IGT to Develop New 'I Love Lucy' Gaming Machine

RENO, Nevada – (Press Release) -- Feb. 26, 2001 -- IGT today announced a contract with Desilu, too, LLC and CBS Entertainment, licensed by Unforgettable Licensing, that will allow IGT to create a brand of gaming machines based on the classic television show, ``I Love Lucy.''

The agreement grants IGT use of the names, likenesses, signatures and voices of Lucille Ball as Lucy Ricardo, Desi Arnaz, Sr. as Ricky Ricardo, and William Frawley and Vivian Vance as the Ricardos' landlords, Fred and Ethel Mertz. The licensing rights also include use of the distinctive heart-shaped logo from the ``I Love Lucy'' series and selected video and audio clips from the show, as approved by the licensors.

``I'm so pleased to be associated with this wonderful property, both as a game designer and as a tremendous fan of Lucy and Desi,'' said Joe Kaminkow, IGT's vice president of engineering and design.

``Lucille Ball is probably the best-known TV comedienne in history, and the show's characters are among the most memorable ever created. We'll introduce our 'I Love Lucy' machine at the Global Gaming Expo(TM) in Las Vegas next October.''

The ``I Love Lucy'' show debuted in 1951 and was on the air until 1957. The main characters, Ricky and Lucy Ricardo, were played by real-life husband-and-wife Desi Arnaz, Sr. and Lucille Ball, who received an Emmy award for Best Comedienne in 1952.

The show received a total of five Emmys during its seven seasons. In only its second season, the show attracted 45 million viewers. At the time of Lucille Ball's passing in 1989, ``I Love Lucy'' was appearing in syndication in more than 80 countries and has not been off the air in 50 years