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"I Love Lucy" (1951) More at IMDbPro »

• In the original 1955 airing of the episode "The Great Train Robbery" there was an extra scene involving the Mertzs. After getting on the train the Mertzs tell the Ricardos that they're heading towards the dining car for something to eat. After they leave the Ricardos, there is a montage of scenes showing the Mertzs going into the dining car and being escorted to a table on the second floor of the car where the dome viewing area is. All subsequent airings of this episode omit the scene but a rare 16MM print of the episode, with the scene intact, restored it for the season five DVD release of the show in 2005. The scene was cut from television airings because it was out of sequence with the story. If you look closely at the domed windows of the dining car, you can clearly see the reflections of lights passing over them, simulating a train that is moving at a pretty good speed. However, this scene was placed in the show at a time when the train that the Ricardos and the Mertzes were on had not even left Union Station in Los Angeles. After the Mertzes are seen in the domed dining car of the moving train, the station master announces the departure of their train from the station along with a shot of the train pulling away from the platform in a later scene. Union Pacific Railroad provided Desilu Productions with assistance for several scenes in this episode.
  
  
• Many scenes or parts of scenes are cut from the episodes for syndication, to make room for the much larger number of commercials present today.
  
  
• The famous opening credit sequence, where the names appear over a heart, was not a part of the original series run. Originally, various cartoons related to the show and the show's sponsor were used. The version everyone knows today was created for syndication. TV Land "restored" the original opening for its broadcasts by re-creating the cartoons while leaving out the references to the sponsor.
  
  
• Many references to the sponsor, Philip Morris, were cut from the original negatives of episodes circa 1956. The DVD releases attempt to restore as many of these as possible using whatever source material exists.
  
  
• In reruns of the series, much of the music in the beginning and end of scenes were altered or cut to make way for more commercials. Where possible, many of these musical bridges and cues have been fully restored for the DVD release.
  
  
• In 1990, a 16mm print of the original lost pilot episode was found. The opening titles and first few seconds of the opening narration was damaged beyond repair. This scene was reconstructed for DVD in 2002 with a re-recorded narration by Bob LeMond, 50 years after he originally recorded it.
  
  
• During the second series, Lucille Ball took some time off after she gave birth to Desi Arnaz Jr. During this time, CBS re-ran several of the first season episodes. The re-broadcast of episode #1.03 "The Diet" on the 9th February 1953 featured a new opening "Flashback" sequence which ran for around two minutes. The flashback sequence involves Ricky, Ethel and Fred discussing the health of Lucy's new born baby. Ethel offers some homemade cookies for Lucy, but Ricky explains that Lucy is worried about her figure, and would like to go on a diet. The three then remember the last time Lucy went on a diet. This leads into the opening scene of "The Diet". This flashback scene has been restored for the 2002 DVD release of "I Love Lucy".
  
  
• When episode #1.01 "The Girls Want To Go To A Nightclub" was re-aired the closing music and applause was replaced by canned laughter to allow more room for commercials. The original soundtrack elements have been restored for the 2002 DVD release of "I Love Lucy".
  
  
• During the second series, Lucille Ball took some time off after she gave birth to Desi Arnaz Jr. During this time, CBS re-ran several of the first season episodes. The re-broadcast of episode #1.04 "Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying To Murder Her" on the 13th November 1952 featured a new opening "Flashback" sequence which ran for just over a minute and a half. The sequence involves Lucy telling Ricky that instead of watching TV, they will read a murder mystery. Then Desi reminds Lucy what happened the last time she read a murder mystery. This leads into the opening scene of "Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying To Murder Her". This flashback scene has been restored for the 2002 DVD release of "I Love Lucy".
  
  
• In the original Broadcast of episode #1.05 "The Quiz Show", John Stephenson announces the guest cast members in a voice over, during the closing credits. It has not been Broadcasted since then. This voice-over has been restored for the 2002 DVD release of "I Love Lucy".
  
  
• In the first scene of episode #1.06 "The Audition", Lucy holds up a packet of cigarettes produced by the shows sponsor Phillip Morris Cigarettes. In its 1956 re-run this line was cut from the original negative and discarded. The line has been restored for the DVD release of "I Love Lucy".
  
  
• In the first scene of episode #1.08 "Men Are Messy", Lucy makes a reference to the shows sponsor Phillip Morris Cigarettes "You get Phillip, I get Morris." In its 1956 re-run this line was cut from the original negative and discarded. The line has been restored for the DVD release of "I Love Lucy".
  
  
• Lucy and Ricky's long kiss at the end of episode #1.10 "Lucy Is Jealous Of Girl Singer" made it past the censors once, but was drastically cut by about 7 seconds for all subsequent reruns. The longer uncut kiss has been restored for the DVD release of "I Love Lucy".
  
  
• When episode #1.11 "Drafted" first aired on Christmas Eve 1951, the show included a short Christmas Tag Scene (running just over 3 mins) which has been cut from all subsequent reruns. The Tag Scene featured the four stars dressed up as Santa Claus singing "Jingle Bells" around a Christmas tree. This scene has been restored for the DVD release of "I Love Lucy".
  
  

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