#The Lucy Desi Comedy Hour

[papermoonloveslucy]

TV on TV!

Part 1 ~ The TV Shows of the Lucyverse

Although it may seem redundant, the worlds created by Lucille Ball on radio and television frequently created and mentioned other TV shows!  Here are a few. 

“Television” (1949)

Liz and George’s visit to their next-door neighbors, the Stones, turns into a disaster when George tries to repair the Stones’ new television set by himself.

“Television throws ‘My Favorite Husband’ for a loss, and the whole neighborhood into night courts.” ~  Mason City Globe-Gazette radio listing

“Too Many Television Sets” (1949) 

Liz (Lucilll Ball) can’t get George (Richard Denning) interested in buying a television set, until they spend an evening at the Atterburys, who have one. With his interest piqued, George arranges one be sent over on trial. Little does he know Liz has done the same thing - as have the Atterbury’s!  

LIZ: “I never know who won the fights or what Kukla and Fran are doing to Ollie.”

“Kukla, Fran, and Ollie” was a children’s television show created by Burr Tillstrom that aired from 1947 to 1957. Kukla and Ollie were puppets and actress Fran Allison interacted with them. The show won a 1949 Peabody Award and went on to win two Emmys.

IRIS: “I did my knitting last night with Ed Wynn; I had breakfast with Tex and Jinx; and this afternoon I took a bath with Hopalong Cassidy!”

“The Ed Wynn Show” was a variety show broadcast from September 22,1949 to July 4, 1950 on the CBS Television Network. Comedian and former vaudevillian Ed Wynn was the star of the program. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz made their television debut as a couple on the show on Christmas Eve 1949, just a few weeks after this episode of “My Favorite Husband”.

“Tex and Jinx” were Eugenia “Jinx” Falkenberg and her husband John “Tex” McCary. The couple were popular radio hosts who began on television in January 1947.

“Hopalong Cassidy” made the leap from books and movies to the small screen on June 24, 1949, kicking off the legacy of the Western on television. These were not new, but simply cut-down versions of the feature films that were in cinemas from 1935 to 1948. 

Joe warns the Coopers not to sit behind Iris because they only have a ten inch screen. (Liz adds that Iris has a 16″ neck.) He advises that they visit the Schraders who watch “Pantomime Quiz” and serve sandwiches. “Pantomime Quiz” (later titled “Stump the Stars”), was a television game show hosted by Mike Stokey. Running from 1947 to 1959, it has the distinction of being one of the few television series to air on all four TV networks during the Golden Age of Television. Lucille Ball is reported to have been on the series in December 1947, which would make it her television debut.

“Liz Appears on Television” (1950)

Liz and Iris (Bea Benadaret) make an appearance on a television show celebrating Friendship Week. Their friendship is tested, though, when they discover they've bought the same dress for the occasion. The name of the show is  “Love Your Neighbor” the host of which is played by Frank Nelson. The episode mentions two of the same television programs as “Too Many Television Sets” a year earlier. 

GEORGE: “I can see it now: ‘Kukla, Fran and Lizzie!”

LIZ: “Try Hopalong Cassidy. He looks good next to a horse!”

“Lucy Does a TV Commercial” (1952)

RICKY: “You’ve never even been on a television show!” LUCY: “Maybe not, but I’ve watched them a lot.”  

Lucy gets hired to do a TV commercial on Ricky’s new show, not realizing the health tonic she has to consume is full of alcohol!

LUCY: “When Ricky comes home tonight you’re going to turn on that television set, and you know who’s going to be on it?”  FRED: “Well, I can only hope it’s Faye Emerson.”

Faye Emerson was a very glamorous stage and screen actress turned TV hostess who had her own variety show. She wore low-cut gowns bedecked with jewelry and had bleach blonde hair pulled back in a tight bun.

The TV show Ricky hosts is titled “Your Saturday Night Variety”.  You can see Lucille Ball waiting in the wings, with the living room set behind her!  The TV camera has had its identifying information redacted and replaced by TVC (Television Camera)! 

“Lucy Gets Ricky on the Radio” (1952)

When their TV breaks down, the gang tunes in to a radio quiz show. Surprisingly, Ricky correctly guesses the answers to all of the questions, so the next day Lucy signs them up to be on the show. Sitting the radio atop the malfunctioning TVV set, the gang stares intently at the radio, just as they would television. Before the TV breaks down, the foursome are watching a movie, despite poor reception. 

LUCY: “That little girl is Margaret O'Brien, isn’t it?” RICKY: “Look again - it’s Shirley Temple.” FRED: “Look again - it’s Mary Pickford!”

