Not sure if this was discussed before so forgive me if it has. But what is everyone's thoughts on this controversial subject? A friend of mine and I had a debate on whether or not men spanked their wives back then and she said that she thought it was just in TV and film for entertainment and that it would be considered abuse. I disagree and even did some research in hopes of proving her wrong. Unfortunetly when googling it, alot of other discusting and unrelated garbage cameup too. But, I did see an old article from a newspaper from the mid fifties asking men if they think women should be spanked and they all agreed they should! I would have attached it but I couldn't figure how to. Their comments were very interesting. So it seemed it was quite common aside from TV in those days!

So again, what do you all think about Ricky spanking Lucy? I just thought it was a riot and of course I was maybe a little envious. :D I mean he was a hottie!:D :D

Also, there was a huge list of films that had that sort of "domestic discipline" in the show as well. I was astonished so in writing that, so many had the idea to put it in the show/movie, it must have been what they deemed as "Normal."

Whenever Ricky spanked Lucy (I counted 3 episodes), it really bothered me.
I always bring up this point whenever somebody says ILL is the best show of all time.

However, I do think spanking in that era was considered normal. I remember seeing a Shirley Temple movie when she was older, and some male character said her character deserved to be spanked.

It is hard to understand the thinking of the 50's. Saying pregnant on ILL was a no-no, but spanking was considered OK.

Whenever Ricky spanked Lucy (I counted 3 episodes), it really bothered me.
I always bring up this point whenever somebody says ILL is the best show of all time.

However, I do think spanking in that era was considered normal. I remember seeing a Shirley Temple movie when she was older, and some male character said her character deserved to be spanked.

It is hard to understand the thinking of the 50's. Saying pregnant on ILL was a no-no, but spanking was considered OK.
I don't think saying Pregnant was a no-no at the time. I think that was the Network/TV censors at the time who said no to the word Pregnant being used at the time.

I had several uncles who spanked their wives and I am pretty sure my grandfather spanked my grandmother. One of the 100 reasons I'll NEVER get married is that you can no longer spank your wife without fear of being arrested.

Is this the article Hughsgirl? It's from the NY Mirror and it looks like it's from the 1950's.

Many times these opinion pieces include differing points of view. Every single one of them agreed that a spanking would keep their wife in line. But a hairbrush? This seems kind of surprising even for the 50's. I would think that men spanking their wives would be more of an exception rather than the norm. This was before the term "battered wives" even came into existence.

Whenever Ricky spanked Lucy (I counted 3 episodes), it really bothered me.
I always bring up this point whenever somebody says ILL is the best show of all time.

What about when Lucy whacked Ricky? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFLLw7JcU74

Is this the article Hughsgirl? It's from the NY Mirror and it looks like it's from the 1950's.

That's it! Thank you! That last uy looks like he was just a bully! And I don't get the hairbrush thing either.

I had several uncles who spanked their wives and I am pretty sure my grandfather spanked my grandmother. One of the 100 reasons I'll NEVER get married is that you can no longer spank your wife without fear of being arrested.

LOL! You are too funny. But it's very true today!

What particular year is that article from? For some reason, I don't know why, I think it's from the early 50's.
These men were probably born in the 1800's or at the most, early 1900's.
Notice they are mostly middle-aged.

To Little Ricky (one of these days I'll learn how to edit)
I haven't seen the episode on TV where Lucy whacked Ricky. I'm new to the show. I like Ricky. I do think he puts up with a little of crap from Lucy. I just wish the spanking didn't happen.

Maybe I am naive about this, but I always thought of the spanking on the show in just fun. Lucy cries like a child so Ricky spanks her like one. Not saying it is right, but I always thought of it just as a laugh factor.

Maybe I am naive about this, but I always thought of the spanking on the show in just fun. Lucy cries like a child so Ricky spanks her like one. Not saying it is right, but I always thought of it just as a laugh factor.

