This Is Why the Cast Had To Smoke So Heavily

Philip Morris was the original sponsor of "I LOVE LUCY" from 1951 through 1955. They insisted the cast "light up" on camera as often as possible, and for Lucy and Desi to "plug" their brand in commercials at the end of every episode.

Nothing is ever as it seems. Thank you for putting this together.

Remember when Gilda Radner did her Lucille Ball impression. She told the interviewer that she and Viv visit over the back fence and discuss how time has ravaged their faces. I'm sure that all the smoking really did age the faces of the actual actors.

At the 15:10 mark, the narrator states Vivian and William only appeared in 7 episodes of the show's run, all within the first season. This is completely false. He says it like it's true. Unbelievable.

This was supposed to be about the awful ciggy sponsors. You said a ton of stuff I already knew. 😂

Showing is reruns constantly in the late sixties I hated I Love Lucy, but completely adored the Dick Van Dyke show.

I remember that Lucy famously used henna hair dye and when she heard they were going to stop making it she went around to all the beauty supply stores and bought all of it she could find. At least that’s what I heard.

It was normal for someone Fred's age to have trouble remembering lines. I liked Fred.

Smokers are a dying breed. And Very painful……..

I love Lucy and Lucy loves me. She's as happy as a cat up a tree, and when I say that I love her ... She purrs back, "I'm dreaming of ya." And I love Lucy and Lucy loves me. She's as happy as a kitty can be, and when I say, "I love you" ... She purrs, "I love you too." We're happy ..., I love my Lucy kitty true! R.I.P Lucy Kitty, Sept. 2021 - Age 19 💔💔💔

Speaking of the theme song, there is an old film (from the 1940s called Junior Prom (it was part of a series called 'The Teenagers. During the end celebration in the film you can HEAR the Lucy Theme. No one has ever pointed this out so I thought I would.

Desi Arnaz was never called Larry Lopez. His name was Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III when he was born on March 2, 1917. He was named after his father. He died on December 2, 1986 from lung cancer.

Sixty years ago in 1964, the US Surgeon General released his report on smoking, cigarettes, risks and dangers. Up till then, health risks were ignored. After all, cigarettes were big business and tobacco companies had powerful lobbies in government. Doctors appeared in TV, Radio ads promoting smoking as healthy and beneficial! Everyone smoked almost everywhere. I Love Lucy was no longer in production. The fact that people smoked then was acceptable. Cigarettes should be outlawed!

You asked why they smoked so much? LOL. Because they were addicted to nicotine! That's why!

I am not old enough to see the original run. I wouldn't have noticed reruns because of Lucille's incident. My father is my oldest parent. He would have been a teenager when it started. Like 15

A few misconceptions and clarifications. Lucille Ball knew from the start that the show would be a success, Fred and Ethel were in more than seven episodes of the first season. In fact, I believe, they were in all but one. "Disco Lucy" wasn't a phenomenal hit. Placing 40 on the Billboard charts isn't a hit. I never heard that Lucy took the name "Belmont" from the racetrack, but it may be true. Lucy and dDsi divorced in 1960, technically the last year of the 1950s.

Once a smoker, always a smoker! and during the 1950's,1960's, and 1970's thats all that looked cool despite thf health risks. Perhaps thats ehy all stars' lives were cut 10-20 years too short because of all that stupidity in smoking. It isnt cool at all And yet they all dod it. Even doctors snd nurses thought it was cool to light up. They never made it past middle age if that. Alcohol also played into the fact thatbit looked great to drink on the set. Ot all led to pill pushing on later years. Ehat s disgrace to your bodies.

Screw the AI voice.

I have heard both Vivian Vance and Lucille Ball say that they were good friends.

If you are going to quote the lyrics, do it correctly!