College of Lucy Touched My Life
In this thesis paper, I will attempt to study how Lucy, her hit TV show, and her movies impact my life.
First of all, Lucy has a unique gift of making people feel better by just her facial expressions. Many times, after coming home in a bad mood, feeling like everything is rotten, I know all I need to do is pop in one of my recorded Lucy episodes.
In a way, I feel like I'm in another world, and the biggest problem is whether or not Ricky will find out about Lucy's latest shopping spree. One of my favorite Lucy movies has to be "Fancy Pants". I love how Lucy and Bob Hope compliment each other. Another of my favorite Lucy movies is "Yours, Mine, and Ours".
Lucy, in general, is a guaranteed spirit-uplifter. I can tell other people in my family enjoy Lucy, too. Although they try to pretend like they don't care about "I Love Lucy", I always get a kick out of my mom perched in the very back of the room, while I'm watching Lucy. Then, when I catch her, she always says she "just had to sit down for a minute to rest her feet." In
conclusion, for anyone in a bad mood, I'd prescribe bed rest, Lucy, and maybe some Vitameatavegamin!!
- Madeline, MS See Madeline's Degree
College of Lucy Collecting
Lucy collecting has taken on a life of it's own. Today, there are so many different items to choose from. Now that people have acces to the Web, any Lucy item is at our fingers.
Now we can go to ebay, yahoo, amazon, and other places to look for Lucy memorbilia on auctions. There you can find, clothes, vintage items, books, magazines, and anything with Lucy on it. Many websites offer Lucy items at your fingertips. One of the best that I have come upon is Cathy's Closet. She has all things Lucy, and she's very friendly.
If it's something that you want to see for yourself, go to any Lucy convention or get together. There you can buy, or sell if you need to, Lucy clothes, wigs, shoes, autographs, and who knows what else. One auction at a convention has even sold henna and parts of a dress Lucy had once worn. Owning something personal of Lucy's would be any fan's dream.
Some people have become obsessed with Lucy collecting and it has turned into an obsession. Some people's last dollar would go to a Lucy souvenir. Many fans have a private room set up for their collection. Rooms become shrines or miniature museums. I have a feeling that Lucille herself would think some of us mad at our collection. But the stuff is out there, so get it while you can.
-Mandy, MS
College of Lucy Watching
by Sara Polk
I have been watching Lucy since I was 3 years old. Me and my mom would sit down every night and watch. I loved watching Lucy then and I love watching her now. During the summer I stay up til 1:30 in the morning just to watch Lucy. Every time I wasn't where I could watch it I would tape it.
I have a lot of favorite episodes. It is hard to just pick one favorite. I will tell you some of them. The chocolate factory, the television commercial, the one where she had to lose weight to be in the show with Ricky, and the one where she goes on that gameshow to win money to pay off the bills. My favorite movie that Lucy stared in is Yours, Mine,and Ours.
Sara Polk, MS
COLLEGE OF HOW LUCY TOUCHED MY LIFE
I am one of the many many fans of the diva, the queen, the goddess of all -Lucille Ball! But I have been amongst the few of the many touched and gifted of her talent and spunk.
At an age that I could not even remember I was brought up on reruns of the I Love Lucy show. My mother (who is also a fanatic) had invested much of her hard earned money into Beta Video collections of every episode of I Love Lucy. There were three episodes per tape and I would watch a tape EVERY night to fall asleep. It became a nightly ritual, I couldn't sleep without her being on, until I turned 12 and the Beta player finally gave out on us and we could no longer watch them on Beta. But thank God for the wonderful night network of NICK-AT-NITE. They pay their homage to the Queen of Comedy, having marathons, birthday specials, and Saturday nights give her 2 hours. And of course two other TV stations in my city play an hour of Lucy. So this kept my Lucy spirit alive and running.
Now that I have just turned 17 on Aug. 2, I still find myself the biggest fan in my town. Everyday of my life something has related to her show. Being a Leo just like Lucy (By the way Happy 89th Birthday Lucy!) My family and friends say that my personality and humor reminds them of Lucy. I am in fact an actress, I have been performing in both professional and community theatre since the age of 6. Ever since then my mom told me if you have any doubts in your head of what to do, think of what Lucy would do. And I have lived by that advice at every audition and performance and everything I have ever done. Even in my dressing room I have a Lucy Shrine of pictures of Lucy all over my mirror, giving me inspiration for every performance. For example, I was auditioning for the part of a witch and I would think of her being a witch in " Little Ricky's School Pageant" ( #163 Filmed 10/25/56) the way she talked and moved and giggled. Of course all the other girls auditioning were acted the sterotype of mean, old, and dry. But knowing how Lucy turned that part around and I myself used her same technique and it got huge laughs from the casting directors and audience. I ended up getting the part hands down, and not only that but I received a nomination for Best Principle Actress in a Musical with the Ari"zoni" Association ( An award given in the state of Arizona) for my performance of a witch. If not for her, I would not even have got where I am today.
