Facts About Desi Arnaz

He was a great entertainer and businessman.

Lucille Ball and Desi ArnazPhoto byCreative Commons: twm1340

While Lucille Ball gets most of the credit for the success of, I Love Lucy, the rest great cast also played a large role. I’ve already written about William Frawley, but I’ve always thought Desi Arnaz’s part in the show has been greatly overlooked. Not only was he great as Ricky Ricardo, but he was also a great businessman.

Desi’s life beyond showbusiness is also quite interesting. In addition, it seems he really did love Lucille Ball, but not exactly exclusively. He was an interesting guy that we don’t hear that much about. So, here are some things you didn’t know about Desi Arnaz.

1: His father was the mayor of Santiago, Cuba but was jailed and the family was stripped of wealth during the revolution led by Fulgencio Batista.

The US government intervened and got Desi’s father released. The family subsequently fled to Miami. Well, that worked better than The Bay of Pigs.

2: When he got to Miami, one of Desi’s first jobs was cleaning canary cages.

I suspect the Desi Arnaz version of The Birdcage would be totally different than the Robin Williams version.

3: Soon after that, he was hired by the ‘King” of Latin music, Xavier Cugat.

Cugat went on to marry Charo, who was much younger than him. Cugat was always looking to help young talent.

4: Arnaz soon left Cugat and formed his own band. He then became responsible for the Conga craze.

So, is it a good thing to be responsible for something described as a “craze?”

5: Desi innovated many techniques that are now used in shooting sitcoms.

Included in these innovations was “the rerun.” No, not the guy from What’s Happening, actual reruns.

6: When he was growing up, one of his best friends was Albert Francis “Sonny” Capone.

He was probably a better choice than Sonny Corleone.

7: Desi was responsible for the creation of the crime series, The Untouchables. The series was not popular with members of organized crime. Mafia boss turned government informant Jimmy “The Weasel” Fratianno in his book “The Last Mafioso” said a contract was put out on Anaz’s life.

It’s reported that hitmen were lying in wait for Arnaz, but he didn’t show up that night.

8: Desi said that he and Lucy decided that when they were making, I Love Lucy they would maintain what Desi termed “basic good taste.”

And that concept died a long time ago.

9: After he and Lucille Ball divorced, he eventually married Edith Mack Hirsch.

She died a year before Desi. It must have been tough for her since Desi, repeatedly said he still loved Lucy.

10: Arnaz had various health issues during his life, including knee issues when he was young.

The issues were not serious enough, however, to keep him from doing the Conga.