Lucille Ball's posthumously discovered autobiography, "Love Lucy," sheds light on the iconic actress's life, work, and the tumultuous relationship with her husband Desi Arnaz. The manuscript, found by her children Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr., reveals Lucy's early struggles, her relentless work ethic, and the journey from unrecognized talent to the heights of Hollywood success, culminating in the creation of the groundbreaking sitcom "I Love Lucy." Despite the show's unprecedented popularity, it brought immense stress, leading to the disintegration of Lucy and Desi's marriage. However, the memoir also captures Lucy's resilience, her eventual happiness in a second marriage, and the harmonious co-parenting with Desi post-divorce. The autobiography, which also includes Lucy's daughter's reflections, emphasizes the importance of documenting family histories and the enduring impact of personal legacies.
"There, in a dusty box, he uncovered what turned out to be a never before published autobiographical work of our mothers." "I was stunned when I read it." "There's a wonderful energy that comes through a fire in her belly as a young kid, a sense of adventure, like, I want to make some noise."
The quotes express the initial surprise and emotional impact of discovering Lucille Ball's autobiography, emphasizing the vividness and energy of her life story as conveyed through her writing.
"She's one of the most successful actresses and entrepreneurs have ever lived." "They contacted an old attorney of Lucy's, and we're asking a question. And he discovered in some of his old paperwork this unprinted manuscript."
These quotes highlight Lucille Ball's success and the circumstances under which her autobiography was discovered, underscoring the significance of the find within the context of her estate's management.
"Create a comprehensive family history. Do it through writing, do it through audio, do it through video." "To see her life as she saw it, it was sad for the family and it was sad for the world."
The quotes emphasize the value of recording and preserving personal narratives for both family members and the broader public, and they suggest various mediums for doing so.
"I miss not having her around all the time." "The hardest thing for me was getting used to the idea that I deserved it."
The quotes reveal Lucille Ball's personal reflections on her childhood, the absence of her mother, and her challenges in accepting her own success, providing insight into her emotional journey.
"Lucille Ball gave me advice about Hollywood. She said, just remember, when they say no, you hear yes and act accordingly." "She watched it, would send me flowers, would send me a note saying, hey, you're doing such a good job."
These quotes illustrate the enduring impact of Lucille Ball's mentorship on Schwarzenegger, reflecting her generosity and the power of her advice in shaping his approach to his career.
"After many decades of being taken advantage of by other people, she bet on herself." "Lucy and Desi are credited as the innovators, the people that invented the idea of the syndicated rerun."
These quotes highlight Lucille Ball's groundbreaking role in the entertainment industry, emphasizing her determination to succeed on her own terms and her contributions to television history.
"But the tremendous drive and dedication necessary to succeed in any field, not only show business, often seems to be rooted in a disturbed childhood." "Chips on shoulders puts chips in pockets."
The quotes discuss the connection between challenging childhoods and the motivation to achieve success, suggesting that adversity can fuel ambition and resilience.
Uncle John had worlds to teach me. We constructed a laboratory of sorts in the tiny stable behind the house.
This quote illustrates the nurturing environment Uncle John provided, which was pivotal in fostering Lucie's aspirations and work ethic.
You're not a screw up. Who cares if you're not good at school? You're funny. You're an entertainer. People will pay for those skills.
The quote emphasizes the value of recognizing and nurturing individual talents, suggesting that traditional measures of success, like academic achievement, are not the only path to success.
Dee Dee never tried to hem me in. Be an actress. Sure, why not?
This quote shows the unwavering support Lucie's mother had for her ambitions, encouraging her to pursue acting and providing practical support.
At the end of the term, the school wrote my mother and said that they were sorry, but I didn't have what it takes to be an actress.
The quote exemplifies the early rejection Lucie faced, which contrasts sharply with her eventual success, highlighting the flawed judgment of the acting school.
I soon learned that to survive in theater, you have to be very strong, very healthy, and damned resilient.
This quote encapsulates the tough nature of the entertainment industry and the personal qualities required to endure and succeed within it.
Roman scandals was supposed to be filmed in six weeks, but it stretched into six months.
This quote provides insight into the demanding and often extended schedules of early film production, as well as Lucie's enjoyment of the process despite the challenges.
