Susan is the last of 8 children, has raised 2 children, and has spent 26 years teaching high school kids. She grew up with a strong mother.

Learn more about Lucille Ball and how she broke ground for women in the business world. Image by 272447 from Pixabay

Before Oprah or Barbara Walters, there was Lucille Ball, who paved the way for women in not only show business but also the business world. She was a tough cookie who exhibited control over her environment with grace and style. She knew men of the business world were watching her, and she had to succeed. Partner and husband Desi Arnaz was co-owners with her in Desilu Productions, but Ball ran the show.

Ball's Early Life

Ball was born in 1911 in Jamestown, NY. She came from poor, humble beginnings. When she was 15, she convinced her mother to allow her to go to the New York Drama School. Today, we would not suspect that she was shy and quiet with all the zany antics she performed on radio and film. The administrator of the school, not seeing past the shy girl, wrote to Ball's mother telling her not to waste her money and the school’s time with this shy, awkward young lady. Ball obviously overcame her shyness and went on to become an actress, model, dancer, and eventually the first woman to own and run her own film studio.

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The First Couple of Show Business

Her climb to the top was full of B movies and physical comedy. She even tried out for the role of Scarlet O’Hara in Gone With the Wind. In the '40s, she met young Cuban bandleader Desi Arnaz, and eventually their romance took off and they married. Desi supported Lucy in her career rather than holding her back.

The Beginnings of I Love Lucy and Desilu

Lucy landed the main role in the radio show My Favorite Husband. CBS liked the show so much they wanted Lucy to take it to television. Lucy insisted that Desi play her husband for the television version. CBS said no to Desi playing her husband in the new show. So, rather than go on without Desi, she and Desi took the show to vaudeville with a version of the radio show, and they renamed it I Love Lucy. Seeing the success of the vaudeville road show, CBS relented and brought Lucy and Desi onboard for the television version of I Love Lucy that we know and love today.

Desi Arnaz, constantly one to try new things, wanted to tape live performances, which was risky and expensive during the '50s. Again, CBS said no to them. Desi and Lucy, once again, did not take "no" for an answer. They negotiated to get their way with the show and even agreed to less money if they could film the show, retain all rights to the show, and begin their own productions company, Desilu—and so it began.

The Show Is a Hit

The couple's physical comedy and Lucy's role as a housewife trying to break into show business, which usually caused hot-tempered Desi's blood pressure to skyrocket, created skyrocketing ratings—I Love Lucy was a hit. Its success brought them fame and fortune beyond everyone's wildest dreams. The show made Desi and Lucy the first couple of television. Households around the nation tuned in to watch Lucy get herself into one fix after another, trying to break out of her housewife shell.

Working at the Chocolate Factory

Vitametavegamin Commercial

Breaking Ground for Women

I Love Lucy with Lucy’s genius broke ground for women in television and in the homes. Even though it was a 1950s comedy, there were subtle issues addressed about marriage and possible jealousies the wife of a nightclub bandleader might experience with other women. Lucy's comical yet serious women's rights issue, the portrayal of women working outside the home, was a main theme running throughout the years of the show. Also, Lucy was the first woman to ever appear on television pregnant.

On the show, Desi, unlike his real-life role as supportive husband for the business, was the husband who wanted his wife to stay home and never enter his show, but Lucy was always up to something trying to get out of the home. He always caught her and she was always repentant—for the time—and he always forgave her—for the time—at least until the next show. They provided one gut-busting laugh after another each week with this "run amok" housewife theme.

Portrayals of Women Working Outside the Home

Who can forget Lucy and Ethel working at the chocolate factory? Lucy and Ethel are supposed to be wrapping chocolates and are told they will be fired if even one chocolate gets passed them. Of course, they try to keep up and end up hiding the chocolates at first in their pockets. The supervisor sees what a “wonderful” job they are doing and shouts for the conveyor belt to be sped up so they can wrap more chocolates. They start stuffing pockets and mouths and are over taken by the chocolate. A hilarious scene, but how true would it have been for a woman at the time to work harder to keep her job?

