Arts & Culture

Lucille Ball had it all: she was pretty, had great comic timing, was a gifted TV actress, astute and successful business woman, pioneer in television with her husband Desi Arnaz and loving mother.  I remember my grandmother telling the hairdresser "I want the colour to be red just like Lucy's."

I was too young to see the original I love Lucy series on TV, although I do remember it in reruns (part of Lucy's business acumen was to secure the rights for reruns and the profits – a first in early television contracts).   Pregnant while on the show, Lucy broke through several barriers / stereotypes and the pregnancy and birth both became part of the storyline.  Nevertheless, they still had to say expecting and not pregnant and still slept in two separate beds (influence of the Hays Code?).  The Library has many DVDs of the original series available to borrow.    Lucy had several other successful series after "I love Lucy" and continued on television up to the 1970s (even going from black and white to colour!).

Happy 100th birthday Lucy – we miss you.

What's your favorite Lucy comedy moment ?