the "Ricardo's", as the couple was known on TV, couldn't have done it.
without their corky landlords, "The Mertz's".
2. Vivian Vance and William Frawley were America's best backseat.
couple. They were the Ricardo's silly sidekicks and added their own.
touch to each of the episodes.
The show was filmed in front of a live studio audience, which at the time.
was not typical. A live audience was important in helping Lucy with her.
brilliant comedy.
A. Lucy's adrenaline would rush and the things that she would come up.
with would make the audience laugh without being cued to.
1. The producers considered having a pre-recorded overhaul of.
laughter, but then they realized that it just wasn't necessary.
B. Along with the live studio audience, the "I Love Lucy" show had a.
three camera system on the set. The only other show to have a three.
camera set-up was a live game show, and the idea of three cameras running.
at once was usually unheard of.
1. Most of the time one camera would be used and just repositioned at.
different angles. With the three camera system, one camera was used.
for distance, and the other two for close-ups.
2. With all three cameras running at the same time, the editors of.
the show would be able to pick and choose what shots worked best.
where.
3. Because of the easier setup, the time it took to change sets was.
lessened, and the audience got less antsy while waiting. A typical "I.
Love Lucy" half hour episode was recorded in about one hour's time.
C. Unlike most Hollywood sets where the lighting systems were mounted on.
the floor, the set of "I Love Lucy" had overhanging lights to keep from.
obstructing the audience's view of filming.
1. Having three cameras, the entire set had to be lit evenly or else.
the shots would not match.
2. The "I Love Lucy" sets were all gray, as well as the costumes and.
props. They even tinted newspapers gray to reduce the chance of poor.
contrast!.
The last episode of "I Love Lucy" aired on May 6, 1957.
