UNSEEN LUCY AND DESI, THE: TREASURES FROM THE
VAULT: THE EARLY TELEVISION YEARS {PACKAGE 1}
Summary
"I Love Lucy" is perhaps the best-known and most
influential television situation comedy of all
timeÑscholar David Marc calls it Òa watershed in the
history of television, and specifically in the
development of television comedy.Ó While generations of
fans enjoy watching reruns of "I Love Lucy" with Lucille
Ball and Desi Arnaz in their roles as Lucy and Ricky
Ricardo, rarely are there opportunities to see the
pairÕs guest appearancesÑboth in and out of characterÑon
other television shows.
The Museum has unearthed a range of programs and rare
footage that offer viewers a unique opportunity to see
televisionÕs favorite redhead and her partner in new
ways.
The three screening packages include material from
different eras of Lucy and DesiÕs reign as televisionÕs
star couple, including their first television appearance
together on "The Ed Wynn Show" and one of their last
guest appearances as Lucy and Ricky on "The Milton
Berle Show." Highlights of the rarely seen footage
include special animated openings with stick-figure
versions of Lucy and Desi that predate the familiar
satin heart opening; Lucy and Desi doing commercials for
the showÕs chief sponsor, Philip Morris; and alternate
"I Love Lucy" opening sequences, located by the Museum.
Special thanks to Lucie Arnaz and Gregg Oppenheimer for
providing material.
The Early Television Years
Before "I Love Lucy" premiered on October 15, 1951, Lucy
and Desi had been perfecting their comedy in guest
appearances on such programs as "The Ed Wynn Show" in
1949. "I Love Lucy" was an instant success in its initial
season (1951Ð1952), becoming the first series filmed in
Hollywood (rather than shown live from New York) to top
the Nielsen ratings.
This episode of "The Ed Wynn Show" marks the first time
Lucy and Desi appeared on the same television show. Desi
clowns with Wynn and sings, and Lucy does a sketch in
which she plays a sexy spy trying to steal secrets from
Wynn.(1949; 30 minutes)
This televised CBS special, celebrating the networkÕs
new Hollywood studios, features appearances by
Hollywood stars, including Jack Benny, Desi Arnaz, and
Lucille Ball. In this clip, Benny keeps popping up on
the "I Love Lucy" set, trying to convince Lucy and Desi to
appear in the special. This was Lucille BallÕs last
television appearance before she took a four-month
maternity leave. (1952; excerpt)
This is the first episode of "I Love Lucy" that aired, and
it has the showÕs original opening animation and
commercials. Lucy and Ethel want to spend an evening at
a nightclub, while their husbands would rather watch the
fights. (1951; 30 minutes)
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: November 30, 1999
- RUNNING TIME: 1:04:20
- COLOR/B&W: Color and B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:59261
- GENRE: N/A
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Lucille Ball
- Desi Arnaz
- William Frawley
- Vivian Vance