FIRST BIRD LEAVES THE NEST

January 4, 1970

On January 4, 1970, Associated Press syndicated columnist Cynthia Lowry published a story about Lucille Ball’s daughter, Lucie, leaving home, with updates on Ball’s career and her show. The article is reprinted below in its entirety, with quotes from Lucille Ball in bold italics. Footnotes (bold numbers in parentheses) have been added for historical perspective and photographs were selected for editorial enhancement. 

~ by Cynthia Lowry (AP), Hollywood

The redhead with the showgirl’s figure was taking an afternoon dip in her pool and making a good effort at keeping a stiff upper lip: the first bird was about the leave the nest. 

Lucie Desiree Arnaz, who was 18 last July, moved into her own apartment. Her bachelor-girl quarters are not far from home, but for Lucille Ball, as for any parent, it is an important milestone. 

Little Lucie was born shortly before the premier of “I Love Lucy” in 1951 and grew up with the series. Now with 16 year-old Desi IV, who was almost born on the show, they are starting a second season co-starring on camera as Lucy’s children. 

Wanted Children In Show

Lucille climbed out of the pool, into a terrycloth robe, and began reflecting about bringing up children in a show business family. “I wanted mine in the show  because I thought it would teach them something, help them to decide what they wanted to do,” she said. “And I think it has." 

Lucille Ball is a fine comedienne but it must never be forgotten that she is also a business woman who as president of Desilu learned about the practical side of television. 

"From the beginning I wanted to keep them in the show for three years – that’s enough for experience and enough to build up enough shows for syndication later. I wanted them in the series for the same reason I want them out of it after three years. Then they can decide what comes next.” (1)

Hopes For College 

She hopes it will be college for both if they want it. (2) Lucie, soft drink can In hand, joined her mother to report glowingly the results of a session with the wallpaper man at the new apartment. 

“She’s just about stripped this place and her father’s house at Del Mar to furnish it,” said her mother proudly. “She’s handling the whole thing herself." 

The comedienne brushed off almost carelessly questions about the roughest competition in her TV career from "Laugh-In.” Her own show, however, has stayed high on the Nielsen charts. This coming season Lucy and company will move out of the studio to make shows in distant spots. 

 Show New Look 

“It gives the show a new look and does something for the performers,” Miss Bail said. “We did two shows at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. The weather was murderous – rain, snow, hail, sleet – you could see hail stones bouncing off people’s heads. We just kept on working through it for five hours. It doesn’t show on the screen as much as we thought.” (3)

The Ball base is the Beverly Hills home in which the children grew up, and the studio she once owned. Lucy and second husband Gary Morton have a week-end retreat in Palm Springs and are looking for a mountain home. 

Wants A Lodge

“Gary and the children are always asking me what I want, and the other day I told them,” said Lucy. “I want a lodge, on a mountain, in the trees. I want a place with privacy, deep woods, rough beams and where you can chop wood." 

Miss Ball wants to chop wood? 

"No, Gary and Desi,” she said. 

Gary, sitting close by, did not look enthusiastic, but smiled gamely. Lucy may like the rustic life but he prefers golf and tinkering with antique autos. 

~FOOTNOTES~

(1) Lucie Arnaz stayed with “Here’s Lucy” for all six of its seasons, 1968-74.  There was an attempt to spin-off her character (Kim Carter) into her own series, but the pilot did not sell and Arnaz returned to “Here’s Lucy”.  Desi Arnaz Jr., however, left the show after season 3, 1968-71, to pursue his musical career. He returned for one episode in season 5. 

(2) Neither Lucie nor Desi graduated from college. They both pursued entertainment careers after high school. 

(3) “Here’s Lucy” went on location for the first four episodes of season 2. Episodes were set at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado, on the raging rapids of the Colorado River, and on a Native American reservation.