I asked my wife last night if, in the 10 years that we have known each other and she has watched ILL with me, if the few times Ricky spanks Lucy ever bothered her. She first asked me "Where in the $%@# did that question come from?" followed by "People who are going to be critical of something that obviously was done in the humor of the situation needs to get a life." She went on to say pretty much what Gilligan Fanatic said above, that the situation was Lucy was acting like a child so Ricky treated her like a child. She said that never once did she think of it as a negative, that it's a bunch of over-sensitive people making an issue over it. Then the best thing I have heard her say in awhile was that "There is about as much domestic violence going on in the Ricardo apartment as there is across town with the Kramdens."

That's my wife ... now people know why I love her so - she's a strong defender of Lucy and Ricky!!

Maybe I am naive about this, but I always thought of the spanking on the show in just fun. Lucy cries like a child so Ricky spanks her like one. Not saying it is right, but I always thought of it just as a laugh factor.

I asked my wife last night if, in the 10 years that we have known each other and she has watched ILL with me, if the few times Ricky spanks Lucy ever bothered her. She first asked me "Where in the $%@# did that question come from?" followed by "People who are going to be critical of something that obviously was done in the humor of the situation needs to get a life." She went on to say pretty much what Gilligan Fanatic said above, that the situation was Lucy was acting like a child so Ricky treated her like a child. She said that never once did she think of it as a negative, that it's a bunch of over-sensitive people making an issue over it. Then the best thing I have heard her say in awhile was that "There is about as much domestic violence going on in the Ricardo apartment as there is across town with the Kramdens."

That's my wife ... now people know why I love her so - she's a strong defender of Lucy and Ricky!!

Great comments, both of you. That's why I posted that video clip above of Lucy pounding Ricky. There were several times on the show when she hit Ricky, but nobody ever mentions that. Nobody even seems to notice her hitting him, yet freak out over those couple of scenes showing Ricky spanking Lucy. I find it ironic. Folks, I Love Lucy was not created for social commentary. It's only purpose was to make people laugh. It was not meant to be taken seriously. Lucy and Ricky were not real people, nor were they meant to represent real people. The show is farce. Lucy and Ricky are about as much a reflection of the way real couples behave in marriage as the Three Stooges were a representation of the way friends behave.

By they way, I searched the word "spanking" in this forum and found it's been brought up in 21 different threads! Enough already.

Great comments, both of you. That's why I posted that video clip above of Lucy pounding Ricky. There were several times on the show when she hit Ricky, but nobody ever mentions that. Nobody even seems to notice her hitting him, yet freak out over those couple of scenes showing Ricky spanking Lucy. I find it ironic. Folks, I Love Lucy was not created for social commentary. It's only purpose was to make people laugh. It was not meant to be taken seriously. Lucy and Ricky were not real people, nor were they meant to represent real people. The show is farce. Lucy and Ricky are about as much a reflection of the way real couples behave in marriage as the Three Stooges were a representation of the way friends behave.

By they way, I searched the word "spanking" in this forum and found it's been brought up in 21 different threads! Enough already.
I have to say that it is kind of unconformable for me to watch even so I know things were different then. But knowing That Lucy and ricki were married in real like didn't seem to make it sound look as bad. It wan'r like he was physically beating her.

I found a video on YouTube of Ricky Spanking Lucy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Qup9lOPQfg

Some interesting comments. Most seem to not have a problem with it.

I was just thinking that if something like this were to happen on TV today like Modern Family, Last Man Standing, Mike & Molly, The Middle, ets. There would be a huge Outcry and tons of criticism and would make a whole thing out of it. Even in the mod 60s there would have been a outcry I think. It hard to imagine Rob Petrie taking Laura over his knee and spanking her.

Great comments, both of you. That's why I posted that video clip above of Lucy pounding Ricky. There were several times on the show when she hit Ricky, but nobody ever mentions that. Nobody even seems to notice her hitting him, yet freak out over those couple of scenes showing Ricky spanking Lucy. I find it ironic. Folks, I Love Lucy was not created for social commentary. It's only purpose was to make people laugh. It was not meant to be taken seriously. Lucy and Ricky were not real people, nor were they meant to represent real people. The show is farce. Lucy and Ricky are about as much a reflection of the way real couples behave in marriage as the Three Stooges were a representation of the way friends behave.

