The Burton Diary: He REALLY Didn't Love Lucy

[@decentlyandinorder]

Joan Crawford's comment after *her* experience with Lucille Ball was... "And they call ME a B****!??" 😅😅😅

[@jay1hi547]

That part!!!

[@bigezbarry]

I hear that when Joan got really hammered one day, Lucy threatened to replace her with another Golden Age Star. I read that she said, "I wonder what Bette Davis is doing!" That allegedly sobered Joan right up.

[@MrJoshualee2479]

@@bigezbarryI hope that’s true lol!

[@wardarcade7452]

HOORAY for Lucy for NOT kowtowing to Miss Crawford and calling her on her stuff! I'm glad SOMEONE did that. Miss Crawford needed to have had that happen a LOT more (and yes, I believe Christina's claims that she'd been abused by the elder Miss Crawford)!

[@sharonstone8245]

😂

[@ogami1972]

I could listen to Richard Burton insulting people all day.

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

I could listen to him read the phone book.

[@deanedge5988]

His diary really is remarkable.

[@pameladempsey5943]

@@TonyBoyOhBoyyesssss

[@stephaniestanley8041]

Hysterical 😂

[@Jasper7182009]

I couldn’t! As if he knows situation comedy. The arrogance!

[@EgbertWilliams]

I once saw Lucy make a brief appearance on a local, morning children's show in Philadelphia. It was clear she was just stopping in on the way to the airport or something and this was no highly orchestrated visit. The host was a very genial, mild-mannered younger man, who was utterly thrilled to be in her presence. But even as a child, I could easily sense how dismissive and above-it-all Lucy felt. It was as if the queen had deigned to pay a visit to the peasants and then realized just how awful they smelled. Her nose was literally in the air and she looked around the set as if it were a landfill. It all lasted just a couple minutes, but even my 8-year-old self was embarrassed for the fawning host, who was treated like he had a contagious disease. It was horrific. Or I should say, she was.

[@RawOlympia]

Interesting how you picked up on that!

[@EgbertWilliams]

@@RawOlympiaHer disdain wasn't subtle.

[@dianah.9718]

You nailed it😂 I had the misfortune of meeting her as a child, she scared the living daylights out me🤧

[@jblue705]

Man, I’d love to see this!

[@EgbertWilliams]

@@jblue705 It was The Gene London Show. The host went on to have a career in fashion in NYC.

[@jeanhansel5805]

No one could say "loathe" or "loathed" better than Richard Burton. He used language to infuse every word with its true meaning.

[@LTVegas-vf6km]

Except when he was plastered. Which was quite frequently.

[@LJ-ht4zs]

Richard Burton is a dick - alcoholic most his life - died due to complications from his alcoholism age 58. While a great actor, his relationship with Taylor was glitz and whatever. I had no interest in either - Dick left his wife and 3 children when he met Taylor; prior to that Taylor, after several marriages, came on to her best friend's husband and married him (Debbie Reynold's husband Eddie Fisher). Gale Gordon and Lucy were good friends over 50 years and worked together in radio and tv for decades, Lucille minded that Burton came on the set having imbibed alcohol and either mumbled his lines or needed a different tempo for comedy and she was instructing him. He the great Burton resented that - he was a King in his own right and she was the Queen of Comedy. By the way it was the Burtons who approached Ball about being on her show were the most highly paid of any guest ever, and the result of the performances received and A+ rating. While after this, Burton in his last films was so drunk he had to rehearse sitting or lying down - could not stand up. While they tolerated this in the film industry but not ok in Here's Lucy. His nastiness in calling her awful names in his biography, esp for a show that he was so well paid for and was so well received (he did learned fast paced comedy in the show). So as far as I am concerned his behavior showed me how full of himself he always was. As said, died at 58 due to alcohol related illness - probably did not want to take direction from his doctors either.

[@laurabarajas-serrato5920]

I know that what you are saying about Burton is true, I've read two biographies. However, that doesn't mean what he said about Lucy was/is UNTRUE. If you read the comments posted here, you can see the accounts of many people, from everyday working folks, to celebrities who interacted with her, that they are in agreement that she had a nasty personality. It doesn't take away from her genius, it just shows that not all actors are who they portray in their work. The same applies to Burton. Onscreen he was a talented, suave, charismatic actor. Unfortunately, it didn't carry over into real life.

[@LJ-ht4zs]

She got along with staff, crew, co-stars and stars appearing on her shows for decades - everyday people - her handyman, her driver, maid, and nanny and all of them had A+ feelings for her and never quit. Not just one or two people many many people say the opposite. In my working life of 40 years I had 4 assistants. Each of them and I got along - each came going thru a difficult transition in their lives when they began working for me and each left doing far much better and were moving on - two moved out of state, and two had other commitments to their families.

[@Politano1955]

Telling Richard Burton how to act is like telling Picasso how to paint.

[@ninamc6116]

Exactly!!!

[@hawk622is306]

@@ninamc6116 So well said!

[@wardarcade7452]

Apart from 'Guernica', I wish someone HAD told Picasso how to paint. ..

[@thack57]

Well trying to tell Picasso how to Paint is like telling Lucy how to be an Overbearing, Pain, In The Arse. Or like teaching "E" how to Get Married.🤔😏

[@curtisevans4100]

The Burtons both hated her, they just should have walked. Being ordered around like nothings by the tyrannical star of a very mediocre 1970 sitcom must have been offensive.

