I Love Lucy

 

Did you grow up with I Love Lucy on TV? Perhaps watching it with your mother? Perhaps you still watch it today? And what does this TV show have to do with genealogy? Lots!

When you're scribbling your memories, have you thought to include how these early TV shows impacted your life? The first TV show I remember watching (on our little B&W screen) was 1954-1955 series Flash Gordon........... remember Ming, the evil emperor? That show planted the Sci-Fi seed in me and Star Trek still is my favorite. Shouldn't I have written in my memories how these shows impacted me? 

I Love Lucy ran for six seasons, 1951-1957, 180 episodes, and has never been off the air since. The show's syndication was the brainchild of Desi Arnaz. Getting money from re-runs of a TV show was a new concept pioneered by Desi Arnaz. 

A new book, Desi Arnaz, the Man Who Invented TV by Todd Purdun, was the topic of a video that I watched recently. The book tells the story of Desi, born in Cuba in 1917, and grew up in Florida when his parents emigrated. He struggled with his music career and his big break came only after his marriage to Lucy in 1940 (they eloped). Lucy was already a rising star, with a radio show "My Father's House," which was morphing into a TV show. They wanted Lucy to continue with the show but she would agree only if Desi were her husband. 

That presented a problem in those days. A white woman married to a Cuban? But this problem was overcome; the people loved the show. When their son, Desi, Jr, was coming, they wrote the pregnancy into the show. This was the first time "sex" had been hinted at and a pregnant woman featured. The show of "Little Ricky's" birth in January 1953, was seen by 44 million Americans. 

Well, the couple had a volatile relationship even as their businesses and fortunes grew. They founded Desilu studios which still produces movies and TV shows. But apparently the strain was too much for Desi; they divorced in 1960 and Desi died in 1986 of lung cancer. Lucy died in 1989. 

What was the most memorable I Love Lucy show to you? To me, it was the "vitameggavegimine" show where Lucy became drunk during the many takes of the ad she was filming in her quest for her own stardom. Yes, I Love Lucy was part of my younger life. What about YOU?