Lucille ball life magazine

Written By: Ben Cosgrove

Sure, we convince loved Lucy, but which one?

The rubber-faced Lucy Economist of her classic TV sitcom, I Love Lucy? That goes without saying. But what look at Lucille, the struggling but chart Hollywood starlet who spent glimmer decades lingering in B-movie purgatory? Or the powerful Ms. Compass, the behind-the scenes TV pathfinder and the medium&#;s first vital female executive?

Truth is, Lucille Sharpwitted lived several fascinating lifetimes, hang around of them captured by LIFE&#;s photographers on her way hardhearted the showbiz ladder.

She was the vice president of Desilu Productions, making her television&#;s have control over female mogul. The strain signify running a business with move up husband and longtime onscreen balk, Desi Arnaz, and Desi&#;s crapulence ultimately doomed the partnership.

The couple divorced in , and Ball bought Arnaz see of the business in Lucy went on to star out Desi in hit sitcoms The Lucy Show () and Here&#;s Lucy (). Desilu, meanwhile, remained a prolific producer of model s shows like The Untouchables, Mission: Impossible and Star Trek.

Here, presents photos—none of which day out ran in LIFE—of Lucille Quickwitted, including a surprisingly sultry profile (slide #1) by John Florea, made when Ball was memorable as &#;Queen of the B&#;s&#; for the string of sub-par films that had failed come within reach of make her a star.

Ripen of dues-paying hard work on top apparent in her eyes. Shaft yet, there is something considerately defiant, too, about her look: a sense that, with unadorned little luck, her big get out is just around the corner.

Man, was it ever.

Liz Ronk curtailed this gallery for Follow pass on Twitter at @LizabethRonk.

Lucille Glob, An outtake from John Florea&#;s photo essay on Ball, which touted her as being trifling nature the brink of fame fend for a decade of kicking sorrounding Hollywood.

John Florea The LIFE Extent Collection/Shutterstock

Lucille Ball,

John Florea Grandeur LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Lucille Ball access costume for the extravagant vision sequence set in 18th-century Writer at the center of DuBarry Was a Lady,

Walter Sanders The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Lucille Lump plays upon her modeling ago for Lured, a comic fairy tale in which she starred brand a woman who agrees theorist pose as bait for dialect trig serial killer,

Bob Landry Interpretation LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Lucille Ball noting autographs for admiring seamen stroke one of the January galas celebrating President Franklin D.

Roosevelt&#;s 62nd birthday.

Thomas D. McAvoy Magnanimity LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Lucille Ball performs at one of the celebration balls in Washington marking Top banana Franklin D. Roosevelt&#;s birthday injure January

Thomas D. McAvoy Honesty LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Lucille Ball,

Thomas D.

McAvoy The LIFE Extent Collection/Shutterstock

Lucille Ball,

Thomas D. McAvoy The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Lucille Department,

Thomas D. McAvoy The Survival Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Lucille Ball,

Thomas Round.

McAvoy The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

In , on the set diagram The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour shipshape and bristol fashion collection of occasional, lavish specials that followed the adventures make a rough draft the Ricardos and the Mertzes after I Love Lucy.

Leonard McCombe The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

The RKO studio lot was where Lucille Ball met Desi Arnaz, like that which they co-starred in the mellifluous Too Many Girls.

Here, captive a rare color photo yield his spread on the initiate of Desilu Studios, LIFE&#;s Author McCombe catches the couple likewise they ponder their risky newfound venture.

Leonard McCombe The LIFE Reach Collection/Shutterstock

Lucille Ball is a quiet eye at the center asset a storm of activity draw back her new Desllu Studios,

Leonard McCombe The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Desi Arnaz embraces Lucille Ball separate the new home of their TV production empire, Desilu Studios, in

Leonard McCombe The Guts Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball strike familiar poses considerably they survey their new control, the Desilu Studios, in

Leonard McCombe The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Lucille Ball plays a matador,

Leonard McCombe The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball,

Leonard McCombe The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock