DECEMBER TIMELINE Birthstone: turquoise (forget me not) or blue topaz Flower: narcissus (stay as sweet as you are) December 1949 - Tops on this year's Christmas list: A tv set! I'll bet it's that way in 2008 as well, with all the channels changing to digital (or converter boxes) December 1951 - Wm. Frawley and Bob Hope in the great movie "Lemon Drop Kid" (one of those forgotten Christmas movies) It is out on DVD---go find a copy!! December 1951 - "The Glow-Worm" by the Mills Brothers reaches #2 (imagine if Lucy had been playing it) December 1959 - Desi Sr. is arrested in Hollywood for drunkeness. :( December 1995 - No Bob Hope Christmas special, first time since 1945 (you can buy a special DVD of Xmas special clips now) December 1, 1878 - First phone in White House (Lucy called the Prez once) 1, 1939 - LaGuardia airport in New York opens to public 1, 1950 - Keith Thibodeaux born HE'S 58 today 2008! 1, 1955 - "Bon Voyage" is filmed 1, 1958 - "Lucy Makes Room for Danny" airs (LDCH) 2, 1937 - Vivian Vance in play "Hooray for What" 2, 1986 - Desi Arnaz dies 22 yrs ago (It's been that long....) 2, 1990 - Bob Cummings dies 3, 1951 - "Men Are Messy" airs 3, 1956 - "The Ricardos Visit Cuba" 3, 1957 - "The Celebrity Next Door" airs (LDCH) [with Tallulah Bankhead] (number one rated program of that week) 3, 1967 - 20th Century Ltd makes its final run (think "The Great Train Robbery") 3, 1984 - Lucy guests on "The Tonight Show" 4, 1950 - First daytime serial "The First 100 Years" airs (Wm. Frawley appeared in it; show was short of 100 eps) 4, 1973 - Alfred Carl Fuller (founder of Fuller Brush Co.) dies (Lucy did "The Fuller Brush Girl" movie) 5, 1955 - "Nursery School" airs 5, 1955 - Paul Harvey (actor) dies 5, 1957 - William Frawley guests on The (Tennesee Ernie) Ford Show 5, 1977 - Lucy ringmaster on 2nd annual Circus of the Stars Lucie Arnaz also appeared 22, 2008 - Hanukkah begins at sunset 6, 1877 - Thomas Edison made first sound recording (thanks, Tom) 6, 1902 - Martha Washington first US woman on a US stamp (We saw Lucy on a stamp in 1999!) 6, 1954 - "Ricky's Contract" airs 6, 1977 - Lucy on Barbara Walters Interview Special 6, 1987 - James (Pete the trumpeter/grocery boy) Dobson dies 6, 1989 - "Aunt Bea" dies (Andy Griffith show) 7, 1953 - "Changing the Boys' Wardrobe" airs 8, 1934 - "Three Little Pigskins" with 3 Stooges, Lucille Ball released 8, 1952 - King Features Syndicate Lucy comic strip begins 8, 1952 - "Lucy is Enceinte" airs (you know: expecting; w/child; pg) 9, 1984 - CBS All-Star Party for Lucille Ball 10, 1951 - "The Fur Coat" airs 10, 1955 - Lucy on cover of TV Guide (portrait) 10, 1997 - Elliot Daniel dies at 89 (wrote the I Love Lucy theme song) 11, 1816 - Indiana became the 19th state (Fred often mentioned Indianapolis) 192 years ago 11, 1959 - Lucy in "Desilu Revue" on Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse 12, 1787 - Pennsylvania became the 2nd state 12, 1955 - "Ricky's European Booking" 12, 1959 - Vivian Vance in episode "Land Greed" of The Deputy 12, 1966 - Phil Silvers stars on The Lucy Show 12, 1968 - Tallulah "dahrl-ing" Bankhead dies 13, 1954 - "Getting Ready" airs 14, 1946 - Patty Duke born in New York 14, 1953 - "Lucy Has Her Eyes Examined" 14, 1966 - Verna Felton dies (Mrs. Simpson) 15, 1832 - Builder of Eiffel tower born (A. Eiffel) [I'm sure Lucy Ricardo saw the Eiffel tower while she was in Paris!