“New Neighbors” (1952)

“That’s pretty corny dialogue, even for television. Well, it’s a living!”

New neighbors have just moved in to 323 East 68th Street. When Lucy gets stuck hiding in their closet, she overhears the couple practicing their lines for a TV show and jumps to conclusion that they are foreign spies! Hayden Rorke and K.T. Stevens play the acting couple. 

“The Handcuffs” (1952)

To keep Ricky home, Lucy handcuffs them together - but then doesn’t have the key. Ricky needs to host a TV show that evening - “Your Favorite Celebrity Guest Stars on TV”.  Lucy has no choice but to be part of the act - if only her left arm!

Ricky is interviewed and introduced by Veola Vonn, real-life wife of Frank Nelson.

“Readers keepers, losers go look at television!” ~ The Black Eye (1953)

“Ricky and Fred Are TV Fans” (1953) 

Lucy and Ethel feel the boys are ignoring them to watch the fights on television. They go to elaborate lengths to stop their obsession. The championship boxing match that Ricky and Fred are watching pits 'The Kid' against Murphy. A heavyweight boxer named Irish Bob Murphy famously fought Jake LaMotta in June 1952. Kid Gavilán was a welterweight boxer from (unsurprisingly) Cuba, who was world champion in 1952. Naturally Ricky bets on 'The Kid', while Irishman Fred is in Murphy's corner.

“Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress” (1953)

“We have a whole half hour on television!”

Lucy and Ethel are excited to appear on TV with their club, until they buy the same dress, which tests their “Friendship”.

Ricky’s solo on the TV show is "Vaya con Dios.” When Ricky is introducing his song, he says “It’s become quite popular in the last couple of months.”

“Baby Pictures” (1953) 

Trying to impress the Ricardos about his TV station’s offering of motion pictures Charlie Appleby says:

CHARLIE: “We’ve got the newest moving pictures in town. I bought a block of films yesterday, and I want to tell you that they’re going to make television stars out of some of the actors. Now, just remember their names: Conway Tearle and Mabel Normand.”

Both were silent film stars and died in the 1930s! 

“Million Dollar Idea” (1954) 

Lucy bottles her own salad dressing, then she and Ethel go on TV to sell it. 

They appear on “The Dickie Davis Show,” a four-hour daily TV program produced at the station run by Caroline Appleby's husband, Charlie. Frank Nelson plays Dickie Davis. 

“The Charm School” (1954)

The episode opens with a party where the men are in one room and the women in the other. At the party, the men talk about how soon color might be introduced on television. 

BILL: “Well, there are two schools of thought on that matter. Some people think it’s just around the corner. Others think it’s gonna be a year or two.”

In reality, it was just six months away - but not on CBS and not on “I Love Lucy.”  Ricky says he read an article by Harry Ackerman, a  TV producer who supported the filming of “I Love Lucy” in front of a live studio audience.

“Home Movies” (1954) 

“If I want to see old movies, I’ll watch television.”

When his feelings get hurt that no one is interested in his home movies, Ricky refuses to include Lucy, Fred and Ethel in his new TV pilot film. Lucy, however, has a plan to get into the action anyway!

“Ricky’s Hawaiian Vacation” (1954) 

Lucy plans to win a trip to Hawaii on a television quiz show so that she can go with Ricky on a work trip. 

The TV show is called “Be A Good Neighbor” and it is hosted by Freddy Fillmore, who has finally made the leap from radio to television. In reality, many radio shows made the transition to television during the early 1950s. 

“The Black Wig” (1954) 

When Ethel tries on Lucy’s wig, Fred says it looks more like life with Luigi. 

“Life With Luigi” was a radio comedy that transferred to television. It premiered on CBS one season after “I Love Lucy,” but was not a success, lasting only a year before briefly returning to radio. One of the 'Italian' characters was played by Alan Reed, who later voiced Fred Flintstone. Two years earlier, both “Luigi” and “Lucy” were part of “Stars in the Eye”, a 1952 CBS special that celebrated the opening of Television City Studios.

“Tennessee Ernie Hangs On” (1954)

The gang and Ernie sing on television to make money to send him home. 

“Millikan's Chicken-Mash Hour” was a fictional country music TV program, but there were real-life examples as well, the first ever called “Village Barn,” broadcast from 1948 to 1950 from a New York City nightclub. Others included “Hayloft Hoedown,” “ABC Barn Dance,” “Saturday Night Jamboree,” “Windy City Jamboree,” “The Old American Barn Dance,” and “Midwestern Hayride” - all on rival networks. The most famous entry into the genre, “Hee Haw,” did air on CBS, but didn't come along until 1969.  

