I have read many books about Lucille Ball. From all accounts, it sounds like Lucy was really a mean, insecure person. Hard to believe the "Queen of Comedy" was a total bitch on wheels isn't it? For all her success, her life was kind of sad. Any comments from die hard Lucy fans?

I've read this too. Even from her own daughter.

Unfortunately, it seems to be true. I believe that Lucy did not have a very happy childhood but I think that she became very bitter after her divorce from Desi and was never really 100% happy again.

That's a shame. I never heard she was mean but then again you never know, I guess! I heard she was nice according to Carol Burnett. Carol said she received flowers for her birthday the day Lucy died. Even though Lucy was sick, she made sure Carol Burnett got flowers. I don't hear many stories about Lucy so I wouldn't really know though.

Just thought I'd share that comment about Carol Burnett.

Thanks.

I don't think I've read that Lucille Ball was mean. What I've read is that, in a nutshell, she was one heck of a tough nut....but that she also had a big heart and was very caring. I read a quote of Lucie's that stated (I'm paraphrasing) that her mother would respect you more if you gave it right back to her, as opposed to being submissive and cowering.

betsy

You know 2 days ago it was 12 years since she died. I can actually remember the day she died how sad everyone was. It doesn't seem like she's been dead that long though.

[This message has been edited by Madness (edited 04-28-2001).]

Strange enough as this seems, I remember seeing a copy of the People mag. that came out after her death on a grocery store rack. And back then I didn't even know who Lucy was. And I was only 9. But that picture sticks in my mind like I saw it yesterday. Guess I was destined to love Lucy as they say.

Funny story from Vivian Vance's biograhpy. Lucy and Vivan were in the middle of of filming an episode. The next scene required a costume change for each lady. (By the way, at the time Lucy was pregnant with Desi Jr) Lucy's dressing room was right by the set. Vivan had to high tail it way over to the other side of the sound stage, change and run back. Out of breath, Vivan rushed back and found Lucy waiting for her. Lucy says, "What took you so long?!" Vivian's response, "I'd tell you to go **** yourself if Desi hadn't taken care of that already!" Priceless!!!! http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/smile.gif

Awesome quote! I'll have to read that book!

There's a great book called "Desilu", which chronicles Lucy's and Desi's careers. It was written with cooperation from Lucie Arnaz, who apparently opened a lot of doors for the author to get access to people who otherwise wouldn't have granted interviews. Lucie Arnaz seems to be pretty candid about her mother any time I see or read interviews with her.

Desilu is a terrific book...despite some negative stories, I think it was a balanced look at Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, unlike some books that undoubtedly focus on the tabloid aspects of their lives.

On her web site, there is a segment where she answers e-mails from fans, and she is is very forthright, amazingly so, considering the personal nature of some of the questions.
She obviously loved her parents very much, but as she mentions, they were complex people, and relations were sometimes strained.....just like any of us, with our parents.

Lucy was and always will be my inspiration.
I can't understand why people believe everything they read. Lucy was a very caring
and loving person. She gave to numerous charities out of her own pocket while other
stars asked for donations. You can not believe everything you read. Lucy is still my angel. I'm just asking that anyone reading
this will respect this lovely lady who cared
so much for her family,friends,and fans no matter what you thought about her because she really did love and care. Please don't
bad mouth my eternal friend.


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Amy M. Weaver

Amy, not to worry. You know how it is with celebrities; once you become famous, your life is an open book and people love taking pot shots at you.

I'm sure Lucille Ball wasn't perfect, but she had plenty of family and friends who loved her, and her fans love her. One thing that I've learned from reading several books, and the Lucy/Desi home movie, is that good friends and family love a person, despite whatever faults that person has; they aren't judgmental like the rest of the world.

betsy

Amy, I know it's difficult to hear unpleasant things about Lucy. Not trying to burst your bubble or anything, but pick up any book about Lucy done with or without her family's cooperation and you'll see the same things over and over again. Lucy was a insecure and unhappy lady. She could be down right nasty. Comments like this come out of the mouths of her own children. I'm not saying she wasn't a good person or anything, God knows her talent has enriched the lives of millions. It's got to be a lot of pressure to be one of the most fameous and successful people alive while your marriage is falling apart. Guess that would make anyone bitchy. My point is, try and see her as the human being she was and not as some red headed saint. You need to get out more. Take care.

Montgomery, I know you weren't directing your comments to me, but I will answer anyway. In my earliest post, I stated that from what I could tell, she was a tough nut....as opposed to a bitch. Yes, Lucie has stated that her mother could be tactless at times, and I've read that same kind of comment from other people. However, while you read that as bitchiness, I don't. I believe that Lucie and Desi Jr. have discovered, through the years, what made their parents were the way they were, good and bad, and they don't pass judgment on them. It seems to me that in your haste to not make Lucille Ball a saint, you've gone to the opposite extreme and called her a bitch. Your initial post isn't exactly a balanced look at the woman. You say that from "all accounts", Lucille Ball was mean and insecure, and a "bitch on wheels". That is what you took from those books, but that doesn't mean that is the whole truth. I mean, ok...the woman was insecure. Who isn't at some point? Did it come out badly at times? Apparently so, for more than one person...including Lucie, has commented on her mother's sometimes ornery nature. She has also commented, I'm sure, about her mother's positive side. In Desilu, she mentioned that her mother personally signed hundreds responses to fan mail. However, you have painted a completely one sided picture of Lucille Ball. What about the many wonderful things her friends had/have to say about her? Do they think she was a bitch? Desi Jr. was very emotional when he talked about his mother helping him get through is drug and alchohol dependency; what about that?

