Eyes on the Ball

ALL THINGS LUCILLE BALL

[waynelvslcy]

Remembering Debbie Reynolds (1932-2016) on what would have been her 91st birthday. In late 1969 through early 1970 Debbie Reynolds starred in 'The Debbie Reynolds Show'. The show lasted only one season. During the shows' run, a tabloid manufactured "feud" between Lucy and Debbie also made it's run. Fueled mostly by reviews calling Debbie's new show "a pale imitation of I Love Lucy" or more personal criticisms like, "a second rate Lucille Ball", Debbie was hurt by the insinuation that she had ripped Lucy off. What reviewers and tabloids failed to report was that the primary reason for the similarities between 'I Love Lucy' and 'The Debbie Reynolds Show' was that the show was created and produced by Jess Oppenheimer with writing contributions from Madelyn Pugh Davis and Bob Carroll, Jr.. But yet, Debbie bore the brunt of the blame. One entertainment news article from that period seemed to come to Debbie's defense, but still omitted the obvious: 'The last thing Debbie Reynolds expected from the critics when she started her new Fall TV show was that they would say it was a pale imitation of early Lucille Ball! The truth is...if there is a similarity between the two actresses it is because they both have a lot of the same sense of fun, the ridiculous, the zaniness. The plots in Debbie's show were about a married couple with two adult friends and that in itself would make for familiar situations in many of the old Lucy and Desi shows. Since when has anyone on TV not set out to copy a successful show!' —article, 1969. #lucilleball #debbiereynolds #tabloids #fued #imitation #critics #reviews #happybirthday #ilovelucy #desiarnaz #classichollywoodactress #classichollywood #similarities #copycat #waynelvslcy https://www.instagram.com/p/Cqf2NfPu7OR/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[waynelvslcy]

Happy 89th Birthday to Shirley Jones! The first two photos are from the taping and rehearsal of 'A Danny Thomas Special: The Wonderful World of Burlesque' in 1965. In the last photo Shirley is with Lucy, Gary and her second husband, Marty Ingels in the 1980's. #lucilleball #shirleyjones #dannythomas #jerrylewis #burlesque #tvspecial #rehearsals #happybirthday #partridgefamily #tvmom #oklahoma #carousel #hollywoodlegends #waynelvslcy #ilovelucy https://www.instagram.com/p/CqdSHDmucMd/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[waynelvslcy]

In the 1940's Lucille visited her hometown of Jamestown, New York. Before her arrival, the Jamestown Chamber of Commerce had written to her to ask her what she'd like to do most on her upcoming trip. 'She had written back that she'd like a long ride on the big excursion steamer she remembered riding as a child, cruising around Lake Chautauqua. "Nobody told me that the "City of Jamestown" had been at the bottom of the lake for years," she said wryly, "and when they got my letter about wanting a ride on it, they dredged it up and completely refurbished it. I got my ride on it all right, together with six hundred people, after the town had spent a fortune bringing the boat up to date!"'—The Real Story of Lucille Ball by Eleanor Harris, 1954. Note: Lucille may have been mistaken when referring to this particular boat as being at the bottom of the lake. I could find no evidence of it ever sinking. Two other steamships met their demise on the lake in the mid 1930's—one sank, the other burned. I was able to locate an article stating that the City of Jamestown once ran aground in the 1950's, but never sank. It was towed from the sandbar and remained in service until June 6, 1963. #lucilleball #steamship #boat #lake #chautauqualake #jamestownny #chamberofcommerce #waynelvslcy #ilovelucy #sinkingship https://www.instagram.com/p/Cqa_IY0JqtK/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[waynelvslcy]

Happy 97th Birthday to Peter Marshall! Peter worked with Lucy twice on television, once on 'The Lucy Show' (Lucy's Sister Pays A Visit) in 1963, and again in 1974 on 'Happy Anniversary And Goodbye'. He nearly turned down the role in the 1974 special because he had a very negative experience working on TLS a decade earlier, until he learned that most of his scenes would be played with Art Carney. Of his TLS appearance he complained that he was getting contradictory stage direction from all sides: the director, Lucy and even Vivian. In 'The Lucy Book' by Geoffrey Mark Fidelman, Peter remembers what it was like to work on 'Happy Anniversary And Goodbye'..."We were doing the first read through of the script, and Lucille Ball turns to Art Carney and says, "Have you ever done comedy before? Where did you get those line readings?" Carney quit right there and then. The next day, Nanette (Fabray) and I had lunch with Art and talked him out of it. Yet another day goes by, and now Nanette gets it from Lucy and she quits! It takes still another lunch to get them both to get back to work and finish the show. And yet, whatever Lucille Ball did, she was phenomenal." #lucilleball #vivianvance #petermarshall #hollywoodsquares #nanettefabray #artcarney #roughdayattheoffice #actors #happybirthday #nonagenarian #iquit #waynelvslcy #thelucyshow https://www.instagram.com/p/CqaluVTO6P8/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[waynelvslcy]

