#bicycle built for two

[nemfrog]

Two, three and five seaters. La bicyclette. Sa construction et sa forme. 1899.

Internet Archive

[redvioletarts]

I'm so normal about IBM 7094 and Daisy Bell. So normal.

Bell Labs in the early sixties. You know what kind of stuff they were working on back then? The first continuous-light laser. The Telstar spacecraft. The first worldwide TV broadcast, bringing one of President Kennedy's press conferences global in the kind of groundbreaking display of communications technology that eventually paved the way for, y'know, the same kind of global communications technology you're using right now to see this.

And they also had a team of programmers teach this computer to sing. Not the national anthem, not a well-known hymn, not even the alphabet song--they taught it a goofy love song that was already nearly seventy years old at the time. My pet theory is that the name Daisy Bell made a cute pun with Bell Labs and they just went with it.

Maybe they just did it for the PR, but... I doubt it. You work with computers this much, you start to get sentimental about them.

All this work on a computer with the processing power of a calculator so we could meme about Hatsune Miku's grandfather sixty-five years later. ...Worth it.

Of course, with me, y'all know what's coming next. Get t-shirted.

Daisy Bell Lyric T-Shirt

[Image ID #1: A photo mockup showing two smiling women with their arms linked and their heads resting on each other, standing in a sunny room indoors. Both wear jeans and matching T-shirts with the lyrics "Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do / I'm half crazy all for the love of you" in hand lettering, curved to fit whimsically around ten hand-drawn daisies. The shirts are dark brown, with white-and-yellow art and lettering. End ID.]

[Image ID #2: A photo mockup showing another smiling woman standing in a living room. She also wears jeans and a T-shirt with the same design, but the base T-shirt color is olive green.]

I used a computer thousands of times more powerful than IBM 7094 to make this artwork, and another one to upload it and configure it on a handful of different products (T-shirt, throw pillow, sweatshirt, and both a cotton and a polyester tote bag). It's in like four different databases and an integration system--I should know, because I wrote a ton of metadata for them to make sure people could find my stuff. When you buy one, a message goes back through the entire tech stack and sends my print partner your custom order, which they then produce and mail out to you in a matter of DAYS.

(How the fuck did we get here from there?)

Anyway, these are great T-shirts! They're super soft, go all the way up to 3X in sizing, and they're manufactured by Bella + Canvas, which has platinum WRAP certification (a huge labor standards org--you can read about their deal here). And they come in five colors!

Get yours here <3

[catinc]

Hey, does anyone know the exactly date the IBM 7094 sung daisy bell? I'm going to schedule a post for that day, but I need to know which day that is.

[papermoonloveslucy]

TOUR DE LUCY!

Lucy & Cycling

Pedal Power!  When not motorized or on foot power, Lucy biked!  Here’s a look at bikes, trikes, and other likes. 

Ben Mankiewicz’s podcast relates that Lucille Ball, as a young Hollywood hopeful, biked to work. 

Broadway Thru a Keyhole (1933) ~  A bevy of costumed chorines - including an uncredited Lucille Ball, Susan Fleming and Ann Sothern - wheel around a giant nightclub stage to the tune of “When You Were a Girl on a Scooter (And I Was the Boy on the Bike)”. This was Lucille Ball’s second film. It also featured Charles Lane and Walter Winchell. 

Palm Springs Weekend (1942) ~ An RKO short in which newlyweds Lucy and Desi rent a tandem bike to tour Palm Canyon, stopping to take snapshots. 

“The Lost Pilot” (1951) ~ Pepito the Clown (Pepito Perez) was a good friend of Desi Arnaz. In the long-unaired pilot episode for “I Love Lucy” Pepito rides the world’s smallest bicycle, a routine that was part of his stage act.  

“The Audition” (1951) ~ When the unaired pilot’s script was recycled into the regular series, Pepito was replaced by Buffo the Clown (Pat Moran) who injures himself trying to do a handstand on the handlebars of a (full-sized) bicycle. Resting at the Ricardo’s apartment, he tries the stunt again and careens through the kitchen door. His replacement is Lucy as ‘The Professor’, although she doesn’t ride the bike! 

“Lucy’s Show-Biz Swan Song” (1952) ~ When the episode was running short, Desi Arnaz invited Pepito to do some of his act from the unaired pilot, including the world’s smallest bicycle routine.  

The tiny bike (one of two) is six inches wide by ten inches high, manufactured by Anderson, Melbourne, Australia, in 1928. It was at one time entered into Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Pepito was in Australia in 1928 for an extended vaudeville tour, and he must have ordered this bicycle at that time. It is now one of the artifacts in the Lucy-Desi Museum’s collection. A special case was been constructed to exhibit it.

“Lucy Fakes Illness” (1953) ~ To convince Ricky she is going through her second childhood, Lucy rides a tricycle through the living room! 

