LUCY: 40 YEARS OF TELEVISION

1952 Part One ~ JANUARY to JUNE

The second half of the first season of “I Love Lucy”. In February, the show is nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award, but loses to “The Red Skelton Show.” Lucille Ball learns that she is pregnant again. The first season ends with the most episodes (35) of any “Lucy-com”!

“The Benefit” (ILL S1;E13) ~ January 7, 1952

One of three episodes intended to form the I Love Lucy Movie that was never completed. Lucy and Ricky do an act called “Songs and Witty Sayings” which Lucy and Desi later performed for President Eisenhower. Filmed November 30, 1951.

“The Amateur Hour” (ILL S1;E14) ~ January 14, 1952

This is the first time the Ricardos’ address of 623 East 68th Street is mentioned in the show. If the address really existed, it would be right in the middle of New York’s East River! The rambunctious Hudson twins are not actually twins at all, but two young actors costumed to look identical. Filmed December 7, 1951.

“Lucy Plays Cupid” (ILL S1;E15) ~ January 21, 1952

This episodes features Bea Benadaret, who was Lucy’s co-star on her radio show and first choice to play Ethel Mertz. Character actor Edward Everett Horton also appears as Mr. Ritter. The children in the above photo were recruited by Lucy to stave off the romantic affections of Mr. Ritter. A miniature Little Ricky is among the group (with conga drum) a year before the character was born! Fred and Ethel do not appear in this show. Filmed December 13, 1951.

“Lucy Fakes Illness” (ILL S1;E16) ~ January 28, 1952

Gobloots! Lucy’s mystery illness is what this episode is best remembered for, although Ball also does a wonderful impression of Tallulah Bankhead. When reverting to childhood, Lucy’s baby voice was inspired by Ginger Rogers in the 1942 film The Major and the Minor. This is the first appearance of actor Hal March, playing a character named… Hal March! Filmed December 18, 1951.

“Lucy Writes a Play” (ILL S1;E17) ~ February 4, 1952

The first appearance of the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League, presenting “A Tree Grows in Havana” (set in Cuba) which switches

mid-performance

to “The Perils of Pamela” (set in England). The last episode filmed before Christmas break 1951.

“Breaking the Lease” (ILL S1;E18) ~ February 11, 1952

This is the first time “Sweet Sue” is sung on the show.

This is the first all-out fight between the Mertzes and the Ricardos.

When Lucy is packing to move out, a magazine with Lucy and Desi on the cover can be glimpsed on the coffee table! Lucy’s friend Barbara Pepper (and candidate to play Ethel Mertz) makes her first of 8 appearances. This is the first episode filmed after the Christmas break, on January 5, 1952.

"The Ballet” (ILL S1;E19) ~ February 18, 1952

Lucy continues to employ her friends, casting Mary Wickes as the ballet instructress, Madam LaMond. According to Lucie Arnaz, Wickes was her mother’s most constant friend throughout her life. In addition to Lucy’s comedy at the barre, the episode contains the vaudeville routine “Slowly I Turned” (”Martha!”). This is the third of three episodes that was supposed to comprise the unproduced “I Love Lucy” movie. Filmed January 11, 1952.

“The Young Fans” (ILL S1;E20) ~ February 25, 1952

One of only two episodes without Fred and Ethel, this episode features Janet Waldo and Richard Crenna as the ‘young fans’ reprising roles they created on Lucy’s radio show. Both would have successful careers on TV. Waldo (later the voice of Judy Jetson on “The Jetsons”) played Lucy’s sister on a 1963 episode of “The Lucy Show.” The episode also gives us the line “Keep jiggling, Peggy!” as well as a glimpse of Lucy and Ricky in their golden years. Filmed January 18, 1952.

“New Neighbors” (ILL S1;E21) ~ March 3, 1952

This episode is probably best remembered for featuring Hayden Rorke (later Dr. Bellows on “I Dream of Jeannie”) and K.T. Stevens (one of Vivian Vance’s best friends). It also features a couple of firsts: the first (and only) time we ‘break the fourth wall’ and see a window in the living room; and the first time the gang is behind bars. Filmed January 25, 1952.

“Fred and Ethel Fight” (ILL S1;E22) ~ March 10, 1952

This episode is based on a real-life incident in which the Arnazes tried to mediate a spat between friends and were successful, but ended up fighting themselves. We hear about Fred and Ethel’s mothers, although neither will ever appear on the series.

It is the first time we hear Lucy Ricardo’s middle name: Esmeralda.

We also learn that Lucy Ricardo dyes her hair – with bottles of Henna Rinse. Filmed January 30, 1952.

“The Mustache” (ILL S1;E23) ~ March 17, 1952

The episode really should be titled “The Beard”! Ricky sings “I’ll See You in C-U-B-A” and we learn a little about the Mertz’s vaudeville past. A mention of Major Bowes and Vigoro, a grass-growing product! Filmed February 8, 1952.

“The Gossip” (ILL S1;E24) ~ March 24, 1952

Features Bobby Jellison as the Milkman, 3 years before he played Bobby the Bellboy in Hollywood. Mentions of Gold Dust washing powder, Louella Parsons, and Hedda Hopper, who would appear as herself in season five. The show unusually makes use of voice over so that the audience can hear what Lucy and Ricky are thinking. Filmed February 15, 1952.