I think that Lucille Ball was a very complicated person who, like all of us, was a product of where and how she grew up. Some people didn't like her and couldn't deal with her personality; others did like her, and love her, and because they did so, they dealt with her sometimes difficult personality.

Not everything is so black and white.....

betsy

I don't know, but I had lived through some of the crap she lived through, I'd seem like a "bitch" too. Imagine how you would feel if you found out the one true love of your life was cheating on you. Personally, I'd go nuts. It was all a coping mechanism. Everyone does it.

If Lucy was such a "Horrible" person, then why did people like, Bob and Madelyn, Many Directors,Gale Gordon, Viv and Mary Jane Croft, continue to work with her. Mary Jane told me that she loved working with Lucy. Yes if you didn't do something correctly or she didn't like she would tell you. But this is only if you weren't being professional. She was a human being like all of us, and we aren't all always so pleasant!

Bottom line! Lucy was an beautiful spirit on this planet. She brought so much love and healing to all she touched. She truly was amazing!

Patrick

Patrick,
Thank You for saying those nice things about Lucy. I know she had been known to be a little hard on people at times at work,but
after all,it was her show and studio. She was
my idol and always will be and not to mention a very wonderful and dear friend. And
to whom it may concern,I have read every book
ever printed on this lovely lady and my opinon will never change.

Sorry. Looks like I touched a hot button. You all have good points. I guess mine was to see Lucy as a human, flaws and all. That's neither good or bad, just real. The bottom line I guess is, I love Lucy too! There you go. http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/smile.gif

Lucy A Bitch!!! I have grown up watching I Love Lucy...Find it hard to believe, but I guess it could be true!

I think there is a happy medium in here. First of all, she was truly loyal to her friends (i.e. sending Carol Burnett flowers for her birthday on the very same day that she died). But there was another side to her: she wasn't the most loving mother and her two kids will admit to that. And there were actors who worked with her on her shows who despised her because of the way she treated them Right out of the mouths of Talula Bankhead, Richard Burton, and Milton Berle, she was mean and bossy. You can be a perfectist but not have to be mean at the same time.

We all saw the person she wanted us to see; funny, naive, emotional, a friend. I personally believe that she changed when her marriage to Desi Arnaz ended and I have a felling she was never the same again.

Here, here Terry Ross! I agree completely!

Yes, I have read terrible stories about Tallulah Bankhead, and the way she treated the cast members. A good book to read about what it was really like to work with Lucy is THE LUCY BOOK. A guide to her years on TV.

Like Madness said Carol Burnett got flowers every birthday she had since she had met lucy i watched Finding Lucy and she said that

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David Cole

Wow, it's a good thing I wasn't at this board earlier because I think I would have flown off the handle with certain ::ahem:: comments made earlier. Luckily I wasn't and everyone else said things far better than I ever could. She was a truly beautiful person, inside and out, faults and all and I feel deeply honored that she has been a such a part of my life for so long even though she may have been a bit hot-headed. All that does is make her a real person, not some fantasy figure of perfection. It simply makes her human.

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

Hello all,

I'm new to this board! I do love Lucy, and want to say what has been said before about women. How come when a woman is strong, she is a bitch, but when a man is, he's admired. It's really quite disgusting!

I have a book called "Lucy in the Afternoon", by Jim Brochu. He knew her in her last year of her life and he paints a good picture of her for the most part. The book is absolutely wonderful and is filled with stories she told him about her life. It's so sad at the end, when he tells of Lucy having dreams of Desi after he died. I think they always loved each other. Has anyone seen videos of them with their grandchildren after they were divorced? It really looks like they have a longing to be together. So sad!!

~Summer

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/fridge/msg0616044325782.jpg




[This message has been edited by Summer Girl (edited 06-25-2001).]

That sounds like an amazing book, I'll have to check it out. Welcome to the board Summer. http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/smile.gif

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

Originally posted by Roz1013:
That sounds like an amazing book, I'll have to check it out. Welcome to the board Summer. http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/smile.gif



True, it does sound like an amazing book, but take it from one who knows, it isn't. Beside the book being 99% fiction, it was released moments after the death of Lucille Ball. Mr. Brochu, who seems to be a very clever man, was money-hungry, and found the perfect niche to fill his pocket, to cash in on the death of his "friend".

This book has been rejected by family and true friends of the Ball-Arnaz family. To read more about their opinions, see www.LucieArnaz.com (http://www.LucieArnaz.com) , under the "Ask Lucie" section, where Lucie denounces it.

Another story you might find interesting -- Lucille Ball gave Mr. Brochu her last autographed photo she ever signed. He sold it for BIG BUCKS not long after her passing. Some friend.