April 10, 1988
On April 10, 1988, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) initiated Lucille Ball and Milton Berle into their Broadcasting Hall of Fame. The awards were announced at the Annual NAB Convention. Ironically, the ceremony was not broadcast or recorded. Although the Award had been bestowed since 1977, Lucy and Uncle Miltie were the first television broadcasters to be so honored. Previously, the recipients were all radio broadcasters, although fittingly, the first award went to CBS Chairman William Paley, along with Lucy’s pals Bob Hope and Jack Benny, for their radio programs.
Two weeks earlier, Ball and Berle were photographed together at the March 28,1988 Friar’s Club Roast honoring Liza Minnelli’s Lifetime Achievement in Entertainment, held at the Century Plaza Hotel. (Photo by Vinnie Zuffante / Getty Images)
After Ball’s passing in 1989, he said he and Lucy had dated casually in the 30’s, when she was a Goldwyn Girl and he was doing stand-up on the comedy circuits. Later, Miss Ball and Mr. Berle’s wife, Ruth, became close friends. After viewing footage of their work together, Berle said of Miss Ball: “I was amazed… at the rapport we had. You could tell we liked each other personally. A lot of it was ad libbed.”
A 1952 regional TV Guide touted the fall return of Ball and Berle’s TV offerings.
The following year, the new National TV Guide put Lucy and Berle on the totem pole of TV icons. Both Berle and Ball hold their sponsors products: she, Philip Morris cigarettes, and he a Texaco gas pump.
Although Lucille Ball guest starred on Berle’s Show “Texaco Star Theatre” in 1948, Berle was off sick, replaced by Walter O’Keefe filled in for an ailing Milton Berle. Berle’s absence delays the first meeting of superstars-to-be Ball and Berle until 1950, when he hosted…
“Show of the Year: Cerebral Palsy Telethon” ~ June 10, 1950
(Photo, left to right: Gabby Hayes, Roger Clipp, UCP Poster Child, Jane Pickens, and Dennis James.) The telethon was broadcast live from New York City with remotes from Philadelphia. Lucy and Desi were in New York City on their ‘vaudeville tour’ designed to try-out material for “I Love Lucy” and prove to the network and sponsors that they had good chemistry together.
After this chance encounter, Berle and Ball went their separate ways building a TV empire: He for NBC, she on CBS. It was more than a decade until the two TV stars performed together in…
“Milton Berle Hides Out at The Ricardos” (LDCH E11) ~ September 25, 1959
This was one of the last episodes of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” with Berle essentially playing himself, promoting his new book “Earthquake” and, of course, dressing up as Mildred.
In return, as was common at the time, Lucy and Desi did a show for Milton Berle on NBC….
“Sunday Showcase: The Lucy-Desi Milton Berle Special” ~ November 1, 1959
Lucy and Desi play the Ricardos (although no mention of Little Ricky or the Mertzes), filmed at the Rancho Mirage Casino Hotel in Las Vegas.
In between the two specials was a televised all-star tribute to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt on her Diamond Jubilee. Both Lucy and Milton were on the dais, as were many more celebrities. A similar program was aired the following year with Lucy in attendance, Milton Berle was not involved.
Six years went by before their next collaboration, this time on “The Lucy Show” with…
“Lucy Saves Milton Berle” (TLS S4;E12) ~ December 6, 1965
Milton Berle disguises himself as a drunk to do research for a role. He tells Lucy Carmichael that he is Milton Berle’s twin brother and Lucy vows to get even with Berle for neglecting his brother.
“The Milton Berle Show” (S1;E1) ~ September 9, 1966
Lucille Ball helps Milton Berle kick off his new variety show filmed at the Hollywood Palace. Despite much hype, this new ABC-TV show lasted just seven episodes.
Meanwhile…
“Lucy and John Wayne” (TLS S5;E10) ~ November 21, 1966
While Lucy is waiting for Wayne in the studio commissary, Milton Berle makes a silent cameo; nothing more than a walk-through, to great audience reaction.
In his final appearance on “The Lucy Show,” Berle brings along his real-life wife (and Lucille Ball’s friend) Ruth Cosgrove…
“Lucy Meets the Berles” (TLS S6;E1) ~ September 11, 1967
To earn extra money, Lucy Carmichael takes a job working as Milton Berle’s secretary. When she hears overhears Berle rehearsing a love scene with actress Ruta Lee, she jumps to the conclusion that he is being unfaithful to his wife!
“The Ed Sullivan Show” (S23;E1) ~ September 20, 1970
Ed Sullivan hosts the ‘Georgie Awards’ for Entertainer of the Year, from Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas. Berle and Ball are on hand to present awards. Lucy gets to present one to her ‘kid’ Carol Burnett.
“The 23rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards” ~ May 9, 1971
Broadcast on NBC from the Pantages Theatre, hosted by Johnny Carson. Lucille Ball is not nominated, despite the fact that there were only three nominees in her category. Gale Gordon lost to Edward Asner (”The Mary Tyler Moore Show”) and the “Here’s Lucy” writers were nominated for “Lucy Meets the Burtons” (HL S3;E1) but lost to “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” Lucy attended the Awards with her husband Gary, her daughter Lucie, and her son-in-law Phil Vandervoort.