“Mr. and Mrs. TV Show” (1954)

“This is going to be one of the biggest television programs to hit town in years!”

Ricky has a chance to do an ‘at-home' TV breakfast show, and naturally Lucy wants to be in it. Things go well until Lucy discovers Ricky only let her do the show because the sponsor insisted. Then revenge is what is served for breakfast!  The live show is named “Breakfast with Ricky and Lucy.” 

“Breakfast with Ricky and Lucy” was inspired by "Breakfast with Dorothy and Dick."  This daily radio chat show aired from 1945 through 1963, and starred Dorothy Kilgallen, journalist and reporter, and her husband Richard Kollmar, a Broadway actor and producer. There was another popular husband and wife radio breakfast show called “Hi Jinx” that starred model and actress Jinx Falkenburg and publicist Tex McCrary, which made the leap to television in 1948.

“Bullfight Dance” (1955)

When Lucy is asked to write an article for Photoplay about what it's like being married to Ricky, she uses it to blackmail him to get to perform in a TV benefit for the Heart Fund.

The scenes of the benefit television show "Coast-to-Coast" for the Heart Fund, hosted by Ricky and featuring Lucy in the bullfight number of the episode's title, are introduced with an establishing shot of the newly-opened CBS Television City building at 7800 Beverly Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. Although “I Love Lucy” was one of CBS’s strongest shows, Desilu was already happily ensconced at Ren Mar Studios.

“Face to Face” (1955)

Lucy and Ricky appear on a TV interview show from their apartment. But his new agent says the apartment is a dump, and urges them to move into ritzier quarters. The agent tells Ricky that he thinks he’s got him “planted on the Sullivan show next month”.  “The Ed Sullivan Show” (aka “Toast of the Town”) was a Sunday night staple on CBS. In addition to hosting performers on the stage of their New York theatre, celebrities would also be in the audience, and get introduced by Sullivan to get camera time. This is what is meant by “planted” on the Sullivan show.

Ed Warren (Elliott Reid) is a parody of Edward R. Murrow (right), who hosted the interview show “Person to Person” from 1953 to 1959. Just like Murrow, Warren signs off by bidding the audience “Good night, and good luck!”

“Lucy Meets Charles Boyer” (1956)

Lucy thinks every man she sees is film star Charles Boyer. When she spots the real Boyer, Ricky convinces him to pretend to be a second rate actor who just happens to look like the star. Boyer mentions “Four Star Playhouse” (1952-56), an anthology series sponsored by Singer and Bristol Myers. The premise of the CBS series was that Boyer, Ida Lupino, David Niven, and Dick Powell would take turns starring in episodes.

“Lucy and Superman” (1957)

Lucy brags that she can get Superman for Little Ricky’s birthday party. When he isn’t available, Lucy dresses up as the man of steel instead. 

As the episode opens, Ricky and Little Ricky are watching “Adventures of Superman” on TV. Superman fans have said that this excerpt was not from the original series, but created for “I Love Lucy” using Reeve’s double. The wires holding Superman up are clearly visible in the shot and it was commonly known that Reeve disliked using wires because of an incident early in the show’s creation.  

“Lucy Gets Chummy with the Neighbors” (1957)

When a misunderstanding about the between Betty (Mary Jane Croft) and Lucy spreads to the boys, Ralph (Frank Nelson) rescinds his offer for Ricky to appear on one of his advertising agency's TV shows, saying “We'll get Cugat!”  For Ricky, this is the ultimate insult. In the early days of television, advertising agencies could dictate whether a show would be aired or not. Such was the case with “I Love Lucy” in 1951. Biou Advertising represented Philip Morris, the show’s sponsor during the first several years. 

“Lucy Goes To Sun Valley” (1958)

When Ricky, Little Ricky and Fred have to stay home to work on a television show, Lucy reluctantly takes Ethel to Sun Valley. 

“Lucy Goes To Alaska” (1959) 

The Ricardos and Merztes go to Alaska where Ricky and Fred have bought some land and Ricky is doing a TV show. When Red Skelton’s partner fails to appear, Lucy is recruited to perform with him. 

“Lucy Wants a Career” (1959)

“I can’t believe it!  Lucy on television!” 

Looking for fulfillment outside the home, Lucy takes a job as a Girl Friday for Paul Douglas on the morning TV show “Early Bird.”  

