Classic TV Goddess of the month: Lucille Ball

Who me? Lucy playing coy

Ever since I started my blog three years ago, my main monthly feature was dedicated to the classic film actresses of our golden age. This year I decided to change things up by concentrating on actresses who had their biggest success on the small screen. And who better to kick off the year than with everybody's favorite redhead, Lucille Ball. So all month long I will be posting facts, photos, etc about the one and only Lucy. This post is just an introduction to her to everyone.

Listening in on as Ginger talks shop on the set of Follow the Fleet

First, Ms. Ball had a very successful film career when she started out. So I don't want to imply that she only achieved success on the small screen. At the young age of 22, she had a lot of uncredited roles in such films as Kid Millions (1934), Broadway Bill (1934), Roberta (1935) and Top Hat (1935). Her first major break came with another Astaire/Rogers movie, Follow the Fleet (1936) when she was cast as Kitty Collins. Larger roles in more big films would soon follow. Stage Door, Joy Of Living, Having Wonderful Time (with Ginger again), Room Service (with the Marx brothers) and headlining her own series, Annabel, a pair of screwball films co-starring Jack Oakie. 

Lucy in a very big hat

She got to flex her dramatic chops in the classic thriller Five Came Back (1939). She would meet her eventual husband Desi Arnaz in Too Many Girls (1940). Their pairing would eventually lead to the classic sitcom I Love Lucy, which of course I will be talking lots about in later posts this month.

With Red Skelton and Gene Kelly in DuBarry Was A Lady (1943)

But Lucy would star in lots more films during the 40's before I Love Lucy would air in the mid 50's. Other notable films during this decade include Dance Girl Girl (1940), Seven Days Leave (1942), The Big Street (1942), DuBarry Was A Lady (1943), Best Foot Forward (1943), Without Love (1945), Easy To Wed (1946), and Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949). Quite the output for an actress more known for later sitcom fare.

With Esther Williams and Van Johnson in Easy To Wed (1946)

So I will begin with Lucy's legendary run in TV beginning with my next post. Hope you guys will stop by to check it out.