• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox
  • Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer
  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!
  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

Gay Iconography: Lots to Love About Lucy

Bobby Hankinson November 29, 2014

Lucy

When it comes to comedy, there is one icon, one legend whose star will always burn brighter than the rest: Lucille Ball.

As perhaps the most beloved television star of all time, Lucille Ball is permanently etched into the memories of generations of Americans. She was nominated for 13 Emmy Awards, winning four, and earned two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (one for her film work and one for television). She graced the cover of TV Guide 45 times. She paved the way for today's funny ladies like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Melissa McCarthy.

Her impact on television was enormous, but her work (especially as the titular Lucy Ricardo on I Love Lucy) inspired generations of gay men.

In a 2001 feature in OUT Magazine, writer Bob Smith put it thusly:

“Lucy Ricardo was the perfect gay icon for the post-Stonewall generation. She wasn't a tragic victim like Judy Garland; the only time Lucy Ricardo got plastered was when she swallowed too much Vitameatavegamin. Lucy Ricardo wasn't sharp-tongued like Bette Davis or a monster like Joan Crawford: she was beautiful and funny, and she was a comic victim of her red hair-brained schemes. Many gay men can identify with kooky ideas that always seem to backfire, like when a gay man in his 40s dyes his hair platinum blond.”

Even in the 1980s, Ball voiced her support of gay rights, telling People Magazine,”It's perfectly all right with me. Some of the most gifted people I've ever met or read about are homosexual. How can you knock it?”

Heat up a plate of Thanksgiving leftovers and remember all the reasons you love Lucy, AFTER THE JUMP …

video
play-rounded-fill
Link
 

Before she became the most famous comedienne in television history, she was known as “Queen of the B's,” working as a contract player for RKO Pictures. One of her early films, Dance, Girl, Dance was initially a box office bomb, but the story of two female dancers competing for jobs (and the affections of a divorced man) received renewed interest in the 1970s, thanks to the feminist movement. The film, directed by ground-breaking lesbian director Dorothy Arzner, is heralded for its portrayal of empowered women, and was listed as one of the top 100 “Essential Films” by the National Society of Film Critics in 2002. See Ball tussle with her co-star Maureen O'Hara in the clip above.

video
play-rounded-fill
Link
 

There are so many classic Lucy moments to choose from, but the most famous is undoubtedly the scene in the chocolate factory when Lucy and Ethel (Vivian Vance) fight against the quickening conveyor belt.

video
play-rounded-fill
Link
 

Another favorite clip is, of course, Lucy's grape-stomping romp in Italy. However, our favorite Lucy moment of all time has got to be “Vitameatavegamin,” above.

video
play-rounded-fill
Link
 

Following I Love Lucy, Ball starred on The Lucy Show alongside her former castmate Vivian Vance. The show aired from 1962-1968, including the episode featuring Joan Crawford, above. Ball would go on to buy out her ex-husband Desi Arnaz's shares in their Desilu Productions in 1962, making her the first woman to run a major studio.

video
play-rounded-fill
Link
 

Ball's final film role was a critically-panned film adaptation of the musical Mame. Although her performance wasn't a hit with critics, it's sort of hard to hate the sight of her trading barbs with Bea Arthur, is it not?

What is your favorite Lucy moment?

Topics: Uncategorized More Posts About: Gay Iconography

Related Posts
  • NOW…Quick, Grab A Drink and Join us for Justin Vivian Bond’s Live “Auntie Glam’s ‘I Hate Spring’ Happy Hour” — WATCH Party 5pm Eastern
  • How the New York Media Covered the Stonewall Riots
  • NYC LGBT Community Center and Google Unveil ‘Living’ Digital Monument of LGBTQ History – ‘Stonewall Forever’
  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Mel B will “always be open” when it comes to her sexuality. The Spice Girls singer, 48, who reunited with her bandmates including the group's ex-singer Victoria Beckham for the fashion …Read More »
  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Megan Thee Stallion is being sued for allegedly creating a hostile work environment and forcing her cameraman to watch her having lesbian sex. The 29-year-old ‘Savage' rapper faces the salacious claims …Read More »
  • Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Jonathan Bennett's life was “changed forever” by his role in ‘Mean Girls'. The 42-year-old actor starred as heartthrob Aaron Samuels in the 2004 cult classic – which followed Lindsay Lohan, Rachel …Read More »
  • Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass a gift basket after he came out as gay. The 44-year-old NSYNC star revealed the legendary singer showed his support when Lance decided to reveal …Read More »
Previous Post: « Christian Bale and Joel Edgerton Have an Old Testament Face Off in ‘Exodus: Gods and Kings’ TV Spot: VIDEO
Next Post: Coco Peru Has A Solution to All the Problems Plaguing Millennials: VIDEO »

Primary Sidebar

Most Recent

  • Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer

    Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer

  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

  • Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

  • Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

  • Relationship status influences heterosexual women’s sexual prejudice towards lesbians

    Relationship status influences heterosexual women’s sexual prejudice towards lesbians

  • JoJo Siwa had a challenge transitioning to new grown-up image

    JoJo Siwa had a challenge transitioning to new grown-up image

  • Liz Hurley defends lesbian sex scene in new movie that was directed by her son

    Liz Hurley defends lesbian sex scene in new movie that was directed by her son

Partner Links

  • The Onion: Pete Hegseth Bans Men With Girl Names From Combat
    Here's another relevant and not far from the truth video from […]
  • “Scarlett Johansson wore orange to ‘The Phoenician Scheme’ NYC premiere” links
    Photos from the NYC premiere of Wes Anderson’s latest film, The […]
  • Sun: Duchess Meghan is just a hot woman who bagged a rich prince??
    Along with all of the “emotional support polls,” the British media […]
  • Incompetent Agency Heads Haven't Done Their Budget Homework
    Top Trump administration officials have spoken at length about alleged irresponsible […]
  • OMG, have you heard? Elvira to Duchess Meghan ‘If you ever need beauty advice from a queen, let me know.’
    Whatta ham! [celebitchy] Olympic gold medalist Timo Barthel is diving into […]

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy
[towleroadmr] [towleroadtn]

Footer

Ptown Hacks 2018

Read

  • Travel
  • Film
  • Law – LGBT Rights
  • Columns
  • Specials

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 · Log in

×
×