[@EstherLuttrellsSundayStories]

My roommate was a flight attendant. She hated it when Lucy flew on their airline. She would not speak to anyone she considered beneath her. She would tell whoever she was with what she wanted of the attendant and they would repeat it to my friend. Then I went to work for a studio and learned that really was Lucy's way. She was most disliked.

[@leslievanduzee9282]

Burton’s matter of the English language….. he can cut anyone to shreds with his words. I have heard about Lucy but never so eloquently spoken.

[@joansrusticsoapsjoan2111]

She was also a woman in a man-led business world, so I am sure she had to be ten times as tough to match the power. It’s a shame, but I am sure she wasn’t always like that. I was told by a friend to picture everyone at age two.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

She started as a chorus girl & eventually bought the studio, in an industry that is notorious for chewing people up & spittin' 'em out.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Lucy could have bought the airline, let alone a Learjet.

[@JustMe-uu3bh]

@@joansrusticsoapsjoan2111 let's quit making excuses for women who are ball busters and "have to do it a man's way" to succeed. there is such a thing as being arrogant, spoiled rotten and just condescending, which apparently Lucy was...............typical overbearing Leo. (apologies to any good Leos that are out there).

[@roccoa6818]

Worked at Twa and all of the Flight Attendants that served her on board called her the rudest meanest person they had to deal with

[@bctrissel]

I did not know any of this about her. I was duped.

[@sekinsocal]

is it true that when she would order a cocktail at a restaurant she would say, if you want to see a tip, I don't want to see the bottom of this glass?

[@YortOK]

Shes no longer in the "room" people. So start calling a C what it is.

[@garyfrancis6193]

@@YortOKCreampuff?

[@catherinelee3298]

As a flight attendant for 40 years, I was unlucky enough to have her on a flight. Horrible person.

[@CaliforniaGuy888]

What did she do?

[@larryneuman845]

@@CaliforniaGuy888 I've heard the same thing from a TWA flight attendandt.

[@Tempe1962]

Gosh, why? How much of a bad impression could she make on an airplane?

[@bartram33]

@@CaliforniaGuy888Apparently she wouldn’t talk directly to the flight attendants saying ‘I don’t talk to the help’

[@deniseandrews113]

😱 Splain it, Lucy!

[@maggieb369]

Burton had such an incredible voice

[@hhawg1]

Why, because he had an accent? 😂

[@angelwings7930]

@@hhawg1🤡

[@resaboutb.9566]

The AI recreation of his voice is quote good, imho.

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

The man had it all. He was a star.

[@THREESISTERS15]

His voice was a gift from God.

[@Polyphemus47]

"...she was a monster of staggering charmlessness..." The man had an admirable mastery of the English language.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

If I recall after decades on television he found her too mechanical & robotic, but Ball is famous for having to work @ her comedy (& certainly she knew what worked). How many times did Bob Hope work with her? Believe her last public appearance was with him @ The Oscars, she looked great, former dancer wore heels & skirt with slit up the thigh (years b4 Jolie).

[@BonnieHaynes-gg4nk]

She was harsh.

[@BonnieHaynes-gg4nk]

He ripped her to shreds....elegantly

[@punkanelliefonkbush8811]

What do you expect? He's an Englishman. They wrote the language. Lol

[@karekarenz4713]

@@punkanelliefonkbush8811 Actually he's not an Englishman at all ... he's a Welshman.

[@americanitalianisrael4008]

Richard Burton has a Superb Voice. Superior Actor.

[@cynthiasmith4130]

Love Richard Burton!!! What a spectacular voice!!!! Love all the old stars..... There are none left!!! 😢😢😢😢.....

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

Today's actors are like cosplayers next to the greats.

[@peaceful3250]

It seems that Lucille was almost universally disliked but a great exception is Carol Burnett. They had a very close friendship. Carol received flowers every birthday including the birthday which was also the day Lucille died.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

MTM also talks about hearing that distinctive laugh coming from the rafters after doing funny bit of business as Laura on DVD.

[@mcbrion1951]

Ball - according to Burnett - was very encouraging towards her. I suspect Ball saw her as an equal at the very least, if not "better" in improv. And given that Burnett had a show on at the same time as Lucy, Ball got to see Burnett's work, which was unforgettable if you were alive during that period, and watched Burnett every weekend. Lucy was a slapstick comedian: Burnett was slapstick, sophisticated, earthy, ethereal and just plain adorable. No contest.

[@zzzbbbooo]

Very few famous people have criticised Lucy so how you can claim she was "almost universally disliked" is puzzling. Most of the complaints you hear about her are from posters here repeating second or third hand stories which are impossible to verify. As for Richard Burton...he hated everyone.

[@PeregrineFisher]

That’s because they were both rude. Two of a kind.

[@Gagalover1569]

Sometimes it’s the smartest people who know how to deal with the ones who are suffering the most. It wasn’t easy being a tough, talented and smart woman in those days. It’s seems like she may have been a woman scorned but I have to say if she looked down on help staff, if that’s true, then that bothers me. I take everything I read on here with a big grain of salt though because they say “meeting your fave celebs can be extremely disappointing so be careful what you wish for”.

[@laney3182]

I notice that in the Lucy Show everyone was yelling their lines. She told Burton and the other actors to be louder. Glad I was validated.

