BLAZING BEULAH FROM BUTTE

May 31, 1950

Hedda Hopper kicked off her May 31, 1950 column with the news that Lucy and Desi were planning a film for the pair titled “Beulah from Butte.”  The plot would concern a Mexican man (Desi) who comes to America to marry a cultured woman – and falls for Lucy (aka Beulah). Needless to say, the film was never made.

This idea seems to have originated with Lucille’s early (and long-held) claim that she was born in Butte, Montana. In 1952, Time Magazine reported the most insightful origin story about Ball claiming Butte as a birthplace.

“Another make-believe identity was Madeline, a beauteous cowgirl who emerged from the pages of Zane Grey’s melodramatic novel, ‘The Light of Western Stars’. To get authentic background for Madeline, young Lucille corresponded with the chambers of commerce of Butte and Anaconda, Mont. She read and reread their publicity handouts until she felt she knew more about Montana than the people who lived there. It was the powerful spirit of Madeline that caused her for many years to claim Butte, Mont., as her birthplace.”

A few months later, in August 1950, between shows in New York City, Lucy and Desi shared a cab ride / interview with Earl Wilson, who the next day quoted Desi in his column:

“Lucille comes from Butte, Mont., and, as everybody knows, has red hair. Lucille made up a description of herself around which a movie will be made. The title which describes her so accurately is “Blazing Beulah From Butte,” and we figure it ought to get the money.” 

From the 2020 book “The Forgotten Desi and Lucy TV Projects: The Desilu Series and Specials that Might Have Been” by Richard Irvin.

From the 2015 book “The Five Sedgwicks: Pioneer Entertainers of Vaudeville, Film and Television” by Michael Zmuda.

Although Lucille Ball was not born in Butte, her father did work in Montana for Bell Telephone.  Coincidentally, an actress strongly associated with Ball was born in Butte: Kathryn Card, who played Mrs. McGillicuddy. Ironically, she played Lucy’s mother!  In 1948, Card did a film called The Sainted Sisters with Hollywood’s most famous Beulah – Beulah Bondi!