PILL-POPPING LUCY

July 5, 1973

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. 

Lucille Ball has become a pill-popper, but not in the way you think.

“It’s to grow bone marrow and build up the strength of my broken leg,” said the actress-tycoon in the course of a lawn party for the TV press. “I have to take all kinds of pills six bone meal, six calcium, generous amounts of Vitamin A, B, C and E pills every day. They’ve not only helped my leg, but they’ve made me feel stronger and they’ve even helped my eyesight. 

"I also worked two and a half hours a day for four months on exercises before starting my new motion picture, ‘Mame’ (due out next Easter), and I must say the calisthenics and therapy helped me through my rigorous schedule – singing, dancing, etc. – without any problems.”

As a matter of fact, my broken leg is now stronger than the other one, and I have to build that one up, too. And I was able to lose 10 pounds – which didn’t hurt.“

Lucille fractured her leg in a Colorado skiing accident a year and a half ago, but that did not prevent her from going through her 21st season of "Lucy” episodes – much of it with her limb in a cast. She’ll be back and more active this year, of course but she has sworn off skiing. “Although I’ll still go on ski tours,” she added, “and my mother, who is 80, will be going with me." 

Conspicuous by their absence at the party were her two sprouts, Desi and Lucie, who were busy elsewhere. Luci, separated from her husband, Phil Vandervoort, was in Flint, Learn to be a Mich., playing Liza Minnelli’s role in "Cabaret.” Desi’s activity was undesignated. Of Desi’s busted romance with Liza, Miss Ball commented, “I’m glad it happened like this. I’ve known Liza since she was a little girl; Desi hasn’t. It’s hard to domesticate a dynamo. ”

He was absolutely devastated for a while. But then he had a hot date with another girl – and I haven’t seen him since.“ Liza has of course, since broken with Desi’s successor Peter Sellers. ‘ 

For her 22d season on the air, Lucy will have such guests as Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme (opening show), Bill Holden, Danny Thomas, John Wayne, Andy Griffith, O.J. Simpson, Ed McMahon, Joan Rivers, Dick Sargent, Martin Milner, Gary Crosby – and "even, Desi Arnaz Jr., if he can find the time.” (1)

This season marks the 50th year of performing for Gale Gordon, who plays her choleric brother-in-law in the show. “I began in 1923 as a member of the ensemble for $15 a week,” he recalled, “and I got $10 extra for being actor Richard Bennett’s dresser. I’d rather be Lucille Ball’s dresser by a damn sight, but to tell you the truth, at my age I have trouble dressing myself." 

Making "Mame” kept Lucy busy six months between seasons, and she weathered those arduous dance routines and musical numbers in good shape. “Yes, I had to sing all my own songs.” she said, “because no one else sounds like me." 

Her co-star in the production is another well known TV name, Beatrice Arthur of "Maude” fame, “and together we sound like two frogs in heat,” she commented wryly. Lucille, too, began in the chorus – in “Rio Rita” at the age of 15 – but after a number of films and a year of radio in “My Favorite Husband,” (2) she developed her “I Love Lucy” format with her then-husband, Desi Arnaz, and quickly became America’s favorite comedienne. 

The show goes from year to year virtually unchanged “because people like something familiar on the tube,” and rarely has she fallen out of the top 10 in the ratings. 

~~ The Boston (MA) Globe, July 5, 1973 

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FOOTNOTES FROM THE FUTURE

(1) Bill Holden did not end up guest-starring on season six of “Here’s Lucy.”  He may have been supposed to play the role played by Ed McMahon in “Lucy, the Wealthy Widow” (HL S6;E4), or perhaps the role played by Jackie Coogan in “Lucy’s Tenant” (HL S6;E7). Steve and Eydie Gorme were not in the opening show, but in the third episode, “Lucy The Peacemaker” (HL S6;E3), which aired on September 23, 1973.  Martin Milner was likely supposed to play one of the policeman (in a nod to “Adam-12″) in “Lucy Plays Cops and Robbers” (HL S6;E14).  Desi Jr. did not find the time to return to “Here’s Lucy” in season six. 

(2) Ball did more than a year of “My Favorite Husband”. The radio show’s pilot aired July 5, 1948. The series was broadcast for the last time on March 31, 1951.