TV GUIDE: BACKSTAGE TOUR

October 9, 1954

Lucille Ball appeared on the cover of the October 9 -15, 1954 TV Guide (#80). This was Lucille Ball’s fifth cover of the National Edition of TV Guide. She would appear on a total of 39 covers, more than any other person, including the very first National Edition in 1953. 

An ad for this issue lists the articles inside:

• Behind-the-Scenes Tour with Lucy ~ A photo shoot of the “I Love Lucy”  soundstage, inside and out. Eight photographs give TV Guide readers an inside look at the studios that filmed “I Love Lucy” including a rare look at a filming (or rehearsal) in progress.

• Shake-Up Ahead for Berle Show? ~ Originally Berle’s show was titled “Texaco Star Theatre,” but when Texaco dropped sponsorship it became “The Milton Berle Show”. Instead of being seen weekly, it would now rotate with two other variety hours. Berle and singer Charlie Applewhite made the cover earlier in 1954. Berle’s seventh season premiere aired on September 21, 1954. Although Lucy and Berle were on Rival networks, Berle finally met the Ricardos on both his show and theirs in the late 1950s.  He then went on to be seen on both “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy.” 

• “Medic” – Strong Medicine ~ “I Love Lucy’s” competition on NBC is a new medical show called “Medic”, which this week aired its fourth episode, getting a two week jump on “Lucy.” The series scored a TV Guide cover (featuring star Richard Boone) in 53 weeks later, in October 1955, the start of its last season.

• Private Secretary’s Boss ~ Lucille Ball’s friend Ann Sothern’s “Private Secretary” aired the 4th episode of their third season. There is also an article in this edition focusing on Don Porter, who played Sothern’s talent agent boss, Peter Sands. The series ran until 1957, when business disputes resulted in Sothern re-formatting her show as “The Ann Sothern Show” which Desilu helped produce. Subsequently, Sothern appeared on the very first “Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” in 1957 (set in 1940) as her now-retired “Private Secretary” character, Susie MacNamara, cruising to Havana with Lucy McGillicuddy and looking for romance. Sothern returned the ‘help’ when Lucille Ball was looking for a character to replace Vivian Bagley on “The Lucy Show.” The series created the Countess, who partnered with Lucy Carmichael in several episodes, but was never a series regular.

• Martin Kane in “Big Town” ~ An article about actor Mark Stevens, who played the title role on the recently-cancelled detective series, “Martin Kane,” now appearing on “Big Town” another series in the same genre, as Steve Wilson. 

• Easy Going George Skinner ~ In 1953, Skinner was the host of the very first television program broadcast in color. By 1954 he had a new daytime program on CBS, “The George Skinner Show”. Skinner had made his on-camera debut with “Quick on the Draw” and followed up with Philadelphia’s first video disk jockey program, “Whirligig.” 

On Saturday, October 9, 1954, the first day of the Guide’s listings, a new episode of “My Favorite Husband” aired, the fifth of their second season. Joan Caulfield and Barry Nelson take the roles of Liz and George Cooper originated on radio by Lucille Ball and Richard Denning. Coincidentally, the series is also aired on CBS, but is otherwise not connected to Lucille Ball. Although nowhere near as popular as “I Love Lucy,” the sitcom did manage to score a cover of TV Guide just three weeks later! 

This issue of TV Guide listed “Mertz and Kurtz” (ILL S4;E2) on Monday, October 11, 1954. It featured guest star Charles Winninger (right) as Barney Kurtz, Fred’s old vaudeville partner, now down on his luck. 

During the 1954-55 season, “I Love Lucy” served as lead in to “December Bride” Desilu’s newest situation comedy, aired its second episode “Lily is Bored”, one that featured Shirley Mitchell (Lucy’s friend Marion Strong) and Elvia Allman (Lucy’s Candy Factory Foreman). Allman would also be seen two days later on a new episode of “The Danny Thomas Show” playing a maid. “December Bride”  starred Spring Byington (above) and Verna Felton (Lucy’s maid Mrs. Porter). Executive Producer Desi Arnaz would eventually appear on the series as himself to boost ratings. The series finally landed a cover in March 1956. 

This issue was also used as set decoration on the set of “The Andy Griffith Show” despite the fact that it was at least seven years old by the time show was shot on Desilu’s backlot. 

Lucy’s contemplative gaze has made this a favorite cover with collectors. It has even found its way onto merchandise, such as this flip top lighter!