“The Ricardo’s Change Apartments” (1953) ~ Lucy fills the apartment to the brim with toys and baby items to convince Ricky they need a bigger apartment. Among the explosion of tot props is a tricycle and a bicycle! 

“Bon Voyage” (1956) ~ A bicycle is Lucy’s undoing when boarding the S.S. Constitution for Europe. Saying one last farewell to Little Ricky on the dock, her skirt gets caught in the chain of a messenger bike, delaying her timely boarding. She even tries to board with the bicycle!

“Lucy’s Bicycle Trip” (1956) ~ When leaving Italy for France, Lucy has her heart set on biking across the border, but meets some resistance from Ricky and the Mertzes. 

LUCY: “You wouldn’t climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower. You wouldn’t ride the ski lift in Switzerland. You won’t swim in the Mediterranean and now you don’t want to bicycle along the Italian Riviera.”

The bicycles used in the episode were provided by Arnold Schwinn and Company in return for a screen credit.

“The I Love Lucy Christmas Show” (1956) ~ Little Ricky gets a new bike for Christmas! 

“Lucy is a Kangaroo for a Day” (1962) ~ To buy her son a new bicycle for his birthday, Lucy takes a job at a law office - until things ‘unravel’.  Her knit dress becomes entangled in the spokes of the bicycle and unravels, causing her to have to wear a kangaroo costume to complete the job. 

A carefree Jerry (Jimmy Garrett) rides his new bicycle through the living room! 

A receipt from a Hollywood bicycle shop for the purchase of a bicycle basket and bike rack. Dated December 22, 1962, it was signed by Lucy. It is not known if the items turned up on screen or in what show / episode. 

“Together for Christmas” (1962) ~ Combining their family holiday traditions, Lucy holds her favorite ornament, a Santa on a three-wheeled bike. Viv’s expression betrays her feelings about the ornament. 

“Bob Hope’s Leading Ladies” (1966) ~ In the special, Lucy makes her grand entrance riding a large tricycle with her chauffeur (Jerry Colonna) on the back. 

“Lucy in London” (1966) ~ Lucy and singer / songwriter Anthony Newley tour London town on a tandem bicycle. 

Yours, Mine and Ours (1968) ~ In the film, Helen (Lucille Ball) and Frank (Henry Fonda) are the parents of 19 kids!  On Christmas morning, more than a couple of them get bicycles. 

“Lucy Helps Craig Get a Drivers License” (1969) ~ Lucy tags along on Craig’s road test. Needless to say the back seat driver frustrates and angers the instructor (Jack Gilford). When he learns that her license has expired, he says that after he's through with her she'll be lucky to drive a tricycle in Griffith Park!

“Lucy and Wally Cox” (1970) ~ Wally and Lucy are security guards at a toy warehouse that is robbed at gunpoint. There is a tricycle on the shelf behind the robbers (Gil Perkins and X Brands).  

“Lucy and Lawrence Welk” (1970) ~ Lucy sends her visiting friend Viv on the  Universal Studios tour, where she is excited to have seen Doris Day’s bicycle!  All this is reported by Viv and neither Day nor her bicycle appear on screen. In real life, Doris Day was an avid bike rider. She rode to the studio on many occasions and pedaled around Beverly Hills until the police finally told her they couldn’t guarantee her safety.  

Mame (1974) ~ Auntie Mame (Lucy) and her nephew Patrick (Kirby Furlong) bike through central park in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical.  

EXERCISE BIKES

“The Charm School” (1954) ~ At Phoebe Emerson’s salon, Lucy and Ethel work out on stationary bikes. If you don’t remember this moment, it is because it was cut before broadcast. The press photos, however, survive. 

“Lucy and the Countess Lose Weight” (1965) ~ At a health farm managed by Mr. Mooney, Lucy and Rosie (Ann Sothern) pedal away the pounds! 

“Happy Anniversary and Goodbye” (1974) ~ Norma and Fay (Nanette Fabray) keep fit for their husbands in Ball’s first post-series TV special. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a masseur. 

SONG CYCLE

“Lucy and the Generation Gap” (1969) ~ Includes the song “Daisy Bell” aka “Bicycle Built for Two” written in 1892 by British songwriter Harry Dacre.  

The song is heard again in “Lucy’s Lucky Day” (1971). 

You’ll look sweet Upon the seat Of a bicycle built for two!

CALL ME MR. BIKE

“Tennessee Ernie Hangs On” (1954) ~ featured Richard Reeves as Ernie’s old pal Lester Bike, host of “Milliken’s Chicken Mash Hour”.  “Lucy Saves Milton Berle” (1964) ~ featured Milton Frome as Jerry Bike, Berle’s agent. The agent’s name is never spoken aloud, but is listed in the end credits. 

A Lucille Ball impersonator takes a carefree trike ride at Disney Studios. [photo by Lori Mundy].  

