PEOPLE TODAY: TWO-HEADED FAMILY

July 30, 1952

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were on the cover of People Today (”a magazine about headline people”) on July 30, 1952.  Inside featured nine photos of Lucille Ball making faces (”The Rarest Bird: A Clown With Glamour”) and Desi Arnaz warming up the studio audience at “I Love Lucy” (”Filmed before a live audience, Lucy costs $25,000 a show”).  

People On Top

PRATFALLS PAY OFF

For Mr. and Mrs. Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III, 1952 was a banner year: as Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, they proved that showmanship pays off. 

The envy of Hollywood for their ownership (50% with CBS) of Desilu Productions, they saw their laugh-laden “I Love Lucy” TV show zoom to the top of the ratings. For once, all the experts agree, concede them the number one spot. “Lucy” (sponsor: Philip Morris), in a Trendex report, listed it as 49.6. Closest competitor: “Talent Scouts”, 38.1.  

For pink-haired Lucille Ball, glamorous clown who wasted years on the B-movie circuit, the set-up is perfect: “Desi and I get to see each other and the baby (daughter Lucie Desiree, age one) and I only work four days a week!”  Adds ex-rumba maestro Desi: “I play husban’ of beautiful redhead. I spik with Cuban accent. I lead a band. Very difficul’!”

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Lucille Ball previously appeared on the cover of People Today (sans Desi) on January 30, 1952.