin with the actual appearance by Rita Hayworth as herself.
The Carol Burnett Show
(1970)
Highlights of this show include: a salute to Columbia Pictures, featuring the famous "Golda" (spoof of "Gilda")
Had it been any other variety show on which Rita Hayworth appeared, it might not have counted as part of her tally. But ‘The Carol Burnett Show’ is part of the life within Toobworld:
Here's Lucy
(1969)
There is a scene in which Lucy and her kids attend a taping.
Here's Lucy
Lucy Helps David Frost Go Night-Night
(1971)
Lucy mentions that she saw David Frost on ‘The Carol Burnett Show’ Frost had been one of Carol's celebrity guests on March 22, 1971
And here are the other TV shows in which Rita Hayworth was just referenced not seen, beginning with shows set in the war years (in no particular order otherwise.)
Hogan's Heroes
(1967)
Sticky Wicket Newkirk
(1968)
The poster hidden in the bunk panel is of the famous WWII Rita Hayworth pin-up.
O’Bservation – It was Brad Fillipone’s collage (above) which was posted on a Facebook page celebrating Ms. Hayworth on her 102nd birthday which made me realizes that she is a part of Earth Prime-Time as more than just a reference.
McHale's Navy
A Star Falls on Taratupa
(1965)
[The crew is making Hollywood pin-up pictures to sell]
Lester Gruber:
Alright let's move it, guys! We have orders to fill. Let me see… we have orders for six Rita Hayworths, four Ginger Rogers, a dozen pictures of Trigger….
George Christopher:
Trigger?
Lester Gruber:
Yeah, from the Army Cavalry Unit. They've been out here a long time.
Bomb Girls
Where There's Smoke
(2013)Victory Munitions hosts a star-studded cavalcade to raise money for war bonds.
O’Bservation – I’m only assuming Ms. Hayworth was one of the stars who showed up.
The Pacific
Home
(2010)
Bob:
You must've been through a lot. Well, here we are.
Eugene:
Mm-hmm.
Bob:
So what's next?
Eugene:
I don't know…. I didn't get that far.
Bob:
And why me? Why not Rita Hayworth or Betty Grable? Because I know you-#
Eugene:
Bob, you don't.... You don't really know me.
And looking back on “the Big One”….
The Golden Girls
Rose: Portrait of a Woman
(1992)
Miles Webber:
Let me tell you something: Back when I was in the Army, inside my locker I kept a picture of Betty Grable, and she was wearing a lot less than you were wearing in my birthday photo. Sweetheart, she was the darling of America.
Rose Nylund:
Miles, she was in her twenties, and she had the most beautiful legs on the planet.
Miles Webber:
Ah... the *second* most beautiful.
Rose Nylund: [flattered]
Oh, Miles.
Miles Webber:
Rita Hayworth had a set of gams on her, boy....
We’re going to leave Earth Prime-Time for a moment to take a look at the post war years in Comix Toobworld….
Agent Carter
Bridge and Tunnel
(2015)
Peggy Carter:
So we're scanning everyone on the Roxxon's staff. There's a chance this is an inside job.
Jack Thompson:
Yeah, there's a chance I take Rita Hayworth home tonight, but it's unlikely, if you catch my drift.
Better Angels
(2016)
Peggy Carter:
Did you watch it?
Jack Thompson:
If Rita Hayworth's not in it, I'm not interested.
We go back to the main Toobworld and run through the other references.
Little Green Men
(1995)
Hayworth was featured on the July 1947 page on a calendar in an United States Army Air Corps base near Roswell, New Mexico.
Magic City
Feeding Frenzy
(2012)
Unknown:
This is your little girl's Bat Mitzvah.
Unknown:
Oh, my God. I went to bed with Rita Hayworth and woke up with Golda Meir.
Mad Men
The Jet Set
(2008)
Unknown:
“I have a list of conditions and an alimony that could support Rita Hayworth.”
All in the Family
Lionel Steps Out
(1972)
Archie:
I am telling you that whites should only dance with whites! You don’t believe me, look at the movies - Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Gene Kelly and Rita Hayworth -#
Edith:
Shirley Temple and Bill Robinson.
Will & Grace
Oh Dad, Poor Dad, He's Kept Me in the Closet and I'm So Sad
(2000)
George: [To Grace]
And who looks more like Rita Hayworth every day, huh?
Jack:
Oh, George, you're gonna spoil me.
George:
The other Rita Hayworth.
Modern Family
The Big Guns
(2015)
Phil:
Hey, dad, what's the... what's the plot of that Rita Hayworth movie? My friends here were wondering.
Frank:
That's my cue. Time to help my boy get rid of a boat. Uh, "Lady from Shanghai"?
Phil:
That's the one. I... I can't remember all the details.
Frank:
Pretty sure there was a horse in that movie.
Phil:
Mm-hmm.
Frank:
Or was it a baby? Funny thing... none of it was in Shanghai. Or was all of it in Shanghai? Anyway, where was I? Oh, right. So, either the horse or this baby...
Suits
To Trouble (2016)
In this episode, Mike Ross ended up in prison.
“Now, when I get back, if there's a hole in the mirror covered by a Rita Hayworth poster, I will not be happy.”
Superstore
District Manager
(2018)
Myrtle challenges Jonah to name one picture Ginger Rogers was better than Rita Hayworth in.
The Blacklist
Zarak Mosadek (No. 23)
(2018)
Red is watching “Gilda” when Elizabeth comes to see him.
Modern Love
Take Me as I Am, Whoever I Am(2019)
Lexi mentions the film “Gilda” and the title character in voice-over several times. Lexi is seen watching the film on TV.
Baptiste
Shell
(2019)
Baptiste talks to Kim Vogel about Hayworth in an attempt to gain information from her about Natalie, after noticing that she has several DVDs of Hayworth's films:
You Were Never Lovelier
(1942)
Miss Sadie Thompson
(1953)
And the 1946 “Gilda” poster was on the wall at the Dream Room Club.
Here are a few other TV show episodes which mention Rita Hayworth:
Vegas
Exposure
(2012)
Two of a Kind
(2013)
Laverne & Shirley
Not Quite New York
(1980)
We know Rita Hayworth exists in other Toobworlds as well.
MOTW Toobworld
RKO 281
(1999 TV Movie
Mrs. Harris
(2005 TV Movie)
Toobworld3
Marple
Towards Zero
(2007)
And in an alternate timeline for Earth Prime-Time:
Star Trek: Enterprise
Storm Front
(2004)
From Memory Alpha:
A German SS officer claimed that Americans were good at making movies with stars like Hayworth, Betty Grable and Veronica Lake, but not at fighting.
Welcome to the Television Crossover Hall of Fame, Rita Hayworth!
Star Trek: Enterprise
Storm Front
(2004)
From Memory Alpha:
A German SS officer claimed that Americans were good at making movies with stars like Hayworth, Betty Grable and Veronica Lake, but not at fighting.
Welcome to the Television Crossover Hall of Fame, Rita Hayworth!
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