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In furtherance of my comment yesterday about pre-programming psyops being run on tv shows / movies from the 50s-90s, I just stumbled on something notable: Lucille Ball used as a vector to introduce Valley of the Dolls to America.
"Valley of the Dolls" was considered controversial upon its release in 1966 due to its explicit and frank portrayal of various themes, including:
Sexuality: The book featured open and honest depictions of sex, including extramarital affairs, promiscuity, and homosexuality, which were considered taboo at the time.
Drug use: The novel explored the use of pills, particularly amphetamines and barbiturates, which were commonly referred to as "dolls" in the 1960s. This was a sensitive topic, as drug abuse was becoming a growing concern in American society.
"Women's liberation": The book's portrayal of independent, sexually liberated women who prioritized their careers over traditional domestic roles was seen as provocative and challenging to traditional gender norms.
Abortion: The novel touched on the topic of abortion, which was still illegal in many states at the time, and sparked heated debates about reproductive rights.
Hollywood's dark side: The book offered a behind-the-scenes look at the glamourous but often seedy world of Hollywood, exposing the darker aspects of the entertainment industry, including the objectification of women and the exploitation of young talent.
These themes, combined with Susann's candid and unapologetic writing style, contributed to the book's notoriety and the controversy surrounding its publication.
wait what? how does she buy the rights in 1968 and make the movie in 1967?
Lucille Ball was not directly involved with the 1967 film "Valley of the Dolls." However, her production company, Desilu Productions, did have a financial stake in the film. The company provided financing for the movie, which was based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Jacqueline Susann. Despite her company's involvement, Lucille Ball did not have a creative role in the film, and her focus remained on her own television shows, such as "The Lucy Show" and "Star Trek," which were also produced by Desilu Productions.
On the TV show "Here's Lucy" (1968-1974), starring Lucille Ball and her real-life children Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr., there was an episode titled "Lucy and the Valley of the Dolls" (Season 2, Episode 14, aired on February 8, 1970). In this episode, Lucy Carter (played by Lucille Ball) gets a job as a secretary for a writer who is working on a novel called "Valley of the Dolls." Lucy's antics cause chaos, and she ends up helping the writer finish the book. The episode is a comedic take on the popular novel and film, with Lucy's signature humor and physical comedy.
I went and found the episode and it's a clear-cut promo for the book / author, though the names are altered a bit. An injection into the minds of Lucy fans disguised as an innocent topic for the episode's plot. Watch it for yourself, the show is on Tubi.