Zany Lucy Ricardo (played by Lucille Ball) from the immensely popular, long-running, classic 1950s television comedy "I Love Lucy"
Everybody has a favorite “I Love Lucy” episode and this is mine:
“L.A. at Last!”*
Lucy’s husband Ricky Ricardo is filming a picture out in L.A. and has taken Lucy and the Mertzes out to California with him. This scene opens with Lucy, Fred, and Ethel out star hunting. They are having lunch at the Brown Derby, a popular haunt for Hollywood movie stars.
As the three await their meal, Ethel mouth drops open. She is astonished to discover heartthrob William Holden being seated at the next booth. A video excerpt from “L.A. at Last!” is posted at the bottom of this post. When you view it, notice that Bill Holden asks the waiter to bring him a Cobb Salad. The Cobb Salad – now famous – was invented by the owner of the Brown Derby.
The original Brown Derby at 9537 Wilshire Boulevard was a landmark restaurant in Los Angeles, which was frequented by celebrities during the Golden Age of Hollywood. It was an example of novelty architecture, known for being physically shaped like a brown derby hat and for being the birthplace of the Cobb salad (which was named for the Cobbs, the owners of the Derby), and the home of hundreds of caricatures of celebrities.
Audrey Hepburn and William Holden from "Sabrina," 1954. The next year, "Bill" Holden makes a guest appearance on the "I Love Lucy" show. This episode, "L.A. at Last!" still in reruns, is one of the all-time favorites. At the time of the filming, Bill Holden was filming "The Country Girl" with Grace Kelly.
Now enjoy 6 minutes of Lucille Ball’s comic genius.
Now, for part 2, click here:
“I Love Lucy: Lucy Meets Bill Holden, Part 2”
“I Love Lucy” Episode 114 – Filmed 12/2/54; aired 2/7/55
Lisa's History Room 
The first time I ever heard of a Cobb salad was a couple years ago when I was in California for a business trip. I had no idea it was such an institution! They’ve only just shown up in the Midwest, I think…though off the top of my head, I can’t name anyone who has them. Just the big national chains, I think.
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A Cobb Salad has a wonderful combo of ingredients – egg, bacon, Boston lettuce – I love it. Hey, I’ve been thinking of you.
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Greetings Lisa,
I only discovered Lisa’s History Room yesterday. You write of the kind of history I like best– about people’s lives against the era in which they moved about. Thank you!
About I Love Lucy, I am hard pressed to name a favorite episode. I forget the shows were originally offered on a weekly basis as the episodes flow together so well in the context of daily reruns. Who could have thought of writing with that in mind as it was Desi himself who conceived of The Rerun after the shows had been aired initially. The Hollywood stories flow the best– just like being there day to day rather than seeing each episode viewed over a span of several months. I do especially enjoy the episode where Lucy attempts to see Richard Widmark who is staying on the floor above the Ricardos at the hotel. This episode shows Vivian Vance perfectly in the role of sidekick– Vance was the stalwart reactor to all Lucy’s comedic actions. Just watch Vance when Lucy is hanging between Widmark’s and the Ricardo’s balconies and Ricky enters the apartment. Vance has the hapless duty of distracting Ricky from Lucy’s predicament. See Vance steer Ricky’s back towards the balcony while Vance is seeing that Lucy may well plunge to her death from the side of the hotel, all the while trying to maintain idle chitchat on the sofa with Ricky. Vance’s wide-eyed nervousness during those tense minutes outshines Lucy’s aerial antics! A glorious salute to Vivian Vance’s talent at knowing how to shine as the star’s sidekick reactor and hold her own with a legendary comic. Nothing’s greater than that!
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Growing up in the sixties, “I Love Lucy” reruns shaped my sense of humor. Thanks for walking down Memory Lane with me, Winston.
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I just added this great blog post, as a to my newest blog post. Thank you!
Annette
referencehttp://annettehoffman.wordpress.com/2014/07/15/annettes-big-family-vacation-scrapbook-from-the-happiest-place-in-the-world-walt-disney-world/
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