Not only in theatre but everyday life. If I have problem, "What did Lucy do?" I now open all my jars by hitting a knife on the cap ("Lucy and The Loving Cup" #164 Filmed 11/1/56), I use the "Vitameatavegamin" monologue for school presentations and chat.I eat escargot while singing "Alloute" ("Paris at Last" #145 Filmed 1/12/56) When I went to Grauman's Chinese Theatre when I was 5, I put my feet in John Wayne's footprints and tried to steal the big block of cement for a souvenir. ("Lucy and John Wayne" #129 Filmed 9/15/55) EVERYDAY I use Lucy in it. I am Lucy for Halloween. I knew the most Spanish on the first day of class of Spanish I. I wear Lucy. My room is Lucy. My computer is Lucy. My friends have turned Lucy. I live, breathe, and eat Lucy.
My life would not be what it is today if I were not familiar with the works of Lucy. She has taught me not to be ordinary, but to strive for the craziness and laughter in life. She is my role model and someone I try to be. What else can I say, but I love Lucy.
Kartika, MS. See Kartika's Degree
College of Lucy Touched My Life
Ahhh Lucy! I believe she saved my life!!!!!
As a latch key child the TV became my best friend, baby sitter, and the people on it my role models.
Out of the many shows I would and do watch, It was I love Lucy that I'd RUN home to see. It was Lucy & the gang that made me laugh when I'd come home from school in tears. It was from watching Lucy snd the cast that taught me how to take a bad situation (like getting my head stuck in a trophy, which I also learned from Lucy) and make it very funny.(people have actually told me I should be a comedian)That has allowed me to reach the people I take care of with humor!
Now 27 years old I take care of people who are developmentaly disabled and every day I feel the diffrent lessions, and comfort that wounderfull t.v. familt gave, & still gives me.
Amanda M. Lee, MS
Amanda's Degree
College of Lucy Touched My Life
LUCILLE BALL--A PRICELESS INFLUENCE
Lucille Ball and Kathy Sills were one. How can such a famous person affect one small someone such as me? She affected me to the point I have a bedroom in my home called "The Lucy Room". It is painted red, white and black. There is nothing in that room that does not reflect Lucille Ball...including the comforter on the bed that is black with red hearts. The walls are covered in Lucy. I have a political sign that says "I Love Lucy" as big as
one wall. I have slept in that room and felt her presence. Two black labs and a black cat reside with me. Their names are (AKC registered) Lucille Ball and Ethel Mae...the cat is Miss T (for Miss Trumball, of course). My car tag says "Lucy Fan". I have watched every episode of "I Love Lucy", all of her movies, read every single book written about her.
On that April night, I woke up and called my doctor because I thought I was having a heart attack. Of course, that morning I realized that Lucille Ball had died of a heart aneurysm. How strange? I think not. A part of me died when she did. She will continue to affect my life daily because my office has reminders everywhere of that crazy redhead. I even dyed my hair red and played Lucille Ball in a skit at church. I got rave reviews. My name plate--Lucille Ball--the doctors at UAB are very amused. I wish everyone could be affected by the positive Lucille Ball just like me.
Kathy Sills, MS Kathy's Degree
The Art of Lucy Collecting
LUCY COLLECTING--WHAT A BALL
I will mention only a few items that I have collected since I was six years old. I have original comic books, TV guides, Life Magazines, trading cards, chewing gum cards, checks written by Lucille Ball, pictures of her house on Roxbury Drive with me on the porch, plates with different episodes of "I Love Lucy", old posters from movies, every book written about her, including
a mystery book published in the 60's written along the line of the Nancy Drews Mysteries, a charcoal sketch that was done just for me, posters, metal signs, t shirts, caps, ties, boxer shorts, socks, throws, pillows, articles from newspapers galore, a spoon, key chains, a name plate that came from one of her dressing rooms. I have personally been to Hollywood and taken
pictures of her house, the brick wall in back, her dressing room, even her gardener. I have every episode of "I Love Lucy", movies, including "The Stone Pillow" her last TV movie, fan club material, postcards, magnets, birthday cards, cups, and that is only the beginning. I made a Lucille Ball tree with different episodes depicting the branches, the "I Love Lucy" game, a Lucy Barbie Doll, framed pictures and unframed pictures, a tag on my car that says "Lucy Fan". I met and had dinner with Lucie Arnaz in Birmingham several years ago. She signed her book and I felt
as though I had finally met the only person I have ever wanted to
meet...Lucille Ball. Obsession one may call it, you bet it is!
