On this day in 1953, almost 72% of all televisions in the US were tuned into I Love Lucy to watch Lucy give birth.
The series ran from 1951 to 1957 with 180 half-hour episodes. I Love Lucy became the most-watched show in the United States in four of its six seasons and it was the first to end its run at the top of the Nielsen ratings. As of 2011, episodes of the show have been syndicated in dozens of languages across the world and remains popular with an American audience of 40 million each year. A colorized version of its Christmas episode attracted more than eight million viewers when CBS aired it in prime time in 2013, 62 years after the show premiered.
The show – which was the first scripted television program to be filmed on 35 mm film in front of a studio audience was also the first show to feature an ensemble cast. As such, it is often regarded as one of the most influential television programs in history. In 2012, it was voted the ‘Best TV Show of All Time’ in a survey conducted by ABC News and People magazine.
during the second season, Lucy was pregnant again with second child Desi Arnaz Jr., and this time the pregnancy was incorporated into the series’ storyline. CBS would not allow I Love Lucy to use the word pregnant, so expecting was used instead. In addition, sponsor Philip Morris made the request that Ball not be seen smoking during the pregnancy episodes. The episode in which Lucy Ricardo gives birth, “Lucy Goes to the Hospital”, first aired on January 19, 1953, which was the day before the inauguration of Dwight Eisenhower as President of the United States. To increase the publicity of this episode, the original air date was chosen to coincide with Ball’s real-life delivery of Desi Jr. by Caesarean section.
Cast members from left, standing: William Frawley, Desi Arnaz, seated: Vivian Vance and Lucille Ball
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Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865,when enslaved Texans learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The celebration began in Texas and spread nationwide, becoming a federal holiday in 2021.
A group of formerly enslaved people at a wharf during the American Civil War.
Today is the birthday, in 1963, of Paula Abdul, American singer, songwriter, voice actress, dancer, choreographer who had the 1990 US No.1 & UK No.2 single ‘Opposites Attract’ plus five other US No.1 singles. Her 1989 album Forever Your Girl spent ten weeks as US No.1. Became a judge on American Idol TV show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El1kgCqD7Xk