Another noteworthy time that Lucy tries to work outside the home is when she gets the job as the Vitametavegamin Commercial Girl. The concoction tasted as "good" as is sounded. Lucy’s physical comedy and facial expressions steal the scene. With most “health products” at the time, it was laced with an alcohol base. As the commercial went on, Lucy became hilariously more inebriated. Again, she is in a struggle to hang onto a job.

The Show Mirrored the Struggles Women Faced in the '50s

These classic works of young women wanting to make it in a male dominated world were being brought to the forefront of America’s living rooms. Although these are extreme scenes filled with humor, the underlying message is the desperation women felt in order to keep a good job in the '50s. Many women of this generation had worked outside the home during WWII when it was necessary for workers of either gender to step in. When the men came back from the war, the women were sent back to the home.

Lucy’s constant fight and frustration to work and be in the limelight mirrored many women’s thoughts. Lucy had the spunk and smarts to show it on screen and was living her dream in her real life. What seemed subtle in the story lines of each show were just fanning the flames for the woman's movement. Lucy was a success and was, in her way, passing it on to America's female audience.

"We're Having a Baby, My Baby and Me"

Lucy's Pregnancy on the Show

Lucille Ball did not stop breaking ground with her antics to work outside the home; she was the first woman to appear on television pregnant. The episodes with a very pregnant Lucy carrying real life son, Desi, Jr., known as Little Ricky on the show, gained some of television’s highest ratings. Lucy took a great risk for women of this time period by showing her pregnancy on television. She broke the 1950s stereotyped housewife and made television history by appearing on the show in all her pregnant glory.

Pregnancy was not a subject openly discussed back then because it implied sexual relations, which was taboo on radio, on television, and in many tradition-bound homes across the nation. Women of America were ready for these subjects to be brought to the forefront. Already well into her pregnancy, I Love Lucy aired the show of Lucy telling Desi she was pregnant. He received an anonymous request from a woman to sing “We’re Having a Baby, My Baby and Me.” It is one of the most beautiful scenes in television history.

When Lucy acted out going into labor on the show, ratings were the highest ever for that one episode. Everyone wanted to see Little Ricky brought into the world. Again, television history was made with the birth of a baby. Lucy dared to be real.

After having Desi, Jr., Lucy was ready to share their son with the world and went back to work on the show. Another piece of show business trivia is that the first copy of TV Guide premiered with Lucille Ball and Desi, Jr., on the front cover. Hmmm . . . a woman and a baby on a television magazine cover? Television history in the making.

The End of a Marriage but the Beginning of a New Age for Women

Lucy and Desi worked together on Desilu Productions during the 50’s. During their amicable divorce in the 60's, Desi sold his shares of Desilu to Lucy, making Lucille Ball the first woman to ever own and run a film production company. She was the one at the reigns and was beginning her new show, The Lucy Show. With Lucille Ball at the helm, Desilu went on to produce more big television shows such as The Dick Van Dyke Show, Star Trek, and The Untouchables. Desi continued to give her moral support even though their famous marriage had ended.

Lucille Ball Opened Many Doors for Women

Lucille Ball opened doors for women on television, in the board room, on the factory assembly line, in the office, and at home. Creating a character who diligently tried to work outside the home while juggling being housewife and mother was a new concept for the majority of wives and mothers in the 50’s. Being a woman who owned a film production company in the 60’s was unknown for women of the time. She is and will continue to be an American icon who shared her successes with women around the world then and now.

"I Love Lucy" Is Still Popular Today

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

© 2012 Susan Holland

Brenda Du Faur on June 02, 2019:

The author says Lucy wanted to share her son Desi Jr with the world and so went back to work and that Desi Jr was known as Little Ricky on the show.

This is incorrect all way around. Desi Jr was never on the show. He never appeared on I Love Lucy at all.

