Lucy Love Affair on her 100th birth anniversary

August 6, 2012 is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Lucille Ball.

Lucy, you kept me laughing at your antics when I was a child. Back then, you were on TV in your 1950s incarnation every evening when I loyally watched "I Love Lucy." Your 1960s "Lucy Show" was re-run at lunchtime and in the evenings we could see your 1970s brand new "Here's Lucy".

As time has gone by, you've been a "wondaful" break from the current lack of creativity in the media. I don't want to watch today's attempt at comedy. Despite the fact that I can recite your television dialog practically verbatim, you still fascinate me.

Through college, through early adulthood, through my marriage and now through my 45 plus years, there you have been. Unchanging. Forever comfortable and lovely.

You were such a beauty and captivated so many people with your talents. I wasn't around during your 1950s heyday. It must have been something to witness firsthand.

As you aged, you apparently knew that people had forever etched you into your younger days. This week you would have turned 100. The Lucille Ball we remember is still as vital, vivacious, and beautiful as ever. I wish you were here to read this.

Well! Jack Benny

One of my favorite comedians since my youth is Jack Benny. Recently our PBS station started running some of his 1960s tv shows and it was great seeing them in their pristine condition.

Benny had quite a career, spanning vaudeville, radio, film and television. He lived next door to Lucille Ball in Beverly Hills and they were good friends. Jack had a great sense of humor and once he wandered into Lucy's house while she was having dinner, played his signature violin and sauntered back out without saying a word.

I've read many bios of Jack through the years and am always in wonder of those innocent Hollywood years. Both Jack and Lucy's homes were right on Roxbury street, very easily accessible to the fans. Jack's daughter Joan once wrote that people would simply knock on the door and they would hand out autographs! Those days are gone forever.

Years ago I visited Beverly Hills and snapped a pic of Jack and Lucy's mansions. Across the street was Jimmy Stewart's place. The UPS man went up to Jimmy's front door and an elderly lady opened it. Perhaps it was Gloria Stewart?!

I was introduced to Jack Benny through his old 1940s/50s radio shows when I was a kid. Our local library offered cassette tapes of his programs. It was like visiting with family every week as his show ensemble had so many memorable characters, from his butler Rochester to his announcer Don Wilson.

There is a wealth of Benny info at www.jackbenny.org. Radio and tv programs are available there. You can find lots of show clips on Youtube as well. I even found a treasure trove of Benny material at Wal Mart not too long ago....a dvd collection of not only his comedy shows but appearances in dramas in the 1950s. Unfortunately I've never seen an official release of any of his television shows. I guess they just don't think there would be enough demand. Sad.

We will never see the likes of another Jack Benny. His comedy was unique and couldn't be copied by anyone else.

pics of Jack Benny above include a postcard of his home, one of his appearance on The Lawrence Welk Show, and with his neighbor the iconic Lucille Ball.

The Lucy Love Affair continues with "The Lucy Show" season two

When I was growing up in the Detroit, Michigan area, Lucille Ball and her tv high jinx (I don't think I've ever used that word before....high jinx?!) were an important part of growing up.

Her classic 1950s sitcom "I Love Lucy" starring Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, William Frawley and of course Lucy, was seen every weekday evening after school and was mandatory viewing. For some reason this show became an obsession and still is to this day. I have all the "I Love Lucy" episodes on dvd and have watched them many times over. The show is still broadcast in local markets and on the Hallmark Channel. Unfortunately the syndicated prints are sped up and edited. The picture is often blurry. It is a shame as the dvd presentation of "I Love Lucy" is pristine, clear and, as Lucy would say, "Wundaful."

When Lucy got her divorce from Desi, she eventually returned to television in "The Lucy Show." This series was prime time top rated in the 1960s. When I was growing up in the 70s, reruns of "The Lucy Show" were shown locally at lunch time and I was a faithful viewer. Time wasn't good to "The Lucy Show" and it vanished from rerun heaven on local stations. When videotapes and dvds arrived on the scene, "The Lucy Show" was often to be found in cut rate cheap pirated versions with washed out copies and edited programs. Not very fitting for "The First Lady of Television" as Lucy was often called.


CBS probably figured they finally made all the money they could from the "I Love Lucy" franchise, releasing just about everything except a rare Desilu Revue Christmas Special. They finally released the official "The Lucy Show" first season last year and just now on the scene is "The Lucy Show" the official second season.

This dvd collection features 28 beautifully restored episodes, IN COLOR. Remember when THAT was something new? In fact, when these shows were first shown on CBS, they were shown in black and white. Desilu knew that color was coming and rerun money was to be made so they were shot in color. Lucy looks lovely and Vivian Vance, who was kind of frumpy on "I Love Lucy" looks good, too. This season also includes the introduction of Gale Gordon as Mr. Mooney, a classic tv character.

No, this isn't the magic of "I Love Lucy" but it does have some great shows including two featuring Ethel Merman. Also here are some great classic cast commercials, rare CBS clips, a full length Lucy/Bob Hope special, and show openings for sponsors like Jello. The lovingly produced interviews with Lucy's friend Carol Cook and actor Barry Livingston are lots of fun.

This is no bargain basement production, this is Lucy done with style and love. And like "I Love Lucy" it's filmed in Hollywood by Desilu!

Click here to watch an unofficial excerpt of "The Lucy Show" to get an idea of what the show is about!

pictured above: daughter Lucie Arnaz with her famous parents; The Lucy Show season two dvd.