Was the 8-foot-long Loaf of Bread in THIS “I Love Lucy” Episode Real?

Unlike The Andy Griffith Show, I Love Lucy didn’t struggle to find its footing in the first season. For proof, look no further than Season 1’s “Pioneer Women” episode. The boys bet the girls they can survive without modern conveniences longer than they can. Determined to prove they’re every bit as hard-working as their grandmothers, the girls agree. What ensues is a half-hour of non-stop laughter and vintage Lucille Ball.

While the episode is full of classic moments, none are quite so iconic as the one where Lucy fights for her life against an eight-foot-long loaf of bread. Okay, so maybe she doesn’t fight for her life, but she’s certainly scared for her life in the scene.

In typical Lucy fashion, she adds a little too much yeast to the bread batter. And by a little, we mean a lot. When she goes to check on the baking status, the loaf immediately explodes from the oven like an over-bloated flour monster, pinning Lucy to the cabinet. Panicked, Ethel grabs a saw and begins cutting the loaf in half.

What some viewers might wonder is whether or not the monstrous loaf was real.

The answer to that question is simple.

A resounding yes!

According to The Ultimate I Love Lucy Wiki, a site for super fans of the old sitcom: “Originally, the script said to use a piece of fake bread, but Lucy insisted on it being real to make the humor more authentic and believable. So, the real monster loaf was baked, and at the end of the show, all of the audience and cast/crew members were invited to eat the bread.” The Union Made Bakery in Los Angeles made the huge loaf. We here at Senior Resource also think that their contribution made the entire episode!

To revisit that iconic moment, check out the video below!