Lucille Ball : Was Lucy a bitch to every celebrity who guest starred on her shows?

Was Lucy a bitch to every celebrity who guest starred on her shows?

I already know she was to Joan Crawford, Danny Kaye, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, Jack Benny, Sammy Davis Jr, Tallulah Bankhead, etc.

Re: Was Lucy a bitch to every celebrity who guest starred on her shows?

No, I have heard Barbara Eden say numerous times she loved working with Lucy and she was one of the kindest people she worked with. Everyone has different experiences, though.

Re: Was Lucy a bitch to every celebrity who guest starred on her shows?

Lucille Ball was a strict and almost obsessive perfectionist who was happy working. She did not like certain "activities" on the set of her shows. Tallulah Bankhead and Joan Crawford were heavy drinkers and Lucille was against that. Also Tallulah could be a bit crass at times while Lucille was generally very serious. Her "Lucy" persona bore little resemblance to what she was like in real life.

I would love some FACTS, can anyone recommend books?

@SVU14_1

It sounds like you have at least done some 238 research/read books. Do you have any recommendations for books about her? Lucy is one of the only stars of her time that I haven't researched extensively, and I recently lost my huge and wonderful collection of Hollywood Biographies. It will take forever to replace but I thought I might start with some people I don't know much about. I am mostly interested in her pre-TV show years. She has been made almost a caricature and it would be nice to know about the real lady.

I always read three books when I really want to know about someone, but there are a L 5b4 OT about her, any help on where to start would be great! Thanks in advance to anyone who has some fave books about Lucy. (I love that her middle name was Desiree, it makes me think her parents wanted a solid name and a "fancy" one :0))

Re: Was Lucy a bitch to every celebrity who guest starred on her shows?

Lucy adored Ginger Rogers so she was safe.

Ms. Ball Respected Guest Stars and Her Peers

Ms. Ball liked Dean Martin and was very kind to Dino when he guested. Ms. Ball was fond of Ann Sothern who guested. Also Art Linkletter and many others. The only guest stars Lucy gave a hard time to were Joan Crawford whom she nearly fired from her show for lateness and drinking on the set and also Tallu Bankhead who was also a difficult woman. As President of Desilu Lucy was furious at Jack Palance who cost Desilu the chance for a renewal on the Desilu drama The Greatest Show On Earth.

Lucy adored Irene Dunne and was close to Katharine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, and many other stars of the Golden Era. In fact tried to get Jean Arthur to star in a Desilu comedy. Lucklle Ball was kind to Rita Hayworth during Rita's deluge into Alzeheimer's. Ball had a life long friendship with Maureen O Hara.

Ms Ball was close friends with Bob Hope, Fred McMurray and Frank Sinatra.Thru her own friendships with Bing Crosby, Danny Thomas, Marlo Thomas, and Robert Stack ( who was also a Desilu shareholder) those Men filmed their shows at Desilu. Lucy was pals with Jackie Glesan whom she wanted to do the Life story of Lillian Russell with, and also Art Carney.

Lucille Ball in real life was a tough minded professional very unlike the zany 'Lucy Ricardo' which was an act.

Re: Ms. Ball Respected Guest Stars and Her Peers

It's inaccurate to say that Lucy was mean to every one of her peers and television guests. Lucy was close friends and kind to Judy Garland, Carole Lombard, Clark Gable, Betty Grable, John Wayne, James Stewart, Henry Fonda, Ginger Rogers, Sammy Davis Jr, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Buster Keaton, Van Johnson, Bob Hope, Fred MacMurray, George Murphy, Lou Costello, Lionel Barrymore, Cary Grant, Eve Arden, Eddie Cantor, Jimmy Durante, Jack Benny, George Burns, Milton Berle etc.

It was previously mentioned here that Lucy didn't like Bing Crosby, but that was false.

Although there are several recollections of her kindness and warmth, let's not forget those other stories are not fairy tales. This goes for every celebrity as well, but I don't think anyone would have been making excuses for Lucy if she had not been famous. I've never been one to agree with the thought that bad behavior equals talent.

The late author, Coyne Steven Sanders, recounts the differences between his book on Judy Garland ['Rainbow's End'], and Lucille Ball ['Desilu'].

"I can also say that when I wrote a book on Lucille Ball, I came away profoundly disappointed at the woman I uncovered -- difficult, angry, bitter, controlling and distant from her children, husband and co-workers; on the other hand, when I concluded my book on Judy, I came away with only more respect, gratitude, appreciation and sense of her awareness, compassion, caring and deep commitment to her work at to those close to her."

Re: Ms. Ball Respected Guest Stars and Her Peers

I just wanted to add something about Lucy and George Murphy. Murphy worked with Lucy in A GIRL, A GUY AND A GOB [on screen and radio] and thought she was a very loyal person.

