Falling In Love with Lucy
Falling in love with Lucy is an easy task... one that doesn't require too much effort! Her wittiness, the way she scheme-fully escapes from the webs of trouble she often spins herself amid as well as her charm and beauty are just a few of the things that make us love her! Let's take a look back, however, at the beginnings of America's favorite redheaded comedian... let's take some steps all the way back to where the legends life first began, in Jamestown, New York back in August of 1911.
Despite the joy that she had infested into the lives of her many television viewers, the star's early life and childhood had not been all that pretty. Her father, Henry Ball died of Typhoid fever when she was merely four years old, her mother remarrying a man by the name of Ed Peterson, four years following her husband's tragic passing. When the rest of her family relocated to Detroit, Lucille opted to remain in the care of her foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Peterson.
The couple, however, instead of offering love and care to Lucille, often inflicted sour-infested and cheerless attitudes towards her, while also consistently punishing the poor child with frequent and unreasonable afflictions. Despite the tragedy that garbed these times for Lucille, they had also proved successful in offering plenty of opportunity for Lucille to discover her inner imagination and advanced talents for acting.
As time passed, however, and the family had been once again reunited, all settling in a home in a country which her grandfather Hunt had purchased for them, life had once become bearable. It was also during this period that Lucille had been fortunate in discovering her gift for making people laugh. Through the assistance of her grandfather Hunt in transporting her to frequent Vaudeville acts, Lucille had finally been successful in coming to the realization.
From then on it had only taken years of plays performed and organized in the comfort of her home, her family acting as members of the crew and cast. Then a few other years spent at John Murray Anderson-Robert Milton Dramatics school, despite the obstacles set by her inability to sing, dance or control either her voice or body very well, Lucille successfully endured.
Frustrated by the school's disbelief in her, as well as discouraged from watching a fellow student, Bette Davis, succeed so immensely, while she struggled, Lucy opted to become a Showgirl in hopes to both avoid returning to Jamestown and to prove the school wrong. She then endeavored to successfully score acts in various musical positions, most notably a chorus girl in the third road company of "Rio Rita", a "Ziegfield" productions and "Stepping Stones, which was a Fred and Paula Stone show. During these times spent in New York, City as a Showgirl, however, Lucy found herself entangled in a bout of homesickness and financial instability. Finally, after becoming fed up with all of her ailments, Lucille opted to pack up and head back to Jamestown. 
During her return back to her beloved hometown, Lucille endeavored to work various jobs which consisted of either a soda jerk at Walgreen's or a clerk in a dress shop. During these dull days spent tucked away in her hometown, Lucy knew with all of her heart that the city was where she had been destined to reside. It was then, that she headed back to New York, City, determined as ever, to discover that her luck had vastly improved!
Back in New York, City, Lucille's new-found luck had been discovered upon obtaining a modeling job in a diminutive wholesale coat shop on 7th Avenue. She then decided to go by the name of Diane Belmont, a name that had been inspired by the "Belmont race track" back on Long Island. After having spent most of her time surrounded by the glitz and glamour of the modeling scene, as well as receiving several marriage proposals at the young age of eighteen years old, Lucille was later devastated to learn of her diagnosis with rheumatoid arthritis.
After returning back to Jamestown once again, having been overwhelmed with discouragement towards the many unsuccessful treatments she endured in hopes to cure her arthritis, Lucy was soon approached with a new role as a character by the name of Aggie Lynch. A role which would later act as a pedestal of success in her theatrical career. After the play, and convincing one of her close friends, Marion Strong to join her amid the hustle and bustle of New York, City where she'd set out to return once again to join her. It was then, that Lucille returned to her previous occupation as a model, a model primarily for the high-end stores in New York such as; Jackson's on 39th Street and 7th Avenue.
Thanks to her various modeling gigs and especially in debt to a painter named Ratterman who'd contributed to the construction of her image with the painting of an image which later grazed several billboards all over town, acting as an advertisement for Chesterfield Cigarettes. Alongside the vast improvement of her image, Lucille's acting career had also been strengthened immensely due to the painting, as with the sight of the ad, Lucy was immediately approached for an acting role as a Goldwyn Girl in the costly picture entitled "Roman Scandals". After participating in such a renowned film the door ,was soon opened for Lucille and many other famed movies were later released, all laced with Lucille's avid charm and beauty.
After a successful career in movies,
such as: "The big Street" in which she starred alongside Henry Fonda, Lucy later moved on to a career in the radio business.
During her career on the radio she partook in various radio programs, one hosted by Jack Haley, a.k.a, the tin man from the cinemascope picture "The Wizard of Oz"; as well as a program entitled"Mr. and Mrs. Cugat."
It was the radio program "My Favorite Husband", however, that was the sole and most sensational part of Lucy's radio career. The role, in fact, provided the yellow brick road for Lucille in the television industry. With the beginnings of the adaption of this celebrated and hit radio program's transformation onto television, it was with Lucy's insistence upon working with her husband, Desi Arnaz, that later motivated the two to initiate their own producing company, "Desilu," which later provided the pilots and beginnings for her most celebrated role as "Lucy Ricardo" in the hit T.V. comedy "I Love Lucy".
Many memorable years were spent on the set of America's favorite comedy. Lucy had also been fortunate to have, during production, been surrounded by Vivian Vance, who she throughout the broadcast grew very close to as well as her husband. It was also on this show that Lucille would carry the couple's second child, the child being referred to as "Little Ricky" on air and "Desi Arnaz Jr." in real life. According to some sources, Lucy and Desi's marriage had also been strengthened by the mutual participation in the production of "I Love Lucy".
Despite her late efforts to recreate another hit television series, none could replace that of their famed series "I Love Lucy". It caught onto all of America with it's creative scripting, wittiness and laughter induced remarks. No matter how old you are, you'll never get tired of seeing Lucy and Ethel find creative ways out of their constant, Lucy proposed mistakes. Th episode when Lucy becomes intoxicated on a television commercial for example, or when she and Ethel find themselves "fighting but losing game" with a conveyor belt lined with a surplus of unwrapped chocolates. So, if you haven't before (which is absolutely ridiculous) try watching an episode or two, and I promise you will find yourself both addicted to the show as well as enticed by Lucilles avid charisma and
humour!
Have a wonderful Thursday my beauty Queens! Oh, and
try and take Lucy's example
and make people happy, make them laugh! <3 xoxoxo