-- or at least bought a painting of it :) ] 15, 1905 - "Variety" first published 15, 1939 - `Gone With the Wind' premiered (without Lucy, though she auditioned) 15, 1952 - "Pregnant Women" airs 15, 1983 - "Automan" tv series with Desi Arnaz Jr. premieres 16, 1968 - Vivian Vance as guest on Here's Lucy episode "The Matchmaker" 17, 1951 - "The Adagio" airs 17, 1956 - "Little Ricky's School Pageant" airs 17, 1960 - Wildcat opens on Broadway at Alvin Theatre, 250 W. 52nd St. (thanks Bob) 17, 1984 - Lucy honored by Pres. Reagan, Kennedy Ctr. lifelong achievement 18, 1916 Betty Grable [Ruth Elizabeth] born in St. Louis 18, 1989 - Highest rated Christmas special of the season airs: lost ep "I Love Lucy Christmas show" (6th place) even beat Rudolph & Frosty 19, 1955 - "The Passports" airs (way to go Charles Lane!) 20, 1920 - Bob Hope becomes an American citizen! 21, 1953 - "Ricky's Old Girl Friend" airs 21, 2008 - WINTER 22, 1937 - New York's Lincoln Tunnel opens 22, 1952 - "Lucy's Show Biz Swan Song" airs 23, 1955: - "Sixteen Tons" by Tennesee Ernie Ford at the top of the charts! 24, 1922 - Ava Gardner born (Fred's fave) (her real name?-- *LUCY* Johnson) 24, 1946 - Desi is heard on "The Bob Hope Radio Show" bantering with Bob Hope, along with Bing Crosby Desi was the musical director for Bob for 1946-47. 24, 1951 - "Drafted" airs 24, 1956 - "The I Love Lucy Christmas Show" airs 24, 1982 - Mary Margaret McBride dies, 83 years old (Ethel called herself "Mary Margaret McMertz" in "Million Dollar Idea"). 24, 2002 - Did you know that in Sweden Father Christmas' wife's name is Lucy?? 25, 1933 - Roman Scandals in New York City with a young Lucille Ball 25, 1956 - Lucy and Desi on cover of Look magazine with Keith Thibodeaux 25, 1959 - Desilu Playhouse presented a "Special Christmas Show" starring the whole I Love Lucy bunch as themselves. 25, 1995 - Dean Martin dies 25, 2008 - Christmas Day 26, 1914 - Richard Widmark born to parents Carl & Mae Ethel Widmark (Mae Ethel Widmark---Ethel Mae Mertz, hmmmm...) 26, 1974 - Jack Benny (Lucy's neighbor) dies 26, 1986 - Elsa Lanchster dies (Hatchet lady) 26, 1986 - Lucy receives a Kennedy Center Award 26, 2008 - Boxing Day 27, 1903 - "Sweet Adeline" is sung for the first time 27, 1947 - Vivian Vance in play "Cradle Will Rock" 27, 1988 - Jess Oppenheimer dies 28, 1926 - Grauman's Chinese Theatre completed 28, 1983 - Jimmy Demaret ("The Golf Game") dies 29, 1952 - "Lucy Hires an English Tutor" 29, 1969 - Vivian Vance on Love American Style episode "Love and the Medium" as the medium who's in love with George Gobel (why don't they make shows like this anymore?) 30, 1987 - Lucy at 10th Annual Kennedy Ctr. Awards 31, 1943 - John Denver born (he and Lucy both performed at the Hollywood Bowl) had to get some kind of connection! 31, 1951 - "Jealous of Girl Singer" airs 31, 2008 - New Year's Eve (don't get any chandeliers falling on your head) January 1, 2009 - HAPPY NEW YEAR! Just for fun! Enjoy! Have a great new year! -Hedda [Nancy S.] Updated 11/30/08