Two Smart People -- March 4, 2025

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In Two Smart People, a film noir, Lucille Ball and John Hodiak play a pair of con artists who wind up in New Orleans during Mardi Gras.

Desi Arnaz 100 -- March 2, 2017

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Desi Arnaz, actor, producer and conguero, was born 100 years ago today, on 02-March-1917.  He grew up in Cuba, but spent two years attending US high schools after Batista initially took power.  Arnaz appeared on Broadway, then was signed by RKO.  He met Lucille Ball and they married in 1940.  After he was drafted, he injured his knee and spent his service time directing USO shows at a military hospital.

Arnaz and Ball starred in I Love Lucy, which was a pioneering show shot on film in front of a live audience.  I saw many reruns when I was a kid.  They founded Desilu Productions and produced several other shows.

Arnaz proved to be a philanderer and drunk, and Ball divorced him.