This clip is from the television special 'Lucy and Desi: Home Movies' from 1992. I VHS taped my copy back on August 1, 1993. I believe this special is available on VHS or now, DVD, and is highly recommended. It was produced by Lucie and Desi Jr Arnaz, and they are interviewed in the special, along with a who's-who of Hollywood and backstage at the 'I Love Lucy' show. In this video clip, Desi and Lucy explain how the 'I Love Lucy' television series reached the airwaves. As much as Lucy was the focus of talent in front of the camera, Desi was equally as important as the focus behind the camera. He was pushing technological and distribution innovation throughout the reign of the 'I Love Lucy' show during the 1950s, and he helped guide the way for the show to reach the syndication market, which soon thereafter was populated with other off network television properties. Desi also went on to become one of the most successful television producers of comedies in the 1960s via Desilu. Truly a television pioneer. And yes, that is indeed Joan Rivers in the clip interviewing Desi Arnaz - I assume she was substituting for Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show that evening. For more information regarding media items available on the 'I Love Lucy' Show, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, a good source is always Amazon and: www.lucilleball.com There are a tremendous amount of books on 'I Love Lucy' and Lucy and Desi.... probably more books written about the subject than any other television show in history (understandably so.) I have many in my personal library, but my three favorites are: 1) 'Desilu: The Story of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz' by - Coyne Steven Sanders and Tom Gilbert This is an absolutely amazing book - in my mind, the best book ever written on a television series. It reads almost like a three act play - rise (1950s), fall (late 1950s and 1960), rebirth (1960s). A story of the durability of a company and the durability of a marriage/relationship that stood the test of time during an explosive and chaotic time in the television industry. 2) 'The Lucy Book - A complete Guide to Her Five Decades on Television by - Geoffrey Mark Fidelman (w/forward by Steve Allen) This is a remarkable, one-of-a-kind book. I saw it on the bookstore shelf amongst other Lucy books, and was just stunned by the detail of this book. Every single episode of every single series Lucy work on (including her TV Specials and work she did on other television series) over five decades is listed chronologically in this book, with a detailed description of each episode, interviews with the actors, writers and directors who worked on each episode, background info on what took place during the filming of each episode, etc. Amazing amount of work and effort went into compiling this book. A 'I can't put this down' type reading material. 3) 'Love Lucy' by - Lucille Ball [with Betty Hannah Hoffman] w/forward by Lucie Arnaz. This book was originally written by Lucille Ball back in 1960 and 1961 timeframe, but the manuscript was never published. The manuscript was found decades later and published in 1996. The timing of Lucille writing the book is really quite special - it was in the 'down period' between the ending of 'I Love Lucy' (in 1959/60) and the beginning of 'The Lucy' show in the fall of 1962. She was working on Broadway at the time in ' Wildcats'. Really, the perfect time for her to reflect back on her life up to that point in time as she went through an amazing transformation both in front of (Wildcats) and behind the camera (Desilu). This video clip is show here at YouTube for the educational, informational and entertainment value of the viewer. Not for profit, and no copyright infringement is intended.

• published: 27 Oct 2015
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