Lucille and Desi felt strongly about not having their son Desi Jr (or their real life daughter Lucie) in show biz and did not want them on their show.

Twin baby actors played Lucy and Desi's show son on the I Love Lucy show depicting their show son as a baby and then later another actor (Thibodeaux) played Little Ricky as a little boy on I Love Lucy playing their son on the show.

In one of Lucy's much later series, when Desi Jr was a teenager he played Lucy's son on the show alongside his sister Lucie who played Lucy's daughter on the show. (Lucie as a teenager had made a few appearances on the post Desi Lucy series as just an "extra" basically but with one or two lines before becoming Lucy's daughter and full character on the show).

Also the author is innaccurate when she states that Lucy "ran the show" at Desilu Productions at the time of I Love Lucy.

It was the opposite. Desi Arnaz was the one who ran Desilu at the time of I Love Lucy. It was very important to both Desi and Lucy that Desi provide a situation whereby Lucy did not have to be bothered with the business side of Desilu and could totally concentrate on her performances in I Love Lucy as the character of Lucy Ricardo.

It was Desi who did the phenomenal feat of completely running Desilu Productions at the same time of playing Ricky Ricardo and at the same time enduring the arduous filming schedule of I Love Lucy.

All of the I Love Lucy shows were live and filmed before a live studio audience.

It was Desi that started live filming that eventually began being used for later situation comedies. It had never been done before. Desi set the precedent.

The author states that Desi did it because he liked to try new things.

Not exactly. Yes Desi was a unique and forward thinking production head not afraid of creating new ways of doing things and yes he created live filming of the situation comedy.

But there was a specific reason behind it, not just a love of trying new things.

Desi knew that Lucy was at her best as a performer before a live audience so necessity is the mother of invention.

So that is why Desi went to his terrific, long experienced camera head and asked him to find a way to film I Love Lucy live. And the great camerman found a way.

Succeeding shows in the industry used this live filming model. Desi had set the precedent.

Arnaz was an amazing executive wearing so many hats nearly simultaneously. He would rush to the I Love Lucy set to film right after having run around the lot trying to troubleshoot one problem after the next.

Desi's focus had to be on many many things other than just playing Ricky Ricardo.

It was only in later years basically when Desi sold his shares of Desilu to Lucy did Lucy have to be in the business side of Desilu and run the production company.

But Lucy was never happy in that role and often asked Desi for his feedback on her shows and Desilu Productions long after their divorce.

Lucy was most happy as a performer and never in her element as a business executive.

Also, Lucy was not the first woman head of her own production company.

Marilyn Monroe was. Monroe, along with business partner Milton Greene were head of Marilyn Monroe's production company. Monroe was way ahead of her time.

Unfortunately Monroe's husband Arthur Miller was instrumental in Monroe's productuon company being disbanded after a couple of years.

P.s. "O'Hare" was an unfortunate typo for the great character of Scarlett O'Hara.

CherylBlakely from Garland tx on May 31, 2019:

I watch it everyday and when it went of the air imiss the show i wish it was still on

Jason on May 31, 2019:

I LOVE LUCY IS THE GREATEST SHOW OF ALL TIME.

LUCY WAS THEN, IS NOW AND WILL ALWAYS BE THE GREATEST COMEDIAN OF ALL TIME.

SHE IS THE ICON OF ICONS IN THE FILM, TV AND RADIO.

aidan on March 18, 2019:

ive never watched this show.

not telling you don't hack on January 18, 2018:

i love i love lucy best show in the world

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on March 13, 2013:

Thanks, KatNance! I would say we are in agreement on this one. LOL We do love our Lucy!

Thanks for dropping by! :-)

KatNance on March 12, 2013:

OMG I love I love lucy,,shes ALWAYS in trouble with Ricky..and always getting ethel in trouble. I can watch her over and over again,.Thanks for the HUB I really enjoyed it..

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 22, 2013:

Hi FullOfLove! Lucille Ball was a genius. She could make us laugh until we cried.

