Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Lucille Ball
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Lucille Ball made an impact.
Lucille Ball was a highly influential American actress, comedian, producer, and studio executive, recognized by Time as one of the most influential women of the 20th century. She is best known for her groundbreaking sitcom "I Love Lucy", which she both starred in and produced. Ball received numerous accolades throughout her career, including five Primetime Emmy Awards, the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award, and two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame and received a Kennedy Center Honor, solidifying her status as a comedic icon.
1928: Return to New York City
In 1928, Lucille Ball returned to New York City and began working as an in-house model for Hattie Carnegie.
1929: Career Beginnings
In 1929, Lucille Ball began her career as a model and started performing on Broadway under the name Diane Belmont.
1932: Return to NYC
In 1932, Lucille Ball moved back to New York City to resume her pursuit of an acting career, working for Carnegie and as the Chesterfield cigarette girl.
1933: Goldwyn Girl in Roman Scandals
In 1933, Lucille Ball had an uncredited role as a Goldwyn Girl in "Roman Scandals".
1934: Two-Reel Comedy Short
In 1934, Lucille Ball appeared in a two-reel comedy short with The Three Stooges called "Three Little Pigskins".
1935: RKO Musicals
In 1935, Lucille Ball appeared in Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers RKO musicals "Roberta" and "Top Hat".
1936: First Credited Role in Chatterbox
In 1936, Lucille Ball had her first credited role in "Chatterbox".
1936: Landing Role in Hey Diddle Diddle
In 1936, Lucille Ball landed a role in the Bartlett Cormack play "Hey Diddle Diddle", set in a duplex apartment in Hollywood.
1936: Supports Communist Party candidate
In 1936, Lucille Ball sponsored the Communist Party's candidate for the California State Assembly and was appointed to the state's Central Committee, marking her involvement in political activities.
January 21, 1937: Hey Diddle Diddle Premiere
On January 21, 1937, "Hey Diddle Diddle" premiered in Princeton, New Jersey, with Lucille Ball playing Julie Tucker. The play closed after one week in Washington, D.C.
1937: The Phil Baker Show
In 1937, Lucille Ball appeared regularly on "The Phil Baker Show".
1937: Stage Door
In 1937, Lucille Ball played a larger part in the film "Stage Door" alongside Ginger Rogers and Katharine Hepburn.
1938: Room Service
In 1938, Lucille Ball appeared in the movie "Room Service" with the Marx Brothers.
1938: The Wonder Show
In 1938, Lucille Ball joined the cast of "The Wonder Show" starring Jack Haley.
April 7, 1939: The Wonder Show Final Episode
On April 7, 1939, the final episode of "The Wonder Show" aired.
1939: Five Came Back
In 1939, Lucille Ball starred in the B-movie "Five Came Back".
1940: Too Many Girls
In 1940, Lucille Ball starred in "Dance, Girl, Dance" and "Too Many Girls", where she met Desi Arnaz.
1942: The Big Street
In 1942, Lucille Ball starred opposite Henry Fonda in "The Big Street".
1943: Du Barry Was a Lady and Best Foot Forward
In 1943, Lucille Ball starred in "Du Barry Was a Lady" and portrayed herself in "Best Foot Forward".
1944: Featured in Fund Raising for Roosevelt
In 1944, Lucille Ball prominently featured in a Pathé News newsreel titled "Fund Raising for Roosevelt", supporting President Franklin D. Roosevelt's campaign for the March of Dimes.
1946: Lover Come Back and The Dark Corner
In 1946, Lucille Ball starred in "Lover Come Back" and "The Dark Corner".
1947: Lured
In 1947, Lucille Ball appeared in the murder mystery "Lured".
1948: My Favorite Husband
In 1948, Lucille Ball was cast as Liz Cooper in "My Favorite Husband", a radio comedy for CBS Radio.
October 15, 1951: I Love Lucy Premiere
On October 15, 1951, "I Love Lucy" premiered on CBS, becoming a star vehicle for Lucille Ball and a means to salvage her marriage to Desi Arnaz.
January 19, 1953: Birth of Desi Arnaz Jr. and Airing of I Love Lucy episode
On January 19, 1953, Lucille Ball delivered her second child, Desi Arnaz Jr., while the I Love Lucy episode featuring her character's pregnancy aired to 44 million viewers. The birth made the cover of TV Guide.
1954: The Long, Long Trailer
In 1954, during the production breaks of "I Love Lucy", Lucy and Desi starred together in the feature film "The Long, Long Trailer".
October 1956: Appears on Bob Hope Special
In October 1956, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley appeared together on a Bob Hope special on NBC, including a spoof of I Love Lucy, marking the only time all four stars were on a color telecast.
1956: Forever, Darling
In 1956, during the production breaks of "I Love Lucy", Lucy and Desi starred together in the feature film "Forever, Darling".
1957: CBS Buys Back Rights
In 1957, CBS bought back the rights to "I Love Lucy" for $1,000,000, which financed Ball and Arnaz's down payment for the purchase of the former RKO Pictures studios, which they turned into Desilu Studios.
