Lucille Ball
She transformed television comedy with her physical genius and savvy business mind, becoming the first woman to run a major studio.
1911–1989 (age 78)·American actress·Birthday: August 6·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Lucille Ball’s journey from a model and bit-part player to the queen of television was anything but a smooth ride. After years in Hollywood as a contract player, often dubbed 'Queen of the B's,' she found her true medium on the small screen. In 1951, she and her husband Desi Arnaz launched 'I Love Lucy,' a show that didn't just entertain but revolutionized the industry. Ball’s mastery of slapstick and impeccable timing made Lucy Ricardo an immortal character, while her insistence on filming with multiple cameras before a live audience created the classic sitcom look. More than a performer, she was a powerhouse executive; when the network balked at Arnaz as her co-star, she formed Desilu Productions, which not only produced their show but later bought the RKO studio, making her the first woman to head a major production company. Her influence extended beyond laughs, paving the way for creative and financial control for actors.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Lucille was born in 1911, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Lucille Was Born
The biggest hits of 1911
Lucille's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1911Born
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 146 in New York
President: William Howard Taft
1916Started school
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1924Became a teenager
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1927Could drive
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1929Could vote
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1932Turned 21
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1941Turned 30
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1951Turned 40
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1961Turned 50
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 60
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 70
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Died at 78
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
Key Achievements
- Starred in and produced 'I Love Lucy,' which set viewership records and redefined the television sitcom format.
- Co-founded Desilu Productions, which grew to purchase RKO Studios, making her the first female head of a major Hollywood studio.
- Won five Primetime Emmy Awards for her performances and production work.
- Her show's innovative use of the three-camera setup before a live audience became the standard for sitcom production.
Did You Know?
She was the first woman to be inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.
Her famous grape-stomping scene in an Italian wine vat was filmed while she was visibly pregnant with her son, Desi Jr.
She was the first actress to appear pregnant on a major network television show, though the word 'pregnant' was not allowed to be used.
She was a natural brunette and began dyeing her hair red early in her film career.
““Love yourself first and everything else falls into line.””