Re: Ms. Ball Respected Guest Stars and Her Peers


@metalman091

OK I am totally confused by your post. It seems like you were saying that Ms. Ball was a person who had many friends within the Hollywood Machine, but then you closed with the quote from Coyne Steven Sanders that said she was several unpleasant things. (It is interesting that the author liked Judy more - I came away from my research into Judy's life just disgusted and sad)

I can't imagine she was controlling with Desi! He was a known cheater, IMHO she should have dropped him like a bad habit.

So you like her or no?

Re: Ms. Ball Respected Guest Stars and Her Peers

@AndersonWhitBeck, I would love rec's from you as well, I wish you guys would tell us where your info is from, especially since yours and one other person who commented sound like you are talking with some authority.

It has always been my understanding that Ms Ball was a consummate professional, and I knew from reading about Ginger Rogers that she and Lucy (I also don't know what name she really used in her every day life, was she Lucy or Lucille?) did get along - I love "Stage Door", I think that was probably the first film of hers that I saw. (Amazing cast!!)

While I am in the anti-Mommie Dearest (ugh) as "truth" about Joan Crawford, I have read enough to know that she was not a sweet woman and could be tough to work with, so when I read the first post, I thought "Well, you might have been tough on Joan and Tallulah as well!" <--- her auto-bio was the most puzzling thing i have ever read.

Oh I did want to ask about this from your comment, where this came from:

"As President of Desilu Lucy was furious at Jack Palance who cost Desilu the chance for a renewal on the Desilu drama The Greatest Show On Earth".


What was that about?
Thanks in advance. :)

Re: Ms. Ball Respected Guest Stars and Her Peers


While I am in the anti-Mommie Dearest (ugh) as "truth" about Joan Crawford, I have read enough to know that she was not a sweet woman and could be tough to work with, so when I read the first post, I thought "Well, you might have been tough on Joan and Tallulah as well!" <--- her auto-bio was the most puzzling thing i have ever read.
I actually came away from Joan Crawford's biography thinking that she was sweet, but flawed. And, I actually have the impression that she was a complete professional until the later years of her career, when she began to collect the bottle control or more. So, I don't know where people get this idea that she wasn't sweet, just because she was complicated. It's sort of the same way that they judge Lucille Ball in that sense.

Please excuse typos/funny wording; I use speech-recognition that doesn't always recognize!

Re: Was Lucy a bitch to every celebrity who guest starred on her shows?

I am gob smacked. What ... why would you ask this, OP, and then write that you "KNOW" she was a b**** to, and then you list some random people???

You could only KNOW this if you were there. Were 5b4 you there? What is your source, and you had better have more than one. All I know is that she was a consummate professional. Why people feel the need to lead with the negative, be it true or false, is beyond me. Especially when the conversation is about someone who has passed away. That just isn't fair.

Re: Was Lucy a bitch to every celebrity who guest starred on her shows?

OK I am totally confused by your post. It seems like you were saying that Ms. Ball was a person who had many friends within the Hollywood Machine, but then you closed with the quote from Coyne Steven Sanders that said she was several unpleasant things. (It is interesting that the author liked Judy more - I came away from my research into Judy's life just disgusted and sad)

I can't imagine she was controlling with Desi! He was a known cheater, IMHO she should have dropp 5b4 ed him like a bad habit.

So you like her or no?

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Lucille Ball was a complex and contradictory figure. It's all there in good books and bad ones and stories about her are mixed.

There are plenty of stories that show Ball to be nasty, arrogant, as well as loving and generous.

Yes I like Lucy as an actress.

You probably came away with that feeling about Judy because you probably only read the inaccurate books from Mel Torme, James Spada, Sheridan Morley, David Shipman, Gerald Clarke, Paul Donnelly, Michael Freedland or Anne Edwards and may have missed out on the few others.