The first morning news program on television was “Three To Get Ready,” a local show hosted by comedian Ernie Kovacs that aired in Philadelphia from 1950 to 1952. Although it was mostly entertainment-oriented, the program did feature news and weather segments. Its success prompted NBC to look at producing something similar on a national basis and in January 1952 the "Today Show” premiered. CBS (Lucy's network) entered the field in 1954, but was never able to compete in the ratings. 

“Lucy Meets the Mustache” (1960)

Near the end of the episode, Ernie Kovacs tells Ricky to "take a good look" at Crandall (aka Lucy in disguise). 

“Take a Good Look” was the name of a TV quiz show Kovacs moderated at the time. It involved a panel guessing answers based on short skits.

[kwebtv]

TV Guide -  September 29 - October 5, 1962

Lucille Désirée Ball (August 6, 1911 – April 26, 1989) Actress, comedian, model, film studio executive, and TV producer. She was the star of the sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here’s Lucy, and Life with Lucy.

[thephantomofanastasia]

[citizenscreen]

Lucille Ball on set of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” in 1958.

[retropopcult]

Fernando Lamas, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in a publicity photo for The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour episode "Lucy Goes To Sun Valley", 1958.  

[moovees]

The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour. 1957

Tallulah Bankhead was 55 years old, Lucy 46, Vivian 48.

Fun Tidbit: During rehearsals Lucy complimented Tallulah on her crocheted sweater. Ms Bankhead took it off her shoulders and tossed it at Lucy. ‘Take it’, she said. In spite of Lucy’s refusal, Ms Bankhead insisted, stating; I’ve dozens more’. Vivian Vance complimented her on her slacks, at which point, Desi Arnaz left the room, fearing Ms Bankhead wouldn’t stop her ‘strip-gifting’? Tallulah give the slacks, and stopped at that point.

[jonfarreporter]

Little-known “Sidekick” Vivian Vance takes center stage in one-woman play

Not to be confused with a book and a movie by the same title, the one-woman play “Sidekicked” is an unexpected tour de force of actress Vivian Vance of “I Love Lucy” TV show fame.

The Sonoma Arts Live production at the Sonoma Community Center on Sunday, February 12 was well-received by an almost full-house audience, as noted by The Sonoma Valley Sun. Very few people know much of Vance outside of the beloved classic TV show that initially aired from 1951 to 1957.

The 90-minute play was written entirely by imagination. Playwright Kim Powers utilized facts known about Vance who was born in 1909 in a small town in Kansas and died at age 70 in 1979 in Belvedere, (Marin County) California.

After the show, when asked where he got the material for such an intensely personal story, Powers responded saying. “I remember years ago reading about Vivian being in analysis, and immediately got the idea for the play,” he said.

Yet, he admitted. “I Just sat on it for years without doing anything, and then I finally began doing a ton of research that turned into the play.”

Powers had to search extensively. Because, there is no direct memoir from Vance or the psychoanalyst she saw for years while portraying Ethel Mertz, Lucy’s landlady/neighbor, friend and of course, “sidekick.”

While it is known that Vance and actor William Frawley didn’t get along, little else is known about the overall TV show production. The play opens in Vance’s dressing room as she is preparing for the very last episode of the subsequent “Lucy & Desi Comedy Hour” is scheduled to air/be taped in 1960.

Vance speaks to the audience as if her psychoanalyst is in the room and she ponders as to whether or not she should take up the offer to portray Ethel in a spin-off called “Fred & Ethel.”

As Powers noted. “Vivian wrote a memoir, but it never got published. I’ve read that there are copies of the manuscript floating around, but I’ve never been able to track it down,” he added. “And the shrink has never revealed anything about their work together.”

Despite a few moments when it’s not exactly clear what Vance’s show business career history was before “I Love Lucy,” the play does spotlight pivotal moments. It was while she was in a play called “The Voice of The Turtle” that her life unraveled.

As Powers explained. “Out of the all the research, I invented the framing device of her calling the psychoanalyst to this last night of filming the last episode.”

“All the details Vivian reveals within are true — the spinoff, the other pilot she did, her early family life and her relationship with Lucy, and especially the breakdown,” said Powers.

“But, he insisted, I put them in the form of a sort of therapy situation. (It always nagged at me that naturally the shrink would already know most of this from prior sessions, and I didn’t want her to keep saying ‘Remember when I told you about…’ etc. — so…) Vivian really is just talking to the audience — and it still works really well,” said Powers.

The entire monologue is about Vance’s inner-struggle. Her early life, her strained relationship with her disapproving mother, her failed marriages and the nervous breakdown.

