Stanford University. Photo: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stanford_Oval_May_2011_panorama.jpg)
Career
Gallery of Jess Oppenheimer
United States Coast Guard Reserve. Photo: United States Coast Guard (photographer not stated), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:United_States_Coast_Guard_Reserve_Desktop_Wallpaper_-_Boat_and_helicopter.jpg)
Stanford University. Photo: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stanford_Oval_May_2011_panorama.jpg)
United States Coast Guard Reserve. Photo: United States Coast Guard (photographer not stated), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:United_States_Coast_Guard_Reserve_Desktop_Wallpaper_-_Boat_and_helicopter.jpg)
Jess Oppenheimer was an American radio and television writer, producer, and director best known as the creator, producer, and head writer of I Love Lucy. His career extended from radio comedy in the 1930s through television production, program development, invention, and memoir writing.
Background
Jess Oppenheimer was born on November 11, 1913, in San Francisco, California, to James and Stella C. Jessurun Oppenheimer. He grew up in the San Francisco area and initially followed his father into the fur business before turning to broadcasting in 1936.
As a child, Oppenheimer participated in a Stanford University study of gifted children directed by psychologist Lewis Terman. During his university years he became interested in radio production and writing, an interest that redirected his career from commerce to entertainment.
Education
Oppenheimer attended Stanford University from 1931 to 1933. Stanford, founded in 1885 near Palo Alto, was already one of the leading research universities of the American West and had developed a notable tradition of scientific and professional education.
His studies were interrupted before he completed a degree. While at Stanford, he began spending time at San Francisco radio station KFRC, where he developed the writing and performance experience that led to his professional broadcasting career.
Oppenheimer entered radio in 1936 as a writer for the Fred Astaire Packard Program and continued as head writer of the Screen Guild Program and a writer for the Rudy Vallee Sealtest Program. These programs belonged to the highly developed American network-radio system of the late 1930s and early 1940s, when sponsored variety and dramatic programs were central forms of mass entertainment.
From 1942 to 1947, he wrote, directed, and produced the Baby Snooks program associated with Fanny Brice. During the Second World War he served in the United States Coast Guard Reserve from 1941 to 1945, including public-relations work. The wartime Reserve had become a military reserve component under the 1941 Auxiliary and Reserve Act.
In 1948, Oppenheimer became producer and head writer of My Favorite Husband, the CBS radio comedy starring Lucille Ball. The program supplied the creative and character foundation for I Love Lucy, which premiered on CBS in October 1951. Oppenheimer created the television series, produced it, wrote its pilot and most of its early episodes, and served as head writer through five of its six seasons. The program's filmed episodes, three-camera production, and live studio-audience format became important elements in the later development of the situation-comedy form.
Oppenheimer left I Love Lucy in 1956 for an executive position in NBC's program department. He produced major television specials, including the General Motors 50th Anniversary Show in 1957 and the 1959 Emmy Awards, while continuing to develop entertainment programs. His later television work included creating and producing Angel and Glynis, producing Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, and writing, producing, or directing work connected with Get Smart and The Debbie Reynolds Show.
Beyond broadcasting, Oppenheimer was an inventor who received patents for prompting and television-camera equipment. His in-the-lens prompting apparatus placed script material in the performer's line of sight while allowing the camera to record direct eye contact. He remained active in television and production until the 1980s and died in Los Angeles on December 27, 1988.
Oppenheimer created, produced, and served as head writer of I Love Lucy, one of the most influential American television situation comedies of the twentieth century.
He developed an in-the-lens prompting apparatus and received United States patents for television and camera-prompting equipment.
He wrote the memoir Laughs, Luck . . . and Lucy, which was completed for publication by his son Gregg after his death and became a first-person account of the creation of I Love Lucy and the transition from network radio to television.
(Television sitcom created and executive-produced by Oppen...)
1960
Membership
Oppenheimer belonged to the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Writers Guild of America, the Directors Guild of America, and the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. He also served on the board of governors of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, on the board of City of Hope, and on the board of directors of Vista Del Mar Child Care Service.
His professional memberships connected him with organizations that supported television production, screenwriting, directing, engineering, and child-care or medical philanthropy during the expansion of American broadcasting.
Served on the board of governors from 1966 to 1988.
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
,
United States
Writers Guild of America
,
United States
Directors Guild of America
,
United States
Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers
,
United States
Served on the board.
City of Hope
,
United States
Served on the board of directors.
Vista Del Mar Child Care Service
,
United States
Personality
Lucille Ball described Oppenheimer as the creative intelligence behind I Love Lucy, while director William Asher characterized him as the person who coordinated the show's meetings and production. Contemporary accounts also describe his continuing interest in invention and his humor in discussing his professional life.
Quotes from others about the person
Lucille Ball called Oppenheimer "the brains" behind I Love Lucy and, after his death, described him as a true genius whose creativity and friendship had meant a great deal to her.
Interests
Invention and television technology
Sport & Clubs
Golf
Connections
Oppenheimer married Estelle Weiss on August 5, 1947. They had two children, Joanne Oppenheimer and Gregg Oppenheimer. Gregg later completed and prepared for publication his father's memoir about the creation of I Love Lucy.
Father:
James Oppenheimer
Mother:
Stella C. Jessurun Oppenheimer
Son:
Gregg Oppenheimer
Completed and prepared his father's memoir for publication.
Daughter:
Joanne Oppenheimer
Wife:
Estelle Weiss
Married Oppenheimer on August 5, 1947.
References
Jess Oppenheimer | Television Academy
Biographical account of Oppenheimer's career as a producer, director, and writer, including his work on I Love Lucy and his Emmy recognition.
Laughs, Luck . . . and Lucy | WorldCat
Bibliographic record for Oppenheimer's memoir, written with Gregg Oppenheimer and published by Syracuse University Press.