By they way, I searched the word "spanking" in this forum and found it's been brought up in 21 different threads! Enough already.

Just for the record and not that I have to explain myself, but I only brought this up because of the latest conversation between a friend and me. And really, I wanted to know what people thought versus all those years ago. Clearly people are way too uptight in today's world - which is a majority of what's wrong in society. And yes, I loved Ricky spanking Lucy because I have a sense of humor. And per your request - I'm done!

Just for the record and not that I have to explain myself, but I only brought this up because of the latest conversation between a friend and me. And really, I wanted to know what people thought versus all those years ago. Clearly people are way too uptight in today's world - which is a majority of what's wrong in society. And yes, I loved Ricky spanking Lucy because I have a sense of humor. And per your request - I'm done!

Sorry if I came off like I'm telling people what they can and can't talk about. Anyone is free to bring up any topic they wish. I was just a little exasperated because I've seen this topic so many times before. What I don't get is what seems like a double standard. Look at some of the comments even within this thread -- people saying they feel "uncomfortable" seeing Ricky spanking Lucy. And I'll be honest; it makes me feel that way, too. But why do we feel uncomfortable seeing that, yet not even bat an eye when Lucy hits Ricky? We're okay with spousal abuse as long as the victim is the husband? If we're going to associate those scenes with domestic abuse (which really is a stretch given the nature of the show), then why is nobody bothered by scenes of Lucy hitting Ricky? Is domestic abuse only a bad thing when the woman is a victim? Granted, most domestic abuse situations are about a woman being abused, but domestic abuse where the man is the victim still happens. But it usually goes unreported probably because the man feels shame. When I see 21 threads in this group with people talking about feeling uncomfortable seeing Ricky spanking Lucy, but not a single conversation ever about Lucy hitting Ricky, the message that seems to send is that people are not okay with a woman being hit (nor should they be), but they're perfectly fine with a man being hit. Within this thread, I have twice brought up the subject of Lucy hitting Ricky (this makes the third time), and still the subject goes back to Lucy being the victim. Nobody cares when Ricky is hit. That to me is the entire problem with this discussion in regards to this show: people have a blind eye when it comes to domestic abuse towards males.

If the discomfort with the spanking, however, is not about domestic abuse, but because spanking is something people do to children -- though I don't personally advocate that, either -- and therefore visual image is demeaning to women, then that's a little bit different discussion. And that gets back to what this show is about: a woman who is not every woman, simply one unique fictional character who represents no one but her own fictional self. She's a woman who often acts like a child; hence, the spanking. That's what the comedy element is about: she acts like a child so she gets treated like a child. But on this same show is another woman -- Ethel -- who does not act like a child, and thus is never spanked. In fact, she acts like a woman, and a strong woman at that, who will stand up to her husband any time he dares to scold her (Ethel: "Fred Mertz, if you say one more word about this . . . !" Fred (cowering): "That's okay, Honeybunch. I was only asking.") We all know that if Fred Mertz ever tried to lay a hand on Ethel, she'd knock his block off.

I've seen similar discussions about The Honeymooners and Ralph Kramden's "pow, right in the kisser!" threats to his wife. People are offended by that and associate it, as well, with domestic abuse. But anyone who's watched that show and knows those characters knows Ralph is a dog with a loud bark but absolutely no bite. If he ever tried to lay a hand on Alice, she'd bang him over the head with a frying pan.

I realize there were things not discussed back in the '50s, buried underneath the carpet and not out in the open. But I think it's a mistake to look at scenes like these from that time period and interpret them as somehow advocating that unspoken behavior. I am sure that was not the intent of the writers or actors on these shows. They never meant for their characters to in any way represent real people or real situations, or to influence bad behavior. One would think that would be pretty obvious just from their exaggerated comedic portrayals and the non-reality situations. People are trying to take something serious that was meant to be anything but serious.

