Old Time Radio: I Love Lucy
"Breaking the Lease"
Download page: http://www.radiolovers.com/pages/ilovelucy.htm
Download a local copy of the MP3 file here
Information on the TV show here: http://www.tvland.com/shows/lucy/

Vocabulary:
enjoyable
Call for Philip Morris
cigarette irritation
pleasure
to smoke for pleasure
the plain and simple truth
superiority
transcription
Lucille Ball
Desi Arnaz
Lucy and Ricky Ricardo
Fred and Ethel Mertz
Cuba
about your customs (no stop at stop)
romantic
reputation
Latin lover
Constitution
to trick
witty
partly insane
take...for instance
Tropicana
nightclub
fast asleep
landlord (no stop)
jam session
being something of a singer myself
commercials
to play the piano
"Sweet Sue"
tenants
to harmonize
that's what the world needs more of
not have to change a thing
wonderful condition
landlady
sickening conversation
sentiment
to dedicate the next number to
We gotta get outta here
to have such a good time
to be fated to go through life together
the Mertz apartment
What's on your mind?
What's going on up there?
How do you expect...?
lousy
to get the bends
to be grumpy
to be over it in the morning
to ignore
fairly simple
temperature
part polar bear
lots of fresh air
for the heat to be turned as high as it can go
cozy
to put the window up/down
Oh, no you don't!
A little fresh air isn't going to hurt you
hothouse plant
to cut out
racket
sledgehammer
Listen, my foot!
Now, let's have it quiet up there!

Nerts (= nuts, nonsense) to the Mertz!
shower
dripping
as far as I'm concerned...
I can't stand it any more!
antique plumbing
the pipe broke
to pound on
decent plumbing
fire trap
to suit one fine
crummy
I wouldn't...if you paid me.
whoever told you...?
I hate to bother you, but...
diamond rings
Cracker Jacks (caramel popcorn in a box with a small prize inside)
I'll have you know that...
to inform
to be deprived of your charming company
very shortly
to get away from
disagreeable
check
five months' rent
to be delighted
to pay off a lease
to beg on bended knee
fantastically
one-sided
unfair
binding
contract
to grant the privilege of
broken-down hovel
to redecorate
to fumigate
mailbox
Oh, shut up!
so darn mad
to hold s.o. to a lease
to be stuck somewhere
to break a lease
to be on one's mind
to become
to force oneself
to kick s.o. out
think nastier
simple proof
foremost
medical journals
manufacture
to be better off Ving
throat
this one fact remains:
to star
to spend the whole morning
to annoy
to leave s.o. in charge of
operation
I couldn't have left it in more capable hands
rehearsal
good clean dirty work
I've got just the kit
directly beneath
to stamp around
football shoes
generally
to make as much noise as she could
a riveter's hammer
schedule
Ajax Salvage Company
old glass
I understand...
am I glad...
to be on s.o.'s side
till late
16-piece band
to blow the roof off the joint
to look like rain
number
to have a lot of courage
haven't heard a peep out of them
swell
to dedicate
the next number
a big sign
jam session
in person
to sell tickets
to give s.o. a piece of one's mind
cold outside
to sell the last tickets
old Cuban folkdance
you win
to pack
dish
barrel
joint
keys
taken at
Atlantic City
to have a lot of fun
scissors
to borrow
tools
to buy together
amazing
stinkers
to show one's true colors
sneaky
to manage to get hold of
I trust you! (cries)
Don't you, Lucy? (no stop)
Well, what do you know...?
I just happened to have a new lease all made out.

Listening comprehension questions:
1. Write a very short summary of the storyline of this program.
2. Explain why the Ricardos and the Mertzes say very different things about each other on the same day. Which is the truth?
3. What errors do you notice in Ricky Ricardo's Cuban Spanish-influenced pronunciation of English? (Some examples here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld35JY4RKKE)
4. Describe what you observe about the relationship between the Lucy and Ricky, based on this episode.
5. Describe what you observe about the relationship between the Ricardos and the Mertzes, based on this episode.
6. What are some things you think would be different about the "I Love Lucy" show if it were set in the current decade instead of the 1950s?
7. What strikes you as strange about the cigarette commercials?
8. "I Love Lucy" was an immensely popular TV situation comedy ('sitcom') series in the 1950s/60s. What elements of the show do you think account for its popularity?


home        top