Thanks for dropping by and the votes!

FullOfLoveSites from United States on February 22, 2013:

I remember the candy conveyor belt, episode, how I laughed so hard at that! Classic Lucy act. Voted up and awesome, interesting. :D

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on December 22, 2012:

HI Cathy! It is really hard to find the genius of Lucy in today's comedy... As a matter of fact, it no longer exists. I can watch her over and over again, too. Vitameataveamin is so funny and clever!!

Thanks so much for dropping by, voting, and sharing! :-)

Ms. Immortal from NJ on December 20, 2012:

You and I share of love of Lucy as many still do, I am sure. I can watch her shows over and over and laugh every time.

I have her vitameatavegamin video on one of my hubs too!

voted up and shared.

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on July 30, 2012:

Oh yes, Cab! She was incredible, and I love her life story, too. :-)

Thanks for dropping by!

Corey from Northfield, MA on July 28, 2012:

She is one of my favorite red heads. I love her comedy and her life story is amazing.

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on May 02, 2012:

A marathon, and I missed it!? DRATS! Trish, she was a jewel, and that was one of my favorite episodes, too. LOL

Thanks for dropping by! :-)

trish1048 on April 28, 2012:

I had to comment, given the fact that an I Love Lucy marathon has been on tv since 6 am today and running till midnight :)

I loved the episode when she was making wine and got into a brawl with the other lady. Too funny!

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on April 16, 2012:

Jenna, Lucy is timeless! I had a lot of fun researching and finding videos. These reflect my favorites, too. Everyone Loves Lucy!! Thanks for reading! :-)

Jenna Pope from Southern California on April 16, 2012:

I love Lucille Ball. She was so hilarious. My favorite show was the Vitametavegamin Commercial. It still makes me bust up -- that program + the one where Lucy and Ethel made the bread with too much yeast + the candy episode.

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on March 28, 2012:

Hi Elle, I will be honest with you. I haven't researched her interracial marriage to Dezi. I did wonder if that were the root to CBS not wanting him to be her on-screen husband for I LOVE LUCY. Let me know what you find or if you write a hub. That would be very interesting.

Elle on March 27, 2012:

I was wondering about the impact on her interracial marriage with Desi Arnaz. Any thoughts I can research? :) Thanks!

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on March 24, 2012:

Thanks, Denise! She was a WONDER! Thanks for dropping by and the votes!

Denise Handlon from North Carolina on March 22, 2012:

Great tribute to the wonderful Lucy! Voted up and useful/interesting. (I always enjoy the clips, esp the candy factory) :)

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on March 02, 2012:

Hi Thost, I am not sure about the Apollo moon landing, but I would not be surprised.

Thanks so much for dropping by, voting, and sharing! :-)

thost from Dublin, Ireland on March 02, 2012:

Great Hub,

All our family loved Lucy. I read once that “I Love Lucy” got more American TV viewers than the first Apllo moon landing, is that true?.

Vote up and StumbleUpon.

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on March 01, 2012:

Thank Gina! Lucy was a beautiful, talented, business-minded lady. Desi used to have the reputation as not being supportive because of his extramarital affairs, but their daughter, and even Lucy, continued to speak of his support. I remember after their divorce seeing him as a guest on the Lucy Show. If he wasn't supportive, I think she was powerful enough to kick him to the curb.

Thanks for dropping by!!

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on March 01, 2012:

Hey Debbie! Thanks so much for dropping by and sharing my love for Lucy! :-) I appreciate the votes!

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on March 01, 2012:

PDX, I think you should write a poem including Lucy and Andy Warhol - what a ride!! :-) Thanks for sharing! :-)

Gina on March 01, 2012:

Thank you so much for writing this hub. Lucy was a beautiful person and so talented. I love the fact that Desi supported her so much.

