TV WEEK: THE INDESTRUCTIBLES

May 16, 1964

Lucille Ball, Andy Griffith, and Danny Thomas were depicted as the three musketeers on the cover of the May 16, 1964 Chicago Tribune’s TV Week supplement.  The caricature was done by Tribune artist William Sajovic.

Interestingly, both Thomas and Griffith had hit shows that were filmed at or by Desilu Studios: “The Andy Griffith Show” and “The Danny Thomas Show” (aka “Make Room for Daddy”), so Ball was actually their landlord!  

When Thomas’s show moved to CBS (and the old “I Love Lucy” time slot), the Ricardos and the Williams families did cross-over episodes on both their shows.  

The Desilu world gets more incestuous when you realize that “The Andy Griffith Show” was actually a spin-off of “The Danny Thomas Show”!  

During the “Here’s Lucy” years (1968-74), both Danny Thomas and Andy Griffith appeared as characters for their former landlady, but not the ones they created on their respective series. 

Although not directly attributed, Sajovic’s artwork is definitely inspired by The Three Musketeers,

an 1844 historical novel by Alexandre Dumas. 

A 1935 film version featured Lucille Ball in a small, uncredited role.  Lucy got into full Musketeers regalia in “Lucy and Flip Go Legit” (HL S4;E1) in 1971. 

ON THE COVER 

‘The Indestructibles’ of Television 

Finding three stars who have survived a combined total of three decades in television – older than the industry itself – is as rare as a royal flush in stud poker. 

Nevertheless, in the case of Lucille Ball, Danny Thomas, and Andy Griffith, who occupy a two-hour bloc on CBS-TV Monday nights, it’s happened. 

Deep within the recesses of the television industry, where tycoons run rampant and sons of millionaires run messages, this frolicsome three are referred to as “The Indestructibles.” And indestructible they have proven to be. 

Their unique position inspired William Sajovic of The Tribune’s art staff to paint them for today’s TV Week cover. Lucille Ball [at 7:30 p.m.], as TVs queen of the merry widows, has been wearing her crown for 14 years. 

The Lebanese wonder, Danny Thomas [at 8 p. m.], has a total of 12 years playing nightclub entertainer Danny Williams on the tube. 

The neophyte member of this gregarious group is Andy Griffith [8:30 p.m.], who has brought more laughs than, law enforcement to the small community of May-berry during his four seasons as sheriff. We originally had Garry Moore, with his 12-year reign, in the cover group, but as of this writing be has decided not to return next year. That takes him out of the “indestructible” class.

Add them all [except Garry] together and what do you have? Thirty years of television talent continually concentrated for two consecutive hours every Monday night.

On Monday, May 18, 1964, viewers enjoyed a rerun of “Lucy Goes Duck Hunting” (HL S2;E6) first aired on November 4, 1963. The episode featured Keith Andes (above), who had also starred with Lucille Ball on Broadway in Wildcat (1960). 

On May 19, 1964, Chicago area viewers saw Lucille Ball’s 55th film (and her personal favorite) The Big Street (1942). 

The supplement is promoted above the masthead and the day’s headline. TV Week was added to the Saturday paper instead to boost weekend circulation. 

Lucile Ball was a popular cover girl for the Chicago Trib’s TV Week. She was also on the cover just a month earlier to promote her TV special “Mr. and Mrs.” with Bob Hope. Other covers include: September 1956, November 1956, November 1957, October 1963, January 1965, March 1966, December 1967, May 1970, and June 1976.