Can You please tell me why Desi Arnaz left Cuba? Thanks for your help.

If I remember correctly.....

His father was a famous senator/congress person and they lived in a really nice house, high society, etc. But then for some reason or another, the townspeople freaked out about some decision he (his dad) made or something like that and burned down their house and tried to kill him, luckily they all escaped, but were completely destitute. Soon after, Desi and his father came to Florida (I have no idea where his mother stayed back in Cuba in the meantime) and lived in a warehouse and subsisted on rats for food ::shudders:: until Desi landed a job and they eventually sent for their mother. Really quite a sad story actually.

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"Happy Birthday Mrs. Mertz, and I hope you live another 75 years!"

Actually Roz, it was the Battista Revolution that kicked the Arnazes out of Cuba. Desi's father wasn't on the same political plane as Battista, so his revolutionaries (if you wanna call them that) burned down his house, looted, etc. If I'm thinking right, his dad ended up in jail at one point. Okay, I've read both- that he came with his Dad to Miami first and sent for mother later, then I read just the opposite.

But you're right, they did live in a warehouse in a corner. They made money in the tile industry (something about broken tile sticks in my mind.) It's been awhile since I read his autobio.

Actually, Desi's father was Mayor of Santiago de Cuba, Desi's hometown. From what I understand, he was well respected and did a lot for the town.

Good Job everybody!!!!!!