It’s perhaps the most famous television sitcom in American history, and on August 6, Fathom Events and CBS Home Entertainment pay tribute to “I Love Lucy” and its legendary star Lucille Ball when “I Love Lucy: A Colorized Celebration” screens in movie theaters nationwide for one night only on the comedienne’s birthday.
This event provides fans a chance to honor Ball in the way she would have loved: by laughing along with her exploits while enjoying full length/uncut versions of her beloved sitcom and a featurette on how “I Love Lucy” is colorized, entitled “Redhead Tales, Colorizing I Love Lucy.” Adding to the fun, attendees will receive an exclusive “I Love Lucy” mini-poster, while supplies last.
Tickets to “I Love Lucy: A Colorized Celebration” are available beginning Friday, June 7, at www.FathomEvents.com and at participating theater box offices.
Fathom Events and CBS present this colorful comedic celebration in more than 600 U.S. movie theaters on Tuesday, August 6 at 7:00 p.m. local time.
For this event, five favorite episodes of “I Love Lucy” will be presented in colorized versions, all meticulously crafted using costumes, sets, props, and vintage material as reference.
The five episodes are:
“The Million Dollar Idea” (1954) – Lucy and Ethel (Vivian Vance) go into business making salad dressing based on the recipe of Lucy’s Aunt Martha. Their advertising on a local TV show looks like a success, but when Ricky (Desi Arnaz) finds that they’re losing money on each jar, the girls have to find a way to get their customers to cancel their orders.
“Lucy Does a TV Commercial” (1952) – One of the most famous episodes of “I Love Lucy” was ranked the No. 2 television episode of all time by TV Guide. Lucy angles her way onto Ricky’s special as the show’s pitch girl, advertising a medicine called “Vitameatavegamin.” She believes it contains vitamins, meat, vegetables, and minerals. What she doesn’t know: It’s also 23 percent alcohol.
“Pioneer Women” (1952) – Lucy and Ethel revolt over housework and want modern conveniences. Ricky and Fred (William Frawley) bet that they can survive longer than the girls without using anything invented after 1900, including electricity.
“Job Switching” (1952) – After Ricky and Fred get upset about the girls’ spending, Lucy and Ethel go to work in a candy factory while the boys do the housework.
“L.A. at Last!” (1955) – When the Ricardos and the Mertzes arrive in Hollywood, Lucy goes to the Brown Derby restaurant, where her sighting of movie star William Holden turns catastrophic.
CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment will also be bringing “I Love Lucy: Colorized Collection” to DVD August 13. The collection will include 16 full-length colorized episodes of “I Love Lucy,” including those from the Fathom Events “I Love Lucy: A Colorized Celebration” screening event.