America in the fifties, less than ten years after WW2, was all about creativity. People were trying to find fun ways to make themselves happier people. The fifties were the years that rock and roll was born. They had teen idols such as Fabian, and Ricky Nelson. In these years Elvis would start to show his talent and begin his reign of the “rock and roll king”. Amusing and fun toys like; silly putty, Mr. Potato head, and play doh were created, as Barbie would come in later in the fifties. T.V. was

The beginning productions of “I Love Lucy”, proved to be very hard work, which greatly paid off in the end. October 15th 1951- the day the world first saw the soon to be the most popular television show in history, was the beginning of “I Love Lucy”. It aired on CBS, on Monday night from 9-9:30. Originally, the critics had predicted that “I Love Lucy” didn’t stand a chance. However, when the people saw this first episode, which was titled “The Girls want to go to a Nightclub”, they quickly disregarded the critics’ comments. They enjoyed the show and continuously would watch “I Love Lucy” on Monday nights. “ The name Lucy can only mean one person.”- Michael McClay. And thus began a new society tradition.

Lucille Ball was born on August 6, 1911, in Jamestown, New York. Her father died of typhoid fever when she was four years old. Four years later Lucy’s mother remarried a man named Ed Peterson, a factory worker who drank and gambled too much. Lucille’s mother sent her two kids to go live with their grandfather. In high school, Lucille did a production of “Charleys Aunt”, playing the male lead, and realized then that she wanted to act someday. At fifteen years old, Lucille’s mom enrolled her into a school special for performing arts. However, after a year at the school they told her that she didn’t have any talent and to find another career. At 22, Lucy became a “Chesterfields Girl” model, which helped her in her movie career. She was eventually contracted by RKO. Then she starred in “Too Many Girls”, meeting Desi who she fell in love with instantly and married. Her marriage to Desi proved to be rocky with Lucy even filing for divorce at one point, but is reconciled to Desi. She also suffers a miscarriage during this turbulent time. Soon she is getting too old to be doing movies and is replaced with much younger girls. That’s when she changes courses and goes into radio and makes “My Favorite Husband”. She finally becomes pregnant and carries full term to, giving birth to Desi Jr. on January 19, 1953 at 8:15. The next year she has to go through the “red scare” and is accused of being a communist, which is a major downfall on her career. Things continue to spiral downhill for Lucy. In 1960, Lucy files for divorce on the charge of mental cruelty. She continued to do TV shows such as: “The Lucy show”, “Desi-Lucy show”, “Here’s Lucy”, etc…. On April 26 1989, the legendary Lucille Ball dies unexpectedly during surgery.

When “I Love Lucy” premiered on October 15th 1951, the critics were quick to make a 180 and give praise to the show. Within two months it ranked sixteenth in the nation, and by the end of the season it was ranked number three behind “Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts” and the “Texaco Star Theatre”. Variety reported that an average of twenty-nine million viewers were watching the show every week and that “I Love Lucy” was the first TV show in history to reach over ten million homes.

“I Love Lucy” brought out woman power like never before. It is still a fairly new idea to America that male and female are equal. It shows a big step for woman to have made a show revolved around a girl that is not the typical damsel in distress. After “I Love Lucy” is made, many more comedic, female based shows come up such as: Mary Tyler Moore, Laverne and Shirley, Rhoda, bewitched, I dream of Jeannie, and more.

Some topics in this essay:
Love Lucy”, Lucille Ball, Ed Peterson, Desi Arnaz, “i love lucy”, love lucy”, “i love, Jr January, Nelson Elvis, Fulgenco Baltista, Ricky Grace, Jess Oppenheimer, Hollywood Ricky’s, lucille ball, desi arnaz, season “i love, season “i, radio program, favorite husband”, situation comedy, vivian vance, “my favorite, “my favorite husband”, wins emmys situation, gift laughter people,