Lucy Becomes a Sculptress – I Love Lucy episode 55, season 2, originally aired 1/12/1953
Synopsis of Lucy Becomes a Sculptress
Lucy Becomes a Sculptress – Wanting the baby to be surrounded by art and music, Lucy has a problem; Ricky can teach the baby about music, but who can teach him about art? Lucy decides to become a sculptress, despite Ricky’s protests about her lack of talent. Even so, Ricky has an art critic stop by to evaluate her work – but when Lucy can’t create anything worthwhile, she covers her head in clay and pretends to be a clay statue!
Wanting the baby to be surrounded by art and music, Lucy has a problem; Ricky can teach the baby about music, but who can teach him about art? Lucy decides to become an artist, despite Ricky’s protests about her lack of talent. After a visit to an art supply store, with a very persuasive sales clerk, Lucy comes home with a small fortune in clay. After everyone else refuses, Fred agrees to model for Lucy – one of the funniest visual moments that William Frawley had on the entire series!
Lucy’s attempts at creating art, when all is said and done, are not very good, but she is undeterred. Even so, Ricky has an art critic stop by to evaluate her work. But when Lucy can’t create anything worthwhile, she covers her head in powder and pretends to be a clay bust on the table! Things come to a head, pardon the pun, when the art critic wants to purchase the bust and tries to pull Lucy’s head off the table.
Lucy Becomes a Sculptress is available as part of the season 2 I Love Lucy DVD collection.
Quotes from I Love Lucy – Lucy Becomes a Sculptress
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Oh dear, surround him with music and art. If he wants to be a musician you can teach him, If he wants to be an artist … hey, who’re we gonna get him to teach him about art?
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): Well honey I wouldn’t worry about it, it’ll take care of itself somehow.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Well now it’s not that easy! Our child’s artistic and cultural future is at stake. [Ricky rolls his eyes] Well, there’s just one thing for me to do.
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): I know I shouldn’t ask this, but what is it?
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): I’ll have to become an artist.
Salesman 1: She’s considering taking up sculpturing.
Salesman 2: Oh, you must – you owe it to cultural society. The world is calling.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Me? Well then, I’d better answer.
[Fred Mertz’ back has gone out while he’s bent over as a model for Lucy’s sculpting]
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Gee, Fred, I’m sorry.
Fred Mertz (William Frawley): Oh, it’s okay. As long as I’m in this position, I think I’ll go bowling.
Trivia from I Love Lucy – Lucy Becomes a Sculptress
- This episode was based on Lucille Ball’s successful radio series, My Favorite Husband episode 100 (“Liz Becomes a Sculptress”)
- The scrapbook that Lucy and Ricky look through is actually Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz’s personal scrapbook, although the photograph of the artistic grandfather is not.