The Lucy Show - The Official First Season DVD

It's coming - The Lucy Show on DVD! Finally after years of waiting, CBS DVD made the formal announcement of the release of "The Lucy Show - The Official First Season". Distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment, the DVD will be in stores on July 21st!

The first season DVD will contain all 30 episodes from the first season which has been remastered from the original film negatives. It will also include a new interview by Lucie Arnaz (Lucille Ball's daughter) and rare commercial footage from the show! Also CBS will include a special message to Lucy fans on the extraordinary demand for this show in the form of animated characters of Lucille and Vivian.

The first season is presented in full screen black&white as it was originally shown. The show did not start begin filming in color until the next season. It will also be able to be presented in closed captioned for the hearing impaired. In the first season, Dick Martin of "Martin & Rowan's Laugh-In" is a recurring character including guest appearances of Lucy's children, Desi Arnaz, Jr. and Lucie Arnaz; Charles Lane from "Petticoat Junction", Nancy Kulp from "The Beverly Hillbillies" among others. Gale Gordon was not in the first season as he was still starring in his show, "Dennis the Menace" at the time.

The studio description and Fan Message of the release: "After the death of her husband, Lucy Carmichael (Lucille Ball) and her friend, the recently divorced Vivian Bagley (Vivian Vance), move into a house together with their children. The series follows the adventures of the widow Lucy as she grapples with the comic complications of life on her own."

"We are delighted to be bringing you THE LUCY SHOW. Seldom in our history have we received so many requests to release a television program on DVD.

But that's not so surprising: It stars the First Lady of television comedy, Lucille Ball, with her longtime sidekick, Vivian Vance, in all new laugh-filled adventures. Plus the episodes were written and produced by many of the same creative team as I LOVE LUCY.

We recognize how much you, the fans, love classic tv...and so do we. All 30 episodes from this first season have been beautifully remastered from original film negatives and are presented here with a long list of extras.

Many thanks to all who contacted us and please enjoy THE LUCY SHOW Season 1 on DVD...Again and Again."

Be sure to visit the Everything Lucy store to order your copy from the Featured Products!

Lucy-Desi Center Seeks New Board Members

As reported in The Post Journal, Jamestown, NY:

The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center is searching for four people to serve on its Board of Directors.

The terms of three former board members - Bill Daly, Chuck Ludwig and Caroline Seymour - expired near the end of last month, said Mike LaTone, the board's president. The fourth open seat was occupied by former board president Ed Fagan, who resigned from that post in December.

''These folks ought to be publicly thanked for their diligent service,'' LaTone said Wednesday. ''They were absolutely instrumental in getting the center started off in its new direction and we are indebted to them for their time and efforts.''

Daly, the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency director, spent about 15 months as a member of the center's board. He, along with Ludwig and Ms. Seymour, were appointed to the board in December 2007 to fill open terms, he said. At the board's annual meeting in March 2008, they were asked to serve for another year and agreed to do so. The trio resigned during the board's March 26 meeting, he said.

''I think the three of us are leaving the board at a time when the center is headed in new and positive directions,'' he said. ''I really think the center will succeed with its initiatives. Right now, there are five very hard-working people on that board - they find themselves in tough economic times, but they're working as hard as they can to ensure the center remains a success. My hat's off to them.''

One of the most ''critical'' things that took place during Daly's tenure was the signing of a new licensing agreement between Lucie Arnaz Luckinbill, Desi Arnaz Jr. and the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center.

''That was so huge at a time when we weren't sure what direction the center was going to take,'' he said. ''The relationship with Lucie and Desi is being renewed and that's so important.''

Though he no longer sits on the board of directors, Daly said he would ''continue to support the center and board in any way possible.''

''I wish the board all the luck in the world,'' Daly said. ''It's a hard-working board. I thank them for their time and effort. They came into a situation that's not easy and they accepted seats on the board knowing how much work was ahead of them. Their dedication to one of this community's most important assets shouldn't go unappreciated.''

Ludwig and Ms. Seymour were unavailable for comment.

LaTone said the board will soon form a search committee and seek individuals for positions on the board.

''In addition to the search committee, we definitely want to hear from folks in the community who are interested in serving on the board,'' he said.

Those who are interested in serving on the board can call LaTone at 664-9321 or e-mail him at mlatone@lucy-desi.com.

The four new board members will join LaTone, Vice President Terry Lind, Todd Tranum, Lee Harkness and Lou Deppas as members.

The Lucy Show DVD Series - Season 1

As reported previously, "The Lucy Show - The 1st Season" would be coming to DVD from CBS/Paramount sometime this Spring 2009 but is now more likely to be released in late July to Early August timeframe. CBS DVD and Paramount Home Entertainment needed a bit more time to finalize the package. No exact retail release date has been finalized as of yet.

