There are moments, as a television viewer, that we all share collectively.
Lucy gave us many of those moments. Scenes that either touched our hearts
or made us laugh. Few others had her gift for comedic timing. She had an
amazing ability to tell a story with her facial expressions alone. We knew
women who were like her characters; the housewife, the manipulator, the
drama queen and even the femme fatale. We adored Lucy, just as she knew we
would. We enjoyed every moment and looked forward to what Lucy would do
each week.

Her place in history is firmly cemented, but not as an actress alone. Her
contributions to women in film are profoundly felt. Lucy managed the successful
production company Desilu. Desi held a lesser role, and when they divorced years
later Lucy bought Desi’s share. She became the first female to head a production
company in America. Her Desilu Productions went on to produce many hit sitcoms of
the time. Among them were Make Room For Daddy, The Dick Van Dyke Show and
Star Trek.

She had come a long way from the girl who was known as the “Queen of B’s”.
Referring to her many B grade films of the thirties and forties. She was just
happy to be working. Teachers and directors had cast her aside as an untalented
actress. Undaunted, she took a job as a Chesterfield girl model. She was determined
to break into show business. No one could hold Lucy back for long.

Her Mother and Grandparents in New York raised her after the death of her father
at age three. Her mother was pregnant with her brother Fred at the time. Lucy spent
many hours listening to radio shows while dreaming of an actress’s life. The radio
was her training ground for the timing and delivery style that would later win her fame.

At fifteen she began traveling into New York City to audition for roles. She faced many
rejections before any doors opened for her. Eventually Metro Goldwyn Mayer signed her
to a contract and promptly dyed her sandy brown hair red. She would remain a red head
for the rest of her life.

As a “Goldwyn Girl” she acted in dozens of small films with equally small roles.
She was told that she wasn’t the leading lady type. On one such film titled,
Too Many Girls she met Desi Arnaz and promptly eloped with him. It was Desi who
urged her to audition for television roles.

She had fulfilled her childhood dream of being a radio show actress. It was her radio
show role on My Favorite Husband that gave her the idea to pitch the same story line
for a television show. Domestic comedies were just coming to television, and she
wanted in on it. The executives however, did not like the choice of her husband as
her leading man. They believed he wouldn’t be popular, and doubted if anyone would
be able to understand his heavy accent. Lucy insisted that he would be a hit and
set out to prove it to the executives. In true Lucy style she took the act on the
road. When it was a sell out hit, the network relented and gave her a show.

It was as a comedian that Lucy truly came alive. Behind the comedian’s mask, she
was rarely the clown that people assumed she was. Her producer’s skills were well
honed. While we laughed at the, now classic, Vitameatavegamin skit and cried as
she told Ricky she was “expecting”; behind the scenes Lucy lobbied for her show.
She fought the executives to appear pregnant on television. Even going so far as
to get religious leaders approval. They allowed the storyline in, but only if the
word pregnant was not used. Lucy complied.

After several miscarriages, Lucy gave birth to a daughter that she named Lucie.
She was 40 years old. A year later she gave birth to their son Desi. Ironically
she was in labor with her son when the groundbreaking birth episode aired on the
television show. Lucy struggled as a parent. The children would endure a tumultuous
relationship with her throughout Lucy’s life. Lucy’s best friends included Ginger
Rogers, Vivian Vance and other women that were childless. It was difficult for Lucy
to balance the two sides of her life. She loved them deeply but didn’t fully connect
with them.

Desi Sr. was becoming increasingly unmanageable as his drinking increased. It was
decided that they would stop filming I Love Lucy while it was still a hit show. In
time, Lucy and Desi would file for divorce. They remained dear friends for the rest
of his life. Lucy would come to Desi’s aid many times over the years. He remained
the one great love of her life.
In 1962 Gary Morton, a stand up comic 12 years her junior, became her second husband.
They worked together at Desilu Productions. He became closely involved in the
management of his wife's career. Gary also produced Lucy’s new show with Vivian Vance,
The Lucy Show. America had missed her slapstick comedy on television and this show too,
was a solid success.

Shortly thereafter, Lucy sold Desilu Productions and founded Lucille Ball Productions.
She was a tough boss by all accounts. It was often remarked that she expected a lot
from her employees. They also had to admit that she worked just as hard in return.
Her strength as a female executive was met with unflattering remarks from male
executives who struggled to keep the business strictly a men’s club. Her brash
nature unsettled them. Her strength was intimidating.

While we do indeed love Lucy, it is the executive Lucille Ball that most women should
learn from. Her commitment to equal rights in the film industry allows those who walk
her paths today an easier stroll. While she struggled with motherhood in her private
life, her pregnancy on the I Love Lucy Show was a lesson for all women. We learned
that being pregnant didn’t mean you had to hide. You could be a mother and work too.
We learned we could have the best of both worlds through her example.

As she settled into a quieter life, a little network television movie she agreed to be
cast in became a critically acclaimed hit. The Stone Pillow showcased Lucy’s serious
side. Her bag lady character struck a cord with viewers. This late success encouraged
Lucy to star in another television comedy. She was saddened when it was not well received.
It would be her last visit to our televisions in a series. She appeared on the 61st
Annual Academy Awards show in March 1989. In April of that same year Lucy died.

For 25 years Lucille Ball ruled the television with a series of family comedies created
to showcase her talents. She was a five-time Emmy award winner, the first woman inducted
into the Television Academy's Hall of Fame, a recipient of a many awards and a Kennedy
Center Honoree. She is perhaps the most adored of all television stars.

We are the recipients of her craft. Her work lives on and continues to make us smile.
Technology allows us to share her gifts with our children. Her fan base grows as her
talents transcend generations. We are still able to gather together and watch as Lucy
stomps grapes, stuffs candy down her dress and causes Ricky to say yet again,
“Lucy you have some splaining to do.”

Annie Thomas-Burke

This tribute is the property of Worth Remembering Publishing © 2006.

This tribute is shown as an example of a four page tribute.
written by Scribe Services Owner, Annie Thomas-Burke for
Worth Remembering Publishing books titled, Women Worth Remembering.