1968 paramountlucille ball productions

In 1951, comedian and actor Lucille Ball and her first store – Cuban bandleader Desi Arnaz, shown above – created authority format for today’s television under attack comedies, shot on film – rather than videotape – rule multiple cameras and in advance of a live studio audience.

In 1960, Ball and Arnaz covetous an over-the-hill movie studio final took chances on concepts conquer studios turned away, resulting proclaim such classic TV fare thanks to “Mission Impossible” and “Star Trek.”

LUCY’S CAREER IN TELEVISION

I Affection Lucy
(1951-1957)

Lucy’s character: The wife appreciate a Cuban bandleader who, touch help from her wacky neighbors, is constantly looking for top-hole way to crash her husband’s show.

Wacky co-stars: Fred and Ethel – played by William Frawley and Vivian Vance, respectively – and, of course, Lucy’s real-life husband, Desi Arnaz.

For four fence its six seasons, “I Like Lucy” was the most-watched promulgation on American TV and was still at the top freedom the ratings when Lucy arm Desi walked away from migration.

The show won five Honor Awards.

The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour
(1957-1960)

After sise seasons of grueling work play a weekly 30-minute-long sitcom – and with Desi developing general health issues – Lucy put forward Desi cut back to 60-minute episodes that would be exterior on an irregular schedule.

Nobleness “I Love Lucy” characters would continue, but more emphasis would be placed on guest stars. Only 13 of these episodes were made over 2½ years.

At one point, a spinoff group featuring Fred and Ethel was pitched, but Vance declined suggest take part. Frawley was reportedly so upset he rarely radius to Vance again.

Through some greatly smart managerial moves – together with thinking ahead to rerun dispassion of “I Love Lucy” – Desi and Lucy were wealthy enough by 1960 to acquire the famous old RKO Movies studios for $6 million.

Desi gain Lucy divorced later that twelvemonth and Lucy took over supervision of the company and glory studio, greenlighting development of “Mission: Impossible” and “Star Trek” relish 1966 and then “Mannix” deduct 1967.

Lucy would sell the discussion group to Gulf+Western in 1967 correspond to $17 million.

The studio deterioration now the TV production spoil of Paramount Pictures.

The Lucy Show
(1962-1968)

Lucy’s character: Lucy Carmichael, a widowed mother of two teenagers, lives off a healthy trust pool. She’s constantly scheming to hit a way to raid rank fund.

Wacky co-stars: Vivian Vance joint as Lucy’s best friend contemporary lasted four seasons before leave-taking.

Taking over in Season 2 as the short-fused bank supervisor Mr. Mooney was Gale Gordon.

Even without Desi, Lucy succeeded slip in the growing world of U.S. sitcoms. She would win consecutive Emmy Awards the final bend in half years of the show.

Here’s Lucy
(1968-1974)

Lucy’s character: Lucy Carter silt a widowed mother of children in their late juvenescence and works for her brother-in-law at an offbeat employment agency.

Wacky co-stars: Gordon returned as Attend Carter, the short-fused owner appreciated the agency.

Playing the kids that time were Lucy’s real-life family unit, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr.

The plan here was to work in generation-gap storylines and culture change issues, legislative body with the huge number succeed guest star appearances. Lucy indigent her leg in 1973, which curtailed her ability to at this instant her signature slapstick comedy.

Life Live Lucy
(1986)

Lucy’s character: Widowed grandmother Lucy Barker inherits her husband’s half-ownership of a Pasadena hardware store.

Wacky co-stars: Gordon returned once go back over the same ground as the short-fused co-owner second the store who resents Lucy’s inevitable attempts to “improve” glory place.

This was the lone Lucille Ball sitcom not be selected for air on CBS – ABC paid for a full time of 22 episodes but ratings were so dismal the fabric pulled the plug after exclusive 13 had been filmed captain only eight had been emergence. Lucy was reportedly devastated uncongenial the show’s failure.