Rating: 
Summary: Actually Better Than Four Stars But...
Review: Not quite five stars.My favorite characters in "I Love Lucy" were -- in order -- Fred, Ethel, and Ricky. I may be in a small minority but I never did like Lucy (whom the book offered a less than flattering description of). I thought she was just silly. This book does an excellent job of detailing the careers of William Frawley and Vivian Vance. For whatever they did prior to "I Love Lucy" they would have been nothing more than one of many hundreds or thousands of minor charactor actors and actresses had they not landed the roles of Fred and Ethel. The book does not try to gloss over the differences of personalities. Instead, the book amplified how the four individuals displayed the professionalism to make the show successful despite their differences. Watching the show one would never have suspected that Desi and Lucy were heading toward divorce or that William Frawley and Vivian Vance actually loathed each other. The main reason I cannot give this book five stars is the lack of pictures. There are a couple of pictures at the beginning of each section but there could have been so many more that would have made it easier for the reader to relate the story to the people. More pictures of Vivian Vance and William Frawley during the pre-Lucy career, on the "I Love Lucy" set, and in the post-Lucy careers could have done much to add to the story.
Rating: 
Summary: an enjoyable read
Review: This book has obviously been well researched and it is a delightful read. I loved the intimacy of the portraits of Bill Frawley and Vivian Vance and real life was quite different than on the I Love Lucy show. You will be pleased that you bought this.
Rating:
Summary: BILL AND VIV SHOWN AS NEVER BEFORE
Review: THIS BOOK IS AN EXCELLENT LOOK AT BILL FRAWLEY AND VIVIAN VANCE WHO PLAYED 2 OF THE MOST BELOVED CHARACTERS IN TV HISTORY. IT PROVIDES A LOOK AT THE HUMAN SIDE OF THIS ACTOR AND ACTRESS WHO PLAYED FRED AND ETHEL. I FOUND THIS BOOK HARD TO PUT DOWN FOR IT COVERED SO MUCH DETAIL AND FACTS ABOUT BILL, VIV, AND THE SHOW. THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING, HONEST, AND FACTUAL ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND CAREER OF THE TWO VERY TALENTED PEOPLE WHO MADE THERE PLACE IN TV HISTORY. I HIGHLY RECOMMED THIS FOR ANYONE WHO WAS A FAN OF I LOVE LUCY, THE LUCY SHOW, OR MY THREE SONS. A MUST READ.
Rating:
Summary: Very Personal. Emotional. Every detail is here.
Review: This is a must-have and a must-buy for any "I Love Lucy" fan or if you simply are just a fan of Vivian Vance or William Frawley. Here is the true story of both stars in their beginnings. How they almost did not and eventually were destined to be "The Mertzes" for nine years. Here you will read Vivian Vance's and William Frawley's individual stories. Also what happened to one another after "I Love Lucy" (1951-1957)/ "The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Comedy Hour" (1957-1960) came to an end. Every movie, every television episode and work Vivian Vance did before she died is here. The same for William Frawley. Also read the story of when Lucille Ball saw Vivian Vance for the last time when Viv was sick. Also read when William Frawley worked with Lucille Ball one last time as a guest on "The Lucy Show" in 1965. Five months later he unexpectedly passed away after having a heart attack near Hollywood & Vine St.
Rating:
Summary: BILL AND VIV SHOWN AS NEVER BEFORE
Review: This is a must-have and a must-buy for any "I Love Lucy" fan or if you simply are just a fan of Vivian Vance or William Frawley. Here is the true story of both stars in their beginnings. How they almost did not and eventually were destined to be "The Mertzes" for nine years. Here you will read Vivian Vance's and William Frawley's individual stories. Also what happened to one another after "I Love Lucy" (1951-1957)/ "The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Comedy Hour" (1957-1960) came to an end. Every movie, every television episode and work Vivian Vance did before she died is here. The same for William Frawley. Also read the story of when Lucille Ball saw Vivian Vance for the last time when Viv was sick. Also read when William Frawley worked with Lucille Ball one last time as a guest on "The Lucy Show" in 1965. Five months later he unexpectedly passed away after having a heart attack near Hollywood & Vine St.
Rating:
Summary: Very Personal. Emotional. Every detail is here.
Review: This is a must-have and a must-buy for any "I Love Lucy" fan or if you simply are just a fan of Vivian Vance or William Frawley. Here is the true story of both stars in their beginnings. How they almost did not and eventually were destined to be "The Mertzes" for nine years. Here you will read Vivian Vance's and William Frawley's individual stories. Also what happened to one another after "I Love Lucy" (1951-1957)/ "The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Comedy Hour" (1957-1960) came to an end. Every movie, every television episode and work Vivian Vance did before she died is here. The same for William Frawley. Also read the story of when Lucille Ball saw Vivian Vance for the last time when Viv was sick. Also read when William Frawley worked with Lucille Ball one last time as a guest on "The Lucy Show" in 1965. Five months later he unexpectedly passed away after having a heart attack near Hollywood & Vine St.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT BOOK
Review: This is a really good book, I must say. It's a contains both a biography on William Frawley and Vivian Vance in one book It's great!
Rating:
Summary: A must have for any fan of " I Love Lucy."!
Review: This is a really good book, I must say. It's a contains both a biography on William Frawley and Vivian Vance in one book It's great!
Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: This is an informative and entertaining double biography. I've always loved Fred and Ethel-- and this book is loaded with information and anecdotes about the actors who played them. I particularly loved all the stories about Frawley. What a character!
Rating:
Summary: Great for fans of the Mertzes
Review: This was actually a good book. Although the life and times of Vivian Vance have been better chronicled in recent texts, this book provides a very interesting reflection on the man behind Fred Mertz, actor William Frawley. Who knew William Frawley received residuals long after the demise of "I Love Lucy"? A must for fans of "Lucy", if for anything else, the life story of William Frawley.
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