CBS commemorated its 50th anniversary in March of 1978 with a week long celebration entitled CBS: On The Air, running for a total of nine and a half hours of shows from Sunday March 26th to Saturday April 1st. The specials featured nearly all of CBS’s stars from past and present performing to reflect on their history. Lucy and Co. owned Monday nights so it was only fitting she was part of Monday’s segment – “Have a Laugh on Us.”
Lucille Ball alongside Bea Arthur, at the time star of Maude, did a musical dance number which began as a vaudeville, pantomime act and ended with an elegant, showstopping chorus line and a comedic pie in the face. For the dramatic finish Lucy this two-piece pink ensemble.
The triple-layered gown is made of silk chiffon and features a high empire waist, large angel sleeves and an attached floor-length neck scarf. The bodice of the gown also has a built-in corset complete with boning and padded bust. A sleeveless, floor-length over coat that is made of a thick twill-like material lined in silk fuchsia, features a train and ornate beading with rhinestones all along the front hem. The whole outfit easily weighs close to, if not over 20 pounds but the gosh did this dress move and flow while she was dancing. That same year Lucille wore only the gown to a TV special honoring Milton Berle called A Tribute to Mr. Television.