5 remarkable things you didn’t know about Lucille Ball
Lucille Ball was years ahead of her time in many ways, breaking down barriers and prejudices against gender, race and even age. Here are five remarkable things you might not have known about her.
1. She paved the way for female comics
“The Queen of comedy” really earned her title, paving the way for today’s female comedians and dedicating herself to performance. She trained with Buster Keaton and Red Skelton to become one of the best physical-comedy actors of all time.
2. First interracial couple on television
Lucille insisted that her husband, Desi, co-star in her show, even when producers refused, saying he was “too ethnic”.
3. First woman to run a major television studio
Lucy and Desi co-owned Desilu Productions until she bought him out and ran it on her own. It had 2,000 employees, 36 sound stages, and 62 acres. She eventually sold it for $17 million (in 1967). The name was changed to Paramount Pictures.
4. First pregnant woman on TV
Women had to hide their pregnancies on TV. They also worried they wouldn't be allowed to continue their careers and be moms at the same time. Lucy broke that mould by incorporating her pregnancy and her son into the show. The only catch was she couldn’t say “pregnant”, she had to say “expecting”.
5. She was 40 years old when she started I Love Lucy
Ageism is real. but Lucy wasn't going to be put out to pasture. In fact, she became America's number one television star with over 16 million weekly viewers. People still watch it to this day.
Do you still watch re-runs of I love Lucy? Let us know in the comments below.
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