LUCY BALL HALL?

JUNE 16, 1938

Before meeting Desi Arnaz while making Too Many Girls, Lucille Ball was actually engaged to be married to divorced film director Alexander Hall, seventeen years her senior.  

Alexander Hall made his stage debut in 1898 at age four. He entered films in 1914 as an actor. Leaving the film industry to serve in the army in World War I, he returned in 1917 and re-entered the business, but this time as an editor and assistant director. He made his directorial debut in 1932. He turned out a number of light, sophisticated comedies, the best known of which is the charming fantasy Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941), for which he received an Oscar nomination.   

Hall directed William Frawley (Fred Mertz) in two films: Miss Fane’s Baby Is Stolen (1934) which also starred Irving Bacon, who later played Fred Mertz’s father-in-law Will Potter; and Down To Earth (1947) which also starred Edward Everett Horton, who played randy butcher Mr. Ritter on “I Love Lucy.” 

He also directed the 1934 comedy Little Miss Marker, which later was remade as Sorrowful Jones in 1949 starring Lucille Ball. 

Al introduced Lucille to Ed Sedgwick, who later served as godfather to her two children. It was reported that Ball even moved into Hall’s Beverly Hills mansion for a time.

“I enjoyed his company, his advice and guidance, but was not in love with him.” ~ Lucille Ball

Director Al Hall and actress Lucille Ball were photographed at the Hollywood Pantages Theater preview of My Little Chickadee in early February 1940. Less than two months later, Hall’s film The Doctor Takes a Wife opened in limited release. The Columbia picture featured future “I Love Lucy” players Irving Bacon, Charles Lane, Vernon Dent, Olin Howland, Myra Marsh, and William Newell. 

“Lucille Ball, the blonde comedienne, and Al Hall, Director, were snapped here at Ray Haller’s Cafe, a Hollywood night spot.”  Ray Haller’s Cafe was located on Hollywood and Vine, and shortly afterward became known as Sardi’s, a favorite hangout of film stars, just as the New York Sardi’s is for Broadway. 

In this 1935 photo Lucy is a brunette. She would not adopt her signature red locks until 1943′s DuBarry Was A Lady, filmed in technicolor. 

After Lucille broke the engagement with Hall to date and marry Desi Arnaz, Hall married Jule Cassell, with whom he had a son. He married once more, to Marjorie Hunter. 

In 1956, Lucy and Desi hired Hall to direct their 1956 film Forever Darling.  Coincidentally, both Forever Darling and Here Comes Mr. Jordan had angels as characters!

Alexander Hall died at age 74 after having a stroke in July 1968. 

In 2001, Ben Mendelsohn played Hall in “The Shirley Temple Story” a teleplay developed by Disney.