“Pioneer Women” (ILL S1;E25) ~ March 31, 1952

The huge loaf of bread is one of the most memorable images from “I Love Lucy.” It was an actual loaf baked by a local bakery. After the filming, the giant loaf was carved up and enjoyed by cast, crew and the studio audience. Less memorable, but still remarkable, is Ricky riding a live horse home from work! Filmed February 22, 1952.

“The Marriage License” (ILL S1;E26) ~ April 7, 1952

Marks the first time the action was set outside NYC. The show used actual facts from Lucy and Desi’s wedding to create the plot. This is the first appearance of Elizabeth Patterson (who would go on to play Mrs. Trumbull) and Irving Bacon (who would go on to play Ethel’s Father, Will Potter). Filmed February 28, 1952.

“The Kleptomaniac” (ILL S1;E27) ~ April 14, 1952

The centerpiece of this episode is Lucy hiding a cuckoo clock under her coat while being quizzed by Ricky and Fred. There’s also a live baby elephant! Joseph Kearns (Mr. Wilson on ”Dennis the Menace”) plays Lucy’s feesukeyatrist (as Ricky says). Filmed March 7, 1952.

“Cuban Pals” (ILL S1;E28) ~ April 21, 1952

One of the Cuban pals is played by sexy Lita Baron (Mrs. Rory Calhoun). Lucy and Ethel dressed as cleaning ladies is a highlight. Ricky sings “The Lady in Red” (which is the color of the dress Lucy is wearing above) and “Similau.” The 1992 film The Mambo Kings inserted a scene from this episode into the story! Filmed March 14, 1952.

“The Freezer” (ILL S1;E29) ~ April 28, 1952

Who can forget the sight of Lucy’s icicle-laden face peering through the freezer window? Her slick spiel while re-selling the meat from a pram in a busy butcher shop was also memorable. Make-up designer Hal King designed Lucy’s quick-frozen look. Filmed March 21, 1952.

“Ellis In Freedomland” ~ May 1952

An 82 minute technicolor promotional film for Westinghouse Appliances. In it, Lucille Ball voices Lina the Laundromat (aka Washing Machine)! Some of the other celebrities lending their voices included James Mason, Andy Devine, Jerry Colonna, and Maureen O’Hara as the Dishwasher! Betty Furness was their spokeswoman.

“4-Star Revue" (S2;E35) ~ May 3, 1952

Lucy and Desi’s first non-”I Love Lucy” appearance in two years. They re-join Ed Wynn, one of the show’s rotating hosts. This was also their first time on another network (NBC) since signing on with CBS to do “I Love Lucy.” They shared the stage with British comic Ben Wrigley, who would be featured in four future “Lucy” sitcoms!

“Lucy Does a TV Commercial” (ILL S1;E30) ~ May 5, 1952

One of the three episodes most viewers rate as their favorite “I Love Lucy” episode!

In 1997, TV Guide ranked this episode #2 on its list of the 100 Greatest Episodes. In 2009, it moved to #4. The initial airing was watched by 68% of the television viewing audience. This was also the first episode in which Desi Arnaz received a producer’s credit. It was such a funny episode, few remember that Vivian Vance is not in the show. It was colorized in 2015. Filmed March 28, 1952.

“The Publicity Agent” (ILL S1;E31) ~ May 12, 1952

Lucy poses as the Maharinsess of Franistan. “Hail, Tiger!” Ricky sing “Babalu” and “I Get Ideas.” Filmed April 4, 1952.

“Lucy Gets Ricky on the Radio” (ILL S1;E32) ~ May 19, 1952

Freddy Fillmore (Frank Nelson, above) returns with a new radio show, “Mr. and Mrs. Quiz”. Lucy steals the answers before they change the questions, and her on-air replies end up being unintentionally hilarious. One scene at home shows Lucy reading Look Magazine – one with Lucille Ball on the cover! Filmed April 11, 1952.

“Lucy’s Schedule” (ILL S1;E33) ~ May 26, 1952

After having to turn down the offer to play Fred Mertz, Gale Gordon finally appears on “I Love Lucy” as Alvin Littlefield, new owner of the Tropicana. The centerpiece of this episode is Lucy’s manic dinner party, complete with biscuits pitched like baseballs and barely tasted split pea soup that doesn’t get a chance to get cold. Filmed April 18, 1952.

“Ricky Thinks He’s Getting Bald” (ILL S1;E34) ~ June 2, 1952

Series head writer/producer Jess Oppenheimer was bald, and actually tried out the odd-looking device that Lucy uses on Ricky.

Originally, the ‘bald party’ was the episode’s last scene, not the ‘torture treatment.’ After the episode was filmed, Oppenheimer didn’t think the party scene was funny enough to end the show, so new sequences were shot and the episode was re-edited to put the torture treatment at the end. One of just two episodes where Fred Mertz actually has hair! Filmed April 25, 1952.

“Ricky Asks for a Raise” (ILL S1;E35) ~ June 9, 1952

A farcical premise pays off with a hysterical quick change act where Lucy, Ethel and Fred, get to do a variety of characters. Gale Gordon returns (for the last time) as Alvin Littlefield. “Ricky Ricardo is not playing here anymore?” Filmed May 2, 1952.