[@JB-3794]

Yes, that's why I didn't like it. Just like Jackie Gleason. Constant shouting by everyone. Wasn't at all funny to me.

[@Weyjx]

That's why I can't watch that show they're all screaming at each other it sounds so unnatural

[@stugrant01]

Lucy and her audience seemed to like boisterous slapstick vaudeville style comedy, like the Three Stooges type stuff. But when she worked with Desi the shows were so much more funny and classy. The Burtons should have known what to expect going into the deal.

[@maydom04]

was she hard of hearing?

[@Weyjx]

@@maydom04 possibly cuz who's going to tell Lucille Ball it's not us it's you... Lol

[@handyandy6488]

This is actually a very thoughtful and informative piece - NOT the usual clickbait old Hollywood recycled gossip. Many of the other comments here are well worth the read. Nicely written and edited too - IMHO. Thank you.

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

Wow, thank you!

[@unowen-nh9ov]

His diaries were published over a decade ago & while worth reading many reviews have mentioned that this critical opinion of Burton's is not @ all out of character for him. While he married a strong woman (twice) I wonder how many he had to deal with @ work?

[@louisquintanar3066]

.

[@godsowndrunk1118]

I remember overhearing two stewardesses (Ok, Flight Attendants) talking about Lucy being a mean and demanding passenger, and both dreading being on her flights....

[@paulsegraves1839]

I heard the same thing in the 70s from a friend at the time who worked on the defunct TWA Airlines. His one story was she referred to the stewardesses (they weren't called flight attendants then) as waitresses, and she didn't "deal" with such and wanted only to have someone in charge tend to her ordering of meals and drinks. Another story--not airline related----was when Lady Ball was a guest on a TV 1969 special called Like Hep with Dinah Shore hosting along with co-guest. Diana Ross (still with The Supremes), she was very cold and smug with Ross.

[@randelbrooks]

I agree I guess they are stewards and stewardesses no need to apologize we need to stop using all this political correct speak it's bad for our culture and our language. No apologies necessary.

[@dennishalford5763]

​@@paulsegraves1839 Years ago, I met a male flight attendant who told me the exact same thing you just stated! He had her on one of his flights, and he said she would not talk to him. He said she would tell the person she was with to tell him this or tell him that, but she would never directly address him because she considered him a public "servant," specifically, a waiter, and she didn't deal with waiters and waitresses.

[@CoopyKat]

@@paulsegraves1839 Few people know that Lucille Ball was banned from one airline. Later they took it back, but she was mean to passengers and the crew.

[@cynthiaivers1708]

I used to work for one of the major airlines and hear that, too. That she was uber rude, demanding, and just plain mean.

[@KarmicSalt]

woah...ok I don't care if it was the person sweeping up, you do not disrespect someone by poking them in the forehead with your finger. I am really surprised Richard didn't break it.

[@jimwichelecki8275]

Things were different in those days.

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

If she had been a man he probably would have!

[@captaincrash12]

@@jimwichelecki8275 No, not that different. Not finger in the head different.

[@BrendaAugustine-r1c]

😂😂😂

[@JustMe-uu3bh]

seriously, instantly I would have not liked her for that. demeaning. what an ego. I'm with Burton on this one.

[@jamesedwards.1069]

So, 2 scorpions in a bottle start fighting. I'm shocked. Shocked. This is my shocked face. 😐

[@juliebone4929]

Lucille Ball was a Leo

[@plasticweapon]

@@juliebone4929 an attempt at humor?

[@thingsthathappenedtomymoth2816]

I read that part of Burton’s diary in an edition published in 2000 or so. All three of the major players here - Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor and Lucille Ball - are well documented. You make the point toward the end of your video that Burton, though he hated the rehearsals, felt that he and his wife had the audience in the palm of their hands. I was ten when this episode of HERE’S LUCY aired. It was widely publicized, and it is indisputable that this is one of the things the mass audience alive at that time always remembered about Liz and Dick: They did a really funny episode of HERE’S LUCY. The Burtons had an unerring eye for publicity. This was one of the best career choices they ever made. Lucille Ball, of course, hadn’t worked with Desi Arnaz since about 1960. Without him to guide a show WITH her, she was overbearing and brusque. She was EMBARRASSED by her divorce. The Burtons made a made a mint off their marital ups and downs. Burton also knew what a diary is for: Letting off steam. He’s very funny, but I bet his diary is filled with scathing accounts of many people he worked with.

[@CaliforniaGuy888]

I was also 10 when this originally aired on CBS. It generated a ton of interest and publicity.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Of course, 3 of biggest 🌟s on the 🌏.

[@luciollelsa]

I really like your comment, and of course Mr Burton & Liz Taylor being royalty in the business probably expected to be treated with extra care, I know I would. It's hard to imagine Lucille as a balls buster and than it's not, I'm a Lucie and I tend to be too direct sometimes. When I had people working under my supervision I tended to be somewhat impatient and if you didn't get it right the first or second time, the third time was your last chance, it's My Way or the Highway. So I understand Lucille without necessarily condoning her behavior, you get better results wearing kid gloves most of the times, especialy working with people with experience. I'd like to read Burton's diary, I'll look for it. In the mid 90's I worked on a gorgeous horse farm in Ontario, north of Toronto, where scenes from Equus was filmed 20 yrs earlier, the farm manager who was there at the time told me that Mr Burton was spending most of his free time in the beautiful lounge of the stable nursing a bottle of booze, some great actors have such self destructive habits it's sad. As for the movie it's a hard one to find, I only saw a bad recorded version on VCR.

