Did Lucy have a fear of birds?

[jayman75]

It's Lucille Ball's birthday, so of course I spent a few minutes catching up about her life and experiences.

This morning on Hallmark was the Superman episode (where Superman comes to Little Ricky's birthday party). ILL fans will remember that Lucy was out on the ledge, attracting pigeons and later stuck in the rain.

I was just reading that Lucy had a fear of birds. According to Wikipedia:

Her father, a telephone lineman for Bell Telephone Company was frequently transferred because of his occupation. Within three years of her birth, Lucille had moved with her parents from Jamestown to Anaconda, and then to Trenton. While DeDe Ball was pregnant with her second child, Frederick, Henry Ball contracted typhoid fever and died in February 1915. Ball recalled little from the day her father died, but remembered a bird getting trapped in the house. From that day forward, she suffered from ornithophobia.

I'm curious if anyone else know about this, and if Lucy really did have such a fear.

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by jayman75

It's Lucille Ball's birthday, so of course I spent a few minutes catching up about her life and experiences.

This morning on Hallmark was the Superman episode (where Superman comes to Little Ricky's birthday party). ILL fans will remember that Lucy was out on the ledge, attracting pigeons and later stuck in the rain.

I was just reading that Lucy had a fear of birds. According to Wikipedia:



I'm curious if anyone else know about this, and if Lucy really did have such a fear.

Yes! She did have a fear of birds. I read that before. And I think (but I am not sure, it's been a while since I have seen it) a made for TV movie about Lucy and Desi, I'm thinking she said about her fear of birds.

[Bonniegirl]

And Happy Birthday to Lucy, even if she has passed. She would be happy that we are remembering her, and fans of hers after all these years!

[Hughsgirl]

I recall reading in one of the many books I have read about her and Desi and I'm not sure but it may have been her book that I read this in but I remember something to the effect that as he father's life came near the end there was a black bird or two on the window sill? Sorry I can't quote word for word, it's been too many years ago that I have read it, but since then she had pretty much associated birds (black birds in particular) with death. Makes alot of sense to me!

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by Hughsgirl

I recall reading in one of the many books I have read about her and Desi and I'm not sure but it may have been her book that I read this in but I remember something to the effect that as he father's life came near the end there was a black bird or two on the window sill? Sorry I can't quote word for word, it's been too many years ago that I have read it, but since then she had pretty much associated birds (black birds in particular) with death. Makes alot of sense to me!

My mother said when my Grand mom was dying birds were at the window! I don't remember what kind of birds or if she even said, but my Mom knew that they were there to take her mother to heaven! She wasn't freaked out about it and my mom (who is also passed away now) liked birds. My Grand mom was very old and sick, and it was her time, so the birds were there to see that she got to heaven!

I love birds. I have birds as pets, and I'm nerdy, I bird watch and know different species and all! There is a tree by my bedroom window that mourning doves nest in and it is so nice seeing them come and go from the tree , they are like feathered neighbors! I love hearing birds singing in the morning, and everything about them. Very sad Lucy had a fear of them , but she associated them with her Dad passing, and black birds. crows, ravens can be scary if you aren't a bird person! I personally even love them!

[missy's pop pop]

Being surrounded by pigeons on a slippery wet studio ledge with rain spraying on you would be enough to make anyone uneasy. But it may be another example of Lucille Ball's magnificent acting skills!

[treky]

Originally Posted by missy's pop pop

Being surrounded by pigeons on a slippery wet studio ledge with rain spraying on you would be enough to make anyone uneasy. But it may be another example of Lucille Ball's magnificent acting skills!

it also helps if you're getting paid to do it!

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by missy's pop pop

Being surrounded by pigeons on a slippery wet studio ledge with rain spraying on you would be enough to make anyone uneasy. But it may be another example of Lucille Ball's magnificent acting skills!

The Superman episode! Little Ricky's birthday party! I loved that epp!

But yes, that had to be something, if you are afraid of birds! Pigeons are BIG, and they are always in flocks too! And on a wet ledge!!!! OMG!!!

[Willbo]

I guess the baby chicks in season 6 did not bother her either.

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by Willbo

I guess the baby chicks in season 6 did not bother her either.

Wow you are right! Chickens are a type of a bird! Baby chicks are SO cute, I can't see how they could scare anybody. And they don't fly! Now ducks and geese that is another story. If a person isn't fond of birds, geese can be mean, and ducks. OMG!!! If you are a women wearing sandals , ducks will attack your feet!!!! (I have had this happen) !! They are attracted to nail polish!!

[LittleRickyII]

Originally Posted by Willbo

I guess the baby chicks in season 6 did not bother her either.

Or this episode years later when she spent the entire episode around birds:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-JJhSLZpDY

[Yesha]

Well, this reminds me of that alfred hitchcock movie "the birds"..