Lucille Ball

World HistoryScrapbook

Phoebe Gydesen Pd. 6

Early Childhood

• Born- August 6 1911, – Jamestown, New York

• Daughter of Henry Durrell Ball and Desiree Evelyn Hunt Ball

• February 1915-Lucy’s father dies of typhoid fever

• Lucy and brother Frederick raised by her mother and grandparents

Adolescent Years

• Frequently attended vaudeville shows with her family

• Her grandfather encouraged her to participate in school plays and her own

Lucy’s Career Beginning

• 1927- Lucy sent to the John Murray Anderson School for the Dramatic Arts in New York City

• Sent home a few weeks later when drama coaches told her that she "had no future at all as a performer”

Lucy’s Career

• 1933 - Went to Hollywood as movie showgirl

• Later, became successful actress appearing in more than 75 films – Under contract with Sam

Goodwin, Columbia and RKO

• 1940 - Married Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III (Desi Arnaz) – Cuban percussionist

she met while filming the movie Too Many Girls

• 1948- Lucille cast in CBS Radio program – Cast as Liz Cugat in

“My Favorite Husband”

I Love Lucy

• 1951 – Desi and Lucy formed Desilu Productions with $5,000.

• I Love Lucy began six year domination of TV comedy.

• Lucie Desiree Arnaz born on July 17, 1951.

• 1953 - I Love Lucy episode in which Lucy Ricardo gave birth to Little Ricky in telecast on January 19, 1953, – Same day that Lucille

gave birth to second child Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y Acha IV (Desi, Jr.).

Lucy’s Career Continues

• 1957 - Desilu purchased RKO Studios and began producing other TV programs

• 1960 - The Arnaz’s divorce and Desi sold his share of the studio to Lucy for 3 million dollars.

• 1961 - Lucy married Morton Goldapper (Gary Morton), who became her executive producer

• 1962 - Lucille returned to the airwaves with a successful solo launch of The Lucy Show

• 1967 - Lucy sold Desilu to Gulf and Western Industries for 18 million dollars.

• 1967 - Lucy sold Desilu to Gulf and Western Industries for 18 million dollars.

• 1974 - Lucille played the title role in the movie version of Mame

• 1985 – In first dramatic role in years, Lucy played a New York City bag lady in the CBS teleplay Stone Pillow

• 1986 - Life With Lucy was launched by ABC – Despite hard work, was

not successful

Accomplishments• 1953- Received first two

Emmy Awards, for Best Comedienne and Best Situation Comedy on the Air

• December 17, 1986, honored with an award for life-long achievement at Kennedy Center by President Reagan.

Lucille’s Legacy

• 1989 - On April 18, Lucille underwent emergency heart surgery

• She died a week later on April 26, 1989.

• Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George H. W. Bush on July 6,1989

• Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People of the Century”

• Inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame

• 2007- Awarded the Legacy of Laughter Award at the fifth Annual TV Land Awards

• I Love Lucy was named the Greatest TV Series by Hall of Fame Magazine

• Chosen second out of the 50 Greatest TV Icons

LucilleDesireeBall

“The Queen of Comedy”