Hi Puzzlers,
Last night I stayed up late because of the heat wave that has hit the northeast-it was just too hot to sleep. As I flicked through the channels looking for something to watch I found re-runs of the I Love Lucy show. I still laugh when I see all of Lucy’s wacky antics. She was a truly amazing actress/comedienne.
Lucille Ball was born in Jamestown NY on August 6, 1911. Her father died of typhoid fever when she was three. After his death, Lucy’s mother DeDe moved the family to Celeron NY to be with her parents. Lucy’s grandfather, Fred Hunt, enjoyed the theater. “He frequently took the family to vaudeville shows and encouraged young Lucy to take part in both her own and school plays.”
At 15, with her mother’s approval, Lucy left traditional high school and enrolled in John Murray Anderson’s Drama School. Some have suggested that the enrollment in the drama school was to prevent Lucy from dating a gangster’s son named Johnny DeVita. Lucy only attend a few weeks when the drama coaches sent her home, saying she had no talent and would be better off finding a different career. These comments sent Lucy out on a mission to prove them wrong.
In 1929 while living in New York City, Lucy, also known as Diane Belmont, began a thriving career as a fashion model. Her best-known campaign was that of the Chesterfield Cigarette Girl in 1933 which gained her national exposure. After being spotted by a talent agent on the streets of New York, Lucy moved to Hollywood and was hired as a contract player for RKO Radio Pictures. “The actresses of that time were the glamorous types and were not agreeable to taking a pie in the face or doing physical stunts. Lucy was not afraid to do either. Lucy herself once said, I’m not funny, what I am, is brave. How right she was.” Lucille became "Queen of the B's"
In 1940, while performing in the musical “Too Many Girls”, Lucy met popular Cuban band leader Desi Arnaz. They fell in love and married within the year. With their work keeping them apart, Lucy and Desi came up with a plan to save their marriage and keep them working together. They pitched their idea to CBS, about the unlikely marriage of a wild redhead to a Cuban band leader. CBS thought the American public would not accept that kind of couple and declined their offer.
Not wanting to take no for an answer, they formed their own production company, “Desilu”, and began filming the pilot episode of “I Love Lucy.” It premiered in October of 1951, and instantly became the most popular television show in America. “CBS picked it up before the show's thirty minute episode was over.”
And, as they say, the rest is history! What a great lady!
Happy Puzzling!
Last night I stayed up late because of the heat wave that has hit the northeast-it was just too hot to sleep. As I flicked through the channels looking for something to watch I found re-runs of the I Love Lucy show. I still laugh when I see all of Lucy’s wacky antics. She was a truly amazing actress/comedienne.
Lucille Ball was born in Jamestown NY on August 6, 1911. Her father died of typhoid fever when she was three. After his death, Lucy’s mother DeDe moved the family to Celeron NY to be with her parents. Lucy’s grandfather, Fred Hunt, enjoyed the theater. “He frequently took the family to vaudeville shows and encouraged young Lucy to take part in both her own and school plays.”
At 15, with her mother’s approval, Lucy left traditional high school and enrolled in John Murray Anderson’s Drama School. Some have suggested that the enrollment in the drama school was to prevent Lucy from dating a gangster’s son named Johnny DeVita. Lucy only attend a few weeks when the drama coaches sent her home, saying she had no talent and would be better off finding a different career. These comments sent Lucy out on a mission to prove them wrong.
In 1929 while living in New York City, Lucy, also known as Diane Belmont, began a thriving career as a fashion model. Her best-known campaign was that of the Chesterfield Cigarette Girl in 1933 which gained her national exposure. After being spotted by a talent agent on the streets of New York, Lucy moved to Hollywood and was hired as a contract player for RKO Radio Pictures. “The actresses of that time were the glamorous types and were not agreeable to taking a pie in the face or doing physical stunts. Lucy was not afraid to do either. Lucy herself once said, I’m not funny, what I am, is brave. How right she was.” Lucille became "Queen of the B's"
In 1940, while performing in the musical “Too Many Girls”, Lucy met popular Cuban band leader Desi Arnaz. They fell in love and married within the year. With their work keeping them apart, Lucy and Desi came up with a plan to save their marriage and keep them working together. They pitched their idea to CBS, about the unlikely marriage of a wild redhead to a Cuban band leader. CBS thought the American public would not accept that kind of couple and declined their offer.
Not wanting to take no for an answer, they formed their own production company, “Desilu”, and began filming the pilot episode of “I Love Lucy.” It premiered in October of 1951, and instantly became the most popular television show in America. “CBS picked it up before the show's thirty minute episode was over.”
And, as they say, the rest is history! What a great lady!
Happy Puzzling!
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