Tag: MGM
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LUCY: 40 YEARS OF TELEVISION
1955 Part One ~ JANUARY to JUNE Season four concludes with the gang in Hollywood! “Lucy Learns To Drive” (ILL S4;E12) ~ January 4, 1955 To replace the antiquated Cadillac, Ricky buys a brand new Pontiac. Desilu had a promotional agreement with GM. This is the first non-Philip Morris sponsored episode and introduces Proctor and…
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MGM PARADE
February 8, 1956 Directed by Leonard Spigelgass Written by David Greggory CAST George Murphy (Himself / Host) was introduced as “Your Hollywood Ambassador of Good Will.” He started singing and dancing on Broadway at age 25. There he is credited with introducing Bob Hope to his wife Dolores. In Hollywood, he became Screen Actors Guild…
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LUCY & HENRY FONDA ~ Part One
1935-1968 Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda were more than just co-workers. When Lucy first got to Hollywood, the two actually briefly dated. Lucy remembers, “We worked long and hard, Ginger [Rogers] and I, in front of our mirrors. We used eye shadow, plenty of mascara, pancake [make-up], deep red lipstick, rouge, everything we’d been taught…
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LUCY & GONE WITH THE WIND
In one of the biggest publicity stunts in Hollywood history, over 1,400 actresses were considered for the role of Scarlett O’Hara in MGM’s Gone With The Wind. Producer David O. Selznick had the rights to the book, but did not have the money to make it. To keep interest alive in the project during pre-production,…
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TOAST OF THE TOWN aka THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW
“A Tribute to Lucy and Desi” (S3;E8) ~ October 3, 1954 Directed & Choreographed by John Wray Ed Sullivan (Himself / Host) was a preeminent television variety show host who is best remembered for hosting his own show, at first titled “Toast of the Town” but later simply known as “The Ed Sullivan Show,” which…
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RIP Jean Porter ~ Actress who was popular in “B” movies of the 1940s and 50s. As such, she did two films with Lucille Ball: ABBOTT & COSTELLO IN HOLLYWOOD (1945), in which Porter had a leading role while Lucy basically played herself; and EASY TO WED (1946), in which Lucy was the star and…
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“Don Juan is Shelved”
(S4;E22 ~ March 21, 1955) Directed by William Asher. Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr. Filmed on February 10, 1955 at Ren-Mar Studios. It was the 119th episode filmed. Rating: 51.5/69 Synopsis ~ MGM gives Ricky the gate (or “the door in the fence,” as he puts it) when they cancel Don Juan. Naturally,…
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“Lucy Goes to Mexico”
(LDCH S2;E1 ~ October 6, 1958) Directed by Jerry Thorpe. Written by Bob Schiller, Bob Weiskopf, and Everett Freeman. Filming completed June 16, 1958 at Ren-Mar Studios. Synopsis ~ While Ricky is in San Diego doing a U.S.O. show, Lucy and the Mertzes head to Mexico to shop but an unexpected stowaway causes them problems at…