[artis-lined]

Why is everyone so obsessed w/ tryna make daisy bell a creepy song?? Like imo, it's literally such a cute song abt how this one guy wants to marry this lady and is poor. Everyone stfu abt the computer cover-- the computer was trying its best 😭 and imo, yall tryna make everything disturbing. Ykw disturbing? Singing slightly off key, maybe a nursery rhyme and giggling-- idfk-- just not daisy bell 💀.

It's like-- you guys know that just bc the music is simple, it doesn't mean it's eerie.. right? Lyrics should always match the message you're trying to convey (and no, I don't mean literally, symbolism is often a great way to be less in ur face abt it).

And no, Nebbed did not write Daisy bell-- they literally link the og song in the description.

(This whole post was /lh)

Edit: *sigh* I'm gonna make ocs based off of this... aren't I..?

[jerimee]

the fastest way to get a divorce

[barleywheaton]

Daisy, Daisy, look what you made me do Called me crazy, had to get rid of you So in hidden labs I designed With your essence that I refined And she'll look sweet, as my work's complete On a bicycle built for Two

[selfhelpradio]

portland trophy

[thedailymobile]

“Daisy, Daisy”

© EricBrazier.com

[therealnostalgialover808]

This is the only thing I want to hear Lu sing in the sequel.

SUPER MARIO BROS 2 MOVIE: Recap + Theories (2024)

[dapotatoauthor]

kintio pet with my oc daisy bell

[howlingday]

Penny: Oh, I know this song! My grandfather and I used to sing it all the time.

Weiss: Wait, your grandfather? I thought Doctor Polendina was your father.

Penny: He is, but the program my father used inspired him to create me. It is why he and I affectionately referred to him as "grandfather".

Weiss: Oh. Well, would you like to sing it?

Penny: That would be SEN-SATIONAL~!

Daisy, daisy, give me your answer, do~ I'm half-crazy all for the love of you~ It won't be a stylish marriage~ You can't afford a carriage~ But you'll look sweet upon the seat~ Of a bicycle built for two~

[ask-cloverfield]

Poorly optimized Robot girl her fans constantly on and whirring and whirring and borderli9jne steaminga nd heat distorition iot

[martianbugsbunny]

They literally rode a bicycle built for two how can I not ship them

[on-a-bicycle-built-for-two]

daisy, daisy, give me your answer do

i'm h̷a̵l̴f̵ C̶̛͓͖̗͓̲̙̬̪̹͔̮̓̔̈́́̽̒͂̊̀́R̷̨̰͚͖͍̞̰̤͔͈̄̀͐̏̉͘̚͠͝a̴̤̘͍̒̈́̆͆̋͝Z̸̢̬͈̖͒̄̅̄́̅̇͝Y̷̡͕͚͎̜̱̯̮̤̙̳̰̅́͗̀ all for the love of yoU

it won't be a sty-lish marriage,

i caN't afford a carriage

but you look sweet,

upon a seat,

on a bicycle built for two,

on a bicycle built for two.

[sparklerkei]

Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do I'm half crazy all for the love of you It won't be a stylish marriage I can't afford a carriage But you'll look sweet upon the seat Of a bicycle built for two

Daisy Bell is one of my Roman Empires tbh. It's relevance in pop culture and infosec goes so deep...

It all started with the fact that it was the first song sung by a computer.

The famous scene from 2001: A Space Odyssey...

So many famous renditions...

The above version is from Mark Ryden's "The Gay Nineties Old Tyme Music" (which is an album full of ONLY renditions of Daisy Bell and homage to the IBM 7094) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi2ZEVjcCzo&list=PLX6hl3ZfYanfRbJKsgaQm9qA7q1tpiGZU (Full album featuring people such as Katy Perry & Weird Al). The fact that this album exists fills me with inexplicable joy.

Futurama season 4 episode 3, (overall episode 57), Bender sings Daisy Bell, which is especially ironic with him being a robot.

I was reading Fairy Tale by Stephen King, and the Bicycle Built for Two was referenced in chapter 10-6, too. The delight I get over finding these morsels!

The entirety of the Brobeck's album "Violent Things," but in this case especially "Le Velo Pour Deux" (Love at First Sight is one of the songs I'll listen to on repeat for hours, and the themes floating through the entire album are lovely)

For me, it started with Dengeki Daisy. I had never heard Daisy Bell. Dengeki Daisy was a manga that I read before it was completed, and at the time I was first starting to get into the infosec / hacker world. The song being the reason for the pen name "Daisy," and the lyrics showing up in the manga, sent me on a wild goose chase of discovery and wonder. I loved going deeper into the roots of the reference and finding so many more delightful references to Daisy Bell.

Plus, the song is old enough that while individual versions of it may be copyright, the original song is basically an old time classic that is public domain.

And to be fair, the original AT&T Bell Labs is another one of my Roman Empires, so the fact that the IBM 7094 which sung it originally was an experiment ran in Bell Labs fills me with wonder and excitement.

Anyway I just wanted to collect more Daisy Bell references, so please add yours here if you'd like :)