[@BonnieHaynes-gg4nk]

Even her daughter said that Desi was the human, playful, loving parent. Lucy...just her work

[@user-wb5ml2mw6h]

​@BonnieHaynes-gg4nk I read several accounts about her daughter's own bad behaviour. Apparently the apple didn't fall far from the tree. Luci Arnaz lorded her position as Lucille Ball's daughter over everyone's head... from co workers to waiters and waitresses. She came off as entitled and above those she saw as beneath her. Sad.

[@billythomas4804]

The first time I saw Lucy interviewed was on the Tonight show. I have to say, I was expecting Lucy Ricardo but that person was NOWHERE in sight. Lucille Ball, head of RKO, showed up and she was IN CONTROL.

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

That's who she was, like it or not.

[@michaelplunkett8059]

She was a hard worker and expected the same. She also knew what worked and what didn't on TV. After decades, she knew what adjustments from movie shooting were needed, especially in a multiple camera situation.

[@billythomas4804]

@@Nunofurdambiznez Yes. I found out that night. The dichotomy between Lucy the comedian and Lucy the person was vast. My liking or not liking it was never a component really. Just surprise for me.

[@carriedillmann4455]

@@NunofurdambiznezI DONT LIKE IT!!!!

[@edmundcharles5278]

Well Johnny Carson was the consummate professional, and he never led the shows discussions. Instead, he let his guest be the lead of the show, and he just Marley directed the dialogue as he saw fit. Someone made a fool of them was more than happy to let them do so.

[@joeyrivful]

I've heard she was difficult to work with because she was a perfectionist. Jack Benny said someone tell her she got the job.

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

🤣😂🤣

[@michaelplunkett8059]

And he and she were neighbors and friends.

[@Jasper7182009]

The Jack Benny radio hour and the Jack Benny TV show were ensemble programs. When Lucy was on her own, after Desi, she was on her own.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Don't tell Gale Gordon.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Ball worked for 20 years b4 discovering Ricardo, that's a long apprenticeship, do you think unknown model & chorus girl learned NOTHING from that?

[@zeddeka]

There's an interview here on KZbin where Joan Rivers talks about her experience with Lucy. She talked about how "business like" Lucy was on set and said that after they'd filmed the show, Lucy took her into her office and burst into tears. She then started telling Joan all about how Desi Arnaz had been seen around town with Liza Minnelli and was seeking Joan's advice. Joan said she was completely bewildered as she didn't really know Lucy well at all and at that point was still quite naive about such things.

[@mediterraneanworld]

That makes no sense, Desi Armaz Jr. dated Liza back in the early 1970's and Joan and Lucy were together in the 1980's - Arnaz dies in 1986 and the last years of his life he was quite ill and hardly stepping out with Liza!

[@Swami-im8oo]

​@@mediterraneanworld.....I think you're getting your Desi's mixed up........

[@wardarcade7452]

Evidently, after Mr. Burton's death and shortly before her own, Lucy found out about what he'd said in his diary about her and was rather disheartened about it 'And I thought he LIKED me!'

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

As I mentioned, I wondered about that. Well, that's sad!

[@BronzeDragon133]

Apparently he really WAS a great actor!

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

haha I am glad she found out what he thought and wrote down.

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

@@BronzeDragon133 😂

[@mikyl-fo8rh]

Confirms her ignorance of others.

[@fazole]

Lucy was the CEO of Desilu and later on her shows. She didn't have time to be a senstive artist. In her 1975 interview on Carson, she is remarkably candid, maybe a little drunk or something, and says she is tired and only wants 5 more years of life. She worked really hard across 3 TV shows, in films, and in business. She probably got little sleep and was brusque with people unintentionally.

[@handyandy6488]

Her body language is interesting in those chat show interviews. Like she wants to ignore the host and look in another direction but is tempted to turn back and join in by a good question.

[@Bgz8890s]

Not only that, but her style of comedy was becoming less and less popular during that time, besides being tired, she was probably completely disheartened and felt betrayed, thus making her bitter at times. America was just moving forward from the first queen of television, and were more interested in the Mary Tyler Moore's of the world. She probably should've taken a big mental break and called it quits after the Lucy Show, and focused on producing behind the scenes, and taken a film role here and there. Instead, she carried her burdens with her up until her last show that was one of the worst failures of all time, so who knows..she may have even lived longer if she'd of just stepped back a little.

[@LJ-ht4zs]

@@handyandy6488 Again complaints about her appearance on shows like Johnny Carson, that she was rude. etc. Johnny Carson and Lucy were friends and she was on his show many times. Anyone who was rude to Carson would never be seen again. Also good on Merv Griffen and Dick Cavett. Always welcomed back.

[@HC-cb4yp]

Andy Griffith was an unhappy guest star as well. "Turn and face the audience and shout the lines as written," he said. After the show, Lucy came up and told him: "And there I was all week worrying about how you would do tonight." I don't think the praise impressed him.

[@RoverBoy1899]

Afterwards, he realized her directions were correct. Andy was used to working with one camera and no live audience. Listen to Lucy.

