SEPTEMBER 11

Since 2001, the date September 11th has been a date associated with the life-changing terrorist attacks on America. But previously, the date was one of the busiest in the Lucille Ball calendar, with memorable performances of her three hit sitcoms in three decades. Lucille Ball’s mission in life was to make us laugh – even in our darkest moments.  So while we remember the events of 2001, let’s take a quick tour through the date in the life of Lucille Ball.  

1960

The September 11, 1960 issue of Parade Magazine (which was inserted into Sunday newspapers nationwide) featured a unique and colorful portrait of Lucille Ball. The article inside was “Lucille Ball: Life Without Desi”. The couple formally divorced in April 1960, five months earlier.  This coincided with her last appearance as Lucy Ricardo. Although this would be the first September since 1951 that she wasn’t on series television, she was still working; promoting her new film with Bob Hope called Critic’s Choice. Toward that end, two weeks later, she appeared on “The Garry Moore Show.”

1937

On September 11, 1937 Hollywood columnist Jimmy Starr of the LA Evening Herald Express, rated the film Stage Door as ‘Outstanding’ stating that “smaller roles were excellently portrayed by Lucille Ball and others.” 

1943

The Hollywood Bond Cavalcade, a 16-city, two week railroad tour of American by a dozen Hollywood celebrities, comes to New York City on September 11, 1943 for a gala performance at Madison Square Garden designed to sell war bonds to defray the debt incurred by the USA during World War II. Desi Arnaz had gone on a similar tour the year before – but 1943 was Lucy’s turn. Much of America was still reeling financially and emotionally from the effects of the War. 

1953

Perhaps the most dramatic September 11th in Lucille Ball’s life came in 1953, when she was accused of being a Communist by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). 

The news broke on the very same night that “The Girls Go Into Business” (ILL S3;E2) went before the cameras in Desilu’s brand new studio. Needless to say, the news could not be ignored, and prompted Desi’s now famous remarks in his pre-show welcome:  

“Lucy has always had a clear conscience about this. She has never been a Communist, and what’s more, she hates every Communist in Hollywood. The only thing red about Lucy is her hair, and even that is not legitimate.” 

1955

On Sunday, September 11, 1955, CBS airs the 22nd of 25 repeats of early episodes of “I Love Lucy” under the umbrella title of “The Sunday Lucy Show”. Under the impression that few viewers had a TV set when the series first began,CBS polled viewers to decide which episodes to air in their early Sunday evening time slot (6pm). This week’s entry is “New Neighbors” (ILL S1;E21) from 1952.

1961

On September 11, 1961 CBS aired the fourth and final re-run of “I Love Lucy” to fill a month-long scheduling gap. This is the last prime-time airing of the series in a regular time slot.

1967

On September 11, 1967, Lucille Ball kicks off the sixth and final season of “The Lucy Show” with Milton and Ruth Berle playing themselves.  

This was one of many appearances by Milton Berle, who appeared on all of Lucille Ball’s CBS sitcoms, despite being the reigning king of NBC. While all was hysterical on screen, there was a lot of life-changing activity going on for Lucille Ball. 

This is the last episode directed by Maury Thompson, who had started working for Desilu in 1956. Ball heard that Thompson wanted a raise and decided to dismiss him and bring back the show’s original director, Jack Donohue. 

Having made Desilu profitable again, Ball had just agreed to take the big step of selling Desilu to Paramount, dissolving the company by the end of 1967 and starting up her own Lucille Ball Productions (LBP) to produce a new sitcom, “Here’s Lucy,” rather than work for Paramount. This was perhaps the biggest business decision that Executive Lucy would make in her entire career. 

1972

After season 4 of “Here’s Lucy” wrapped, Lucille Ball experienced a run of bad luck. First, the final episode of the season was designed as a pilot for a spin-off series starring Lucie Arnaz, but CBS declined to pick-up the show for production. At the same time, Vivian Vance, who was being eyed as a reliable sidekick for Lucy should Lucie get her own show, was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Finally, in January 1972 on a ski trip to her condo in Snowmass, Colorado, Lucille Ball broke her leg. Instead of canceling the series, Ball had the injury written into the scripts, so that Lucy Carter would also have a broken leg. Almost all of this season’s scripts had to be quickly rewritten or postponed.  The injury meant that Ball would have to limit her physical comedy and musical numbers and re-think the show’s overall dynamics.  It also meant that her plans to start filming the musical film Mame would be put on hold until her injuries healed.  The September 11, 1972 episode that kicked off this extended plot-line was titled “Lucy’s Big Break” (HL S5;E1). 

To add to that, earlier in the day on September 11, 1972 Ball made her first appearance on Dinah Shore’s syndicated talk show “Dinah’s Place”. Lucy makes Irish coffee and tells Dinah how she broke her leg.

The night before this episode aired (September 10, 1972), Lucille Ball had appeared on “A Salute to Television’s 25th Anniversary” on ABC, getting an award alongside Bob Hope. Quite a busy 24 hours for Lucy fans! 

1984

The week of September 11, 1984, Lucille Ball, now 73 years old, begins a week of appearances on the pantomime game show “Body Language” playing against Charles Nelson Reilly and hosted by Tom Kennedy. She returned to the show over Christmas week in 1984. Lucy was also depicted on the box cover of the board game of Body Language, as well as doing TV commercials for the game. The show managed only a fraction of the audience of other daytime games and CBS canceled the game in late 1985 after only one season on the air. 

Through the years, many of Lucille Ball’s co-stars passed away on September 11: 

1959 ~ Paul Douglas died at age 52. He played himself in “Lucy Wants A Career” (LDCH E9) which aired just five months before his death. 

1970 ~ Chester Morris died at age 69. He appeared in Five Came Back (1939, above) and The Marines Fly High (1940) with Lucille Ball. 

1987 ~ Lorne Green died at age 72.  The star of NBC’s “Bonanza” from 1959 to 1973. He appeared with Lucille Ball on “Dean Martin’s 1968 Christmas Show,” “Dinah Shore’s Like Hep!”, “Swing Out Sweet Land,” and “Zenith’s A Salute to TV’s 25th Anniversary.” 

1994 ~ Jessica Tandy died at age 85. Tandy and Lucille Ball were both recipients of “The Kennedy Center Honors” in December 1986. The ceremony was televised on CBS on Boxing Day 1986.   

1998 ~ Dane Clark died at age 86. He was the star of Desilu’s “Wire Service” (1956-57), did two episode of Desilu’s “The Untouchables” (1962-63) and appeared with Desi Arnaz Jr. in “Police Story” in 1976.

2003 ~ John Ritter died at age 54. Lucille Ball was an outspoken fan of John Ritter, hosting a ‘best of’ special for his hit sitcom “Three’s Company” in 1982. Ritter guest-starred as himself on her final sitcom, “Life With Lucy” (1986). 

2004 ~ Fred Ebb died at age 76. Ebb produced and wrote the Shirley MacLaine TV special “Gypsy in My Soul” (1976) that co-starred Lucille Ball. 

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