Deborah Brooks Langford from Brownsville,TX on March 01, 2012:

THIS IS AWESOME AND SO INTERESTING.. I love LUCY.. one OF MY FAVORITE SHOWS of all time.

love your hub

voted way up

Debbie

Justin W Price from Juneau, Alaska on February 29, 2012:

hmmm. a poem about lucy... maybe I shall. I also share a birthday with andy warhol. Maybe combine the too?

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 22, 2012:

PDX, having the same birthday must mean something!! I have the same bday as Harrison Ford, though, and I don't think I am nearly as adventurous as he is. You can be as funny as Lucy, though. I think you need to write a poem about her. Let me know so I can link it. :-) I know, I was shocked to see how many productions Desilu was responsible for producing, and iconic ones, too.

Thanks for dropping by! :-)

Justin W Price from Juneau, Alaska on February 21, 2012:

Lucille Ball is my all time favorite comedian... and we share a birthday. I had no idea her production company produced star trek

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 20, 2012:

Oh, UW, I thought Desi, Jr, was the cutest thing ever! That brought back a great memory of The Lucy Show.

Thanks for dropping by! :-)

Susan Keeping from Kitchener, Ontario on February 20, 2012:

I do love Lucy too. She certainly was a trail blazer.

I watched a lot of The Lucy Show as a kid in Scotland, then the next Lucy Show when we moved to Canada. I had a crush on Desi Jr, but who didn't?

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 20, 2012:

Thank you, Jennifer! She was awesome! :-)

Thanks for dropping by!

jenniferg78 from Philadelphia, PA on February 20, 2012:

Such a great hub! "I love Lucy!"!!! great info about how she influenced the role of women and had a break-through role.

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 19, 2012:

Hi CbPoet! I agree completely!

Thanks for dropping by! :-)

cbpoet from Las Vegas, Nevada on February 19, 2012:

Hello sholland10 - Interesting and well written biography. I have fond memories of Lucille and her embarrassing moments. Her acting was so spontaneous and convincing. One of the best women comedians of all time.

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 18, 2012:

Oh Vinaya, if you can get some videos of the I LOVE LUCY show - maybe even watch them on YouTube. You will love her genius!

Thanks for dropping by! :-)

Vinaya Ghimire from Nepal on February 18, 2012:

I did not know about Lucille Ball. Thanks for sharing her wonderful life. There is so much to learn from her.

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 18, 2012:

Thank you, Rajan! I agree with everything you said. I have always loved her for her acting and for her business grace.

Thanks for dropping by and the votes!! :-)

Rajan Singh Jolly from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar, INDIA. on February 18, 2012:

Sholland this an amazing tribute to one of the finest women stars of the television series"I Love Lucy". I remember it was Lucy all over the show. An amazing actor and an amazing woman.

voted up and awesome.

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 17, 2012:

Thanks you, Ten10! I do love my LUCY!! :-) She is motivational to this day.

I appreciate you dropping by!

Ten10bellevue from Bellevue, WA (Seattle) on February 17, 2012:

Very good hub! Motivational and nostalgic all-at-once! Thanks!

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 13, 2012:

Thank you, Audrey! She did so much for women!! Love, love, love her to this day. I grew up watching the reruns, too. Cried like a baby when she died.

Thanks for dropping by!

Audrey Howitt from California on February 13, 2012:

I love her! I have always loved her! I grew up watching old reruns of I Love Lucy--she changed so much about women in comedy--this was a wonderful hub!!

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 12, 2012:

Thanks, MT! I really enjoyed writing this hub. Knowing her business and public background has influenced me. So glad you enjoyed it and thank you for adding it to your weekly favorites. I feel very honored. :-)

Thanks for dropping by!

Shasta Matova from USA on February 12, 2012:

sholland - great idea to get the DVDs. I have included this hub in my weekly favorites list. Lucille is an important person to remember as someone who has made a significant contribution to history.

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 10, 2012:

Scribenet and Marcy, thanks so much for comments. Lucy definitely was one of a kind, but she opened the doors for others. So glad you dropped by!! :-)

Marcy Goodfleisch from Planet Earth on February 10, 2012:

I truly do LOVE Lucy. How I miss her! She defines television comedy in the early days of sitcoms, and to a degree for the entire industry. What a gift she was to the world! Voted up and awesome.

