MovieChat Forums > I Love Lucy (1951) Discussion > Lucy's Costumes- Realistic or Not?

Lucy's Costumes- Realistic or Not?

posted 4 years ago by [email protected] (5501)
11 replies | jump to latest

This idea was inspired by Gary's post that Lucy's costume for Phipp's Department store was not imaginative.

I do agree. But realistically, Lucy knew she only had a minute to do a quick change before she returned to the living room. So in the context of her world, it made sense.

One change that was unrealistic (but funny) was Lucy's Little Orphan Annie wig after she left her home permanent on for five hours. She races into the bedroom and comes back a minute later.
I've had a few perms, although thankfully not in years! It takes the hairdresser quite a while to remove all those rollers and clips. Obviously someone backstage just put a wig on Lucy.

In the Charm School episode, Lucy appeared in an elaborate get-up. It's not unrealistic that she would have learned to do that heavy make-up. But her hair style was quite elaborate and intricate. Hard to believe that she was able to do it herself.
And who zipped her up into that ultra tight gown? lol

Any other costumes that stretched believability?

[–] gary4movies (174) 4 years ago

In season one's "Be a Pal", it's a little hard to believe that Lucy would have access to a donkey (!), as we'll as all those kids!!

That said, I think it's entirely possible for both Lucy and Ethel to have made themselves up that way in " The Charm School." They both spent a week at Phoebe Emerson's.

[–] [email protected] (5501) 4 years ago

I forgot about the donkey and the kids. Yes, hard to believe!

Also, when Ricky thought Lucy was a kleptomaniac, where did she get a baby elephant? Did she rent one from the Bronx Zoo? It would have been impossible for her to obtain a wild animal and bring it home. In a taxi? The subway? lol

Yes, the girls could've made themselves up in "The Charm School". It wasn't shown in the episode, but Miss Emerson must've employed a staff who taught make-up, etc. But Lucy's hair style is rather complicated. I just don't see her doing it herself.

The alternative that I imagined was that she went out and had it done while Ricky was at the club. Then she locked herself in the bedroom and wouldn't allow Ricky inside when he got home.

But that super slinky, tight gown! I'm sure Lucille Ball had help getting into it. lol

Now when the girls were "Women from Mars", I can see them getting into those costumes, no problem.

[–] gary4movies (174) 4 years ago

In "Lucy is Envious" the costumes are cheesy and the terrified onlookers wouldn't have been convincing in a sitcom today. Also, we learned long ago that there's no life on Mars anyway.

That said, Fred and Ricky's costumes ARE scary!!

[–] [email protected] (5501) 4 years ago

NO LIFE on Mars? Didn't you ever see that old Twilight Zone episode? lol

Maybe not today, but years ago people could hear a rumor, get panicky ad run with it!

Remember Orson Welles infamous 'War of the Worlds' radio broadcast? It sent the entire northeast of the USA into a panic. And no one actually SAW anything.

Fred and Ricky's costumes are quite scary though.

Speaking of the guys reminds me of another unbelievable costume moment in the Charm School episode. Where in the world did Ricky and Fred get those elaborate get-ups to tease the girls?

Maybe Fred had his "Mr. Peanut" costume in his old vaudeville trunk. But Ricky's costume? Did he just happen to have that hanging in the closet along with an elaborate wig? Funny but unrealistic.

[–] gary4movies (174) 4 years ago

I still don't think anyone would believe Lucy and Ethel were women from Mars. Orson Welles' broadcast left everything to the imagination, and the broadcast began "in progress", without any introduction that it was fiction, which is why certain (not all) listeners panicked.

I don't find it unbelievable that Ricky and Fred had those costumes, as they both had a collection of stuff from years in show business. So did Lucy, and she wasn't even a pro.

[–] [email protected] (5501) 4 years ago

I don't know about that...the tourists at the top of the Empire State Building seemed convinced! lol

The man who hired Lucy and Ethel pretended to be zapped by a paralyzing ray gun.

I think that the tourists would have reported it and the newspapers ran with it. It just made for a great story.

But remember, later on Lucy and Ethel believed it! And they took part in the stunt!

Was it Ethel who said, "Maybe this was all just a coincidence?"
The girls thought that their stunt coincided with a REAL Martian invasion. lol

It doesn't take much to get the public all worked up and believing rumors.

Fred's costume was believable. But Ricky's? He had a Latin band, why would he have a Louis the 14th costume in his closet? Still, it was funny.

[–] gary4movies (174) 4 years ago

We'll just have to agree to disagree. I just don't think Lucy and Ethel looked like anything more than actors staging a phony scene, with the man that hired them playing along.

Ricky had many different kinds of costumes, depending on the show he was doing. My point is that it's POSSIBLE, and that's enough for me. And isn't his costume here similar to the English guy he was playing in "Lucy Writes a Play?"

[–] [email protected] (5501) 4 years ago

I agree that Lucy and Ethel's "Women from Mars' costumes were pretty awful (plaid shorts!). But then again, how would the average earthling know how Martians dress? lol

It does look like they are actors staging a publicity stunt.

But to tourists who were taken off guard and only saw them for a few seconds, I could imagine that a few of them would've "bought it", at least for a few seconds!

Probably not today, but I'm thinking of the 1950's and all those old B movies with creatures from outer space. Lots of people thought they saw flying saucers. There were scores of UFO "sightings". And some people claimed to e kidnapped by aliens. It seemed to be a type of hysteria sweeping through the country.

Did you ever hear about Betty and Barney Hill? In 1961 they claimed to have seen a UFO on a dark country road. They said that aliens kidnapped them. They really believed their story. I remember my mom watching talk shows where they discussed the Hills. She's not usually gullible, but she bought into their account.

For a while many people were intrigued by their story and believed them. I think their story has been debunked.

You are right that those costumes were bad! I'm just trying to look at it from the perspective of the 1950's when alien visitors were all the rage.

And on ILL Lucy and Ethel even bought into the rumor and they were IN on the stunt!
They wondered if it was all just a coincidence that their movie stunt coincided with a real Martian invasion.

[–] [email protected] (5501) 4 years ago

As for more unbelievable costumes, I just watched "Lucy's Club Dance" again tonight.

I never appreciated that episode until a few years ago. The ending with Ricky's "All Girl Orchestra" is hilarious.
But do you think ANYONE was fooled by his band in drag? lol That scene is so funny. They wore gowns and wigs but they still walked (and sat!) like men.

Do you think Ricky got away with it? I doubt it.

[–] gary4movies (174) 4 years ago

I don't think the writers intended to fool anyone into believing his band members were women. Ricky's embarrassed expression says it all.

[–] [email protected] (5501) 4 years ago

I don't think the writers intended to fool the ILL audience if that's what you meant.

But Lucy was trying to fool the audience at the dance. She crossed her fingers and said something like, "I hope this works."

They were clearly trying to fool people. But it's doubtful that anyone WAS fooled. The audience probably thought it was a comedy routine.