Their marriage was anything but easy. Ball was at the peak of her career. While she wasn’t yet at the place where she was being swarmed by fans and paparazzi, she was making a name for herself in Hollywood. While she was busy taking Hollywood by storm, Arnaz was busy traveling around the country, attaining fame for himself through his music.
Arnaz was seldom home. He could often be found playing with his band until two or three in the morning. While he and Ball were starting to create a life together, Arnaz started to develop the habit of drinking and flirting with other women. The strong connection that Ball once felt for her husband was starting to dissipate and her feelings of loneliness were becoming more present.
Arnaz Was a Lady-killer
With her new rose-colored glasses, it was evident that Ball was developing strong feelings for her co-star. They had a very passionate relationship and couldn't keep their hands off each other. Arnaz loved that Ball was an independent woman who was both smart and funny. It was nearly impossible not to fall in love with her. Although Arnaz was drafted into the Army in 1942, a knee injury ended up classifying him for limited service. So, he stayed in Los Angeles and organized and performed USO shows for wounded GIs being brought back from the Pacific.
He was born in Santiago de Cuba. After the revolution started in the 1930s, he moved to Miami where he started his career in music. When they first met, Arnaz felt like he had met his match. However, despite their strong passion and fondness of one another, their relationship still did have its challenges.
They Got Married Six Months Later
Ball and Arnaz had a strong and special bond, it was clear. But, their friends did think that they were a pretty random match. Her friends were absolutely shocked when Lucille and Arnaz decided to get married only six months after they started dating. Their shared desired to work in the entertainment industry had many friends in their close-knit circles believing that the two wouldn't last.
Many people estimated that the two would stay together for no more than a year. However, despite others' hesitations about their relationship, the two would stay together for almost twenty years. During their years together, they experienced some very high highs and grim lows.
She Took a Big Risk
While Arnaz was busy touring the country, Ball threw herself into the world of radio. She got a spot as a lead in the radio show "My Favorite Husband," an audio program for CBS radio. She originally starred alongside Lee Bowman. The two played the characters of Liza and George Cugat. Thanks to positive reviews, CBS decided to turn the show into a series. Bowman wasn't able to commit to the series, so Richard Denning replaced him. The series was based on the novels 'Mr. and Mrs. Cugat: The Record of a Happy Marriage' and 'Outside Eden', which were written by Isabel Scott Rorick.
It was discovered that Lucille performed much better when she was in front of an audience. She would deliver her iconic facial expressions which would have the audience falling off the edge of their seats in laughter. The team at CBS was very impressed with her performance and saw its potential. They suggested making a live version of the show which would depict the ups and downs of a married couple. Ball agreed to it, under one condition.
She Insisted Desi Be Her Husband on the Show
She would proceed with their idea only under the condition that Arnaz would play the role of her television husband. CBS balked at the idea and didn't know how to respond. Who would tune in to watch an interracial couple- an all-American red-headed woman with a Cuban? This was the early 50s and discrimination against the Latino-American community was high. They couldn't see how a Cuban singer with an accent would appeal to an audience. However, Ball was unwilling to budge and back down.
Lucille thought that if Arnaz was to star with her on the show, he would come to settle down in Hollywood and leave behind his life on the road. She had grown tired of "meeting in the Sepulveda tunnel.” She was hoping that by acting together on the show, he would be in close proximity and it would also be a boost to his career. In order to convince the TV network that her husband would be a good fit, she went on an “I Love Lucy” vaudeville act.