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Here's an inside look at the rehearsal process of I Love Lucy
"I Love Lucy completely changed my methods of memorizing," said the actor.
Though it’s one of the most popular sitcoms of all time, it turns out that behind the scenes, filming a show like I Love Lucy was no laughing matter.
According to the series star, Lucille Ball, the series filmed at a near breakneck pace. As soon as Ball was presented with a script for a new episode, she began to work on memorizing.
“Doing Lucy, we read the script once, and we were on our feet,” said Ball, according to Lucy & Ricky & Fred & Ethel: The Story of ‘I Love Lucy’ by Bart Andrews. “We had to learn from fifty-two to fifty-four pages of dialogue in two days, and because we were on our feet with the props, it came easily. The next two days would be camera rehearsals, doing refinements, and getting angles set - then on Thursday night we’d be off like opening night.”
Ball was no stranger to memorizing lines - she had previously appeared in films like Lured (1947) and Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949). However, Ball credited the speedy nature of television with helping her become a better actor.
“I Love Lucy completely changed my methods of memorizing,” said the actor. “As a movie actress, I used to have great trouble remembering lines. Now I have a quicker way, worked out with cooperation from the writers. Everything is cut down to the nub before I get a script.”
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