Vance had a nervous breakdown apparently caused by her overseas experience on a USO tour in 1944–45. There is no reference to it on Wikipedia. And, exact details are not entirely clear in the play. But as noted in the play and other sources like Television Haven, her breakdown was a turning point.

Each subject in monologue is riveting and the audience at the SCC auditorium that afternoon we’re genuinely interested and impacted by Libby Oberlin’s portrayal of Vance.

“Libby owned the part” said longtime Sonoma resident and realtor Nada Rathbart. “I could relate to the play, even though I wasn’t as familiar with the TV show, because I am originally from Yugoslavia, (Eastern Europe). “Yet, I could understand her strained relationship with her mother and her mother’s lack of understanding and support for what Vivian Vance wanted to do and be.”

“My mother’s generation was from a different time and expectations for women then were very different than what women today can aim for and achieve,” Rathbart said.

And as for references to the impact a nervous breakdown had upon Vance’s life, “I can relate to that too,” said Rathbart. “I’m a survivor of war,” added Rathbart. “So, I can understand that, especially as Vivian was inadvertently exposed to combat and conflict while on tour with the USO in WWII.”

Rathbart experienced directly the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, which then led to the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, resulting in the Yugoslav Wars. “It was horrible said Rathbart. And, it’s taken me considerable time and effort to recover.”

Reflecting a bit more Rathbart said. “So, I can understand why Vivian became vulnerable after her USO tour. War and experiencing violence is devastating.”

“Add in the stress of relationships and her ambition to establish a life for herself on her own, takes up a lot of work and energy. I can relate to that very well,” said Rathbart.

This is another element in the play that Powers does reflect upon in his writing. The choices Vance made to live the life she wanted to live. Vance’s choices were unconventional for the time. If women of more than a century ago stepped outside of conventional roles, it was a cause for alarm if not scandal. Especially someone like Vance born in Cherryvale, Kansas. It’s a quiet town of less than 3,000 people. Her strict and very religious mother couldn’t imagine Vance being anything more than a wife and mother.

“It’s always the rejection by a mother or father that causes a lot of pain and frustration for someone eager to live an independent and interesting life on their own,” said Jude Cameron.

Like Rathbart and many other Sonoma residents, Cameron enjoys and takes an interest in the arts; especially locally-like the experience she had helping with Studio 35. Cameron wanted to know more about Vance because as she said. “‘I Love Lucy’ was a show that everyone watched when I was growing up.” And besides, added Cameron, “Vivian came from a small town like I did.”

(Cameron is from a small town in upstate New York and like Vance, Cameron noted that there wasn’t many opportunities there, especially for women who wanted more out of life than marriage and children).

Pleased with the production and the positive response it has received thus far Sonoma Arts Live creative director Jamie Love said. “Far, far beyond what lovers of the ‘I Love Lucy’ TV Show knew I was intrigued and wanted to know more about Vivian beyond the halo of curls and apron.”

“I wanted to find out the real story about this little-known and multifaceted Vivian,” said Love.

Amid the laughs there’s many subtle poignant moments in the play, which Oberlin does well as the audience’s reaction indicated frequently.

“It was really the breakdown that fascinated me, said Powers, and in some ways I wrote the play just to get to that moment of reliving it.”

Even though Powers had difficulties in finding Vance’s alleged memoir, he succeeded in getting to the heart of a determined and talented woman. The play’s culmination is a testament to that fact.

“Vivian is coming to a decision in her own head (about the future) said Powers, and just saying the words aloud.”

Directed by Michael Ross, “Sidekicked” continues at the Sonoma Community Center auditorium until February 19.

For tickets and more information visit the Sonoma Arts Live website.

[hughescocksworthnews]

"Valentine" - Colour Home Movies - "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour" (1958)

Do YOU remember?

[transgender-er]

Gonna bite someone.

You're telling me that nowhere has the episodes of the Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour available?

So I'm gonna have to spend probably days searching through my tapes just to find and rewatch the episode where Tallulah Banhead is the Ricardos' neighbor?

[project1939]

(Lucy and Ricky announce their pregnancy on I Love Lucy, left, and Humphrey Bogart reprises his Oscar winning role in The African Queen on Lux Radio Theater, right.)

Day 86- TV and Radio:  

TV: 

I Love Lucy, season 2, episode 10, “Lucy is Enceinte,” December 8th, 1952. 

The Colgate Comedy Hour, “Abbott and Costello Christmas,” December 14th, 1952. 

The Burns and Allen Show, season 3, episode 11, “Gracie Thinks George is Going to Commit Suicide,” December 18th, 1952. 