[@carmenpalenske6685]

Everyone knows that the Burton’s were obscenely over accommodated all the time. Obviously felt they earned it.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

​​@@carmenpalenske6685Since @ their peak they were 2/3rds of the global box office (Sidney Poitier the other 1/3rd in 1967), the Burtons were correct. The media frenzy alone was an industry, like J.K. Rowling today.

[@простадівчина]

@@RoverBoy1899 Not so sure. Lucy was never funny after the I Love Lucy Show. It was over.

[@paulnejtek6588]

​@@unowen-nh9ovthat doesn't make them correct. Also, two thirds of the box office? Huh?

[@gidimeir]

Lucille was a hard working genius, in this episode she produced and delivered one of the great moments in TV comedy. The episode is a wonderful satire on the TaylorBurton mania of the time. Brilliant brilliant brilliant.

[@frndofbear]

I did not realize Richard Burton was such an eloquent writer. The man is brilliant.

[@kipling1957]

He was quite a scholar of classic texts and loved the English language. His biography by Melvin Bragg, called “Rich” is about the best, thorough and erudite, and well worth a read.

[@gridley]

Her TV persona was light-hearted with a higher-pitched voice. Her off-stage reality was gruffer with a dour, smokers-type voice. Her daughter said she was a control freak, sort of what might be called (particularly during the pandemic) a "Karen." Many people have a dark side, particularly in the flaky world of entertainment. Example: "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolff" was almost cinema verite of the off-screen Burtons.

[@HC-cb4yp]

"It's us," Burton said of that movie.

[@sew_gal7340]

Karens are that animal where if you removed it from the ecosystem everything would fall apart, but when you have an abundance of them they can be a real pest. Red cities tend to have lots of Karens, and although they do a great job keeping the neighborhood up to code and making sure people follow the rules, they can be so annoying!

[@emilerose1424]

@@sew_gal7340 What YOU described is like a good citizen or neighbor. That's not what a Karen is. I appreciate people who have high standards. Karens have exclusionary standards (not the same as high standards). They don't "keep the code." Depending on who they are interacting with (if it's someone they think society entitles them to walk on) they create codes on the spot and deputize themselves to punish, often endangering people in the process. Nice try at putting lipstick on a camel.

[@JustMe-uu3bh]

@@sew_gal7340 I don't need "karens"........busybodies are what they are and no one misses them when they aren't there.

[@Swami-im8oo]

​@@sew_gal7340.....blue cities have many, many Karens, too....what an idiotic thing to say!

[@petradonovan5161]

In the 1940's Lucy co-starred with Henry Fonda in The Big Street in a dramatic role that seemingly she never repeated. She played a cold hearted nightclub singer who is crippled in an accident and Fonda the busboy who loves her and cares for her. Her performance was brilliant and deeply felt and she often said that it had been her very favourite role. I had always wondered how closely she identified with the coldness of the character she played as she did it so well. Lucy's world at the time was run by men and she had to be demanding and tough in order to compete and succeed so to many co-workers she was a monster because of her obsession with perfection and also because she broke the glass ceiling that many believed women should stay under. No matter what, she was a great star, a great business woman and a genius comedienne. May she rest in peace.

[@Jasper7182009]

The Big Street was based on a Damon Runyon story. Lucy worked for the studio and the studio told her what movie to do. She didn’t have a choice, she couldn’t pick and choose. You know that Bette Davis walked out on her contract because she wanted better parts and Olivia de Havilland also walked out of her contract for better parts. Joan Leslie felt she wasn’t given better roles and she also walked out. You couldn’t choose a part. You could fight for a part as Olivia de Havilland did for the part of Melanie in gone with the wind. But that was seldom done, especially when the role you want was in a movie at another studio. Lucille Ball was excellent in the semi film noir called the dark corner which starred Mark Stevens and the great Clifton Webb. Check that one out and you’ll be very nicely entertained by the story and by Lucille Ball‘s performance. When she went to MGM in the mid 40s, they didn’t know what to do with her but she did sparkle in a few comedic parts. by the end of the 40s she was doing a radio program called my favorite husband. That was the basis for I Love Lucy.

[@ravenmckinnon5526]

That’s a great movie

[@Outlier999]

Many people who were brilliant in their work were rotten human beings in private. You can be an admirer of their professional achievements without defending their personal lives. I like the music of Richard Wagner, but he was a disgusting human being. Errol Flynn was a great action star, but I wouldn’t let my daughter get near him.

[@bnic9471]

Ball and Fonda were lovers IRL, as well.

[@deliusmyth5063]

The AI voice here is fantastic.

[@edmundcharles5278]

I want his voice or that of the HAL9000 computer instead of Siri or Alexa!

[@kokoeteantigha389]

In a way, it's also scary. Like a ghost summoned.

[@ricksantana1016]

This A.I. voice was absolutely spot on eerie I’am sure, If Richard were alive today even he would be unnerved by this new medium…

[@jibbityjab2469]

I want that voice as my GPS, voicemail, Alexa, ringtone and whatever else I can use it for.

[@renesagahon4477]

I’ve known 2 people who’ve worked with Lucille Ball and both said she was tough but fair. Nothing derogatory about her

[@edmundcharles5278]

Probably true-she loved producing the show , but she played the business end of it and she once had to fire someone and she dressed it and never did it again herself.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

No, once Desi was gone she deferred to her male producers, she was in front of the camera.

