Abstract
The paper explains that Lucille Ball, once regarded as one of the 'B-grade' cine-star, found the new medium of television as the true opportunity to exhibit her expertise of physical comedy. The author points out that "I Love Lucy" was considered unique in that it was one of the first television programs to use live film, utilizing a multiple camera technique before a studio audience and creating a permanency that allowed Ball and her husband, Desi Arnaz, to benefit from re-runs syndication and foreign distribution. The paper relates that Lucille Ball attained four Emmy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Citation from Kennedy Center and a Presidential Medal of Freedom. She became the first actress to be incorporated into the Hall of Fame of the Television Academy.

From the Paper
"Ball could search out the key to success of televisions and generated a character that the Americans found indispensable. While 'The Lucy Show' was telecasted, Ball was engaged in reformulating the show and starring in yet another series concentrating on the same character. "Here's Lucy" was immediately approved by the networks and became prime time telecast up to 1974. At this moment, Ball found it worthwhile to divert and began performing outside lines of comedy. She was rewarded with enthusiastic reviews for her acting on Broadway in 'Wildcat' of 1961s. With continuance of the success, Ball co-starred Bob Hope for two feature films and acted with Henry Fonda in the critically acclaimed "Yours, Mine and Ours". Thus, the accomplishments of Ball include more than seventy films, hundreds of television appearances and the struggle of running a studio that could succeed in producing major television series like "Mission: Impossible" and "Star Trek", depicting her true understanding of the potentialities of television even prior to the understanding of itself."

Tags:desilu, re-runs, comedy, family, awards