Original Air Date: October 29, 1958
Starring: Elmer
Directed by: John Peyser
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this episode!
Synopsis: The Millionaire Tipton sends a check to a spinster named Amanda Comfort (Loie Bridge) who recently set up a will stipulating that her nephew Freddie Howard (Del Moore) care for her cat Ralph after her death.
Featured Feline: In an early scene Amanda pets her cross-eyed calico cat Ralph as she talks to her lawyer (Charles Lane) about setting up her will to make sure Freddie cares for the kitty.
Later Amanda is paid a visit by Michael Anthony (Marvin Miller), who brings her the check on behalf of The Millionaire. He makes a point to greet Ralph and comment on what a nice cat he is. Amanda is both surprised by the check and grateful.
After Mr. Anthony leaves, Amanda sets Ralph on her writing desk as she endorses the check.
In the next scene Amanda sits with Ralph in the chair opposite her discussing what they will buy with their money. She suggests getting a cushion for Ralph. But sadly Amanda passes away right then and there.
Her nephew Freddie later comes and is informed by the lawyer that he is to be Ralph’s caretaker and guardian. Freddie is hesitant until he learns that his aunt had over a million dollars in her possession.
Freddie is thrilled to share the news of his good fortune with his fiancee Judy (Jean Willes) but is concerned when he finds Ralph is missing from his apartment. He actually calls the police who are trying to sort out the story when Ralph comes walking back in.
Ralph sits on his cushion as Freddie scolds him, telling him not to get lost again.
Judy is not thrilled when Freddie suggests taking Ralph to a nice restaurant. Neither is Alfredo the maitre’d (Terence Williams) until Freddie gives him a large tip.
At one point Ralph sneaks away from the table and steals a little boy’s ice cream. They are asked to leave the restaurant.
Back at his apartment, Freddie lavishes several dishes of different flavored ice creams on Ralph. But he also scolds Ralph again for misbehaving.
That night Ralph climbs into the bed with Freddie who apologizes for being mean.
Another night Freddie is about to kiss Judy when he hears Ralph meow strangely and gets up to check on the cat’s well being. Judy is fed up with playing second fiddle to the cat and starts to leave when Ralph runs out the door.
Cat Burglars (Scene Stealers): Three weeks later the lawyer shows up at Freddie’s apartment to see how Ralph is doing and Freddie has to admit the cat is gone. He is about to lose his fortune when Judy shows up looking to reconcile. There is a meow at the door and Freddie opens the door to find a tiny kitten, followed by two more and Ralph.
Freddie carries Ralph inside saying, “Look, he’s a mother, Judy! He’s back!” “You mean she’s back,” Judy corrects him.
Realizing that Judy is still reluctant to get married if he is always worrying about the well being of Ralph, Freddie suddenly realizes that the kittens are now Ralph’s issues and will inherit the money, so the kittens will act as an insurance in case anything happens to Ralph.
As Freddie talks about everything working out okay as long as the cats keep “issuing,” he is holding a kitten in each hand and gesturing wildly (with the poor kittens being tossed around as he does so!)
Ralph was played by a female calico cat named Elmer. For the fascinating story of how Elmer became a television star, check out our Special Feature: The Discovery of a Cross-Eyed Calico.
Final Mewsings: Cats don’t care about money half as much as they care about ice cream.
Many thanks to Kristi for letting us know about the cats in this episode and for Brian H. for helping us obtain the materials to write this review!
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