Before television and the internet were the main evening’s entertainment, there was always the option of reading a good book! Lucy and friends did their share of reading.
FICTIONAL FICTION
The
Mocking Bird Murder Mystery – “Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying To Murder Her” (S1;E4 ~ November 5, 1951)
This is the very first image of Lucile Ball filmed for “I Love Lucy.”
“The Black Eye” (S2;E20 ~ March 9, 1953)
An unnamed torrid novel of love and murder is also the weapon that gives Lucy a black eye, although Ethel thinks it is Ricky’s Latin temper!
Blood
Curdling Indian Tales – “The Indian Show” (S2;E24 ~ May 4, 1953)
Hearing Ricky is doing an Indian show at the club, she does her research, but it only succeeds in terrifying her, despite the fact that she lives in mid-town Manhattan!
OFF THE SHELVES
Lucy: “You’ll get no more books from me, so go watch television!”
(S3;E24 ~ April 5, 1954)
The episode contains references to best sellers like Gone
With The Wind by
Margaret Mitchell, The
Caine Mutiny by
Herman Wouk, and Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor.
Try
and Stop Me
by Bennett Cerf – “The Inferiority Complex”
(S2;E18 ~ February 2, 1953)
& “Ricky Has Labor Pains (S2;E14 ~ January 5, 1953)
Pregnant Lucy apparently liked to laugh. This compilation of funny stories by Bennett Cerf can be glimpsed on bookshelves in the Ricardo living room and bedroom! But Lucy is fickle!
Ellery Queen Mysteries – “The Matchmaker” (S4;E4 ~ October 25, 1954)
When Ricky doesn’t come home after an argument, Fred invokes the name of famous (fictional) detective, who had mystery books published throughout the 1950s.
Although Ricky and Fred are at the newsstand for the papers, the pulp paperback publisher Lion gets a plug with its book rack placement in “Lucy’s Club Dance” (S3;E25).
CHILDREN’S CORNER
The
Enchanted Forest – “Little Ricky’s School Pageant” (S6;E10 ~ December 17, 1956)
“…and after the mean old witch recited the code of the Enchanted Forest, the Fairy Princess waved her wand and there was dancing and singing and everyone lived happily ever after!”
Three
of Us – “The Ricardos Go To Cuba” (S6;E9 ~ December 3,1956)
On an a flight from Miami to Havana, Ricky reads to his son from this real book!
REFERENCE, RESEARCH & SELF-HELP
Masks
of West Africa by
Leon Underwood – “Lucy Goes To The Hospital”
(S2;E16 ~ January 19, 1953)
Doing research for a new show, Ricky consults this real book for ideas. The scary face he chooses will be the first image of him his newborn son sees!
Numerology
– “The Seance” (S1;E7 ~ November 26, 1951)
For a single episode, Lucy is infatuated with astrology and numerology. Lucy is a 3, Ricky is a 5, Ethel is a 7 – all odd! We never learn what Fred’s number is (but we suspect he is also odd).
“Vacation from Marriage” (S2;E6 ~ October 27, 1952)
“There times when married couples let their lives fall into set patterns. The only thing to do in a case like this is for the marital partners to spend some time away from each other. Change your whole way of living. Take a week’s vacation from marriage and don’t even see your husband or wife. Vacation from marriage will give you both a whole new perspective”
How
To Keep the Honeymoon from Ending
by Dr. Humphries – “Be a Pal” (S1;E2 ~ October 22, 1951)
Ethel consults this self-help book to keep Lucy’s marriage together. It ends up with Lucy dressed as Carmen Miranda!
Pocket
Reporter:
‘ How
to Rate Your Marriage’ or ‘Is Your Spouse a Louse?’
–
“Ricky’s Old Girlfriend” (S3;E12 ~ December 21, 1953)
Instead of playing cards or watching TV, the four take a quiz that leads to Ricky inventing a former girlfriend to make Lucy jealous. When the girlfriend turns out to be real – and in town – Lucy has nightmares about Ricky leaving her for the sexy Cuban dancer.
French
– “Lucy Gets a Paris Gown”
(S5;E20 ~ March 19, 1956)
& “Staten Island Ferry” (S5;E12 – January 2, 1956)
When the foursome travel to Europe, everyone is assigned a language to learn. Lucy is learning French!
“Lucy Gets a Paris Gown” (S5;E20
~ March 19, 1956)
Lucy tells Ricky she’s on a hunger strike until he buys her a Jacques Marcel gown, but in fact she has cold cuts hidden in a book!
Michelin
Guide to Paris
– “Lucy Goes To Monte Carlo”
(S5;E25 ~ May 7, 1956)
The only question here is why is Lucy looking for Monte Carlo restaurants in a Paris Michelin Guide? Ooops!
Britain 1955 – “Lucy Meets The Queen” (S5;E15 ~ January 30, 1956)
Ethel holds the guidebook while Lucy quizzes the Buckingham Palace guard.
Baby and Child Care by Dr. Benjamin Spock – “Nursery School” (S5;E9 ~ December 5, 1955)
Lucy’s been mis-quoting Dr. Spock, so Ricky turns the tables, proving that Little Ricky should go to nursery school, even though mama Lucy feels otherwise.
How
to Sing by
F. Alsetto – “The
Benefit” (S1;E13 ~ January 7, 1952)
When Lucy wants to get into Ricky’s new act, she’s determined to improve her singing. This funny prop book is left casually lying on the top of the piano.
Papermoon Loves Lucy 
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