Radio: 

Father Knows Best, “The Kids Revolt,” December 18th, 1952. 

This is Your FBI, episode 402, “The Pick Up,” December 12th, 1952. 

Lux Radio Theater, “The African Queen,” December 15th, 1952. 

I Love Lucy was another classic episode, and it may be the only one in the whole series that made me wipe tears from my face that weren’t caused by laughter. The whole episode is about Lucy trying to find a way to tell Ricky she’s pregnant. It all leads up to the famous scene at the Tropicana, when Ricky sings “We’re Having a Baby (My Baby and Me).” The Ricardos and the Arnazes are both married couples who have waited a long time to become parents, and it’s hard to tell who is who sometimes. Once Lucy starts crying, though, you know you are seeing Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz react as themselves with genuine emotion. It’s impossible not to be moved. 

Lux Radio Theater was an adaptation of The African Queen, and Humphry Bogart played the same role he played on film. Unfortunately, it wasn’t Katharine Hepburn playing opposite him, it was Greer Garson. I like Greer Garson, but she just isn’t Katharine Hepburn. The performance was enjoyable, though. It made me want to go back and re-watch the movie- I haven’t seen it in years. 

Abbott and Costello were the hosts of The Colgate Comedy Hour. It was a Christmas special with singing and dancing numbers, acrobats, and skits from Abbott and Costello. I don’t know that I found it extremely funny, but it was interesting. The most noteworthy thing for me was that one of the main guests were the Nicholas Brothers. They were a famous dancing act- they even danced with Gene Kelly in The Pirate in 1948. They were also black, which meant they were one of maybe 4 or 5 non-white performers I’ve seen on TV in 1952. (Aside from the cast of The Beulah Show.) That’s it- in a whole year, you can basically count on one hand how many black performers were on TV. In any case, the Nicholas Brothers were impressive, one of the show's highlights, and it was nice to hear the audience cheer very loudly for them at the end. 

...And now a word from today’s best sponsor: Fab Laundry Detergent! It’s the 1950s, so what do we most care about? Whiteness! You want to see white everywhere you look, don’t you? Then you need the detergent that gets clothes whiter without bleaching! Yes, Fab gets clothes whiter than any other product with bleaching! And it’s a much livelier white because it gets dirt out without leaving dulling soap scum behind. For brighter looking sweeter smelling clothes, get Fab! It’s also wonderfully mild on hands, so you can keep them whiter too!  

[papermoonloveslucy]

HELLS LUCY!

Lucy & Motorcycles

Lucille Ball was a motorcyle fan. She owned Hondas, Suzukis, and a Harley Davidson. In her personal ife, she rode on the back of Clark Gable's motorcycle. Lucy reluctantly gave up motorcycling after she hit a curb and her bike fell on her.

A GIrl, a Guy, and a Gob (1941) ~ Dot (Lucille Ball) disapproves of ‘Coffee Cup’ (George Murphy) riding a motorcyle. 

DOT: That’s how angels are made. 

“Liz the Matchmaker” (1949) ~ In this episode of Lucille Ball’s radio series “My Favorite Husband” Liz (Lucille Ball) is worried about her maid Katie’s romance with Mr. Negley, the postman (Jay Novello), because he always takes her to a drive-in theater on a motorcycle.

“The Sleigh Ride” (1949) ~ Mr. Negley decides to use his motorcycle to pull the holiday sleigh, but the load proves to much and the milkman’s old horse is pressed into service. 

“Safe Driving Week” (1950) ~ Liz and Marge (Elvia Allman) are pulled over by a motorcycle cop for driving too close to the curb. The policeman insists on driving their car away from the curb, but runs over his own motorcycle in the process!  Marge and Liz drive away, leaving the motorcycle cop in tears, clutching only his handlebars. 

This visual gag was brought to life on “I Love Lucy” in....

“Ricky Sells the Car” (1955) ~ Doubtful that Ricky will spring for their train fare home, Fred purchases an antique motorcycle. He weighs it down with all their belongings, just like the Pontiac in “California, Here We Come!”  The Mertzes are even attired in vintage leather riding outfits!  Viewers who know their motorbikes guess that it is a Harley-Davidson Model DL 750cc from about 1929.

LUCY: Ethel, are you seriously considering going all the way to New York on a motorcycle?  ETHEL: Well, Fred gave me a choice and this beats hitchhiking.

Oops! The sound of the motorcycle crashing happens before it is even off the screen. Also, Fred’s dialogue in this scene has been noticeably re-recorded because of the noise from the crash. In the above screen shot you can see the wire that pulled the motorcycle backward.  

