Laughs, Luck...and Lucy Audiobook By Jess Oppenheimer, Gregg Oppenheimer cover art

Laughs, Luck...and Lucy

How I Came to Create the Most Popular Sitcom of All Time (With "I Love Lucy's Lost Scenes" and Rare Lucille Ball Audio)

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Laughs, Luck...and Lucy

By: Jess Oppenheimer, Gregg Oppenheimer
Narrated by: Ivan Cury, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, William Frawley, Gale Gordon, Hans Conried, Bea Benaderet, Rudy Vallee
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Jess Oppenheimer, "the brains" behind I Love Lucy, weaves this wonderfully entertaining tale of how his life experiences led him to create the iconic sitcom. Packed with humorous behind-the-scenes stories of stars like Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, William Frawley, Jack Benny, Douglas Fairbanks, and Fred Astaire.

Narrated by Ivan Cury (The Jack Benny Program) and interspersed with classic comedy performances by Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, William Frawley, Gale Gordon (The Lucy Show), and Bea Benaderet (Petticoat Junction), and even the tap dancing of Fred Astaire. Plus Alison Arngrim (Little House on the Prairie’s Nellie Oleson) and Phil Proctor and David Ossman (The Firesign Theater).Includes a 78-page special audiobook companion document, filled with rare behind-the-scenes photos.

All royalties from this edition benefit THE ENTERTAINMENT COMMUNITY FUND Fund—a charity providing much-needed support to workers in ALL branches of the performing arts, (including WGA and SAG-AFTRA members).

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©1996 Gregg Oppenheimer (P)2023 Gregg Oppenheimer Actors Biographies & Memoirs Entertainment & Celebrities Witty
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Critic reviews

“A must-have for Lucy lovers.” (TV Guide Online)

“Wonderful. I never wanted it to end!” (Lucie Arnaz)
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I enjoyed learning of the life of Mr. Oppenheimer, including, but not limited to, his interaction with Lucy and Desi Arnaz.

The interesting life of Mr. Oppenheimer; he was, obviously, a very bright man.

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Takes me back to 1950’s and 60’s radio and early TV, to great talent in Lucille Ball ground breaking and transforming

Real life story

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I’ll get the audio out of the way first. The narration sounds like it was recorded in an empty room, not a studio. All of us have been in an empty house or apartment and can recognize the slight echo made when talking. That’s what this is like only not as loud. 🤷‍♂️

The story is mostly interesting though, in the last couple chapters, when the I Love Lucy show became a national sensation, I’s and me’s begin appearing with monotonous regularity.

I’ve listened to Lucy’s autobiography, "Love Lucy", Desi’s autobiography, "A Book" and now this one by Oppenheimer and, though very different in style and substance, they all have one thing in common. The lion’s share of the credit for the show’s success always tilts toward the author. Understandable and not unexpected, but it does make one wonder what the truth really is. Maybe in the end, they’re all right.

The narrator did a great job and only made the few mispronunciations that are par for the course with audio books. I’ve never listened to a book that didn’t have them to one degree or another.

Enjoy your day fellow readers/listeners.

Interesting story, good narrator, iffy audio.

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Listener received this title free

While I read the book when it first came out, I LOVED the audiobook version. It was not only a refreshing and renewed visit to the book, but I actually enjoyed it more! Why? Because Oppenheimer incorporates clips from the show and other sources that bring the experience to life. Many books have been written from fans, observers and researchers into the world of I Love Lucy, it's principals and players, but no book can take us inside the process and behind the scenes like the account of the person who actually created the show. This is Jess Oppenheimer's life story where we learn how I Love Lucy came to be and that many episodes indeed were a result of actual events in the life of Oppenheimer himself. If you are an I Love Lucy fan, or just interested in the show that changed TV history, I cannot recommend this title enough..and I especially encourage you to experience it as an audiobook. It's a whole new level of experience..and I say that as someone who previously read the book. Enjoy!!

The Best Behind the Scenes book on I Love Lucy!

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Love that audio excerpts are interspersed through the narration! And of course the bonus radio shows and Lucy goodies at the end of the book!

Wonderful!!!

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