Desi Arnaz: The Man Who Invented TelevisionSimon and Schuster, 3 juin 2025 - 368 pages An illuminating biography of Desi Arnaz, the visionary, trailblazing Cuban American who revolutionized television and brought laughter to millions as Lucille Ball’s beloved husband on I Love Lucy, leaving a remarkable legacy that continues to influence American culture today. Desi Arnaz is a name that resonates with fans of classic television, but few understand the depth of his contributions to the entertainment industry. In Desi Arnaz, Todd S. Purdum offers a captivating biography that dives into the groundbreaking Latino artist and businessman known to millions as Ricky Ricardo from I Love Lucy. Beyond his iconic role, Arnaz was a pioneering entrepreneur who fundamentally transformed the television landscape. His journey from Cuban aristocracy to world-class entertainer is remarkable. After losing everything during the 1933 Cuban revolution, Arnaz reinvented himself in pre-World War II Miami, tapping into the rising demand for Latin music. By twenty, he had formed his own band and sparked the conga dance craze in America. Behind the scenes, he revolutionized television production by filming I Love Lucy before a live studio audience with synchronized cameras, a model that remains a sitcom gold standard today. Despite being underestimated due to his accent and origins, Arnaz’s legacy is monumental. Purdum’s biography, enriched with unpublished materials and interviews, reveals the man behind the legend and highlights his enduring contributions to pop culture and television. This book is a must-read biography about innovation, resilience and the relentless drive of a man who changed TV forever. |
Table des matières
| 1 | |
| 11 | |
two La Conga | 31 |
three Too Many Girls | 47 |
four Enter Lucy | 59 |
five Desilu | 75 |
six Necessitys Invention | 91 |
seven Getting Airborne | 111 |
eleven Its Only a Show | 179 |
twelve An Empire of Their Own | 195 |
thirteen Catastrophic Success | 213 |
fourteen Too Much and Not Enough | 233 |
seventeen Sunset | 281 |
Epilogue | 299 |
Acknowledgments | 307 |
| 337 | |
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actor actress American AMPAS Angeles asked audience author telephone interview B-AS baby Ball and Desi Ball New York band Bob Carroll Bob Hope Book Broadway called cameras comedy comic conga Cuba Cuban Cugat dance Desi and Lucy Desi Arnaz Desi Arnaz Jr Desi Jr Desi's Draft manuscript Ed Holly episode Ethel eventually father Favorite Husband film Frawley Fred Freund girl Hedda Hopper Holly Hollywood Jess Oppenheimer Karl Freund Kathleen Brady Kenny Morgan later Latin Laughs live Lolita Love Lucy Lucie Arnaz Lucille Ball Lucy and Desi Lucy's Madelyn Pugh Marcella Rabwin Martin Leeds Mayor Arnaz memoir Miami mother movie musical never night nightclub performer play producer radio remembered Ricardos Ricky Sanders and Gilbert Santiago scrapbook script show's star story studio television thing thousand dollars told Vivian Vance William Morrow wrote