“Lucy Hunts Uranium” (1958) ~ The Ricardos and Fred MacMurray get pulled over for speeding by a morotcycle cop. 

“Lucy Drives a Dump Truck” (1963) ~ And this policeman (Richard Reeves) drives a three-wheeled motorbike. 

“Lucy the Meter Maid” (1964) ~ A hybrid vehicle, Lucy drives a Cushman Minute Miser Truckster. These vehicles were especially created for traffic police who checked meters. 

“Mr. and Mrs. aka The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour” (1964) ~ Lucille Ball and Gale Gordon travel across the German border driving a Vespa motor scooter searching for Bob Hope. 

“Lucy in the Music World” (1965) ~ Lucy’s neighbor Mel Tinker (Mel Torme) keeps his 1962 Honda Dream motorcycle indoors. The question is - how did he get it up the stairs?

“Lucy Goes to a Hollywood Premiere” (1966) ~  A motorcycle zooms by Lucy Carmichael selling maps to the movie stars homes. This time it is the driver who is old, not the motorcycle.  As the old lady races off, Lucy shouts “Say hello to Steve McQueen!”  Two of McQueen’s favorite things were racing and motorcycles. He famously rode a motorcycle in 1963’s The Great Escape.

“Lucy in London” (1966) ~ Lucy Carmichael and Anthony Newley get around mod London any way they can - including motorcycle and rocket-shaped side-car.

The special was shot on location in London. Ball and Newley did the driving themselves! 

“Viv Visits Lucy” (1967) ~ Trying to track down a Danfield boy, they go down to the Sunset Strip dressed as ‘hippies’ and go into a biker bar.  The Police Officer’s motorcycle is a 1958 Harley-Davidson Duo Glide. 

Several other motorcycles are also parked on the street during the scene. Hamburger Hovel is home of the ‘Biker Burger’!  

“Lucy Gets Involved” (1968) ~ Tommy Watkins (Phil Vandervoort) rides a white 1962 Honda Dream motorcycle. It was previously seen parked inside Mel Tinker’s apartment in “Lucy in the Music World”.  

Yours, Mine & Ours (1968) ~ In the Lucille Ball / Henry Fonda film, the neighbor boy’s motorcycle is run over by the Beardsley’s station wagon.  

“Lucy and the Diamond Cutter” (1970) ~ Craig talks to Steve on the telephone about a part for his motorcycle. It turns out to be an air horn. Motorcycles don’t usually have air horns! Oops!

“Lucy the Skydiver” (1970) ~ Craig takes up spear fishing while Kim joins a motorcycle club. When Lucy sees her daughter in a motorcycle helmet she asks if she’s playing for the Rams football team. Lucy says she doesn’t want Kim to be another Steve McQueen.

“Circus of the Stars II” (1977) ~ Lucille Ball is the ringmaster and Peter Fonda performs a daredevil motorcycle stunt on a high wire. 

In a taped segment singer / songwriter Paul Williams goes skydiving. Once he alights (just outside his circus ring target) Williams and a dozen men waiting for him on the ground mount motorbikes and zoom away through the desert.

“Lucy Moves to NBC” (1980) ~ Scotty Plummer (Scotty Coogan) wants a motorcycle for his 18th birthday. He even tries to pawn his prized banjo to buy one. 

1999 ~ Postage stamps from Republic of Turkmenistan feature Lucille Ball in a diner with Carmen Miranda and Humphrey Bogart, looking at Marilyn Monroe standing outside next to a motorcycle. 

2020 ~ A Lucille Ball impersonator at Universal Studios Hollywood poses in the sidecar of a Royal Enfield motorcycle. The Royal Enfield brandis the oldest global motorcycle brand in continuous production.

[kwebtv]

TV Guide - April 6 - 12, 1963

Lucille Désirée Ball (August 6, 1911 – April 26, 1989) Actress, comedian, model, film studio executive, and TV producer. She was the star of the sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here’s Lucy, and Life with Lucy.  

[stubobnumbers]

Television History - 1953.

