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I loved Lucy. I still love Lucy. She is a quintessential American comedic icon. Fifty
years ago when "I Love Lucy" premiered it was a groundbreaking show. It was one
of the first, if not the first, show to have a female as the central star, and also one of
the first shows to have a minority star portraying his very real ethnic roots. It was
decades ahead of its time. Also, if I remember my college broadcasting class correctly, it
was one of the first shows to have a live audience and a two-camera setup.
The weekly comic situations were geared to middle America, much as the
"Honeymooners" was geared to the blue collar classes. It dealt with everyday
issues and circumstances with humor that imbued the dialogue.
The show also worked because of Lucy. She was not afraid to look silly, get dirty or look
bad --- she was a physical comedian who would do anything to get the laugh. Who could
forget her constant attempts to meet the Hollywood folk that Desi dealt with in his work
---- that star-struck, crazed fan quality. Or what about her novice attempt to save money
by baking her own bread? Remember that huge loaf bursting open the oven door and moving
across her kitchen? Or, her various money-making schemes that included stomping grapes or
assembling candy boxes in a factory with Ethel? Everyone has a favorite Lucy episode, or
two, or three.
Bookreporter.com celebrates Lucy today in the way we know best --- with books. Here we
have gathered a roundup of books about the show, its memorable cast, and about Lucy. We're
sure that at least one deserves a place in the memorabilia category of your library.
--- Ann Bruns and Carol Fitzgerald
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About the show --
I LOVE LUCY: The Classic Moments
Thomas Watson
Berkley Pub Group
ISBN: 0762404744
THE I LOVE LUCY BOOK
Bart Andrews
Doubleday
ISBN: 0385190336
I LOVE LUCY: The Complete Picture History of the Most Popular TV Show Ever
Michael and Deanna Gaffner McClay
Warner Books
ISBN: 044651750X
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Biography/Memoir --
LOVE, LUCY
Lucille Ball
Berkley Pub Group
ISBN: 0425177319
LUCILLE: The Life of Lucille Ball
Kathleen Brady
Watson-Guptill Pubns
ISBN: 0823089134
DESILU: The Story of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz
Tom Gilbert and Coyne Steven Sanders
Quill
ISBN: 0688135145
LUCY: A Life in Pictures
Tim Frew
Metro Books
ISBN: 1567993869
THE OTHER SIDE OF ETHEL MERTZ: The Life Story of Vivian Vance
Frank Castelluccio and Alvin Walker
Knowledge, Ideas, & Trends
ISBN: 1879198266
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Just For Fun --
THE I LOVE LUCY GUIDE TO LIFE: Wisdom from Lucy and The Gang
Lucie Arnaz and Elisabeth Edwards
Running Press
ISBN: 0762403292
THE QUOTABLE I LOVE LUCY
edited by Elisabeth Edwards
Metro Books
ISBN: 1586632884
©
Copyright 2001, Bookreporter.com. All rights reserved.
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