1960: Desilu Ownership
After her divorce in 1960, Lucille Ball bought out Desi Arnaz's share of Desilu and became a very actively engaged studio head.
1960: Broadway Debut
From 1960 to 1961, Lucille Ball produced and starred in the Broadway musical "Wildcat".
1960: The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour Ends
In 1960, after "I Love Lucy" ended, the main cast continued to appear in occasional hour-long specials under the title "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour".
1960: Wildcat ends its run early
In 1960, the Broadway musical "Wildcat," starring Lucille Ball, ended its run prematurely due to Ball's illness and declining ticket sales. Despite the show's failure, it produced the memorable song "Hey, Look Me Over," which Ball famously performed on The Ed Sullivan Show.
1962: Desilu Productions Leadership
In 1962, Lucille Ball became the first woman to run a major television studio, Desilu Productions.
1962: Stars in The Lucy Show
In 1962, Lucille Ball starred in "The Lucy Show" on CBS with Vivian Vance and Gale Gordon, which ran until 1968, adding another successful sitcom to her career.
1964: Hosts CBS Radio Talk Show
In 1964, Lucille Ball began hosting a CBS Radio talk show titled "Let's Talk to Lucy," showcasing her versatility beyond television acting.
1964: Collaborates on Autobiography
In the early 1960s, influenced by Norman Vincent Peale, Lucille Ball collaborated with Betty Hannah Hoffman on an autobiography covering her life until 1964.
1965: Vivian Vance Leaves The Lucy Show
In 1965, Vivian Vance left "The Lucy Show", and Gale Gordon joined the show.
1966: Manuscript Found
In 1966, Lucille Ball's manuscript was found after being postmarked from the 1960's.
1967: Sale of Desilu
In 1967, Lucille Ball sold her shares of Desilu to Gulf+Western for $17,000,000, and it was renamed Paramount Television.
1968: Appears in Yours, Mine, and Ours
In 1968, Lucille Ball starred in the movie "Yours, Mine, and Ours", adding to her filmography of comedic roles.
1974: Appears in the musical Mame and on the Dick Cavett Show
In 1974, Lucille Ball starred in the musical "Mame" and appeared on The Dick Cavett Show where she discussed her career and personal life.
1976: CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
In 1976, CBS paid tribute to Lucille Ball with the two-hour special "CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years", which marked the first time Ball and Arnaz appeared on screen together in 16 years.
1979: Assistant Professor at California State University
In 1979, Lucille Ball became an assistant professor at California State University, Northridge, showcasing her interest in education alongside her acting career.
1980: Stars in Comedy Television Specials
Around 1980, Lucille Ball starred in comedy television specials, including "Lucy Calls the President" and "Lucy Moves to NBC", which depicted her transition to the NBC television network.
1980: Lucille Ball Expresses Support for Gay Rights
In a 1980 interview with People, Lucille Ball stated her support for gay rights, acknowledging the talent of homosexual individuals and questioning criticism towards them.
1982: Hosts Three's Company Retrospective
In 1982, Lucille Ball hosted a two-part "Three's Company" retrospective, showcasing clips and commenting on the show's memorable moments, highlighting her appreciation for the series.
1983: Partners to Set Up Film and Television Production House
In 1983, Lucille Ball and Gary Morton partnered to establish a film and television production house at 20th Century Fox, planning to produce both films and plays.
1985: Stars in Stone Pillow
In 1985, Lucille Ball starred in "Stone Pillow", a made-for-TV dramatic film about a homeless woman, which received mixed reviews but garnered strong viewership.
1986: Life with Lucy canceled
In 1986, Lucille Ball's sitcom comeback, "Life with Lucy", was canceled by ABC shortly after its premiere, despite costarring Gale Gordon and being co-produced by Ball, Gary Morton, and Aaron Spelling.
June 7, 1990: Opening of Lucy – A Tribute
On June 7, 1990, Universal Studios Florida opened Lucy – A Tribute, a walk-through attraction dedicated to Lucille Ball. The attraction featured clips of her shows, facts about her life, displays of her belongings, and an interactive quiz.
2001: Induction into National Women's Hall of Fame
In 2001, Lucille Ball was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame for her contributions to the Women's Movement.
2008: "I Love Lucy" Ranked Second-Best TV Program
In 2008, TV Guide named I Love Lucy the second-best television program in American history, after Seinfeld.
2017: Will & Grace Homage to Lucille Ball
In 2017, an episode of Will & Grace paid homage to Lucille Ball by replicating the 1963 shower scene from "The Lucy Show" episode, "Lucy and Viv Put in a Shower".
January 2023: L.A. Theatre Works Mounts US National Tour of "LUCY LOVES DESI"
In January 2023, L.A. Theatre Works mounted a 22-city U.S. national tour of the play "LUCY LOVES DESI: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sitcom", starring Ellis Greer as Lucille Ball.
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