Debuting Shows: February 10 – Romper Room (1953–1994). Medallion Theatre (CBS) (1953-1954). The Man Behind The Badge (CBS) (1953-1954). Place the Face, with principal host Bill Cullen, on CBS (1953–1954); then transferred to NBC (1954–1955) Bank on the Stars on CBS (1953), then NBC (1954). Judge for Yourself with Fred Allen on NBC (1953–1954). Jukebox Jury on ABC (1953–1954). The George Jessel Show on ABC. Make Room For Daddy with Danny Thomas on ABC (1953-1957), then moved to CBS (1957–1964). October 2 – The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse, an anthology series, The Comeback Story, a reality show, and The Pride of the Family, a situation comedy, all on ABC. Of Many Things, panel discussion show with Dr. Bergen Evans on ABC (1953–1954). Where's Raymond?, starring Ray Bolger on ABC (in season 2, it is known as The Ray Milland Show) (1953–1955). November 11 - The public affairs series Answers for Americans on ABC. November 11 - The current affairs series Panorama on BBC Television; now the longest-running program on British television. December 1 – CBC Theatre on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation [later known as General Motors Theatre (1954–1956) and General Motors Presents (1958–1961).

Shows That Went Off The Air (The Year They Began): Kaleidoscope - UK (1946). Cafe Continental - UK (1947). The Amos & Andy Show (1951). Front Page Detective (1951). Biff Baker, USA (1952). Victory At Sea (1952). A Date with Judy (prime time version) (1952). Leave It To Larry (1952).

Notable Events In TV History: January 23 – TP1, a predecessor of TVP1, a member of Telewizja Polska, becomes the first television station in Poland when it officially begins a regular broadcasting service, from Warsaw.

February 1 - Japanese television begins when JOAK-TV begins broadcasting from Tokyo.

February 18 – Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz sign an $8,000,000 contract to continue the I Love Lucy television series through 1955. (8 million dollars in early 1950s money!).

February 26 – Fulton J. Sheen, on his program Life Is Worth Living, reads Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, with the names of high-ranking Soviet officials replacing the main characters. At the end of the reading, Sheen intones that "Stalin must one day meet his judgment". Stalin dies one week later.

March 19 – The 25th Academy Awards is broadcast by NBC in the U.S. This becomes the first Academy Awards ceremony to be televised.

April 3 – TV Guide is published for the first time in the United States, with 10 editions and a circulation of 1,562,000.

May 1 – Czechoslovak Television becomes the first television station in the country when it officially begins a regular broadcasting service, from Prague; this station will separate into Česká televize and Slovenská televízia in January 1993.

May 25 – KUHT in Houston becomes the first non-commercial educational TV station in the United States.

July 18 - The Tonight Show begins as a local New York variety show, originally titled The Knickerbocker Beer Show.

August 28 – Nippon Television, becomes the first regular broadcast service to start in Tokyo, Japan.[5] The first program is Hato no kyujitsu.

September 27 – RecordTV, a major free-to-air television network in Brazil, becomes the first official regular broadcasting service to start in Sao Paulo.

October 23 – Alto Broadcasting System of the Philippines makes the first television broadcast in Southeast Asia through DZAQ-TV. Alto Broadcasting System is the predecessor of what is now ABS-CBN Corporation.

October 31 – Le NIR, predecessor of Één, becomes the first television station in Belgium, when it officially begins a regular broadcasting service.

November 15 – Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) becomes the first television station in Venezuela when it officially begins a regular broadcast service.

November 22 – RCA airs (with special permission from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S.) the first commercial color program in compatible color, The Colgate Comedy Hour with Donald O'Connor.

November 26 – NBC broadcasts its first national telecast of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

December 2 – BBC broadcasts its 'Television Symbol' for the first time, the first animated television presentation symbol.

December 12 – The DuMont Television Network televises its first ever National Basketball Association game with the Boston Celtics defeating the Baltimore Bullets 106–75. This marked the first year the NBA had a national television contract. This was the only year of NBA coverage on DuMont; the Saturday afternoon package moved to NBC for the 1954–55 season, mainly because NBC could clear the games on far more stations that DuMont could. (December 13th, Beef was invented).

[citizenscreen]

Lucille Ball on set of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” in 1958

[famdontendwithblood]

“The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour”

[good-evening-mr-kaplan]

Ok so @sherlockfreak05 said she tags anyone to do this top 10 tv shows using gifs only and said to considered yourself tagged if you want to do it so thanks I guess??

Idk if it’ll be ten but here we go

1.

2. I understand it’s basically the same show but it’s considered a different show at the same time.

3. “Who’s phone is ringing?? Mine! Mine!” Classic lol

4. I still love them...haven’t watched them in awhile though

5. I love watching this with my dad...it’s our bonding time :)

6.

7. I need to watch this more often again

8.

And that’s about it so almost 10 good enough.

I tag @britishsixtiesbeat and @in-fond-remebrance-of-me if you want to do it and anyone else that wants to do it.