I had several uncles who spanked their wives and I am pretty sure my grandfather spanked my grandmother. One of the 100 reasons I'll NEVER get married is that you can no longer spank your wife without fear of being arrested.
Awesome reason for you to not get married....you want to beat your wife, but you're afraid of getting arrested. :rolleyes:

Sorry if I came off like I'm telling people what they can and can't talk about. Anyone is free to bring up any topic they wish. I was just a little exasperated because I've seen this topic so many times before. What I don't get is what seems like a double standard. Look at some of the comments even within this thread -- people saying they feel "uncomfortable" seeing Ricky spanking Lucy. And I'll be honest; it makes me feel that way, too. But why do we feel uncomfortable seeing that, yet not even bat an eye when Lucy hits Ricky? We're okay with spousal abuse as long as the victim is the husband? If we're going to associate those scenes with domestic abuse (which really is a stretch given the nature of the show), then why is nobody bothered by scenes of Lucy hitting Ricky? Is domestic abuse only a bad thing when the woman is a victim? Granted, most domestic abuse situations are about a woman being abused, but domestic abuse where the man is the victim still happens. But it usually goes unreported probably because the man feels shame. When I see 21 threads in this group with people talking about feeling uncomfortable seeing Ricky spanking Lucy, but not a single conversation ever about Lucy hitting Ricky, the message that seems to send is that people are not okay with a woman being hit (nor should they be), but they're perfectly fine with a man being hit. Within this thread, I have twice brought up the subject of Lucy hitting Ricky (this makes the third time), and still the subject goes back to Lucy being the victim. Nobody cares when Ricky is hit. That to me is the entire problem with this discussion in regards to this show: people have a blind eye when it comes to domestic abuse towards males.

If the discomfort with the spanking, however, is not about domestic abuse, but because spanking is something people do to children -- though I don't personally advocate that, either -- and therefore visual image is demeaning to women, then that's a little bit different discussion. And that gets back to what this show is about: a woman who is not every woman, simply one unique fictional character who represents no one but her own fictional self. She's a woman who often acts like a child; hence, the spanking. That's what the comedy element is about: she acts like a child so she gets treated like a child. But on this same show is another woman -- Ethel -- who does not act like a child, and thus is never spanked. In fact, she acts like a woman, and a strong woman at that, who will stand up to her husband any time he dares to scold her (Ethel: "Fred Mertz, if you say one more word about this . . . !" Fred (cowering): "That's okay, Honeybunch. I was only asking.") We all know that if Fred Mertz ever tried to lay a hand on Ethel, she'd knock his block off.

I've seen similar discussions about The Honeymooners and Ralph Kramden's "pow, right in the kisser!" threats to his wife. People are offended by that and associate it, as well, with domestic abuse. But anyone who's watched that show and knows those characters knows Ralph is a dog with a loud bark but absolutely no bite. If he ever tried to lay a hand on Alice, she'd bang him over the head with a frying pan.

I realize there were things not discussed back in the '50s, buried underneath the carpet and not out in the open. But I think it's a mistake to look at scenes like these from that time period and interpret them as somehow advocating that unspoken behavior. I am sure that was not the intent of the writers or actors on these shows. They never meant for their characters to in any way represent real people or real situations, or to influence bad behavior. One would think that would be pretty obvious just from their exaggerated comedic portrayals and the non-reality situations. People are trying to take something serious that was meant to be anything but serious.

I appreciate that - thank you. I also agree with you about men being abused but it's just the beautiful double standard world we live in.

I'm also sorry if my comments upset anyone.
Like I said, I am new to the show.

I have seen Here's Lucy as a kid, vaguely remember the Lucy Show, also as a kid. As for ILL, it was many years later that I even had heard of this show.

Haha that newspaper clipping is funny. Ridiculous.