FEBRUARY TIMELINE: Short month, long list! You can now get Saturday Night Live Season 1 w/Desi Sr. & Jr. William Frawley's Birthstone: Amethyst (sobriety) :) Flower: Violet (modesty) 1926: First Brown Derby opened! "Little Hat" on Wilshire Boulevard across from The Ambassador Hotel Brown Derbys had gift shops that sold coffee, playing cards, jewelry, ash trays, glass and tableware, wines and spirits, preserves and candy. [NOTE: Make sure and check out the book "The Brown Derby" by Sally Wright Cobb and Mark Willems. ISBN 0-8478-1925-6.] 1954: "The Long, Long Trailer" released 1999: New Mattel Lucy doll [Chocolate factory] was introduced at Toy Fair in NY. I got two, did you! February 1, 1887 - Hollywood, California registered as a town 1, 1898 - First auto insurance policy issued (good thing Ricky called HIS in!) 1, 1901 - (William) Clark Gable born (maybe Carolyn lucked out and did catch a cold from Mr. Gable...) 1, 1946 - Bart "Bradley" Braverman born in LA ("She's ah my birthday too.") 1, 1953 - 'Private Secretary' premieres with Ann Sothern as the star 1, 1954 - "Sentimental Anniversary" airs 1, 1966 - Hedda Hopper dies :( and leaves her Rolls Royce to Lucy 1, 1998 - Irene Kampen, author of "Life without George" (basis of The Lucy Show) dies at age 75 2, 1953 - "The Inferiority Complex" airs 2, 2008 - GROUNDHOG'S DAY (fix some dirt pudding today) 3, 1690 - First paper money issued in America (Fred Mertz probably had some of this!) 3, 1958 - "Lucy Wins a Racehorse" airs 3, 1998 - Voting ballots were at post office for the I Love Lucy stamp 4, 1914 - Ida Lupino born (was in "Lucy's Summer Vacation") 4, 1918 - Janet "Judy Jetson" Waldo born was in "The Young Fans" (keep jigglin, Peggy, keep jigglin!) 4, 1941 - The United Service Organization was formed on this day, better known as the "USO" (Lucy served at Hollywood USO) 4, 1952 - "Lucy Writes a Play" airs 4, 1957 - "Lucy Hates to Leave" airs 5, 1921 - Land purchased for Yankee Stadium (one of Fred's fave spots) 5, 1953 - Three Emmys won for I Love Lucy: Lucy, best comedienne, Vivian Vance best supporting actress, ILL best show. Wm. Frawley nominated best supporting Held at the Statler Hotel 5, 1956 - Desi Arnaz on "What's My Line?" panel 5, 1956 - Toast of the Town with Lucy and Desi promoting their movie "Forever Darling" 5, 1965 - Irving Bacon (Bert Willoughby) dies (Ethel's father) (mailman in Blondie movies) 5, 2007 - Fred Ball, Lucy's brother, dies in Cottonwood, Arizona at age 91 6, 1952 - Queen Elizabeth II becomes Queen of Great Britain. 4 years later she would meet the Queen of Comedy! 6, 1956 - "The Fox Hunt" airs 6, 1991 - Danny Thomas died (Lucy Makes "Room" for Danny) 7, 1827 - Ballet introduced to the United States 7, 1955 - "L.A. at Last" airs (with Wm. Holden) my favorite ep! (also Gregg's!) (This is just Brown Derby month!!) 7, 1956 - Lucy & Desi's movie "Forever Darling" premieres in Jamestown, NY 7, 1980 - Lucille Ball appears on The Mike Douglas Show (other stars on the show that day were Jim Bailey, David Letterman, and Victoria Principal) 8, 1954 - "Fan Magazine Interview" airs 8, 1980 - Special: "Lucy Moves to NBC" 9, 1894 - Hershey bar introduced :) 9, 1909 - Carmen Miranda born (Lucy did a great "Carmen") 9, 1929 - Hatchet lady Elsa Lanchester marries actor Charles Laughton (they led an interesting life according to Maureen O'Hara) 9, 1956 - "Forever Darling" released 9, 1956 - Lucy appears on I've Got a Secret 9, 1956 - Lucille Ball is panelist on "What's My Line" Desi Arnaz is the celebrity guest. 9, 1959 - "Lucy Goes to Alaska" airs (LDCH with Red Skelton) 9, 1960 - The Hollywood Walk of fame groundbreaking ceremony Joanne Woodward is first - must find a Lucy connection here there would be 1,558 stars originally placed 10, 1991 - The infamous `Lucy and Desi: Before the Laughter' airs 11, 1949 - Gale Gordon's first appearance on My Favorite Husband 11. 1952 - "Break the Lease" airs 11, 1954 - Vivian Vance wins an Emmy for her portrayal of Ethel Mertz; I Love Lucy wins for best situation comedy 11, 1957 - "Lucy Misses the Mertzes" airs 12, 1809 - Abraham Lincoln's birthday 12, 2000 - Jerry Lewis remarks that "I don't like any female comedians". Asked about Lucille Ball, he replied, "No." 12-15, 2006 American International Toy Fair in New York (year of Lucy doll #10) 13, 1913 - Removable auto wheel first used (was it the steering wheel?) 