03/30/2025
Lucille Ball’s trademark red hair wasn’t natural it was the result of a bold dye job she committed to in the early 1940s. Her original hair color was blonde, but when MGM executives suggested a change, she switched to red with the help of stylist Sydney Guilaroff. The shade was so distinctive that a special copper tone was custom blended for her. Maintaining the vibrant hue was a labor intensive process that involved henna rinses and salon visits, but Lucille made it part of her brand and it became instantly recognizable worldwide.
In 1962 she accomplished what no other woman in Hollywood had before, she became the head of a major production company. Desilu Productions, which she acquired by buying out Desi Arnaz’s shares after their divorce, was responsible for financing some of television’s most ambitious projects. While networks dismissed Gene Roddenberry’s concept for "Star Trek" as too risky, Lucy gave the green light. Her backing also enabled "Mission: Impossible" to reach the screen. Executives doubted both series, but Lucy believed in innovation and risk taking more than playing it safe.
Before "I Love Lucy" aired in 1951, CBS wanted to cast a different actor as her on screen husband, doubting that audiences would accept Cuban bandleader Desi Arnaz in the role. Lucy pushed back hard, insisting that if she played Lucy Ricardo, Desi must play Ricky. She argued that their real life chemistry would translate to screen better than any scripted pairing. The network eventually agreed and their groundbreaking show went on to become a cultural phenomenon.
When she became pregnant in 1952, Lucy refused to hide it from the public eye. Network executives and sponsors were uneasy, at the time even the word "pregnant" was considered too suggestive for television. But Lucy stood firm. Her pregnancy was written into the show, making her the first visibly pregnant woman to appear on American TV. Episodes were carefully scripted to use the euphemism “expecting” rather than directly referencing pregnancy, but the portrayal still broke major ground.
In her early years, a drama teacher at the John Murray Anderson School for the Dramatic Arts bluntly told her she had no future in acting. Among her classmates was Bette Davis, who was already impressing instructors. Lucy struggled, often overlooked and discouraged. But instead of quitting, she moved to Hollywood and took bit parts, worked as a chorus girl, and appeared in low budget films throughout the 1930s, earning the nickname “Queen of the B’s” for her steady presence in B movie features.
Behind the slapstick and smiles, Lucille’s marriage to Desi Arnaz was filled with both deep affection and frequent conflict. Desi’s struggles with alcohol and infidelity strained their relationship, but their professional bond remained strong. Even after their divorce in 1960, Lucy and Desi remained in contact. He called her “Kid” and she referred to him as “Des” with warmth that never faded. The last words he reportedly said to her before his death were “I love you too, honey. Good luck with your show.”
When NBC canceled the first pilot of "Star Trek" after it was deemed too cerebral, it was Lucy’s personal intervention that saved it. She ordered a second pilot, a rare and costly move, and it was only then that the series found its footing. Her decision was not rooted in sci fi fandom, it was a calculated business call based on her belief in creative ambition. She saw a vision worth supporting and risked her own company’s resources to make it happen.
On set, Lucy was not merely the star, she pored over scripts, contributed to gag ideas, and frequently rehearsed late into the night. Co stars remarked on her relentless dedication to timing and delivery. Her insistence on shooting with multiple cameras and in front of a live audience set new standards for sitcom production. She demanded excellence not only from others but from herself, down to the last detail of every scene.
One of the most iconic scenes in television history involved Lucy and Ethel at a candy conveyor belt, frantically stuffing chocolates into their mouths. Ironically, Lucy had no particular love for sweets. She found the chocolate overwhelming and the constant chewing tiresome during filming. Her expressions of chaos and exasperation were genuine, enhanced by her discomfort with the sugary overload.
Lucille Ball turned rejection, risk and relentless work into a career that forever changed American television.