KathySills, PhD Kathy's Degree
How to Approach a Movie Star
Lucy and the Stars
As we all know, Lucy doesn't have exactly the best luck with Hollywood stars. She is either trying to get a good look or impress her friends with the Hollywood fame. "The Brown Derby" is the perfect example. While Lucy, Fred, and Ethel were
waiting to be served and a lady would come on the loud speaker announcing various stars had a phone call, Lucy and Ethel would jump up and look for them. Then as William Holden gets seated in the booth next to them, Ethel can't help but make a facial expression that gets Lucy excited. As she is looking through the mirror in her compact and sees the handsome actor next
to her she is flabbergasted! When they get their dinner, Lucy has a heck of a time eating her spaghetti as William stares over the booth giving Lucy a taste of her own medicine. As Lucy decides to leave she runs into the waiter who smashes the pie on Williams face. Little does she know about the surprise Ricky has for her when she returns to the hotel. William Holdenis
in the living room. Lucy tries to mold her face to look like someone different. As always, when Lucy ran into a star, it ends in terror as she catches her nose on fire while trying to light a cigarette.
Another example of how Lucy loves to meet the stars is in "Lucy Meets Bob Hope." What extreme won't that girl go to? She went as far as dressing up as a hot dog boy at a baseball game to talk to Mr. Hope. Even though she caused him pain from getting bumped on the head by a fowl ball, and got mustard all over him, he still fell in love with her charm and heart and asked her to appear on his guest appearance when she got her cleats stuckin
the tile during the performance. Poor Lucy.
It seems as though Lucy felt she had to impress Carolyn Applebee when she came to Hollywood to visit Lucy and Ethel. When Ricky wouldn't ask the stars to come up to the Hotel, Lucy went to a costume shop and bought a bunch of costumes to dress up like them. While Lucy was changing, Ethel had to keep Carolyn busy and make her loose her glasses. It was a classic when
Ricky got the real Harpo Marks to come up and visit, when Lucy was dressed up the same. But Lucy pulled it off because she had Carolyn fooled! Lucy is the best prescription for people who are down or having a bad day. In every episode, you never know what her mind is up to and what prank she is going to pull next. She is a great character and knows how to put a smile on faces!
Jennifer Gilchrist, MS Jennifer's Degree
The College of Lucille Ball Studies - A Study on Lucy Ricardo
The character I will be talking about is Loony, unique, crazy, incomparable, laughingly entertaining, bold, alluring, loved and loaded. This talent is one of the funniest people you could ever meet; yet so annoying you'd try to avoid her in every way possible.
Her husband and friends get dragged into the weirdest predicaments imaginable. This lady has and knows more money than most people. This lady has blond roots but grows red stems and once artificial black stems. She lets her husband be around and dance with attractive woman whenever he needs to. When she finds out about these woman, she sabotages the act by filling in for the preoccupied hostage or hostages.
This woman went on vacation to Lake Wachasockapoo, and two movie stars showed up. Normally this lady is completely star struck, but she was looking forward to being all-alone with her husband.
About ten years before, she tried to paint and reupholster the landlords', and then good friends' apartment but messed up, and the landlords didn't like it They forced this lady to literally pick thousands of floating feathers out of the air.
Another time she went to England to see Buckingham Palace and meet the Queen, and make the guards laugh. She couldn't make the guards laugh. No one can make the guards laugh except the Queen. She could give them more money. That would make them laugh. She could even make the guards cry by docking their pay or firing them. This lady got to meet the Queen, but she got
stuck in her curtsy position and had to have two ushers carry her away.
Before she met the Queen she had to get there. So, this lady and her girlfriend had to raise three thousand dollars to go and they did by raffling off a donated TV set for The Ladies Overseas Aid. This was a phony charity they made up so people would buy the tickets. They were the ladies who wanted to go overseas and needed financial aid, but a cop came and said
that making up a phony charity was a crime.What they didn't know was there really was a charity called the (LOA), and if they didn't give them the money, the ladies would go to jail. So, they lost the three thousand dollars but found out their husbands would take them instead.
When it was time to get on the SS Constitution, she missed the ship because she took to long saying goodbye to her son. So she tried to catch the pilot boat and missed that too. The only other thing she could do was take a helicopter and she did. When she got on, she screamed, "where are
the doors?", and the pilot explained why the doors were off. Then she spotted a cigarette floating on the ocean and the pilot said, "that's your ship." The pilot that helicopters are not allowed to land on the ships; that he would have to hover over the boat, and she would have to jump out and be lowered by her harness. She then asked him if he had enough gas to fly her
to England, and if not she'd pay for the gas that money was no object, but the pilot said no. She jump out and was lowered to her boat.
Can you guess who this person is? I bet you can. Even if you can't the point of the story isn't to guess who this is, but to find her name Look Carefully. Her name is hidden in the story.
Jaime Cobb, MS. Jaime's Degree
Back to Lucille Ball University Homepage
© 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 Eva, Lucille Ball University