13, 1919 - Tennessee Ernie Ford born (Ford Town, Tennessee) 13 or 15? - Mary Jane Croft born (Think: baby = cheese) 15 or 1916? (born in Muncie, Indiana) 14, 1889 - Trainload of oranges heads east from Los Angeles for the first time. (66 yrs later, Lucy would bring east her Robert Taylor autographed orange by train) 14, 1894 - Jack Benny born (Benjamin Kubelsky); Lucy's friend & neighbor 14, 1907 - Johnny Longden, the receiver of Lucy's loving cup, is born He turned 95 in 2002. (He was the first to win 6,000 races.) 14, 1929 - Second Brown Derby opened on Vine Street (Hollywood Brown Derby) 14, 1934 - Bob Hope and Dolores Reade marry: 69 years in 2003, their last anniversary 14, 1938 - Hedda Hopper starts her gossip column in the Los Angeles Times! 14, 1955 - "Don Juan and the Starlets" airs 14, 1974 - Desi Arnaz appears in ep of "Ironside" 14, 1993 - "Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie", Lucie's tribute to her parents, airs for the first time 14, 2003 - Johnny Longden passes away on his 96th birthday 14, 2008 - VALENTINE'S DAY 14, 2004 - Elois Jenssen, 81, a costume designer on ILL, dies (she designed the Friendship dresses, & the tweed suit from The Fashion Show, among others) 15, 1907 - Cesar Romero born (he was in "Lucy Takes a Cruise to Havana" and one of my mom's favorite actors) 15, 1954 - "Oil Wells" airs 15, 1984 - Ethel Merman died 15, 2007 - Ray Evans, 92, dies (with Jay Livingston, wrote music for Lucy/Bob Hope movie "Fancy Pants") 16, 1883 - Ladies Home Journal first issue (Lucy in here many times) 16, 1953 - "The Club Election" airs 16, 1995 - Nancy M. Schnepp joined the newly created 1 day old Lucy list at bolis.sf-bay.org, at 8:55 am. 17, 1979 - Saturday Night Live sketch [Jane Curtin may be Ethel?] 17-20, 2008 - Toy Fair in New York City (maybe after this we'll find out what the next Lucy doll will be!) 18, 1952 - "The Ballet" airs 18, 1952 - Emmy awards held at Coconut Grove, hosted by Lucy & Desi 18, 1954 - The Long, Long Trailer released 18, 1957 - "Lucy Gets Chummy With the Neighbors" airs 19, 1878 - Edison patents the phonograph 19, 1969 - Madge Blake dies 20, 1906 - Gale Gordon born (Charles T. Aldrich, Jr.) (yes, the 20th is his correct birthdate) Gale born 102 years ago today! 20, 1936 - `Follow the Fleet' (Lucy movie) released 20, 1956 - "Lucy Goes to Scotland" airs 20, 2001 - Bob Weiskopf dies of congestive heart failure at 87 (one of the writers for I Love Lucy) 21, 1888 - Florence Bates born (Mrs. Pettybone in "Pioneer Women" on ILL) 21, 1950 - `The Secret Fury' movie with V. Vance is released 21, 1955 - "Lucy Gets in Pictures" airs 21, 1976 - Desi Arnaz hosts (and is musical guest) on Saturday Night Live (sings Babalu and Cuban Pete w/Desi Jr.) [Gilda Radner portrays Lucy in "Untouchables" sketch] (this episode is rarely shown) 22, 1907 - Sheldon Leonard born (sold Lucy her Handy- Dandy vacuum cleaner) 22, 1954 - "Ricky Loses His Temper" airs 23, 1455 - Johannes Gutenberg printed the first book (the Bible) using movable type. 24, 1890 - Marjorie Main born (she was in "The Long Long Trailer") 24, 2006 - Don Knotts dies - Dennis Weaver dies 25, 1952 - "The Young Fans" airs (with Richard Crenna whom we will miss very much) 25, 1971 - Patty Duke has a baby son (Sean Patrick Astin) who would be "Samwise" in Lord of the Rings trilogy 25, 2006 - Darren McGavin dies 26, 1887 - William Frawley born in Burlington, Iowa (wonder if they have a Fred. Fred! FRED!! DAY in Burlington?) 26, 1916 - Jackie Gleason born 26, 1978 - Desi Arnaz guest stars on "Alice" (The Cuban Connection) 27, 1883 - 1st practical cigar-rolling machine patented (where's Lucy when you need her?) 27, 1956 - "Paris at Last" airs 27, 1970 - Desi Arnaz Jr. appears on `The Brady Bunch' (he ends up with Marcia's diary--wonder if he ever gave it back--- I'm sure he read it ! :) 28, 1883 - First vaudeville theatre opens (4 years later Fred Mertz entered the world to become a vaudevillian) 28, 1915 - Henry Durrell Ball dies (Lucy's father) 28, 1951 - this week Desi Arnaz hosted "Your Tropical Trip", an audience participation show with Latin-American music on CBS radio 28, 1955 - "The Fashion Show" airs 28, 1998 - This was deadline for Lucy stamp ballot to be postmarked 29, 1904 - Jimmy Dorsey born 29, 1940 - "Gone with the Wind" wins 8 Oscars without Lucy (she did audition!) 29, 1964 - Frank Albertson dies (was in "Room Service" movie with Lucy and the Marx Bros.) 29, 2000 - Gregg Oppenheimer appeared on `Donny & Marie' to show lost ILL scene not seen in its entirety since October 1, 1952. Submitted for your enjoyment. -Hedda [Nancy S.] (updated 1/08/2008)