Charles Phoenix’s Slide of the Week: The Long, Long Trailer, Somewhere USA, 1958

Size really does matter! It should be called the longest trailer. Certainly it must be. The highway hog is a rather stylish and very deluxe creation with that smart two-tone turquoise and white paint scheme. Those porthole windows on both the front and back door are amazing. I know!

The enormous home away from home on wheels simply dwarfs a creamy white and light lime green 1956 Oldsmobile four-door hardtop. Can you imagine in your wildest dreams being the captain of this accident waiting to happen? On level ground ok. But what about trying to pull this motion mansion up a hill or worse yet have it behind you going. I smell brakes. And what about baking up? I’d be up for the challenge anytime.

Never mind the stress on the driver think about the stress in the poor car. Oldsmobiles were notorious in their day for being powerful cars but this haul job would be a bit much for any car of any period. And the whole thing perched on those tiny little tires just waiting to blowout.

I’ll never forget the first time I saw the 1954 movie classic, The Long Long Trailer starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. It was during the late seventies when ABC showed movies in the afternoon opposite Dinah and the Mike Douglas Show. I was already a huge fan of Lucy and Ricky and it didn’t take me long to figure out that The Long, Long Trailer is basically a feature length version I Love Lucy in color. And I loved it, of course!

Here’s to the Long, Long Trailer, the longest trailer, the driver and you!

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