On his advice, I put $25 into the bank every payday.
The quote underscores the practical advice Lucie received about saving money, which was crucial for enduring the instability of the entertainment industry.
Keeping the household afloat was the greatest thing that ever happened to me.
This quote reflects Lucie's sense of responsibility and joy in being able to support and reunite her family in Hollywood, despite financial challenges.
Leela was the first person to see me as a clown with glamour.
The quote highlights the pivotal role of mentorship in Lucie's development, with Leela recognizing and nurturing her unique talents.
I believe that we're as happy in life as we make our minds to be.
This quote conveys Lucie's philosophy on the power of mindset in shaping one's happiness and success, emphasizing the importance of attitude over circumstances.
I knew no force on heaven or earth would be strong enough to pull those two apart. That's the kind of marriage I wanted.
The quote reflects Lucie's deep desire for a stable and enduring marriage, inspired by the example of her grandparents' strong relationship.
"So she talks about in Hollywood, like, a lot of these stars are sleeping their way to the top, and so they're constantly getting approached. And so she ends up getting blackballed because of this."
This quote underscores the toxic culture in Hollywood where refusing unwanted advances could lead to professional ostracism. Lucie Arnaz's ethical stance against breaking up a family led to her being blackballed.
"I had to give Hollywood a rest and look around for other showcases for my talent. I wound up trying radio. This turned out to be one of the smartest things I ever did."
The quote highlights Lucie Arnaz's adaptability and willingness to pivot her career, which paid off when her radio work led to greater opportunities in television.
"The most important relationship she ever has in her life. And that's the one with Desi Arnez."
This quote introduces the pivotal role Desi Arnaz played in Lucie Arnaz's life, setting the stage for a relationship that would be both deeply passionate and tumultuous.
"Desi's father was the mayor of Santiago. His mother was a famous beauty. And one of the heirs to the Bacardi rum fortune."
This quote provides context for Desi Arnaz's early life, highlighting the dramatic change in circumstances that would influence his drive and ambition.
"We were both head over heels in love. And we both longed with all of our hearts for a home for our own and children. But everything else in the picture seemed hopelessly negative."
The quote captures the conflicting emotions in their relationship: deep love and a shared dream of a family, against a backdrop of incompatibility and negative behaviors.
"Once again, I learned the bitter lesson that directors and producers can make or break an actress."
This quote reveals the harsh reality of the film industry and the lack of agency actors often experienced, which influenced Lucie Arnaz's drive to gain control of her career.
"I did a series called my favorite husband. It was a half hour weekly show."
The quote signifies a turning point in Lucie Arnaz's career, where her work in radio laid the groundwork for her later success in television with a supportive creative team.
"Desi and I talked far into the night. We finally decided that Desi would give up his cross country tours. And only take local engagements."
This quote shows the couple's willingness to make sacrifices for the sake of their marriage and the shared goal of starting a family, despite ongoing career and personal challenges.
In 1950, Desi and I decided that since nobody else seemed to have faith in us as a team. We'd form our own company to promote ourselves.
This quote emphasizes the entrepreneurial spirit of Desi and Lucie Arnaz, showcasing their initiative to establish their own production company in the face of industry doubt.
So terrified was Hollywood of this medium movie. People were afraid to even make guest appearances, meaning while she's embracing it.
Lucie Arnaz's decision to embrace television despite Hollywood's fears highlights her forward-thinking and willingness to take risks that others were not.
Desi made an offer. In return for a $1000 weekly salary cut for us, we were given complete ownership of the show.
This quote signifies a strategic business decision by Desi Arnaz, trading short-term salary for long-term ownership and control, which paid off significantly in the future.
Our shows changed the Monday night habits of America.
This quote illustrates the profound influence "I Love Lucy" had on American culture, becoming a significant part of people's weekly routines.
I realized that we never really liked each other.
This quote captures the personal realization Lucie Arnaz had about her relationship with Desi, highlighting the complexity of their personal and professional lives intertwined.
Desi and I were totally estranged. Although we still had to be both actor and director on the show.
This quote reveals the deterioration of Desi and Lucie's marriage, even as they continued to work together professionally, highlighting the difficulty of balancing personal issues with professional responsibilities.