Gale Gordon as Walter Seznick in 'The Burbs' (1989). When Walter's neighbors decide to perform a wellness check (of sorts) on the ecentric old man and his dog, the viewing audience is treated to somewhat of a cameo appearance of Lucy and her pal, Gale, in the scene when they all enter Walter's living room. The images I've shown in the insets are slightly different poses from slightly different angles from each respective photo session. In fact, in total, these photos get a whopping amount of screen time in this scene...23 seconds by my watch. You can find this fun cult classic starring Tom Hanks, Carrie Fisher and Bruce Dern on Netflix. This movie was released three months before Lucy's death. (Trivia: The white poodle used in this movie was also 'Precious' in the movie, 'Silence of the Lambs'). #lucilleball #galegordon #tomhanks #carriefisher #brucedern #theburbs #movieprops #props #cameo #familyphotos #precious #silenceofthelambs #ilovelucy #thelucyshow #hereslucy #waynelvslcy #movietrivia https://www.instagram.com/p/CqYFITxua2f/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[waynelvslcy]

As if Lucille didn't already have enough on her plate in 1963. Here, in the middle of the second season of The Lucy Show, she does a guest spot in a dramatic role on the Desilu Production 'The Greatest Show On Earth' in the episode titled "Lady In Limbo". Lucy plays a circus horse trainer named Kate Reynolds, who becomes a temporary mother to another animal trainer's orphaned son, played by Billy Mumy. Lucille's appearance in this episode was to help boost the ratings for an already failing series. Jack Palance and Roger C. Carmel ('The Mother's-In-Law') costar. You can find this episode on YouTube. #lucilleball #jackpalance #desiluproductions #desilu #thegreatestshowonearth #tvseries #ratings #horsetrainer #circus #circuslife #orphaned #billymumy #lostinspace #limbo #thelucyshow #alotonherplate #busywoman #madamepresident #drama #youtube #behindthescenes #ontheset #classichollywood #ilovelucy #waynelvslcy https://www.instagram.com/p/CqVrgycu4Ai/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[waynelvslcy]

From the opening night party of the Desi Arnaz Western Hills Hotel at Indian Wells. “New. Luxurious. Desi Arnaz’ Western Hills Hotel opened its doors to the public this weekend and became another example of growth in the ever-developing desert area. Early Friday afternoon a special plane left Los Angeles bringing newsmen, celebrities of television and screen, and many distinguished guests to the Palm Springs airport. (Guests were transported by helicopter from the airport to the hotel.) A cocktail party and tour of the new hotel preceded the lavish buffet that was served to 800 persons. Entertainment at the opening night extravaganza was furnished by the famous Desi Arnaz Orchestra, and Arnaz introduced guests from the stage above the sunken bar." —article, Desert Sun, 1957. (Photo of the stage and sunken bar included in this post.) #lucilleball #desiarnaz #hotel #luxurious #openingnight #party #grandopeningparty #buffet #cocktailparty #helicopterride #extravaganza #waynelvslcy https://www.instagram.com/p/CqNzJp1OOKJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[waynelvslcy]

Some of my favorite images of Lucy caught in reflection. #lucilleball #lucilleballarnaz #mirrors #mirrorphotography #reflection #reflectedimage #mirrorimage #ilovelucy #waynelvslcy https://www.instagram.com/p/CqJPor-P8Dr/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[waynelvslcy]

"May I take zis zeat, dahlink?" Lucy, Zsa Zsa and Desi in the 1950's. #lucilleball #lucilleballarnaz #desiarnaz #zsazsa #zsazsagabor #ilovelucy #takeaseat #haveaseat #placetosit #takealoadoff #sitonmylap #waynelvslcy https://www.instagram.com/p/CqIsIyrOeI6/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[waynelvslcy]