Maggie Griess from Ontario, Canada on February 10, 2012:

Thanks sholland..I always loved watching "I Love Lucy" and I will go back to watch the videos and laugh again! She was incredible!

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 10, 2012:

Absolutely, Rlaha! I bet you learned a lot about her time in school. You should write about it. :-)

rlaha from Spartanburg, SC on February 10, 2012:

Hi Sholland10. Yes, I was disappointed that I was not able to meet her but it was great that I was able to be from her birthplace :).

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 10, 2012:

Thank You, Jessi! I appreciate your kind words and vote! Thanks for dropping by! :-)

Jessica Rangel from Lancaster, CA on February 10, 2012:

This is amazing. Clear, to the point, and quite inspirational! Voted up!

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 10, 2012:

Peggy, the hair was dyed read in the early 40's at the request of MGM. I don't know if it is on You Tube, but there is a clip of her trying out for Scarlet O'Hare in GONE WITH THE WIND and she is a brunette. Kind of fun to watch. I have it on my collector's DVDs of GWTW. :-)

Thanks for dropping by, voting, and sharing!!

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 10, 2012:

Thanks, Tammy! Yes, she was very professional with her acting and her business savvy. A very intelligent and industrious lady. I just love her! :-)

Thanks for dropping by!

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on February 10, 2012:

I absolutely loved and still love the "I Love Lucy" shows when I see them. Did not realize that her studio was behind the Star Trec series...also a favorite. Actually I liked everything that she and her studio did. Wonderful hub! I thought that red hair was natural! :)) Votes up and SHARING with my followers.

Tammy from North Carolina on February 10, 2012:

Very cute! I grew up watching her. I didn't realize she had a business side also. She is ledgendary. Great hub!

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 10, 2012:

Thank you, Audra! Yes, she was the best! :-)

Thanks for dropping by!

iamaudraleigh on February 10, 2012:

Great hub! She was the best in her field!

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 10, 2012:

Thanks, Ar! You must be young. ;-) Both of them were trail blazers in business.

Thanks for dropping by!

Mikal Smith from Vancouver, B.C. on February 10, 2012:

I'm so glad I read this hub. I didn't know any of this stuff about Lucille Ball. What an amazing woman. And Desi, what an amazing husband! And what a well written hub!

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 10, 2012:

John, you should write a hub about Desi and how he paved the way, too! If you do, let me know so I can link it to this hub! Thanks for dropping by, commenting, and voting! :-)

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 10, 2012:

@BWD - thanks! I grew up on her re-runs and my kids watched her on Nick at Nite, too! She has influences with her sense of humor and frantic antics. We allude to her often when we fall into some silly mishap. LOL

Thanks for the votes!

Thanks for dropping by! :-)

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 10, 2012:

Veronica, I knew immediately who I wanted to write about when I read the weekly topic. She is my favorite, and I had to share what she did for women. Thanks for the votes and share. :-)

Thanks for dropping by!! :-)

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 10, 2012:

Stephanie, Susan, Cebu, and Ehshan, thanks for reading and the kind comments. She was amazing!

Thanks for dropping by!!

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 10, 2012:

How interesting, Rlaha! How sad that she died before you could meet her. I am sure you were terribly sad and disappointed. I know I would have been.

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 10, 2012:

Millionaire Tips, thanks for commenting. I bought the DVD set for some of the shows. :-)

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 10, 2012:

TSMOG, if you come across an unwrapped piece of chocolate, don't put it in your pocket or in your mouth while you are in the store. You will definitely have a "misunderstood" Lucy moment. LOL

Thanks for dropping by! :-)

John Sarkis from Winter Haven, FL on February 10, 2012:

Hi sholland10, love this article! I'm Cuban and I was thinking the other day how Arnaz was one of the first Latinos to make big in "Anglo TV." (don't like the usage of that word, because, unless you migrated from Germany to England 2000 years ago, which is where the English came from, you're not really an Anglo...LOL) Lucy was one of the great female comedians of all times---hands down!

