The Ricardos and the Mertzes

The success of I Love Lucy is due to its fundamental principle of love, that love conquers all, that a happy ending ensues. Aren't these what human beings subconsciously aim for? The purpose of living life the way we do is to hope that a happy ending occurs.

No matter how zany Lucy Ricardo's antics are, her husband, Ricky, always forgives her. Her neighbors and best friends, Fred and Ethel Mertz always support her. And it so happens that Ricky's best friend happens to his neighbor, and Lucy's best friend happens to be her neighbor, and they're all paired up.

As long as they are honest people who work hard, it'll entail a good life, good enough to travel to Hollywood and Europe as a foursome.

It's America's dream: the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness!

I Love Lucy is a global treasure, really.

Lucille Ball's Handwriting

She had beautiful handwriting. So had Desi.

I Love Lucy: The Ballet

One of the classic episodes!

Mary Wickes, the woman who played Madame LeMond in The Ballet, was one of Lucille Ball's closest friends, and also one of the very few people who could really make her laugh (In the 1970s, Lucille wrote a list of the people who could make her laugh on her organizer and Mary Wickes made the list!).

Mary was considered the role of Ethel Mertz, but Mary knew Lucille's character and her working style too well to agree. She believed that if she accepted the role, it would ruin their friendship. She played Madame LeMond really well, didn't she!

Mary also accompanied Lucille on her final visit to Vivian Vance before her death in 1979. While Lucille and Viv chatted, Mary gave them some private time by sitting at a corner. When they drove home from Viv's place, they cried hysterically because it was obvious to them that they would never see Viv alive again. Viv lost her life to cancer thereatfer. 

Lucy and Lucie Arnaz

Photo's rumored to be taken by Desi Arnaz!

Desi took countless pictures and videos of Lucille throughout their marriage. He believed that that was what a loving husband should do: take evidences of his beautiful wife. As a result, they had a whole shelf of home videos and dozens of photo albums. After divorce and throughout her life, Lucille would often go down memory lane and view these media products.

I Love Lucy: The Young Fans

Desi displayed some onscreen comedic talent with his "Please keep jiggling, Peggy, keep jiggling!"

"I was terribly intimidated working with Lucille Ball because, well, she was Lucy, but she was marvelously professional. In rehearsals she was letter perfect, but I was shocked during the shoot. When the camera started rolling in front of the live audience, she just "turned on" -- she was so much bigger on camera than in rehearsal. I got the part because Madelyn called me and asked me if I would like to be on I Love Lucy. I was thrilled to do it, but there was only one problem. I was pregnant. I was playing a teenager on radio on Corliss Archer at the time and didn't show too much, so we thought it was safe. Wardrobe covered me up so I didn't show at all. Lucy knew I was pregnant, and when we rehearsed the "keep jigging Peggy" scene, she would say, "Janet, cool it. Don't do it too much now. You don't want to miscarry!""
- Janet Waldo

Lucille Ball

"Lucy will walk into a wall, forget the roast and the toast. She says she doesn't think funny, but she certainly does funny."
--Gary Morton

Lucille Ball and I Love Lucy

"I hadn't really gotten to watch I Love Lucy. Recently I had caught some of it. Well, I feel that I have a funny looking hairdo, funny looking skirt, and I look like I was forever pregnant, because I was either having one or getting rid of one. But I know that they were well-written and we had a wonderful time doing them and I think it shows. That is the essence of our comedy, and it gave me my education."
--Lucille Ball, 1977 (Babara Walters interview)

Gosh, why would Lucille Ball not know that she was funny off screen too? She certainly had a great sense of humor but she never realized it.