The Remarkable History of Desilu Productions

Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball built an entertainment empire

Photo from the 14 November 1955 episode of “I Love Lucy.” CBS Television used the Bureau of Industrial Service, which was a division of advertising agency Young & Rubicam, to distribute publicity information. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The renewed interest in Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball is not surprising. These two legendary co-stars of their own 1950s television series were married and then divorced, becoming fodder for Hollywood gossip columnists. They were immortalized in the 2021 film, “Being the Ricardos,” and in the…