The Diet episode...Cuban Pete/Sally Sweet dance number...

[Ireneparalegal]

Ok, call me weird or a fanatic, but ever since I was a teen, I have always imagined doing that dance number with Desi Arnaz. I just love that outfit Lucy is wearing. It definitely shows what great legs she had (well at least one of them since the skirt is cut to show one thigh). I so bad want to dance that style. My boyfriend loves that kind of dancing, 50-60's dancing. I don't blame him. It is so elegant and refined. It really looks like fun.

But getting back to that particular number, it is sexy, it looks fun and I just always imagined doing that number. The way Lucy gyrated her hips and pelvis, she sure knew how to "shake her groove thing".

[NOVARick]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Ok, call me weird or a fanatic, but ever since I was a teen, I have always imagined doing that dance number with Desi Arnaz. I just love that outfit Lucy is wearing. It definitely shows what great legs she had (well at least one of them since the skirt is cut to show one thigh). I so bad want to dance that style. My boyfriend loves that kind of dancing, 50-60's dancing. I don't blame him. It is so elegant and refined. It really looks like fun.

But getting back to that particular number, it is sexy, it looks fun and I just always imagined doing that number. The way Lucy gyrated her hips and pelvis, she sure knew how to "shake her groove thing".

I totally agree with everything you said, including that you're weird and a fanatic. Just kidding! You would think after that number, Ricky would have wanted Lucy in her act full time (at least after she recovered from her bout of malnutrition). She was great! I often have that tune stuck in my head, including right now! That number, as you probably know, was part of Lucy and Desi's 1950 vaudeville act, along with the "professor/seal" bit from the pilot and the "Audition" episode. My mom (who was 13 at the time) and grandparents , incidentally, were on vacation in New York in 1950 and saw Lucy and Desi's vaudeville act. My mother, at the time, knew who Lucille Ball was, but she wasn't familiar with Desi until that night. That all changed a year later!

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by NOVARick

I totally agree with everything you said, including that you're weird and a fanatic. Just kidding! You would think after that number, Ricky would have wanted Lucy in her act full time (at least after she recovered from her bout of malnutrition). She was great! I often have that tune stuck in my head, including right now! That number, as you probably know, was part of Lucy and Desi's 1950 vaudeville act, along with the "professor/seal" bit from the pilot and the "Audition" episode. My mom (who was 13 at the time) and grandparents , incidentally, were on vacation in New York in 1950 and saw Lucy and Desi's vaudeville act. My mother, at the time, knew who Lucille Ball was, but she wasn't familiar with Desi until that night. That all changed a year later!

I think exactly like you just posted. Now why would Ricky give Lucy a hard time abt being in his show when she proved beyond a doubt how great she was. Hell, she looked great with those curves. She obviously didn't lose weight for real in the episode, but I think they made her look plump with that dress she wore in the opening scene. Curves are much more sexier than being skinny bones. Lucy had some CURVES!

How lucky and blessed your family got to see those two perform IN PERSON!!!! What I would have given to had the opportunity to see those two perform in person. What a joy they must have had. Wow!!!!

[NOVARick]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

How lucky and blessed your family got to see those two perform IN PERSON!!!! What I would have given to had the opportunity to see those two perform in person. What a joy they must have had. Wow!!!!

I'm not sure my mother fully understands the historical importance of what she saw that night, and I never heard my grandmother mention it. I did ask her one time if she realized they were doing that show to prove to CBS they would be accepted by the public as a team so they could do on to do a TV show together, and she nonchalantly "I know." I think it's a bigger deal to me that she was there than it is to her. Too bad for me, I guess, that I didn't exist back then.

[Madame X]

Originally Posted by NOVARick

I'm not sure my mother fully understands the historical importance of what she saw that night, and I never heard my grandmother mention it. I did ask her one time if she realized they were doing that show to prove to CBS they would be accepted by the public as a team so they could do on to do a TV show together, and she nonchalantly "I know." I think it's a bigger deal to me that she was there than it is to her. Too bad for me, I guess, that I didn't exist back then.

I would give anything to see Lucy and Desi perform together: Cuban Pete/Sally Sweet, The Professor, We'll Build a Bungalow, etc.

Often people don't realize they are witnessing something historical until years later!

[Ireneparalegal]

So right Stacy. Rick, your grandparents saw history being made!!!!!! If I could go back in time, one thing would be to see a taping of Lucy.

[NOVARick]

Originally Posted by Madame X

I would give anything to see Lucy and Desi perform together: Cuban Pete/Sally Sweet, The Professor, We'll Build a Bungalow, etc.

Often people don't realize they are witnessing something historical until years later!

Well, that's true. In the case of that vaudeville show, of course there was no way to know at the time the phenomenon that was going to develop out of it. And the audience probably didn't realize the real purpose behind Lucy and Desi doing that show. I guess my claim to witnessing showbiz history was going to Six Flags Over Georgia and seeing H.R. Pufnstuf live several months before that show came on the air.

[NOVARick]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

So right Stacy. Rick, your grandparents saw history being made!!!!!! If I could go back in time, one thing would be to see a taping of Lucy.

You and me both! I have friends who were at tapings of Here's Lucy and Life with Lucy. I'd even settle for that! But I Love Lucy would be the ultimate, except for the fact that in order to have done that, I would have to be a whole lot older than I already am. And I'm old enough already!

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by NOVARick

Well, that's true. In the case of that vaudeville show, of course there was no way to know at the time the phenomenon that was going to develop out of it. And the audience probably didn't realize the real purpose behind Lucy and Desi doing that show. I guess my claim to witnessing showbiz history was going to Six Flags Over Georgia and seeing H.R. Pufnstuf live several months before that show came on the air.

H.R. Puf RULED!!!!!!!

I think we have to see it from that era (place in time) when television was barely making its move. Your grandparents had no idea of the phenomenon that Lucy and Desi were going to make with this new show. Television wasn't even taken that seriously, I can imagine. Just like nowadays with computers. Who knew ten years ago where we'd be with computers, iPods, and all the fancy stuff we have now? We don't see the history that is being made.

[NOVARick]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

H.R. Puf RULED!!!!!!!

I think we have to see it from that era (place in time) when television was barely making its move. Your grandparents had no idea of the phenomenon that Lucy and Desi were going to make with this new show. Television wasn't even taken that seriously, I can imagine. Just like nowadays with computers. Who knew ten years ago where we'd be with computers, iPods, and all the fancy stuff we have now? We don't see the history that is being made.

That's very true. You usually need a crystal ball to predict that kind of stuff. Sometimes, though, I think you can get a sense you're witnessing greatness. I think people (at least in this country) felt that when they saw the Beatles for the first time. Or Elvis. I don't know if that was the case with the Lucy and Desi vaudeville show, though, because what made I Love Lucy great was not only them, but Vivian and Bill and the writers, and time it took for them to all to come together and gel. Even though we weren't there, we can see bits and pieces of that vaudeville show by watching the "Cuban Pete/Sally Sweet" number, and the professor and seal act. Those things are entertaining enough, but watching those things alone, does it really give you the sense of the phenomenon of I Love Lucy? I don't know. But I do know one thing: You're right, H.R. Puf rocked!