Courtesy of the U.S. Postal Service

Lucille Ball 1911-1989
 
Everyone loves Lucy.  Well, not everyone but pretty close.  Born on August 6th, 1911 in Celoron, New York, this snappy little red head lays claim to the titles of television comedienne, producer, and actress.  Her first movie roll was a chorus girl in "Roman Scandals" in 1934.  After appearing in over 60 films, Ball played a crazy wife to a serious banker for the CBS radioprogram, "My Favorite Husband."  After four years CBS proposed the idea of changing the show to television.  Ball would only do it if her real-life husband Desi Arnaz played her TV husband. 
 
The members of CBS were skeptical about a red head housewife and Cuban bandleader as a believable couple, but the show was an overnight success.  Lucy was funny, sexy, and won the world over with her crazy schemes.  Ball continued filming during her pregnancy and the public kept a close eye on the impending birth.  Over 44 million peoplewatched as Lucy "gave birth" to Little Ricky.  Coincidentally the day this particular episode aired, Ball gave birth to a baby boy who she named Desi Jr. 
 
In 1960, Ball and Arnaz ended their 20 years of marriage with divorce.  By 1967, Ball sold Desilu Productions for 17 million dollars making 10 million dollars on the deal.  Ball and her new husband Gary Morton then formed Lucille Ball Productions.  In 1989, Ball underwent open-heart surgery and a week later, died of a ruptured aorta.  She was 77 years old but the public will always remember her during the prime of her life as vivacious and hilarious.

Source: A&E Productions

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