The iconic television show, ‘I Love Lucy,’ premiered on Oct. 15, 1951, and had its finale on May 6, 1957, setting a groundbreaking precedent for women in comedy. Take a look back at the comedic show.
On Oct. 15, 1951, the premiere episode of “I Love Lucy” spread laughter around the country. The groundbreaking television show starred Lucille Ball as Lucy Ricardo, the hilariously eccentric wife of bandleader Ricky Ricardo, played by her real-life husband, Desi Arnaz. The show ran for six years and won numerous awards, including five Emmys. The on and off-screen husband and wife duo is pictured here in their iconic New York City apartment during a 1954 episode.
Uh oh! It looks like Lucy and Ethel bit off more than they can chew! In the 1952 episode, “Job Switching,” the comedic duo goes to work at a candy factory, and when they find out it’s more than they can handle, they resort to shoving the candies in their mouths. The sign behind them, “Danger: Be careful when belt is in motion,” says it all!
No “Lucy” fan can forget the famous 1952 episode, “Lucy Does a Television Commercial.” Always wanting to be the star of the show, Lucy deceives her way into starring in a television commercial for Vitameatavegamin, a fictional health tonic, which unbeknown to Lucy and the commercial director, contains quite a bit of alcohol. After a few sips, Lucy begins to feel the effects of the inebriating drink, making for a very funny episode!
Nothing brings the laughter quite like the 1956 episode, “Lucy’s Italian Movie.” Lucy thinks her dreams have come true when she gets asked to play an American tourist in an Italian movie called, “Bitter Grapes.” Thinking that the film will require knowledge of the wine industry, Lucy sets out to “soak up local color,” which of course Ricky advises against, and she heads to a vineyard to stomp grapes. Lucy quickly finds herself literally saturated in local color — purple to be specific!
Always a clown! In the 1951 episode, “The Audition,” the clown in Ricky’s act gets injured and Lucy is quick to volunteer to fill in for him. In a hilarious scene from the episode, Lucy receives training from a fellow clown, who doesn’t hesitate to give her a pie in the face!
In the 1953 episode, “Lucy Becomes a Sculptress,” Lucy is pregnant and gets the urge to learn everything she can about art so their child can be cultured. Always having delusions of grandeur, Lucy sets out to be a famous sculptor, but hilarity ensues when she actually becomes the sculpture!
Always cooking up wild delusions in her head, Lucy becomes afraid that one of her new neighbors is threatening to kill her in the 1952 episode, “New Neighbors.” She somehow convinces Ricky, Fred and Ethel that they’re all in danger, and the crew gets into big trouble — which of course brings big laughs!
Despite all of her slip ups and goofs, Lucy always had her husband, Ricky! The happy couple is pictured here goofing off in the iconic
Despite all of her slip ups and goofs, Lucy always had her husband, Ricky! The happy couple is pictured here goofing off in the iconic “Job Switching” episode where Lucy and Ethel go to work in a candy factory, and of course everything goes terribly wrong! In real life, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz married in 1940, but divorced in 1960.
Leave it to Lucy to always land herself in a new sticky situation! In the 1953 episode, “Lucy Tells the Truth,” the fiery redhead accidentally volunteers to have knives thrown at her after going to an audition and expecting to land a part in Ricky’s show!
It’s the boys vs. the girls in this 1956 episode, “Deep Sea Fishing!” Lucy and Ethel make a bet with Ricky and Fred as to who can catch the biggest fish and to secure victory, both teams sneakily purchase a 100-pound fish and hide them in separate bathtubs. One thing leads to another, and they all get caught!
During the second season of “I Love Lucy,” Lucy and Ricky have a son named Ricky Ricardo, Jr., whom they call Little Ricky. In real life, the on-screen birth was timed to coincide with Ball’s real-life delivery of her son Desi Arnaz Jr. Keith Thibodeaux, the actor who played Little Ricky, grew up in real-time on the show, unlike other shows, which quickly advance the age of a child by getting a new actor. The main cast is pictured here in a publicity photo circa 1955.
