Creator of ‘Lucy’ TV Show Dies

Jess Oppenheimer, who created one of TV’s most popular shows, “I Love Lucy,” died of heart failure Tuesday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was 75.

One of television’s top producers and directors, Oppenheimer’s entrance into show business was as unusual as some of the program episodes he wrote over a career that spanned nearly half a century.

Born in San Francisco, Oppenheimer attended Stanford University and followed in his father’s footsteps, going into the fur sales business.

But in 1936, he left that business and headed for Hollywood. While waiting for an interview at the Young and Rubicam Advertising Agency, Oppenheimer overheard two executives complain about a badly written radio script. He came back six hours later with a new script and was offered $125 to write the show every week.

He was a writer for some of that era’s great radio shows, including the “Packard Hour,” which starred Fred Astaire; “The Jack Benny Show”; “Screen Guild Program”; Fanny Brice’s “Baby Snooks Show,” and “The Edgar Bergen Show.”

In 1948, he wrote, directed and produced the radio show, “My Favorite Husband,” starring Lucille Ball.

The match-up of Oppenheimer and Ball became one of classic proportions. When Harry Ackerman, CBS vice president of West Coast programming, decided that Ball should try her luck on television, he turned to Oppenheimer to create and produce a show for Ball and her husband, the late Desi Arnaz.

The slapstick show featured Ball as Lucy Ricardo, the wacky but well-meaning wife of bandleader Ricky Ricardo (Arnaz). The episodes usually revolved around the schemes of Lucy to break into show business over the objections of Ricky. Aiding and abetting the two in their never-ending battles were their landlord-pals Fred and Ethel Mertz.

Oppenheimer, who teamed with writers Madelyn Davis and Bob Carroll, was head writer for the first 153 episodes of the program, which was rated the No. 1 show for four of six seasons.

‘Dear Friend’

“I have lost a dear friend and a true genius of our business,” Ball said. “I owe so much to his love of the business, his creativity and his friendship.”

William Asher, who directed the majority of the “I Love Lucy” episodes, said: “Jess has left a legacy for the world, for which he should be thanked and revered. As for me, he quite simply taught me everything I know about comedy.”

Davis said: “Jess was a master of comedy writing. Without him, there simply wouldn’t have been an ‘I Love Lucy.’ ”

Recalling the first season of the show, director Marc Daniels said: “He and Bob and Madelyn wrote 38 scripts in as many weeks! Amazing.”

Oppenheimer left CBS in 1955 to join NBC as an executive. There, he produced several specials, including “General Motors 50th Anniversary Show” and segments of two popular programs, “The U.S. Steel Hour” and “Chrysler Theater.”

Other projects over the years included “Get Smart,” “The Debbie Reynolds Show,” and retrospective programs: “CBS Salutes Lucy: Her First 25 Years,” “NBC: The First 50 Years” and “NBC: The First 50 Years: A Closer Look.”

He retired 10 years ago after suffering a heart attack.

Held Patents

Oppenheimer was also an inventor who held more than 20 patents. One of his inventions was the “inthelens” prompter, which is similar to the TelePrompTer, and which is in use in Great Britain.

Oppenheimer is survived by his wife of 41 years, Estelle; a daughter, Jo Oppenheimer Davis of Santa Monica; a son, Gregg of Los Angeles; a sister, Janice Wolk of Sarasota, Fla, and two granddaughters, Karen Davis, 16, and Julie Oppenheimer, 2.

A memorial service will be held Jan. 5 at 11 a.m. at the Leo Baeck Temple, 1300 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles.

The family suggests donations to the Foundation for the Junior Blind; Vista del Mar Child Care Service, or the American Heart Assn.