[@nocount1]

She wasn't only producing a weekly comedy show, she was also running a Major studio at the time. She probably had zero time to waste.

[@michelebrown4354]

Doesn’t matter. That doesn’t mean you have the right to abuse people.

[@stevenbeall9637]

Your point?

[@frankstrawnation]

Abusive people exist because there'll always be people justifying abusive behavior.

[@shaolin95]

There's is always someone willing to justify such behavior. Shame on you

[@jamesbrice6619]

Lame excuse

[@danoart8988]

People should always treat everyone the way they would like to be treated. Another way to say and to quote from a book with a lot of wise advice, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." The Golden Rule; just treat everyone with respect. A good way to live.

[@scottstallings5029]

I have read 3 books on the Great Miss Lucille Ball. She came from nothing. At one point in her childhood she was chained up like a dog in her backyard. This is most likely one of the main reasons she was so extraordinarily tough. Miss Joan Crawford had an even more turbulent upbringing. When they worked together it probably brought up the many insecurities Miss Joan Crawford lived with from day to day. Two great legendary stars. Mr Burton mentions Lucille Ball as almost a nervous reck when finally filming the finished product. The books i read on her never once mentioned this. It's really fascinating because now I know why she was such a control freak. She was very insecure. After over two decades of television episodes and many motion pictures, the Great Miss Lucille Ball was still deep down the abused little girl from childhood. WE❤ABSOLUTELY ❤LOVE ❤YOUR ❤CHANNEL ❤😊 THANK YOU! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK 👍 👌 👏

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

Thank you! Great info, I'd never heard that about her being chained up. Terrible!

[@bobbyperry-u5s]

I heard Lucille Ball would PU old pencils because when she was little & in school she always was on the last nub of her own pencil.

[@trishlangford5773]

Many of us had an abusive parent. Mother in my case. We didn't turn out like this cow.

[@JustMe-uu3bh]

@@trishlangford5773 I know, people who make excuses are actually enablers............."oh, he was abused so that is why he was such a tyrant, boo hoo". sorry, doesn't cut it. people are responsible for what they do to others. crawford the same.......rooney, sinatra, whoever...........

[@marthay.higuera9723]

When, Lucy was married to Desi, he ran everything. She herself said that he took care of everything having to do with Desilu Studio, the business end, the employees & the show . All she had to do was act & do the show. So when they divorced, she took over everything he did. Lucie Arnaz said her mother hated the business end of it & running Desilu.

[@laurastrobel718]

I saw that episode of Rosie O' Donnell. Elizabeth in her own charming and subtle way said a lot without having to come out and bash Lucille. I miss Elizabeth, one of my favorite classic stars. 💜 Thanks for the video. 🌞

[@gospelaccordingtojohn8959]

I have two friends that worked for Rosie O’Donnell and they both said that she was horrific on every level, so I find it ironic that she even brings up Lucy.

[@VonWenk]

At that time, before Rosie O"Donnell was on The View, she was considered "the Queen of Nice," remember? But the irony wasn't lost on me either.

[@lynnmartz8739]

@@VonWenk Sounds like the same with Ellen Degeneres.

[@haintedhouse2990]

@@lynnmartz8739 maybe it's the lesbian thing, too much testosterone.

[@LJ-ht4zs]

When I read such bad press of people who did not get along with Lucille Ball and how hard she was to get along with etc She had the same asst/secretary Wanda Clark for over 25 years who was interviewed after she died and said what a wonderful positive experience she had with Lucy - that she was kind, thoughtful, totally professional, but warm and caring. Also she got along with her helpers for decades: her handyman, her driver, her maid. All these people up close and personal +++ also many stars A+ stars Henry Fonda, Jack Benny, George Burns, Ethel Merman, Dinah Shore, Carol Burnett, Gale Gordon, John Wayne, Eddie Arnold, Wm Holden all top people (and many more) she knew and performed with and very close to for decades. She was a perfectionist, that they knew, but also knew that she was attempting to get the best out of herself and them to have a great program - and her shows still remain on the air in re-runs from 1951 to date 2024.

[@laraoneal7284]

Liz & Richard were a beautiful couple and NEVER boring.

[@LJ-ht4zs]

We have a different definition of beauty and boredom - I felt them both to be egotistical, self involved and perfectly matched in qualities that I do not admire. Actually I do not remember any pictures they were in - in fact, they were not my definition of quality. Elizabeth married 8 times and Burton died at 58 issues due to alcoholism.

[@LJ-ht4zs]

two alcoholics fighting and always looking for more money - wow hotiw great! Nothing like a giant diamond to keep bragging about. Not my ideal couple.

[@robertshows5100]

The whole country tuned in to see the diamond 💎

[@baymaxc1647]

All I can tell you about these 3 plus Mr Gordon was I enjoyed watching Every thing they ever did! Much Appreciated! Thanks for sharing this piece

[@Katclem47]

Jack Benny's remark about his life expectancy while working with Lucille Ball was vintage Benny. -- hilarious! 😂😂😂 I can picture him saying it.

[@LJ-ht4zs]

Yes, and Jack Benny who were neighbors and very good friends. In fact Carol Cook told the story when she was visiting Lucy at dinner, the door opened up, it was Jack Benny playing the violin, walking around the table w/o saying a word, let the house continuing to play the violin.