Lucille in the summer of 1967. The pinback button she is wearing says 'His, Hers and Theirs'. This was one of the working titles considered for what ultimately became 'Yours, Mine and Ours' (1968). Other title ideas that were floated were 'The Beardsley Story' (from the original script), 'Full House' and 'The Population Explosion'. Last photo is the cast wearing the pins. I need one of these pins for my collection! If any of my Lucy fan friends has a line on one of these pins, please DM me. #lucilleball #henryfonda #yoursmineandours #pinbackbuttons #classichollywoodmovies #mycollection #musthaves #movietitles #waynelvslcy https://www.instagram.com/p/CqDm9bpuUgM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[waynelvslcy]

Welcoming the first day of Spring with this beaming beauty! Spring is finally here! #lucilleball #firstdayofspring #happyspring #springtime #beaming #beamingbeauty #ilovelucy #waynelvslcy https://www.instagram.com/p/CqAJ2sguhSc/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[waynelvslcy]

Happy 77th birthday to Liza Minnelli! In the early 1970's, Liza and Desi Jr were a pretty hot item in Hollywood. It would appear, according to Liza, that Momma Lucy was a huge force who did everything she could to try to push Liza and Desi Jr in front of a minister. 'According to Liza, Lucy is so concerned about their making it legal that she's done everything to make them agree to it. Everything from buying them a house to a seventy foot cabin cruiser they once thought of buying. "What really worries Lucy is that I'll get pregnant before Desi and I are legally married. Why can't Lucy realize that if it's a house or a boat we want we can afford to buy it ourselves!" "Lucy's trying to force Desi and me to get married. She thinks we're living in a sinful relationship; she accuses us of running around and carrying on in public. She views all of this as an immoral way to do things. Lucy would be the happiest woman in the world if Desi and I would finally agree to walk down the aisle, but I'm not going to give in to Lucy."' —Liza Minnelli to Modern Screen Magazine, 1972. #lucilleball #lizaminnelli #desiarnazjr #hollywoodromance #getmarried #mammabear #immoral #livinginsin #minister #downtheaisle #nuptuals #happybirthday #waynelvslcy https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpsjvmxue7z/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[waynelvslcy]

Daylight Savings Time begins tonight. Move those clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed. #lucilleball #daylightsavingstime #daylightsavings #clock #springahead #ilovelucy #waynelvslcy https://www.instagram.com/p/CpqfgP5vJIS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[waynelvslcy]

"One thing I learned fast was never ask her about business just before the show is filmed. Her head is so full of what's coming she'll agree to anything. Then you discover she wasn't really listening and would have said yes if you'd asked her whether she planned the Brink's robbery." —Skip Webster, CBS Staff Publicist, article 1965. #lucilleball #brinks #preoccupied #notlistening #hardatwork #articles #concentrating #thelucyshow #cbs #waynelvslcy #closeup #nofilters https://www.instagram.com/p/CpnZWBDvXZm/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[waynelvslcy]

Mother and daughter pitch woman. In 1963, Lucille endorsed Pepsodent toothpaste as a tie-in to her movie, 'Critics Choice'. She filmed a lengthy two minute commerical for the movie and similar one minute commercials were packaged with 'The Lucy Show'. It would appear that Lucy's relationship with Lever Brothers lasted many years since Lucie would also pitch Pepsodent for 'Here's Lucy' in the early 1970's. #lucilleball #luciearnaz #pitchwoman #commercials #vintagecommercial #pepsodent #toothpaste #toothpastecommercial #pearlywhites #thelucyshow #hereslucy #criticschoice #motheranddaughter #waynelvslcy #spokesperson #advertising https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpk5l5vuLkK/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[waynelvslcy]

For International Women's Day I give you this internationally known super star! #lucilleball #1964fashion #internationalwomensday #internationalwomensday2023 #1960sfashion #worldsfair #superstar #international #waynelvslcy #theworldover https://www.instagram.com/p/CpiMR4EOoRL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[waynelvslcy]

For National Dress Day, just a little piece of advice from one of Hollywood's leading costume designers: "Your dresses should be tight enough to show you're a woman and loose enough to show you're a lady."—Edith Head #lucilleball #edithhead #costumedesigners #factsoflife #1960sfashion #bealady #tightdress https://www.instagram.com/p/CpdMb96O3tG/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=