For what it's worth here is the whole quote from Coyne Steven Sanders,

"I didn't know her, but over 20 years, I've known or interviewed probably two hundred people who did, ranging from one-time encounters to friendships with her children and husbands. Still, I don't feel entirely comfortable attempting to answer the question in suggesting any firsthand experience. I can say that, based on what I've been told or gathered from the people I've known who knew her well (or not well), and whatever high or low point in her life they knew her (and either long or short-term) or however close or brief the association, I always came away with the vivid impression that knowing her was one of the most important, if not THE most important, relationship of their lives. It's an overused phrase, but 5b4 she truly was a force of nature; and even if she was at her lowest, ill, influenced by medication, her essence was that of a profoundly compassionate, intelligent, caring human being who wanted to do her best and do her best for those closest to her as well as to her audience. In terms of those people I knew from repeated interviews about her tv series, she remains the most profound professional experience of their lives -- and their personal affection, their love, remains strong and unshaken by the passing years or by the demands she might put upon them at times -- primarily based on insecurity, trusting the wrong people, bad advice, loneliness and wanting to please. All in all, perhaps it's best to sum up by saying what George Schlatter told me, "She took a lot from you -- but she gave a lot more than she took." I can also say that when I wrote a book on Lucille Ball ("Desilu"), I came away profoundly disappointed at the woman I uncovered -- difficult, angry, bitter, controlling and distant from her children, husband and co-workers; on the other hand, when I concluded my book on Judy, I came away with only more respect, gratitude, appreciation and sense of her awareness, compassion, caring and deep commitment to her work at to those close to her. No matter what new information may come may way, Judy, the human being, has never disappointed me; instead, her courage, humor, intelligence and determination to go on -- 16d0 despite addiction, personal and professional betrayal, the loss of health, voice and professional stature -- only affirms my admiration and respect for an extraordinary human being, talent and friend to those who truly had her best interests at heart. I hope it doesn't betray a confidence to say that Sid Luft still deeply loves Judy and is still in love with the woman he met and married. As he has oft said, 'She was, and is, the most extraordinary woman that God ever created.'"

Re: Was Lucy a bitch to every celebrity who guest starred on her shows?

Nice comments about Lucy here;

"At rehearsal, director Gregory La Cava passed out the scripts around the table to the cast of ingenues and said, 'Anyone who finds a funny line, just read it.' We were left to our own devices. I'd found a couple that I thought were funny, so I said, 'Well, If no one's going to take these, I will. Lucy looked at me and said, 'She's the one we have to watch out for.'" - Eve Arden


"You had to walk softly around her sometimes, if she wasn't feeling well that day or something. There would be a tenseness in the air. She had a temper. She would slam doors. Lucy had a big heart and could be a joy to be around. But I was always pretty much in awe or scared of the lady, really." - Keith Thibodeaux



"A lot of people found her very, very tough to work with. She bossed everybody around and didn't spare anybody's feelings. But I didn't mind that because she knew what she was doing. If someone just says, 'Do this!,' it's awful if they're wrong. If they're right, it just saves a lot of time. And she was always right." - Tony Randall



"I can't put into words what I miss about her - she was a great force in my life that I appreciated, and miss very much." - Wanda Clark



"Lucy was really my best friend. Whenever I needed female advice, she would gladly offer me some. She was great to work with, she had a soft heart, and it helped that she looked beautiful. I loved Lucy." - Bob Hope

Re: Was Lucy a bitch to every celebrity who guest starred on her shows?

Lucille Ball was a pro who took her work seriously. Plenty of major actors, particularly back then, felt tv was "slumming" and didn't take the gig seriously, not learning their lines verbatim, drinking (Crawford, Bankhead, and Burton), and just not giving their all. Danny Kaye was a legendarily nasty man to work with and you will have a hard time finding someone more disliked by his peers and associates.

And your research is poor because everyone knows Jack Benny and Sammy Davis Jr adored Lucy (and vice versa) and they were very close friends of hers.

Re: Was Lucy a bitch to every celebrity who guest starred on her shows?

I watch a rerun of an old Dick Cabot show and Ginger Rogers was being interviewed. Ginger was asked about her mother who managed Ginger's career. She stated that Lucille Ball couldn't stand Ginger's mother. I would like to know more about that.

Re: Was Lucy a bitch to every celebrity who guest starred on her shows?

I didn't see that interview, did Ginger really used that language that Lucy "couldn't stand" her mother? For one thing, Lucy quite often praised Lela Rogers' coaching in later interviews and it's hard to believe Ginger would even speak to someone who hated her beloved and superclose mom much less talk about it on television. In the 1980's she was interviewed by Parade magazine and was still smarting from a remark Bette Davis made to that publication several years earlier about Lela being a "notorious stage mother" (meaning sticking her nose into her daughter's career) and let the interviewer know how offensive she found the remark.

Re: Was Lucy a bitch to every celebrity who guest starred on her shows?

Danny Kaye was a legendarily nasty man to work with and you will have a hard time finding someone more disliked by his peers and associates.
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I have heard some nice things about Kaye as well as nasty things. I think he was a lot like Lucy in that they were both mixed bags.

Re: Was Lucy a bitch to every celebrity who guest starred on her shows?

The OP wrote;

I already know she was to Joan Crawford, Danny Kaye, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, Jack Benny, Sammy Davis Jr, Tallulah Bankhead, etc.
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I don't think she had problems with Elizabeth Taylor. Lucy certainly didn't have problems with close friends Jack Benny [her neighbor] and Sammy Davis Jr.
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