[@MetamorphosisRox]

She was a bossy woman in a man's world. I'm not surprised at all that a man like Richard Burton was so upset. I will say, his expressions had me cracking up. I also think that it's funny that he complained about the run throughs when clearly they made for a great performance. All of the people mentioned, Burton, Taylor and Ball, were famous for being difficult. I feel this is just a clash of the titans.

[@lindac6919]

Yeah, I never heard that he was gracious or mannerly. Or even humane.

[@jamesbrice6619]

Baloney. What a lame excuse 😂

[@EstherLuttrellsSundayStories]

When I worked at MGM Studios, I picked up a producer's phone when he was out of the office. It was Orson Welles and he was angry with the producer. He began to curse at me since I was the only one around ... ah, so sweet! I could have listened to that voice, never mind what it was saying, all day and all night long! I identify with ogami's comment about Burton.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Their voices couldn't save either 1 of them.

[@SatSun-op9dp]

I can imagine how eloquent that tirade must have been & entertaining too, especially since it wasn’t about you. Lol. I wish you could have recorded it.

[@LTVegas-vf6km]

Meh, Lee Marvin said he hated working with Richard Burton. He said Burton was always drunk, sometimes so drunk he would just mumble his lines or not even show up on set.

[@malkaz9167]

I saw Richard Burton in Camelot on Broadway. He “phoned it in”.

[@kirbyculp3449]

Coming from Lee Marvin, that is saying something.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

​@@malkaz9167They didn't have 📞 in Camelot & with that voice in a musical, who would care? This was era of non-singer Rex Harrison 🌟ring in My Fair Lady, also opposite 4 octave JULIE ANDREWS who had been professional singer from childhood.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Burton was SMART to be drunk for that stinker.

[@malkaz9167]

@@unowen-nh9ov I didn’t actually mean he had a phone. The term “phoning it in” means that Richard Burton didn’t even try to do a good job singing and acting. He just didn’t care.

[@keithss67]

Burton was a very very very mean drunk. He actually drank himself to death. Both he and Taylor were known for being late and being difficult and for not knowing their lines. Ball was known as a workaholic and a perfectionist. She not only starred in the show but produced it. I can see how they didn’t get along

[@lillybart-s9i]

what you said is key--Burton and Taylor were known for drinking and delays on set--and Lucy was not having it. Burton even mentions in that journal entry that he was not drinking--and I think that may have also accounted for his bad mood. Also, Ball was running a studio==Desilu--and so she had a lot of other pressures on her and she had been running that show a long time. The episode was also filmed in front of an audience and the stakes were high for the episode. Long story short--they all had big egos and this was a clash of the Titans.

[@edmundcharles5278]

Very true as well! So take his immediate diary entries in light of his addiction status. A more sober reflection of his post-alcoholic persona would be more useful.

[@JustMe-uu3bh]

@@lillybart-s9i control freak meet alcoholics.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Burton died same as his coal miner father, only younger because he had movie 🌟 budget to indulge his habits.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

No such thing as "post-alcoholic persona" & Burton was @ least 2nd generation to die from it.

[@stevedale8611]

A lot to comment on....I was never on set with her but have heard she ran a tight ship. Thing is she was always right and knew here craft as no one before or after. I wasn't there and have no direct knowledge. But spoke to Lucy about this, and informed her of Sir Burton's comments in the book - and she was so surprised. And she was hurt. Tough as she was, she was very kind. As for the comments about Jack Benny, this makes no sense as the two were personal friends (neighbors too). They made dozens of appearances or near that on each of their shows and on other programs. They wouldn't have continued to work together if either didn't want to. Like everyone else, she adored Jack Benny. Burton admired Gale Gordon, he has said, because of his skill and also he was born in England. This was Jerry Paris' first time directing Lucy, or trying to. Turned out to be his last. Yet he really didn't have bad things to say about the experience, just that the two (Lucy and Paris) didn't mesh well. I don't recall every speaking with Lucy about various directors.

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

Great info, thanks! Your'e the second who said that Lucy learned about what Burton said. That's too bad, I'm sure it hurt her.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Theirs was a PROFESSIONAL relationship, both had been in SHOW BUSINESS long enough to develop tough hides or they wouldn't have lasted. Though I think there is footage here of Lucy discussing with Joan Rivers about her disappointment that her later projects weren't popular with audiences.

[@mibeatleman6767]

Behind the scenes, the crew would call Lucy, "Lucille Balls".

[@JustMe-uu3bh]

women shouldn't try to be men, and Lucy and those like her will find that emasculating men will backfire on them in the end. she should have dealt with her issues and not tried to control others as much as she should have tried to control her own behavior. but that's what happens. you are not missed when you are gone.......

[@Brandon-lw1wx]

@@JustMe-uu3bhI miss a lot of people who are gone. What are you talking about?

[@JustMe-uu3bh]

@@Brandon-lw1wx simple, when you act bad in life or treat people badly, they do not miss you when you die. simple as that. usually they are pretty happy about it or just sad that it went the way it did. but people have free will to do what they want so......

[@Brandon-lw1wx]

@@JustMe-uu3bh Lot of people miss Lucy,

[@Freddie-gv1yg]

@@Brandon-lw1wx Stop playing stupid.

[@diwilliams2960]

The grace they showed was they showed up and permitted her to conduct herself in the manner she did without quitting!!

[@englishincontext4025]

There's nothing like a lot of money to imbue restraint.

