Laughs, Luck...and Lucy Audio Material

1. The Packard Hour starring Fred Astaire
Excerpt from The Packard Hour starring Fred Astaire, broadcast on November 3, 1936 on the NBC Red Network, with Charlie Butterworth and Ken Carpenter (announcer). Discussed in Chapter 8 - "Dancing on the Air".

Format: mp3 • File size: 1.9 MB  • Duration: 6:40

2. Rudy Vallee Leading The U.S. Coast Guard Band
The Coast Guard Marching Song (Semper Paratus), performed by The U.S. Coast Guard Band, 11th Naval District, under the direction of Lt. Rudy Vallee (circa 1943). Discussed in Chapter 9 - "The Eyes Have It".

Format: mp3 • File size: 1.1MB  • Duration: 3:37

3. A Character Is Born
Episode 11 of My Favorite Husband ("Young Matrons League Tryouts"), starring Lucille Ball as Liz Cugat, with Richard Denning as George Cugat, Ruth Perrot as Katy, the Maid, John Hiestand as Corey Cartwright, Bea Benaderet as Mrs. Wirthingill, and Hans Conried as Dr. Schweinkampf. Broadcast live on October 2, 1948, on the CBS Radio Network. Written by Jess Oppenheimer. Produced and directed by Gordon T. Hughes. Appendix C is the script of this episode, Jess Oppenheimer’s first script for Lucille Ball, discussed in Chapter 10 - "My Favorite Comedienne".

Format: mp3 • File size: 8.7MB  • Duration: 29:48

4. The Home Economics Lesson
Excerpt from episode 90 of My Favorite Husband (“Selling Dresses”), starring Lucille Ball as Liz Cooper, with Richard Denning as George Cooper. Broadcast May 28, 1950, on the CBS Radio Network. Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh Davis, and Bob Carroll, Jr. Produced and directed by Jess Oppenheimer. Discussed in chapter 10 - "My Favorite Comedienne".

Format: mp3 • File size: 816KB  • Duration: 2:44

5. Lucy Meets Gale Gordon
Excerpt from episode 26 of My Favorite Husband (“Valentine’s Day”), starring Lucille Ball as Liz Cooper, with Richard Denning as George Cooper, Hans Conried as Mr. Dabney, the butcher, and Gale Gordon (in his first appearance on the series) as Judge Skinner. Broadcast live, February 11, 1949, on the CBS Radio Network. Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh Davis, and Bob Carroll, Jr. Produced and directed by Jess Oppenheimer. Discussed in chapter 10 - "My Favorite Comedienne".

Format: mp3 • File size: 1.8MB  • Duration: 6:13

6. Lucy Promotes Desi
My Favorite Husband. Broadcast January 20, 1951, on the CBS Radio Network, with Lucy interrupting announcer Bob Lemond to promote the debut the following day of Desi’s new CBS Radio program, Your Tropical Trip, which is discussed in chapter 11 - "The TV Audition".

Format: mp3 • File size: 288KB • Duration: 0:56

7. Lucy Says Good-bye
Closing credits from the final episode of My Favorite Husband, broadcast March 31, 1951, on the CBS Radio Network, with Lucy’s tearful good-bye to the audience, cast, and crew, discussed in chapter 11 - "The TV Audition".

Format: mp3 • File size: 408KB  • Duration: 1:17

8. THE RESTAURANT SCENE
Discussed in chapter 14 - "Anatomy of a Lucy Script".

(a)    Radio Version. Excerpt from episode 50 of My Favorite Husband (“Liz Changes Her Mind”), starring Lucille Ball as Liz Cooper, with Richard Denning as George Cooper, Gale Gordon as his boss, Rudolph Atterbury, Bea Benaderet as Iris Atterbury, and Frank Nelson as the waiter. Broadcast June 24, 1949, on the CBS Radio Network. Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh Davis, and Bob Carroll, Jr. Produced and directed by Jess Oppenheimer.

Format: mp3 • File size: 2.1MB  • Duration: 6:59

(b)    TV Version. Excerpt from episode 49 of I Love Lucy ("Lucy Changes Her Mind"), featuring the voices of Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, William Frawley, and Frank Nelson. Broadcast March 30, 1953, on the CBS Television Network. Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh Davis, and Bob Carroll, Jr. Produced by Jess Oppenheimer. Directed by William Asher.

