TV Radio Mirror (Jan - Jun 1963)

Lucy subtracts Desi from Desilu! Here's how she did it-and why! The announcement that Desi was out caught Hollywood offguard. There hadn't been so much as a whisper of warning, and most people were still smacking their lips over what seemed a delicious triangle — Lucy Ball with a present husband and a past husband . . . and both of them often present at the same time and place: The rehearsals for her TV show! Then, in terse newspaper paragraphs, they read the news: Desi Arnaz had resigned as president and director of Desilu Productions, Inc. Miss Ball was elected the new president by the board of directors. Miss Ball announced that she would buy the 300,350 shares of stock owned by Desi at a price "considerably in excess of the current market value." Miss Ball would thus own fifty-two percent of the company's stock. She was now officially the big boss. Thus was "finis" written to the corporation Lucy and Desi had formed back in 1954, the corporation which, for a time, comprised the largest TV studio in the world. It was a studio about which Desi, in happier times, once said, "I'll never give it up. It is like a baby to me." And, in truth, for several years nothing ever went out of the organization without Desi putting his fine Cuban hand to it. Why then the breakup? Is it because of Lucy's marriage to Gary Morton, which undoubtedly upset Desi's Latin pride? Or is it because Desi himself now plans marriage to Edie Mack Hirsch, wealthy socialite-horsewoman? Or was it the dwindling profits of the past two years, when Lucy was absent from TV and Desi was unable to come up with a show that could fill the vacuum? With the opening of the new season, Desi's nose, it is said, was further put out of joint when Lucy made a triumphant return to the studio with another hit show. Certain observers advanced the opinion that Desi did not seem to share the general joy of Lucy's new success. Some felt his pride as an entertainer was hurt and that even the prospect of new big profits did not salve his wounds. Another theory — perhaps only an educated guess — holds that, in the course of recent years, Desi's interests have swerved radically away from show business. His almost daily appearance at the race tracks or the casinos of Las Vegas had been noted. It was also whispered that Desi was drinking more than he should. The problems and pressures of running a major multi-million-dollar operation seemed to weigh heavily on him. He seldom smiled. In the past few weeks, since his exit as president of Desilu, there has been a remarkable change in Desi's manner. He seems more like the old Desi, full of "joie de vivre," a twinkle in his eyes, a joke on his lips. A load seems to have dropped from his shoulders. And Lucy, even with her new responsibilities, also seems more carefree. There are a number of reasons for these changes. As early as two years ago, when the air was thick with news of their looming divorce, one fact went largely unnoticed. The Desilu empire had slipped badly since "I Love Lucy" closed shop. By the end of another year, Desi had quarreled wtih Martin Leeds, an executive vice-president and a bulwark of the studio, and had bought him out. Two new shows, trotted out with much fanfare— "Guestward Ho" and "Harrigan and Son"— had sunk like rocks in the sea. The sound stages that had boasted thirteen solid hits— like "The Texan" and "The Ann Sothern Show"— were darkened and only "The (Continued on page 102) What will the new split with Desi mean to Gary Morton? Lucy's answer to that one shows just how well the redhead has learned her lesson! 58