Voted up on your wonderful article

John

Brian Dooling from Connecticut on February 10, 2012:

great hub! Lucille Ball was an amazing woman, I Love Lucy is one of my favorite shows even today! I grew up watching it on nick at nite and honestly believe it is one of the best shows ever broadcast on tv and it was all due to Lucille! Voted Up interesting,funny, awesome!

Veronica Roberts from Ohio, USA on February 10, 2012:

What a wonderful tribute & a great job @ tackling the weekly topic!

Loved this! Up & shared! =]

ehsan121 from Karachi on February 10, 2012:

She changed the life of women.

cebutouristspot from Cebu on February 10, 2012:

I must say I have learn something new after reading this piece of yours sholland10. Lucille Ball is what a women should me :D

Susan Zutautas from Ontario, Canada on February 10, 2012:

Great tribute to Lucille Ball. I don't know of anyone that doesn't love watching her shows and movies. I grew up watching I Love Lucy and I was sad when she died. Wonderful actress!

Stephanie Henkel from USA on February 10, 2012:

I remember well the premier of the "I Love Lucy" show on television and how much everyone loved Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Her pregnancy and speculation about the baby was much talked about, and her ongoing antics were hilarious. Thanks so much for the wonderful overview of Lucille Ball's accomplishments. Your article was so interesting and brought back memories of her funny and outrageous comedy that still makes us laugh. Voted up!

rlaha from Spartanburg, SC on February 10, 2012:

I am proud to say that she went to my high school and graduated 40 years before me. :) I love Lucy! I almost had the honor of performing for her with the Junior Guilders of Jamestown, NY, but she passed away a few weeks before the show so I was not able to meet her :(.

Shasta Matova from USA on February 10, 2012:

We used to love to watch her show - so funny and so many messages you pointed out. I don't come across reruns much. This is a great recap of her life and importance. Thank you for sharing.

Tim Mitchell from Escondido, CA on February 09, 2012:

Very fond memories with the series. I liked her with Bob Hope too. Fancy Pants is always entertaining. I always got a kick out of her facial gestures when she cried. I think she was a good drama teacher - smile.

Very well done hub, sholland10. I learned bunches regarding all the firsts she did. Amazing! Thank you for bringing this to the front of the pack. When I go to See's Candy next week I will be thinking about who wrapped the candy - smile.

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 08, 2012:

Alastar, I think you are right about the Lucy Arnaz report about her father. I believe he was a ladies man, but he had a lot of creative drive when he and Lucy worked together. They remained friends until Desi died.

Thanks for dropping by and commenting!! :-)

Alastar Packer from North Carolina on February 07, 2012:

Very good hub on Lucy sholland. She was one of only two or three stars I was emotional enough to shed a tear for when they passed. One point though, not to take anything away from Ball: Even Lucy's daughter said her father never got the recognition he deserved in a creative or business sense. If it wasn't for him there probably wouldn't be any Lucy re-runs. He insisted on the three camera set-up like you wrote; and also filming on tape instead of the more commonly used at the time perishable kinescope.

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 06, 2012:

Alocsin, that goes without saying. Thanks for SHARING! LOL :-)

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 06, 2012:

Rachel, yes, good times and bad to this day. God blessed her with talent that she shared with us. Thank you for your kind comment! :-)

Aurelio Locsin from Orange County, CA on February 06, 2012:

Forgot to mention. Thanks for SHARING.

Rachel1Curry on February 06, 2012:

Lucy made us laugh in good times and bad! God bless her! Great article

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 06, 2012:

Thanks Maximizer and Flora! Her show was great, and it is phenomenal how much she did for it and many other shows, too.