Milton Berle was also in attendance, photographed here with Jimmy Durante.
“Zenith Presents: A Salute to Television’s 25th Anniversary” ~ September 10, 1972
This was a 90-minute special on ABC TV taped August 9 to August 12 in Los Angeles. It featured clips from show’s from television’s past. The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is also 25 years old and honors a select group of people who have made an impact, had popularity, proved longevity, and demonstrated substance. Ball and Berle are both recognized with a silver medallion on a plaque.
During the last season of “Here’s Lucy,” Berle makes a guest appearance…
“Milton Berle Is the Life of the Party” (HL S6;E19) ~ February 11, 1974
Lucy Carter’s parties are a bore, so she calls a telethon to make a very low bid on Milton Berle to attend her next soiree.
“The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Lucille Ball” ~ February 7, 1975
When Lucille Ball is roasted, Berle is there to turn the spit!
Milton Berle: “Lucille Ball has emerged as the sex symbol for men who no longer care.”
“The Annual Friars Club Tribute Presents a Salute to Gene Kelly” ~ January 5, 1976
Lucille Ball and Milton Berle joined Cyd Charisse, Janet Leigh, and Frank Sinatra for “The Friars Club Presents a Salute to Gene Kelly” on NBC. Also in attendance was Natalie Wood and fellow Hollywood hoofer, Fred Astaire.
“NBC: The First 50 Years – A Closer Look” ~ November 26, 1976
A four and a half hour extravaganza that naturally featured Milton Berle, but somehow also included CBS star Lucille Ball, four years before she would make the leap to the peacock network.
“CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years” ~ November 28, 1976
Milton Berle stands in front of the iconic Brown Derby restaurant to introduce a clip from “Hollywood at Last!” (ILL S4;E16) starring William Holden. The building was razed four years later.
“The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Danny Thomas” (S4;E2) ~ December 15, 1976
Back at Dino’s Vegas rotisserie, it is now Ball and Berle turning the spit on Danny Thomas.
“A Tribute to Mr. Television, Milton Berle” ~ March 26, 1978
One good tribute deserves another. Lucille Ball joins the cavalcade of stars honoring Uncle Miltie.
“The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Jimmy Stewart” (May 10, 1978)
Meanwhile, back at the roast pit. Lucy and Milton fling affectionate barbs at their pal Jimmy Stewart.
“Sinatra: The First 40 Years” ~ January 30, 1980
Lucy and Miltie are just two of the many honoring ‘Old Blue Eyes’.
“Bob Hope’s 30th Anniversary Television Special” ~ January 18, 1981
A retrospect of Hope’s first 30 years on TV. Celebrating with Hope are Lucille Ball, Milton Berle, and many, many others.
“Bob Hope’s Women I Love – Beautiful But Funny” ~ February 28, 1982
A look back at the women Hope has worked with over the years. More than 60 of Bob’s co-stars are presented in studio segments, as well as television and film excerpts. Since Berle is the only other male in the credits, I’m banking that Mildred, not Milton, showed up!
“The Television Academy Hall of Fame” ~ March 4, 1984
Lucille Ball and Milton Berle are among the first group inducted into the Television Hall of Fame, along with Barbara Walters, David Sarnoff, William Paley, Norman Lear, and Edward R. Murrow.
“Bob Hope’s Unrehearsed Antics of the Stars” ~ September 28, 1984
Lucille Ball tells Bob Hope – with a fair amount of embellishment for comedic effect – about her audition for the role of Scarlet O’Hara in the 1939 film Gone With The Wind. Milton Berle is also along to share some bloopers with Hope.
“Bob Hopes Buys NBC?” ~ September 17, 1985
Lucille Ball and Milton Berle have cameo appearances in this Bob Hope special. The premise has Bob staging a telethon to buy NBC, his adopted network, in an hour-long variety special of music, dance, and comedy. Lucy and Berle met on a telethon in 1950 and it was also the premise of his 1974 “Here’s Lucy” appearance.
“The 38th Primetime Emmy Awards” ~ September 21, 1986
Lucy and Milton are presenters in an evening that was memorable for honoring her friend and co-star Red Skelton.
“AFI Life Achievement Award: A Salute to Jack Lemmon” ~ March 10, 1988
The AFI gives its 1988 Life Achievement Award to Jack Lemmon. The audience is full of celebrity friends, including including Milton Berle and Lucille Ball.
“Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years at NBC” ~ May 16, 1988
Singing an original song, this marks Lucille Ball’s last “performance” on television before her death. Berle is also on the show to salute Hope.
“The Princess Grace Foundation Special Gala Tribute to Cary Grant” ~ October 19, 1988
Cary Grant died in 1986. Due to his close friendship with Princess Grace and her family the proceeds from the evening benefit the foundation named in her honor. Milton Berle is there and Lucille Ball attends with her husband, Gary Morton. This was the last time that Lucille Ball and Milton Berle were seen on the same program before her death in April 1989.
In 1989, the NAB Hall of Fame for television inducted Ernie Kovacs (posthumously) and Sid Caesar, both of whom had been guest stars on Lucy’s programs.
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