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Movie Star & Celebrity Homes

 

THE HOME OF Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz

This is the former residence of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Located north of Sunset Blvd in Beverly Hills it is no doubt one of the premier destination points of every Hollywood Star Tour Bus. Lucy and Desi owned this home for several years while filming the I Love Lucy television show as well as a residence in Palm Springs and a ranch in northern California

Biography:
The story of Lucille Desiree Ball and Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y De Acha III...........
Lucille Ball was born in Jamestown, New York on August 6, 1911. It was in her early teens that she first tried to break into show business and begin a successful career. Her career really took off when she auditioned and became one of the 'famous' Ziegfeld Girls. Later, she launched her West Coast career as a Goldywn Girl and soon moved from out from the shadows of the background to that of starring roles.

Desi Arnaz was born on March 2, 1917 in Santiago, Cuba. Due to political unrest in Cuba, Ricky's family moved to Florida shortly after 1933. Desi formed a small band of musicians and was once hired by Xavier Cugat. It has been said that Desi was responsible for the Latin sound that was sweeping America and this led him to be cast eventually into the movie entitled, 'Too Many Girls'. It was on this set where a beautiful red head and a handsome Latin met, married and ultimately became stars of one of the most popular shows in television history.

Lucy and Desi pioneered the 3-camera filming technique which is still used today as the standard in filming TV sitcoms. Additionally, they developed the concept of syndicating TV programs, they were smart enough to form their own production company (Desilu) and eventually, Lucille Ball would be the first woman ever to own her own film studio!

Desi seems to get lost by most of the media; but, it is no secret that he steered the course of Desilu Productions and the I Love Lucy Show into the money-making machines that they were. Each knew their strengths and the pair trusted their instincts right from the get go when they put up their own money to launch I Love Lucy when no one else would listen to them......and the rest is history.

Lucy is the recipient of the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1979 and was nominated for an Academy Award (Oscar) for best actress in Mame. But (in my opinion) both Lucy and Desi's greatest award comes in the fact that generation after generation still continues to tune into I Love Lucy. No matter how many times you see an episode, you can still watch it again. The writing, was superlative. The timing impeccable. A supporting cast to die for...(Vivian Vance as Ethel and William Frawley as Fred). The show had family values. Anyone could watch that show without worrying that an off color remark or subject matter was just around the corner. You can't recall any episode without thinking of a classic line from any one of the characters that immediately puts a smile on your face. Just the tension between Fred & Ethel was enough to make you roll on the floor. Remember Fred's line when he finds Ethel dressed in a nightgown in a salesman's hotel room? "Ethel, you, here, dressed like that....He must be crazy!" Many critics of the I Love Lucy show say that what Lucy did was too far fetched. Well, for anyone else yes. But for Lucy....No! Once you got to know Lucy, you realized and truly 'believed' that this 'screw ball red head' would do just about anything! If you get the impression that I am a Big fan of Lucy & Desi...you are right. I am thankful to have grown up with them and am gratified in knowing that that as crazy as this world seems to get, people from ALL OVER THE WORLD, still tune in for the laughter that this program offers. Over 40 years have gone by since the last episode of I Love Lucy was filmed and yet Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel have never left us. To many of us, they are all a part of our family and always will be.

There are many, many websites devoted to Lucy & Desi and if you are a fan....you should check them them out!!!

I Love LUCY, and DESI and FRED and ETHEL and GALE GORDEN..and the Writers. Thank YOU, Thank YOU for the joy and laughter you bring to our lives.

 


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