Thanks for dropping by!! :-)

FloraBreenRobison on February 05, 2012:

I love I love Lucy and watch a lot of the Desilu shows like Star Trek and Mission Impossible.

Maximizer from San Jose, Costa Rica on February 05, 2012:

I used to watch I Love Lucy with my parents when I was a kid. It was one of the only "nick at Nite" shows I loved. Thanks for SHARING

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 05, 2012:

Laura, what a wonderful story! I am so glad you had the tapes to appreciate Lucy! What a wonderful main source of entertainment!! :-)

Thanks for sharing your story! So glad you dropped by! :-)

Laura Matkin from Laceys Spring, Alabama on February 05, 2012:

I love Lucy! We didn't receive TV signal where I live when I was growing up so we watched Tapes my Aunt had recorded before she moved out to the sticks with us. She was a huge Lucy fan and had 30+ whole tapes of I Love Lucy and The Lucy Show our main source of entertainment. Great Hub! Lucy was an amazing woman.

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 05, 2012:

Alecia, you should drag that paper out, revise it, and turn it into a hub. We could link them. :-) She was amazing! She did everything with her heart and soul thrown into it. I remember watching her daughter talk about how hard her mother worked. She opened many doors.

Thanks for reading and sharing!! :-)

Alecia Murphy from Wilmington, North Carolina on February 05, 2012:

I did a paper on her in the 8th grade and this brought back great memories of that project. I used to love watching her reruns during the summer on Nick at Nite. But I agree she was the first woman to make being a mogul possible in the entertainment world. When I saw how many shows she produced through Desilu, I was astonished. And these weren't some thrown together projects either, they were actual huge hits like the Untouchables and Star Trek. Awesome hub Susan and I will be glad to share it!

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 05, 2012:

Thanks Lord de Cross and Laura! I didn't know she and Rodenberry had issues. Hmmm... sounds like a nice research topic for a hub. I think she loved Desi til the day he died. I watched videos of them in their elder years playing with their grandkids in the pool and kissing each other.

Thanks for reading!! :-)

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 05, 2012:

Thanks, Linda! She is my favorite. I forgot to add that MGM made her dye her hair red in the earlier 40's. I wonder what we would have thought of her if she had been brunette. I think I would have loved her anyway! :-) She is an American treasure!

Thanks for reading and sharing! :-)

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 05, 2012:

Brandon, you and I are on the same page. I have watched her reruns all my life. When she died in 1989, I remember crying like a baby. She was the funniest, physical comic I know, and she did so much for women. She worked so hard, and made so many people happy.

Thanks for reading and the votes! :-)

laurathegentleman from Chapel Hill, NC on February 05, 2012:

Lucille Ball is my idol! :) This was a great Hub!

Joseph De Cross from New York on February 05, 2012:

I knew that Star trek started and the Desilu studios and due to her patience with Gene Rodenberry, this phenomenon took off. I love the episode with the Meatballs. I wonder how she felt for the Cuban Desi?? Maybe she loved that Conga?? Thanks for this well put hub!

LORD

Linda Bilyeu from Orlando, FL on February 05, 2012:

Susan this is an amazing tribute hub to Lucy! What's not to love about Lucy:) My niece and her kids are MAJOR fans of the show. I'm going to share this hub with her!

Brandon Spaulding from Yahoo, Contributor on February 05, 2012:

I used to watch I love Lucy, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Lucy Show and Star Trek all the time when I was in elementary school. I would watch I love Lucy when I would stay home from school. She did a lot to pave the way for women on television. To this day, I see her reruns on cable television and have seen her show referenced in other movies as well. Taping those shows live was probably nerve racking yet made it more fun for the actresses and actors. Thanks for this hub. It was a trip back in memory from me. Lucy was a show I watched regularly during the week and I loved watching Star Trek on Sunday's if we didn't go to church. I loved those shows. Voted up, beautiful, and funny.

Susan Holland (author) from Southwest Missouri on February 05, 2012:

Thanks, Alocsin! She was one of kind! :-)

Thanks for the votes!