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Lucille Ball's 100th birthday marked by unpublished photos release
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Comedienne Lucille Ball was a trailblazer in the world of television and comedy, treading a path for generations of women in the entertainment industry to follow. Saturday (Aug. 6) marks what would have been her 100th birthday and to celebrate, Life has released a series of never-before-published photos of Lucy.The above photo is captioned: In 1958, on the set of The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour -- a collection of occasional lavish specials that followed the adventures of the Ricardos and the Mertzes after I Love Lucy -- Ball does a comedy bit as a wisecracking clerk. As in real life, the fictional Lucy seemed to have tried every job in the want ads in the hope of eventually becoming famous and successful. Watching her fail spectacularly every week (even as the actress who played her showed off her unparalleled comic skills) made Lucy Ricardo a success -- at becoming one of TV's most unforgettable characters.
The below photo, with husband Desi: Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball strike familiar poses as they survey their new empire, the Desilu Studios, in 1958. The camera set-up behind them is actually one of Lucy and Desi's greatest innovations. When they started I Love Lucy in 1951, most TV shows were produced live in New York, captured on low-quality kinetoscopes, then re-aired on the West Coast. The Arnazes insisted on working in Hollywood and shooting their show in advance on film. They invented the three-camera staging so they could shoot from multiple angles and distances simultaneously while performing the show before a live audience in the studio. The couple also got CBS to let them keep the filmed episodes, which ended up making them a fortune in syndication before reruns had become commonplace. The three-camera set-up became the standard for shooting sitcoms (and it remains so today), and it began the shift of TV production from New York to Hollywood.
And below the second photo is our very favorite Lucy moment ever seen on screen. Happy Birthday, Lucille Ball.
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Photo/Video credit: Life
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Happy Birthday Lucy, a legend forever.
There was NEVER anyone funnier than Lucy!
I love you Lucy! Happy Birthday to the woman who has made me laugh for over 40 yrs!
Happy Birthday,
Watching " I love Lucy" every morning starting at 5:00 am until
8:00am is my daily habit. She was
and always will be my "A" list
comedian. There's no one that can
top her in comedy even today. Happy Birthday Ms. Ball, I really
miss you.
I grew up watching “I Love Lucy, The Lucy Show & Here’s Lucy”, Lucy’s comedic timing was above reproach, and not many can even come close this very day. I met her one day @ the airport in the mid 60′s and she was boarding the same plane that I was, and she was so very kind to have a few words with. Of course, I was a bit overwhelmed with her beauty & charm, but she had an inflection of a truly nice human being, no matter how popular she was in the world @ that time, she was still grounded. That is something that I will almost keep in my mind, as well as in my heart♥♥.
Miss Ball, you may not be here physically @ the moment, but your always in millions of folks hearts & minds throughout the world this very day. ♫Happy Birthday To You♫, and I feel very blessed & fortunate to have been able to appreciate not only your kindness, but your talent as well!
My Mother and I watched every Lucy episode. I still watch it today. Lucy is a Legend. I miss her. I have alot of collectables. Lucy will never die in our hearts.
My wife loved watching Lucy and bing from Buffalo,NY she never met her but now maybe they might meet in heaven, may them both live on for ever
I have Loved Lucy since I was able to turn on the tv. I still watch the shows and still laugh. I have bunches of Columbia House tapes,some not even opened. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCY, and yes, I LOVE LUCY.
Lucy is the best! She has entertained generations. Never get tired of watching the reruns.
Happy Birthday to my favorite red head. I love watching the funny charactors Lucy and Ethel.