WHO’S QUITTING!

July 31, 1954

The July 31, 1954 issue of TV Guide (volume 2; number 31) featured actor William Bendix on the cover with the headline: “Who’s Quitting! Say Lucy and Desi”. 

The last day of the listings in this Guide is August 6, 1954, Lucille Ball’s 43rd birthday!

The inside article is by Desi Arnaz, who takes the opportunity to correct the rumor that they are quitting their hit show, “I Love Lucy,” then preparing its fourth season.  Desi reports that Lucy’s casual remark that she’d ‘like’ to quit was rhetorical and not based in reality.  In fact, they were contractually obliged to Philip Morris (their sponsor) to continue until 1956. After that, CBS had the right to ask for two further seasons, taking the couple to 1958.  Desi mentions that there had been some casual talk about Lucy and Vivian Vance directing a project together for Desilu. [Such a project never came to pass.] He states that by the end of their contract that they will have done 175 films. [In fact, they did 179, not including filming the “Christmas Special”, new intros for re-runs, and the unaired pilot.]

Desi predicts that they may do monthly hour-long specials, several years in advance of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hours”, proving that even by mid-1954, the idea of cutting back their hectic schedule was discussed. Desi even theorizes that they might go fishing in Cuba!  [All travel to Cuba would be stopped by the end of the 1950s.]

One thing that Desi makes very clear is to dispel the rumor that “I Love Lucy” may go on with another actress in the role of Lucy Ricardo.

“There will never be an ‘I Love Lucy’ without Lucille Ball. Period. Exclamation point!”

TV Guide’s headline is slightly misleading by the use of the exclamation point. It should actually read “Who’s Quitting?” which is essentially what Desi is wondering.  You can almost hear it spoken in his Cuban accent!  In all fairness to TV Guide, summer was devoid of new programming and TV Guide was looking to sell magazines by putting provocative headlines and images about top shows on the cover.  This no doubt increased sales, even if there was nothing to watch.

ABOUT THE COVER: 

William Bendix was then starring in the NBC sitcom “The Life of Riley”. First heard on radio starring William Bendix, the series moved to TV in 1948 starring Jackie Gleason in the title role. It lasted until 1950. In 1953, the series returned with it’s original radio star (and the lead of its film version), William Bendix. At the time this TV Guide was issued, the series had just finished its second season and was readying its third (of six).

The show regularly featured two “I Love Lucy” players, Gloria Blondell (Honeybee) and Herb Vigran (Muley). Blondell played Grace Foster in “The Anniversary Present” (ILL S2;E3) in 1952 and Herb Vigran played various “Lucy” characters like Jule, Joe, and Hal Sparks.

Other actors who showed up on both “Lucy” and “Riley”: Mary Jane Croft, Richard Deacon, Vivi Janis, George O’Hanlon, Nancy Kulp, Dayton Lummis, James Burke, Florence Lake, Mary Ellen Kay, Benny Rubin, Ray Kellogg, Howard McNear, Norman Leavitt, Pierre Watkin, and Bobby Jellison.

From the Northeast Edition, a mention of “Public Defender” being moved to “I Love Lucy’s” time-slot for the summer. The episode listed in this edition featured “I Love Lucy’s” Madge Blake.

In 1946 Lucille Ball and William Bendix appeared together in the film The Dark Corner.

INSIDE THE ISSUE: 

Photo feature of TV starlets Natalie Wood, Lauren Chapin, Sheilah James, Eleanor Donahue, and Elena Verdugo in swimsuits at the beach!

Feature on character actor Vaughn Taylor and his cats.

Photo feature on the Truex family of actors. Ernest Truex had appeared with Lucille Ball in Dance, Girl, Dance (1940).

Photo feature on the real names of favorite stars.  Included is Eunice Mary Quedens (aka Eve Arden) who played herself in “Hollywood at Last!” (ILL S4;E16).

Profile on TV favorite Bea Benaderet. Benadaret had co-starred with Lucille Ball on “My Favorite Husband” and was her first pick for the role of Ethel Mertz. She played spinster Miss Lewis on “I Love Lucy.”