TV GUIDE: PHONY PUBLICITY

July 12, 1958

A straightforward portrait of Lucille Ball was on the cover of TV Guide on July 12, 1958.  It was one of 39 appearances by Ball on the magazine’s cover. 

“People keep saying I’m wild and uninhibited, a real wacky dame. Well, I’m not – really.” 

The photograph used on the two-page spread was from a photo shoot at the El Morocco nightclub.  

Lucy and Desi were regulars at the NYC nightspot, easily identified by its zebra-print banquettes. The above photo was taken November 22nd, 1940.

“One night, we sat at a small table at El Morocco and hashed and rehashed our problems. A photographer snapped our picture, and it showed us both staring at the table looking deeply troubled. We discussed the six-year difference in our age (this bothered only me) and Desi’s Catholicism.”

During the summer of 1958, CBS presented “Top Ten ‘I Love Lucy’ Episodes” on Monday nights, beginning July 5th. The episodes were chosen by the American press. On Monday, July 12, 1958, the episode was

“Lucy Visits Grauman’s” (ILL S5;E1) first aired on October 3, 1955.

Two weeks earlier, Lucy and Desi had completed filming of “Lucy Goes To Mexico”, the season-opener of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” scheduled to air October 6, 1958.  At the same time, Desilu had partnered with Westinghouse and created the sales film “Lucy Buys Westinghouse.”