Format: mp3 • File size: 1.9MB  • Duration: 6:38

9. The Sales Pitch
Discussed in chapter 14 - "Anatomy of a Lucy Script".

(a) Radio Version. Excerpt from episode 90 of My Favorite Husband ("Selling Dresses"), featuring the voices of Lucille Ball, Florence Halop, and Vivi Janiss. Broadcast May 28, 1950, on the CBS Radio Network. Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh Davis and Bob Carroll, Jr. Produced and directed by Jess Oppenheimer.

Format: mp3 • File size: 348KB  • Duration: 1:08

(b) TV Version. Excerpt from Episode #29 of I Love Lucy ("The Freezer"), featuring the voices of Lucille Ball, Vivian Vance, Kay Wiley and Barbara Pepper. Broadcast April 28, 1952, on the CBS Television Network. Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh Davis and Bob Carroll, Jr. Produced by Jess Oppenheimer. Directed by Marc Daniels. Appendix C is the script of this episode.

Format: mp3 • File size: 740KB  • Duration: 2:30

10. Vitameatavegamin
Excerpt from Episode 30 of I Love Lucy ("Lucy Does a T.V. Commercial"), featuring the voices of Lucille Ball, Ross Elliot, Jerry Hausner, and Jess Oppenheimer (speaking from the control booth). Broadcast May 5, 1952, on the CBS Television Network. Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh Davis, and Bob Carroll, Jr. Produced by Jess Oppenheimer. Directed by Marc Daniels. Appendix D is the script of this scene, discussed in chapter 16 – "Lucy Is 'Enceinte'".

Format: mp3 • File size: 992KB  • Duration: 3:15

11. I Love Lucy "Lost Scenes"
Discussed in chapter 16 – "Lucy Is 'Enceinte'".  

New opening “flashback” scenes filmed for second season network rebroadcasts of first season episodes, necessitated because of the shortened shooting schedule due to Lucy’s unexpected pregnancy. After these initial rebroadcasts, these "flashback" scenes were cut from CBS's film prints and were lost for decades, until their rediscovery by Gregg Oppenheimer:

(a) Lost Scene #1 - "The Quiz Show": opening scene from the CBS Television Network rebroadcast of episode 5 of I Love Lucy ("The Quiz Show") (the first-ever nationally-broadcast rerun of I Love Lucy), on October 20, 1952.

Format: mp3 • File size: 836KB  • Duration: 2:49

(b) Lost Scene #2 - "The Diet": opening scene from the CBS Television Network rebroadcast of episode 4 of I Love Lucy ("The Diet"), on February 9, 1953.

Format: mp3 • File size: 536KB  • Duration: 2:17

(c) Lost Scene #3 - "The Club Dance": opening scene from the CBS Television Network rebroadcast of episode 91 of I Love Lucy ("The Club Dance"), on December 26, 1955. Featuring the voices of Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley.

Format: mp3 • File size: 676B  • Duration: 1:48

12. My Favorite Husband Outtakes
Recorded before a studio audience at CBS Columbia Square in Hollywood in early 1951. Voices heard include those of Bob Lemond, Lucille Ball, Richard Denning, and Jess Oppenheimer (speaking from the control booth). Never broadcast. Appendix F is a transcript of this audio.

Format: mp3 • File size: 568KB  • Duration: 1:52

13. The Driver's License
Excerpt from episode 51 of My Favorite Husband ("Reminiscing"), starring Lucille Ball as Liz Cooper, with Richard Denning as George Cooper, and Frank Nelson as the Driver's License Clerk. Broadcast July 1, 1949, on the CBS Radio Network. Written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh Davis and Bob Carroll, Jr. Produced and directed by Jess Oppenheimer.

Format: mp3 • File size: 892KB  • Duration: 2:58

14. Bonus Track: Jess Oppenheimer Discusses "I Love Lucy"
Excerpts from a 1961 Jess Oppenheimer Interview.

Format: mp3 • File size: 3.9MB  • Duration: 4:05

15. Bonus Track #2: LUCY LOVES DESI: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sitcom (a.k.a. "I Love Lucy: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sitcom")
Excerpt from L.A. Theatre Works' World Premiere production of Gregg Oppenheimer's behind-the-scenes comedy based on Laughs, Luck...and Lucy. Download the entire performance, starring Sarah Drew (Grey's Anatomy) as Lucille Ball, Oscar Nuñez (The Office) as Desi Arnaz, and Seamus Dever (Castle) as Jess Oppenheimer.

Script and performance licenses available from NEXT STAGE PRESS

Format: mp3 • File size: 8.2MB  • Duration: 5:43

A Message from Gregg Oppenheimer:
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Gregg Oppenheimer