Also, as reported on the Everything Lucy Blog, MPI Home Video is also working on DVDs (in season sets) for Here's Lucy! That will probably be later in the Summer, though, after the June 30th release of the Lucy Specials double-feature, Lucy Gets Lucky featuring Dean Martin and Three For Two featuring Jackie Gleason.

Stay tuned for more great Lucy DVD News!

Lucie Arnaz Performs at the Mishler Theatre in Altoona, PA

From my hometown newspaper, The Altoona Mirror Lucie Arnaz, daughter of Lucille Ball performed at the Mishler Theatre for an annual arts gala benefit.

On the eve of its biggest fundraiser, the Mishler Theatre found a supporter in Lucie Arnaz.

Arnaz, daughter of the legendary Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, performed Saturday night at the theater in downtown Altoona, Pennsylvania as part of the Blair County Arts Foundation's annual gala event, "A Night for the Mishler Theatre."

"I don't do a lot of benefits, and I don't think we've ever done a benefit for a theater like this," Arnaz said after the show. "You just don't find places like this. ... It really and truly is a jewel box, and to think it was almost razed a few years ago to put in a parking lot is just unconscionable. So few places like this exist."

The performance was organized in part by Dr. John Anastasi of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery of Altoona. Anastasi met Arnaz through his playwrighting ventures, and the two became friends.

"We see each other occasionally, and we brought her husband, actor/writer Laurence Luckinbill, to have a heart catheterization in Altoona," Anastasi said.

"BCAF executive director, Kate Shaffer said they needed someone to perform for the fundraiser, and I'd seen her show in New York, so I said, 'How about Lucie Arnaz?'"

Arnaz performed a variety of songs, including the title number "They're Playing Our Song" and "Just a Housewife" from the musical "Working."

She sang a compilation of "I Still Believe in Love" and "Always" in front of a clip show of photos from throughout her life, with her parents at her wedding, her parents with her children and several shots of her with Luckinbill.

"When you think of the lyrics to the song ... sometimes things happen, and other things happen on top of that, and the cycle goes on," Arnaz said. "When you have your doubts, it's good to look back and see what baggage you're carrying."

The performance followed a dinner at the Discovery Center in Altoona, where the Blair County Arts Foundation honored the 2009 Angel of the Arts, Ellen Lambert of Duncansville. Lambert received the award in honor of her work with BCAF's "Sparkle School of the Arts," a theater program for children.

Lambert's niece, Sparkle alumna Anna Jubala, 17, presented her with the award.

"It's a wonderful, unbelievable feeling to be thanked for doing something I just love doing," Lambert said.

Economic woes didn't deter the annual event, which is in its fifth year. Shaffer said numbers were up from last year. She estimated 150 people attended the dinner and 325 saw Arnaz's performance, although she wouldn't have exact figures until later this week.

"It's been a wonderful, delightful evening," Shaffer said. "It surpassed all my expectations. You can just tell Lucie Arnaz loves to perform. She's as sweet as she is talented."

Play pays tribute to Lucille Ball

As reported in The Las Vegas Sun:

The nationwide tour of "An Evening with Lucille Ball" kicks off at the historic Boulder City Theater April 10 and 11 with brassy impersonator Suzanne LaRusch portraying the redhead comedic star.

Fittingly, the show is directed and hosted by Ball's children, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. Desi Arnaz Jr. lives in Boulder City and owns the Boulder City Theater, 1225 Arizona St. Lucie Arnaz directs LaRusch in the two-hour play, which is at 7 p.m. April 10 and 4 p.m. April 11.

LaRusch has impersonated the star of the 1950s "I Love Lucy" sitcom for about 15 years and is longtime friends of the Arnaz family.

"When (Lucie Arnaz) first saw me, her mother had not been gone too long," LaRusch said from her home in Burbank, Calif. "She reacted like she was shocked. It took her breath away."

During the performances, Desi Arnaz Jr. will be working the spotlight. At one point, he will act as the "spotlight character" for LaRusch, who does a pantomime with the spotlight.

Another highlight of the play, she said, is a question-and-answer segment. The pre-recorded questions were voiced by Arnaz family members and those who were close to the star, such as a former writer for the sitcom.

LaRusch, portraying the famed actress, reminisces about her career, including her years as Lucy Ricardo.

"It will all start in Boulder City and will travel for as long as I can keep it going," she said.

Amy Arnaz, wife of Desi Arnaz Jr., said the show is a sentimental comedy.

Sale of the $30 show tickets benefits the Boulder City Ballet Co., a nonprofit organization that receives funding through shows staged at the theater. Amy Arnaz is ballet director.

For more information, call 293-1161 or go online to www.missamys.com.