1975
Lucille Ball’s first calendar year without a regular series since 1961. She produces two network specials and appears on game, variety, and talk shows.
“The
Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Lucille Ball” ~ February 7, 1975
The first of many celebrations of Lucille Ball’s career. On the dais, Dean Martin presents Lucille’s friends and colleagues Bob Hope, Gale Gordon, Milton Berle, Henry Fonda, Ginger Rogers, Jack Benny, and Vivian Vance.
“Lucy
Gets Lucky” ~ March 1, 1975
In her second network special, Lucille Ball and Dean Martin (playing himself) go on location to the newly-opened MGM Grand in Las Vegas, where Lucy Collins takes a myriad of hotel jobs in order to attend a special employees-only concert by Dino. Jackie Coogan and Gary Morton are featured.
“Password” ~ May 3, 1975
Nearly all copies of the ABC re-boot of “Password” were lost when they were taped over in a network recycling effort. Hosted by Alan Ludden.
“Dinah!” ~ May 15, 1975
Dinah Shore hosts Lucille Ball along with Vivian Vance, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Bert Parks, and musical guest Sha Na Na.
”The
26th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards” ~ May 19, 1975
Presenting the award for outstanding comedy series Lucille Ball had forgotten her glasses. After mixing up the envelopes, Milton Berle jumped onstage to offer an empty wine glass for her to look through. Finally, somebody produced a pair of lenses and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” was declared the winner.
”The
Dick Cavett Show” ~ August 16, 1975
Lucille Ball appears on the first episode of Dick Cavett’s CBS summer variety show. Other guests include Henry Gibson (”Laugh-In”), Liza Minnelli, and magician Doug Henning.
“Dinah!”~ September
23, 1975
Dinah Shore’s guests include Lucille Ball, John Byner, and George Segal.
“Sammy
& Company” ~ October 18, 1975
Lucille Ball guest stars on Sammy Davis Jr.’s variety show. The episode also features Chuck Berry, Maya Angelou, and Freddie Prinz (”Chico and the Man”).
“Dinah!”~ December 1, 1975
Lucille Ball’s third visit to Dinah Shore’s talk show in 1975 alone. She is joined by Vivian Vance reading
a ‘mock contract’ that Ball gave her (for laughs) years earlier. Lucille is joined by her daughter Lucie Aranz, her mother Dede Ball, and her friend Zsa Zsa Gabor.
“Three
for Two” ~ December 3, 1975
Lucille Ball finishes the year with the Great One, Jackie Gleason, in her third network special. The icons of comedy perform in three different short teleplays, all as different characters.
Also in 1975…
“Dinah!” ~ April 29, 1975
Dinah’s guest is Lucy’s Mame co-star Bea Arthur, who played Mame’s bosom buddy Vera Charles in the film. Lucille Ball is only seen in archival footage of Mame. Vic Damone is the musical guest.
Papermoon Loves Lucy 
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