Lucille Ball didn't mind sharing her series with farm animals
There was nothing Lucille Ball wouldn’t do to get a laugh and ensure her show’s success. From walking on stilts to skiing down a mountain and working with a rowboat, Ball’s physical comedy was a highlight of her unmatched comedic style.
According to a 1965 interview with The Shreveport Journal, falling down and cracking up wasn’t the only risk Ball took on I Love Lucy. At least once a year, Ball came up with comedy involving animals—whether from the barnyard, a chimpanzee, or even a dog and cat.
The interview took place during the filming of The Lucy Show episode, "Lucy Discovers Wayne Newton." But Newton wasn't the only memorable star in the episode—he was joined by a cast of farm animals.
Newton played the role of a young farm boy, who sang to his animal friends, like a scene straight out of a Disney story. Ball found herself surrounded by chickens, geese, cows, ducks, goats, dogs, and even a tiny fawn, adding to the lighthearted feel of the episode.
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"I like the show," Ball said. "It has a lot of warmth, and Wayne Newton is something. As for our supporting barnyard cast—they were perfectly trained and moved around on cue."
"We have one scene in a recording studio where all the animals sit on chairs while Wayne sings," Ball continued. "They look like they are tied down. But they're not and all obeyed instructions. I've never seen anything like it."
According to the interview, Ball had her fair share of being bitten, mauled, or drooled on by a variety of acting animals—a part of the job many wouldn’t expect to come with an acting career.
"I haven't been bitten since we had a bear on the series," Ball added.
Besides being comfortable with doing all sorts of physical comedy bits on her series, Ball also performed stunts for her show. She wasn't afraid to try new things and aimed for a natural response from those experiences, even if it meant embracing a bit of awkwardness.
"If I'm going to roller skate or walk on stilts, I don't practice too much beforehand," Ball said. "I want the stunt to look awkward, so my reactions are real."
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