A.K.A. Lucy

August 1, 2023
A substantial tribute to one of the most beloved entertainers of the 20th century. Pop-culture historian Royal's picturesque book about Lucille Ball (1911-1989) begins with a reverential foreword by Amy Poehler, who writes that Ball never rested on her laurels; she "was always pushing and learning." Ball grew up poor in Jamestown, New York. Her father died when she was 3, and her mother remarried a few years later. At age 15, she traveled to New York City's John Murray Anderson-Robert Milton School of the Theatre, but she failed and ended up back in Jamestown. In 1930, she performed in the Jamestown Players Club production of Within the Law; she earned rave reviews and regained the desire to act again. Working as a Chesterfield cigarette model, she caught the attention of Sylvia Hahlo, a talent agent looking for Goldwyn Girls for Eddie Cantor's film Roman Sandals. What made her stand out was her ability to be goofy and perform slapstick, which got her more roles in a variety of films until she and Desi Arnaz started producing I Love Lucy in 1951. Throughout the book, Royal commemorates Ball's immense talent and personal successes and struggles during her tumultuous marriage to Arnaz, but she also shows her business acumen and perfectionism, which stemmed from her severe insecurities. After I Love Lucy and her divorce, Ball never stopped entertaining where and when she could. "I can't imagine doing nothing," she said. "If you don't keep moving, you're buried." By the end, Ball had performed in 80 movies, more than 120 radio episodes, and more than 500 TV episodes, and she owned her own production company. Making effective use of such visual elements as photos, timelines, pull quotes, and lists, Royal shows how Ball was not just a Hollywood star, but also a modest, hardworking, kind individual. A satisfying, brightly colored biography about a comedy legend.

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Starred review from October 1, 2023

Pop-culture historian Royal (host of the podcast Enough Wicker: Intellectualizing "The Golden Girls") provides a fresh take on the life and career of one of TV's most recognizable stars, Lucille Ball, in this delightful, photo-filled account of her groundbreaking accomplishments. Ball (1911-89) believed her drive came from her unconventional childhood. Her father died when she was three, and she and her younger brother were raised by grandparents and a working mother. The book effectively charts the course of her passionate, enduring love with Desi Arnaz; summarizes the most famous episodes of I Love Lucy, which pioneered three-camera filming; and supplies examples of the masterful merchandising of Ball's likeness on everything from pajamas to furniture. The last episode of I Love Lucy aired in 1957, but reruns still air today, nearly 60 years later. Royal also reflects on Ball's legacy as the first woman to run a television studio (when she bought Arnaz's shares after their divorce). In her later years, Ball tackled Broadway, stood up for gay and women's rights, and offered opportunities and support to up-and-comers such as Carol Burnett. VERDICT This perfectly supplements the many books about Ball by contributing new insights with heart and humor.--Lisa Henry

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