1963 Part One ~ JANUARY to JUNE
The conclusion of Lucille Ball’s first season of “The Lucy Show.” Would Ball be talked into a second season? Stay tuned!
“Lucy’s Sister Pays a Visit” (TLS S1;E15) ~ January 7, 1963
The title character was played by Janet Waldo (voice of Judy Jetson) who
played Ricky’s teenage fan Peggy Dawson in “The Young Fans” (ILL S1;20). Her fiancee is played by Peter Marshall (”Hollywood Squares”). Despite the above press photo, the episode was filmed and aired in black and white.
“Lucy and Viv Are Volunteer Firemen”
(TLS S1;E16) ~ January 14, 1963
The episode introduces the concept of Lucy and Viv as firefighters. In connection with this episode, Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance were made honorary fire chiefs of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
“Lucy Becomes a Reporter” (TLS S1;E17) ~ January 21, 1963
We learn a lot about Viv in this episode. Her maiden name is Tuttle. Argyle ‘Socks’ Nelson was her first kiss.
Argyle and Viv were cheerleaders together.
She went to Shortridge High School, which was the real life Indianapolis high school of writer Madelyn Pugh Davis.
“Lucy and Viv Put in a Shower” (TLS S1;E18) ~ January 28, 1963
One of the most memorable episodes of the series.
Lucille Ball later stated that she nearly drowned during the filming of this episode. The gag of being trapped in a shower was repeated on “Will and Grace” in 2017.
“Lucy’s Barbershop Quartet” (TLS S1;E19) ~ February 4, 1963
Hans Conreid makes the first of two appearances as voice coach Dr. Gitterman. Carole Cook and Dorothy Konrad fill out the quartet, which is comprised of the Danfield Volunteer Women Firefighters.
“Lucy and Viv Become Tycoons” (TLS S1;E20) ~ February 11, 1963
This get-rich-quick scheme revolves around selling homemade caramel corn.
The plot of this episode is most most directly taken from 1953’s “The Million Dollar Idea” (ILL S3;E13).
“No More Double Dates”
(TLS S1;E21) ~ February 18, 1963
When Lucy and Viv double date there’s an argument about where to go and what to do. They couples fib to each other about their plans and then end up going to extremes to avoid each other all evening.
“Lucy and Viv Learn Judo” (TLS S1;E22) ~ February 25, 1963
Ed Parker (left) was a Hawaiin-born actor and stuntman who was often referred to as the ‘father of American Karate’. Lucille brought him in to teach her and Vivian the judo moves and also appear on screen. Louis Coppola (right) was a protege of Parker and hired after another actor was unable to do the stunts.
“Lucy Is a Soda Jerk” (TLS S1;E23) ~ March 4, 1963
This episode introduces Lucie Arnaz as Cynthia, Chris Carmichael’s best friend. Desi Arnaz Jr. was seen as a patron at the ice cream parlor. This prompted the above promo photo of Lucille and her children.
“Lucy Drives a Dump Truck” (TLS S1;E24) ~ March 11, 1963
This is a huge production for the series, using more than a dozen extras, 160,000 newspapers, an enormous sound stage dressed as a city street, and six vehicles including the title truck. On or around this date Lucille Ball announced that she would return for a second season of “The Lucy Show.”
“Lucy Visits the White House” (TLS S1;E25) ~ March 25, 1963
Scout mothers Lucy and Viv take their troop and their sugar cube White House to Washington DC via train, where they run into a conductor played by Frank Nelson, who played the train conductor in “The Great Train Robbery” (ILL S5;E5). The episode features a live horse and a horse double and a voice double for President Kennedy!
“Lucy and Viv Take Up Chemistry” (TLS S1;E26) ~ April 1, 1963
The afternoon this episode premiered, ABC premiered “General Hospital” and NBC premiered “The Doctors.” “I Love Lucy” favorite Lou Krugman plays the chemistry teacher.
“Lucy Is a Chaperone” (TLS S1;E27) ~ April 8, 1963
This week TV Guide celebrated the 10th anniversary of their first national edition. Just as Lucy was on the cover in 1953, she is on it again this week. Don Grady (”My Three Sons”) and Lucie Arnaz are featured in this episode, set at the beach.
“Lucy and the Little League” (TLS S1;E28) ~ April 15, 1963
Lucy gets banned from her son’s baseball game, resulting in her adopting numerous disguises. The cast features Herb Vigran, William Schallert, Desi Arnaz Jr., and Mary Jane Croft.
“Lucy and the Runaway Butterfly” (TLS S1;E29) ~ April 22, 1963
Lucy will do anything for her son – including tracking down a rare butterfly. The cast includes Lucy’s friend Mary Wickes and Ellen Corby (”The Waltons”).
“Lucy Buys a Boat” (TLS S1;E30) ~ April 29, 1963
Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance do some very athletic physical comedy coping with a boat pitching in a storm. This was intended to be the last episode of “The Lucy Show,” but Ball was also concerned that one season of shows would not sell well in markets that showed daily repeats.
“The
Ed Sullivan Show” (S15;E31) ~ May 5, 1963
Bob Hope and Lucille Ball talk about their movie Critic’s Choice, which premiered April 13, 1963. This would be their last film together and one they both considered a failure.
“What’s My Line?” (S14) ~ May 5, 1963
While in New York promoting Critic’s Choice, Lucy and Hope also appear on the game show “What’s My Line?”
“The 15th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards” ~ May 26, 1963
Held at the Hollywood Palladium and broadcast on NBC. Lucille Ball is nominated for “The Lucy Show,” but loses to Shirley Booth (”Hazel”).
“The Danny Kaye Show with Lucille Ball” is also nominated, but loses to “The Dick Van Dyke Show.”
ALSO IN 1963…
“Bob
Hope Special : TV Guide Awards” ~ April 14, 1963
Lucille Ball is nominated for Favorite Female Performer, along with Loretta Young, Carol Burnett, Shirley Booth, and Donna Reed. Ball and Reed are not present, and a still photo of them is shown instead. The winner is Carol Burnett!
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