THAT NEVER HAPPENED!

February 20, 1948-1975

~FEBRUARY 20, 1948~

Hedda would lose that bet! The role of Billie Dawn in the Los Angeles production of “Born Yesterday” went to Jean Parker.  Lucille Ball did not do the Garsin Kanin comedy on Broadway or appear in the 1950 film. After the play was a hit, Holliday was insistent that she would never do the film, so casting gossip began. Although Hopper notes the role had been promised to Rita Hayworth, Holliday was eventually talked into recreating her Broadway success. It’s a good thing she changed her mind, because the role won her an Oscar. When Holliday left the Broadway cast the role was filled by Jan Sterling, who shortly afterward married the male star, Paul Douglas. Douglas would eventually team with Ball in “Lucy Wants A Career” in 1958. Later, Holliday would sing about Lucille Ball in the stage and screen musical “Bells Are Ringing”  (1956 & 1960).

~SEPTEMBER 20, 1949~

J. Arthur Rank, a British film distributor and producer, never made a film titled “The Man Without Clothes”.  So whether Lucille said “yes” or Desi found any “PAs” (Personal Appearances) was moot.  The story about Lucy not being allowed to enroll at UCLA is probably apocryphal. In the 1970s Lucy would give lectures on comedy at UCLA.

~FEBRUARY 20, 1950~ 

Sadly, no such production was ever mounted by Ferrer. After Dream Girl, Lucille did not appear in another stage play until 1960′s Wildcat on Broadway.  It is likely that Ferrer wanted Ball for the role of Lily Garland, played on screen in 1934 by Lucy’s friend, Carole Lombard.  He was slated to direct, but may have also acted opposite Ball.

The role that Bacall turned down was eventually given to Claire Trevor. The film was based on material by Damon Runyon and would have been Lucy’s third trip to Runyonland after The Big Street and Sorrowful Jones.  The picture was indeed delayed and didn’t begin filming until June 1952, and was not released until 1954.  By that time, Lucille had put films on hold to pursue television and motherhood. She would eventually team with Kaye to great success on the small screen. As a side note, the newspaper misspells the title of Ball’s film with Eddie Albert; she’s no Lady, she’s a Girl!

~FEBRUARY 20, 1954~

This quick column-filler is wishful thinking.  There is no record of the Arnaz family summering in Spain.

~FEBRUARY 20, 1959~

Partly true – Lucy did chat with Da Costa but the vehicle ended up being a musical comedy, not a serious play.  Lucille did began Wildcat in 1960 – but only just – December.  Da Costa, however, opted out, having just been stung by the failure of his musical Saratoga.

~FEBRUARY 20, 1960~

Here’s something that actually DID happen the way it is described here, but not as it was first planned. Maurice Chevalier had appeared with Lucy and Desi on “Lucy Goes To Mexico” (October 1958) so he probably thought of it as a reciprocal favor – but Mama Ball had other ideas! Turns out Lucy’s withdrawal had motivations previously unknown!

~FEBRUARY 20, 1964~

Every year at contract negotiation time, performers say they are not returning – and they usually do. “The Lucy Show” was actually only supposed to last one season – to boost profits for Desilu and help CBS’s sagging ratings. Having done that – Lucy was in the driver’s seat and the series lasted four more seasons.

Same year – different column! Most sources say it was Vance who was looking to leave the show and becoming a full-time resident back East with her husband John Dodds. However, during contract negotiations stories often change to suit the outcome!

Vance stayed with the series through the end of season three in 1965. She made occasional guest appearances after that.

~FEBRUARY 20, 1965~

After signing on for season three in 1964, Ball decided to go for enough episodes for syndication and easily signed on for a fourth and fifth. However, the format change had nothing to do with Lucy becoming a dress designer – she moved to California!  Vivian Vance left the show and the actors playing her children were written off.

~FEBRUARY 20, 1966~

This is more of ‘what might have been’!  Dark horse Dinah Shore swooped in and took the title of Fashion Champ from Lucille!

~FEBRUARY 20, 1967~

This much-talked about project was a passion of Lucy’s. She even had a script drafted.  But Gleason was hard to pin down – and the film (or video) never was made.  Lucy did get to play Russell on a TV special, however.  But without Gleason.

~FEBRUARY 20, 1974~

Gleason may have had more time on his hands, but he did neither project.  He did, however, make time to do a Lucille Ball TV special titled “Three for Two” in 1975.

~FEBRUARY 20, 1975~

The ‘Answer’ is correct – there were no plans and no such film was ever made.  Although the fact that this question was submitted a year after “Here’s Lucy” ended (and pre-internet!) means that there must have been some talk about it at some point.