The Mertzs' Apartment in color

[LucilleBallfan]

anybody know what color the mertzs' apartment was? or seen any color pictures of it?

[Coffeecup]

Did they mention the color in Redecorating the Mertz' apartment episode?

[lucyandethel]

Since it was shot in black and white, I wonder why they would even bother with giving the sets any color at all?

[Coffeecup]

Many times back in the black and white days, they purposely had a color strange looking to the cast, for it photographed better. The viewer saw it as looking great. So who know what it really looked like. I do know the Mertz's apartment changed a bit from year to year. The big round table in the episode of Be a pal with Lucy playing poker with the boys disappeared in later episodes. The living room was less cramped in Ethel's Birthday.

[LittleRickyII]

Originally Posted by coffeecup.merry@veri

Many times back in the black and white days, they purposely had a color strange looking to the cast, for it photographed better. The viewer saw it as looking great. So who know what it really looked like. I do know the Mertz's apartment changed a bit from year to year. The big round table in the episode of Be a pal with Lucy playing poker with the boys disappeared in later episodes. The living room was less cramped in Ethel's Birthday.

In the early episodes filmed at General Services Studio, the Mertzes' living room doubled as Lucy and Ricky's bedroom. Panels were put up on the walls to transform the walls, and of course the furnishings were swapped out. But it was the same space. When they changed studios, I imagine there was enough space that they didn't have to use the same stage space for both sets.

I had read for many years that all the sets were painted in varying shades of gray to create the best black and white images, but in looking at the color footage that was discovered from the filming of the episode "the Audition," there appear to be some slight pink and green hues as well.