The Loretta Young Show - S4 E10 - "Miss Ashley's Demon"

Episode # 5617 MISS ASHLEY’S DEMON Original airdate: 1-27-57 We travel back to the year 1892 in this episode to tell the story of Miss Penelope Ashley... Loretta Young stars as the daughter of a once-wealthy Southern family who tells conflicting stories about her spinster’s life in a Southern Mansion. When Penelope finds a large sum of money in the street she immediately goes home to tell her Mammy and niece that they can now resume their life of grandeur that they once enjoyed. It is her Mammy, however, who insists that she must return the money to its rightful owner and then forces her to be honest about what really happened in her life. Richard Garland plays Penelope's suitor, Randolph Kirk. Garland was a popular actor known best for Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957), Death Valley Days (1952) and The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955). In 1952, while working in the play "Dark of the Moon" at the Players' Ring Theatre in Hollywood, he met actress Beverly Garland and in August of that year married her. His career faded as alcoholic problems grew and he died of related medical issues on May 24, 1969 in Los Angeles, California at the untimely age of 41. Trivia fact: The Garlands' divorced in 1956. Ironically, the following year Beverly's sci-fi film Not of This Earth (1957) was co-billed and released with Richard's sci-fi film Attack of the Crab Monsters. Ruby Goodwin plays Ella Mae, Penelope's mammy. Goodwin was a popular black actress of the era who was known for her appearances on Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955), Strange Intruder (1956) and The View from Pompey's Head (1955). She died on May 31, 1961 in Hollywood, California. Sheila James, portraying Mary, Penelope's niece, is a former child actor who has become a popular California politician. In 1994, she became the first openly gay California legislator. Two years later, George magazine named her one of the 20 most fascinating women in politics. The following year, she became the first woman in California history to be named Speaker pro tempore of the California State Assembly. After serving six years in the Assembly, Kuehl (her given name) was elected to the California State Senate, and in 2014, she was elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Directed and written by Richard Morris. Cast Penelope Ashley Loretta Young Randolph Kirk Richard Garland Ella Mae Ruby Goodwin Mary Sheila James