Lucille Ball: Forever Changing Comedy

What would the modern sitcom be without someone like Lucille Ball? Alongside her then-husband Desi Arnaz, Ball became a household name when it came to comedy thanks to I Love Lucy, which ran from 1951 to 1957 and remains a favorite among many to this very day. In addition to the show being nothing short of hilarious, it was also revolutionary for a number of reasons. For starters, it was the first sitcom to be filmed before a live studio audience, allowing the audience to react to such memorable moments as the candy conveyor belt or the grape-squashing scene. I Love Lucy was also the first show of its kind to use a three-camera setup, allowing for a seamless flow from scene to scene.

Thanks to syndication (and we should mention that I Love Lucy was also one of the first TV shows ever to be sold into syndication) the show can still be enjoyed to this very day thanks to reruns, and back in 2012 CBS was reported to still be making as much as $20 million a year from I Love Lucy syndication deals. While it’s true that not all the credit for the show’s success can go to Ball herself, what could the show have ever been without its shining star? And how different would the world of comedy have been were it not for the invaluable contribution Lucille Ball made?

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Five Fun Facts About Charlie Chaplin

Well known and loved throughout the world to this very day, Charlie Chaplin is nothing short of a pioneer and an icon in the world of comedy. Here are five fun facts about the famous comedian.

A reasonable facsimile. As legend has it, at the very height of his fame and popularity Chaplin entered a Charlie Chaplin look-alike contest in France, likely assuming he was a shoo-in. He wasn’t. In fact, Chaplin placed 20th in the contest.

A communist? Charlie Chaplin was once the subject of an investigation by MI5. The investigation began at the request of the FBI, who were in fact trying to ban Chaplin from entering the US under suspicions that he was a communist sympathiser. The investigation did not produce any damning evidence, however.

A notable first. Charlie Chaplin was the first actor to appear on the cover of Time Magazine. Prior to the July 6, 1925 publication the covers has primarily featured politicians, industrialists, and authors.

An unusual doorstop. Although his views would later change, early on in his career Charlie Chaplin didn’t think very fondly of the Academy Awards. In fact, his first Academy Award received in 1929 had a special use in his home, as a doorstop.

A prolific procreator. Chaplin left behind not only a considerable catalogue of work but a plethora of progeny as well. Over his 4 marriages Chaplin fathered 11 children, the youngest being born when Chaplin was 73 years old.

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