"I Love Lucy" Titbits Trivia Quiz

Answer: Based on a gift that Desi had given to Lucille

The idea came from a diamond-encrusted, heart-shaped lapel pin that Desi gave to Lucille on her 29th Birthday. Lucille Désirée Ball (August 6, 1911 - April 26, 1989) and Desi Arnaz Snr. who was born Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III (March 2, 1917 - December 2, 1986). Lucille and Desi married in November 1940 and were divorced on May 6, 1960.

Answer: Brown

Her original colour was brown, however, when she went to Hollywood she dyed it blond. She only dyed it red when she starred in the 1943 movie "DuBarry Was a Lady" alongside Red Skelton and Gene Kelly. It then became her trademark colour.

Answer: 22 years

William Frawley (1887-1966) was 22 years older than Vivian Vance (1909-1979). Fred was 64 years when he took the role of Fred Mertz in 1951 and Vivian was 42 years at the time. Originally Vivian did not like the idea of having a much older husband and it is well-known that they did not get along off-screen. Vivian Vance became the first actress to receive an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 1954.

Answer: TV Guide

The first issue of the TV Guide was on April 3, 1953 featuring newborn baby Desiderio Alberto Arnaz IV (later known as Desi Arnaz Jr.) with a down-sized photo of Lucille Ball also on the cover. The text read "Lucy's $50,000,000 Baby". Desi Jr. was born on January 19, 1953.

He had an older sister named Lucie Arnaz born July 17, 1951. Lucille Ball appeared on the cover of the TV Guide 39 times.

Answer: Lucille Esmeralda McCillicuddy Ricardo

Lucy's full name was given in the episodes, "Fred and Ethel Fight" (March, 1952), "The Marriage Licence" (April, 1952) and "The Passports" (December, 1955). Ricky's full name of Ricardo Alberto Fernando Ricardo y de Acha III appears in the episode "Hollywood Anniversary" (April, 1955).

Answer: 180

The "I Love Lucy" show aired from October 15, 1951 to May 6, 1957 on CBS for 180 episodes. "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour" ran from November 6, 1957 to April 1, 1960 with 13 episodes.

Answer: Philip Morris

CBS had trouble finding a sponsor for the show and only at the last minute Philip Morris came to the rescue. The name "Philip Morris" was usually worked into the script in some episodes. Lucille Ball actually smoked Chesterfield cigarettes and would often have stage staff place Chesterfield cigarettes in her Philip Morris box for the show.

Answer: Dwight D. Eisenhower inauguration

The episode "Lucy Goes to Hospital" was aired on January 19, 1953. This was actually the day that Desi Arnaz Jr. was born, however, the show had been recorded in November, 1952. The inauguration of the 34th US President on January 20, 1953 was the 1st live coast-to-coast broadcast of a US Presidential inauguration.

The NFL Pro Bowl took place on January 10, 1953 with the National Conference beating American Conference 27-7. The NBA All-Star Game took place on January 13, 1953 with the West beating East 79-75 at Fort Wayne, Indiana. January 17, 1953 Maureen Connolly beat Julia Sampson (6-3, 6-2) also of the USA, at the Australian Women's Singles Final.

Answer: Recorded in front of a live audience

Every show was recorded in front of a live audience and many bloopers were left in or cut from the film to be shown at a later date. The reason being that to re-take scenes would not show complete professionalism on their parts by the actors, and they all prided themselves in their performances.

As it turned out the actors made very few mistakes in their performances as they had rehearsed well before going live. Lucille Ball actually felt more comfortable getting spontaneous laughs from a live audience, rather than "canned" laughter.

It is estimated that around 300 people were in the audience of each taping of the show.

Answer: The Girls Want to Go to a Nightclub

"The Girls Want to Go to a Nightclub" was the first "I Love Lucy" show on October 15, 1951. In this first show the Ricardos and Mertzes decide to go out to celebrate the Mertzes' 18th wedding anniversary. The girls wanted to go to a nightclub and the boys wanted to go and see a boxing match. "The Ricardos Dedicate a Statue" was the 180th and last in the series aired May 6, 1957. "Lucy Cries Wolf" was the 100th episode in the series aired October 18, 1954.

The "Lucy Does a TV Commercial" was the 30th episode and considered to be one of the funniest shows in the series and was aired on May 5, 1952.

In this particular show Lucy does a TV commercial for a product called "Vitameatavegamin" which as a tonic is 24% alcohol and Lucy ends up completely and hilariously drunk.