Barbara Pepper(1915-1969)

After Bea Benaderet proved unavailable, Barbara was seriously considered for the part of "Ethel Mertz" on her friend Lucille Ball's classic sitcom Te quiero, Lucy (1951), two years after Barbara's husband was killed. However, by this time the depressed Barbara had developed a chronic alcohol problem. With William Frawley--whose fondness for the bottle was legendary--already cast as "Fred Mertz", executive producer Desi Arnaz felt he couldn't take the chance of having two problem drinkers in pivotal roles on the same show. Vivian Vance, of course, eventually got the part.

[asked, as a former showgirl, why so many millionaires wind up marrying showgirls] Millionaires like to have their money's worth, and showgirls know how to make them think they're getting it.