As well as being a star of film and TV, a mother, and a CEO, it seems that Lucille Ball also found time to host a radio show in the mid-1960s. Having been unearthed by her daughter, it is now set to hit the airwaves once again.
The beloved Lucille Ball
Lucille Ball has been a favorite with audiences for decades. During her career, Ball appeared in four television shows and numerous films. She is most fondly remembered for the CBS comedy series I Love Lucy (1951-57), The Lucy Show (1962-68), and Here’s Lucy (1968-74).
She won Emmys as a lead comedy actress in 1953, 1956, 1967, and 1968. With Desi Arnaz, her husband both on and off the screen, Ball became the first woman to head a major TV studio, Desilu Productions. The company went on become a powerhouse, becoming involved with Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, and The Untouchables.
The show I Love Lucy was a hit within weeks of airing on October 15, 1951. In fact, the show was so successful that Ball was ultimately able to buy the Hollywood studio where she’d previously been under contract.
Between her first show and second shows, Ball divorced Arnaz and went on to make The Lucy Show and Here’s Lucy without him. She married Gary Morton in November 1961.
Her final role was as co-presenter along with Bob Hope of the 61st annual Academy Awards telecast on March 29, 1989. Less than a month later, she had passed away at the age of 77.
Legendary interviews are being broadcast once again
Jack Vaughan, senior VP of Comedy Programming at SiriusXM, is quoted as saying: “Few stars reach a level of worldwide fame that they need only be known by one name. Lucy is such a star.” Now it seems that SiriusXM is bringing Ball back into the spotlight with a brand-new radio show and podcast.
Back in the mid-1960s, there was a short-lived CBS Radio show where Ball interviewed various Hollywood legends like Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Carol Burnett, and Bob Hope. However, Ball also interviewed figures from behind-the-scenes, such as makeup artist Hal King and costume designer Edith Head.
There were 240 episodes, each lasting around 10 minutes. Ball would record interviews on a portable device whenever her packed schedule allowed her a moment or two.
Ball’s family is excited to share them with the world
Copies of the interviews were kept by Ball’s daughter, Lucie Arnaz, in a private archive. But Arnaz has now given permission for these interviews to be re-aired. “It is a treasure trove of personal information from some of the greatest talents of American Entertainment,” Arnaz said. “My family and I can’t wait to share them with the rest of the planet.”
In addition to these illuminating interviews, the SiriusXM show will include tributes to Ball from modern celebrities such as Ron Howard, Amy Poehler, Debra Messing, Rosie O’Donnell, and Tiffany Haddish. For a splash of extra fun, these guests will also answer questions taken from Ball’s original show.
The series will air for three weeks on SXM Channel 104 from Thursday, August 5, 2021, and is called Let’s Talk to Lucy. After airing, the show will be available to stream from the SXM App, Pandora, Stitcher, and other platforms.
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Speaking about the radio show, Vaughan said: “Hearing [Lucille Ball’s] conversations with some of the world’s biggest names, full of her signature wit, charm, and intelligence, is truly a surreal experience, and I can’t wait for listeners to tune in.”