"Once in his life,every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead."-Lucille Ball

Lucille Ball
Born August 6, 1911
Died April 26, 1989

One hundred years ago today,one of the greatest comedians,innovators,and female pioneers in the television industry was born.She was given a name that she never changed,like so many in the Hollywood industry did,and still do: Lucille Desiree Ball.

When she was only four years old,Lucy's father died of typhoid fever.Desiree Ball,Lucy's mother,then took her two young children with her to her parents house to live.It was her grandfather that sparked young Lucy's interest in acting.He would take her to vaudeville shows for fun,and always told her that she would do well on the stage.

Lucy lived either with her mother or her grandparents on and off until 1927.At age sixteen,she began a relationship with Johnny DeVita.Seeking to end their relationship,which she didn't approve of,Desiree Ball let her daughter go away to study at the School of Dramatic Arts in New York City.Unfortunately for Lucy,she was sent packing within a few weeks because of her apparent "lack of talent."

Lucy was frustrated,and absolutely determined to prove her teachers wrong.She would make it in showbiz.She moved back to New York City in 1929 and quickly landed herself a modeling gig.After a two year medical break,she came back,bigger and better than ever.She was noticed by such names in the industry as Earl Carroll and Florenz Ziegfeld.Finally,after a bit part in the movie Roman Scandals in 1933, the 22 year old moved to Los Angeles.

She started off with smaller movie roles in films such as Follow The Fleet and Stage Door, while working radio jobs on the side.This was her routine until the 1940's, when Lucille met Cuban band leader Dezi Arnaz,who marked a whole new chapter in her career.

Lucy starred in the radio program My Favorite Husband in 1948.The program quickly became a big hit,and CBS asked her to help them bring it to television.She loved the idea,but insisted on having real-life husband Dezi Arnaz fill the role of her on-screen husband.It was with him,or not at all.CBS was hesitant at first,but eventually agreed to her terms.So began the dynasty of I Love Lucy.

The I Love Lucy show presented many firsts to television audiences.Lucy was one of the first women to have a starring role on a regular television series.Lucy and Dezi were one of the first biracial couples to be represented on televison,and one of the first acutal married couples to be seen regularly on television.

Later on in the series, Lucy became one of the first women to be shown on television while she was pregnant.The studio was initially against this idea,but finally gave in.In real life,Lucy gave birth to her child on the same day that her character,Lucy Ricardo,was featured giving birth on the show.

Lucy also became the first woman to be head of a production company,when Desilu Productions was established in 1950.

Despite the original doubts of CBS,the I Love Lucy show proved to be an enormous success,with the original series,and other variations featuring Lucy and Dezi running from 1951-1960.Lucille Ball proved to be one of the greatest business women in Hollywood.She remained active in Desilu Productions even after her divorce from Arnaz,buying out his share of the company.She also remained active in radio,movies and television until her death of heart failure in 1989 at the age of 77.
And they said she wouldn't make it.