[@danielx555]

I remember the first time I learned that Lucille Ball was not the person she portrayed on stage. Everyone who worked with her politely expressed that she was a professional business person 100% of the time. She was not a quirky funny weak woman. Ball had a total and deep understanding of what was going into the camera lens and what the production would look like. This is obvious from all of her physical comedy. She portrays a sweet innocent character with all kinds of human frailty and it works. She was a genius in terms of acting and film or television acting. She had only one or two speeds, but her skill is undeniable. I listen to radio please, and she did one for suspense in which she plays a prostitute who pretends to be a teenager and then lures businessman into situations where they attempt to rape her, and then she blackmails them. That was one of her early roles. She had a hardness and an edge to her that was pretty damn scary.

[@margerykirner5604]

Lucy was a street woman, yes, she was hard, and tough even with her kids

[@margerykirner5604]

Lucy was a street woman, yes, she was hard, and tough even with her kids

[@JustMe-uu3bh]

I liked the I love Lucy shows but didn't like her - like Bob Hope, the same. she was NOT funny in her other movies, I am sure Desi suffered, her kids sure did.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Her kids WORKED with her on their shows.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Ball played WIDE range of characters in her film career, from glamour girls to smart secretaries, her film & radio career prepped her for television (she worked with & learned from silent comedians on slapstick Fuller Brush Girl) while Desi handled the musical & business support (it was only @ her insistence that her Cuban husband was allowed to 🌟 in network show).

[@natalieturko4808]

Burton had an incredible "presence", and was definitely handsome.

[@BonnieHaynes-gg4nk]

I saw him do Hamlet live on Broadway when I was 13. I will never forget. What presence.

[@leogeee1]

Lucie Arnaz said her mother was a perfectionist and didn't stand for tomfoolery and unprofessionalism. 'Let's get this done so we can be at Mateo's by 9.' And they did unlike the way sitcoms are handled today. I also heard the Burtons (when filming Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf) often were late and drank heavily where production costs were through the roof. Very arrogant. There are 2 sides to every story. I ❤️ Lucy.

[@dianelitman5956]

Being a perfectionist is code for being difficult and unpleasant to be with, in most cases.

[@georgialerangis2123]

Me too!❤

[@lindac6919]

EVERYONE hates a woman boss who doesn't let them push her around.

[@jamesbrice6619]

Except everyone else felt the same way about Lucy

[@jamesbrice6619]

​@@lindac6919everyone hates to be treated badly. What a lame platitude you just spewed

[@martywithceleste4444]

I've never heard any actor say anything nice about her. The nicest things they've said was stuff like "she's great at comedy" and "she's talented". I've never heard one say she was a "warm wonderful woman" or "I love her so much". Oh well, at LEAST she gave us STAR TREK!!🖖🖖🖖🖖

[@PaulRiesland]

Barbara Eden had so much good to say about Lucy. Lucy did not perceive Barbara as threat, so probably adjusted her persona accordingly. I have known people like that. Dragon lady to all and an angel to me. Why? I had no harmful agenda, but wasn’t afraid of them either.

[@martywithceleste4444]

@@PaulRiesland Well, I've also never heard Barbara say anything bad about anyone; and I've seen lots of her interviews. Almost barely not quite super positive things once in a while, but never anything bad.

[@wardarcade7452]

@@martywithceleste4444 Miss Eden called out Ann Sothern in her autobio for being openly jealous of Miss Eden's youth and beauty!

[@briand9815]

@@martywithceleste4444 Eden always complimented Lucy's treatment of her on I Love Lucy. Over the years, Eden did finally name Ann Sothern as the TV star who treated her badly when she was on her show in the late 50s.

[@michaelplunkett8059]

​@@PaulRieslandBarbara was a hard working pro, on top of her game. Lucy respected that.

[@BackWordsJane]

I agree with Lucy Arnez. It was the perfectionest in her mom.She wasn't doing it to be mean,just her style of getting things done. There was no need to be that way ,though where you're treating everyone like cattle

[@KarmicSalt]

Lucy came from a time where you had to be twice as good as a man to get half the recognition. She had to fight extra hard to be respected as a business woman.

[@jimwichelecki8275]

That was the way it was back in Lucy’s day.

[@ohmeowzer1]

Love Lucy forever

[@mattruzh8470]

Ball was a very unpleasant person 1-2-1. Look what they say about she behaved on air flights. See Martin Short

[@edmundcharles5278]

As opposed to the very very relaxed and non-rehearsed TV musical variety Dean Martin show in which Dean places all of his guest at ease and he did not take himself or the show too seriously! Everyone had a great time and Dean’s show was very high in the ratings! Hey Lucy, it’s supposed to be a comedy show, not a drama! Lucy was wrapped too tight for her in good, now no one watches the re-runs of her show!

[@vicpso1]

That episode was hysterical! I still remember it!

[@evenmore5868]

The AI makes a great job of Richard Burton's voice, quite uncanny, and also rather scary. But I would love to hear Richard's entire diaries narrated by AI Richatd

[@colinvannbohemen11]

The AI generated Burton commentary is simply breathtaking.

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

I agree, it stunned me!

[@theseeker3771]

@@TonyBoyOhBoy Which software did you or whoever made the video use?

[@mdleweight]

Th scene at the end of the episode with the Burtons, with Lucy behind the curtain, is still the funniest thing I have seen on Television. Her tyranny worked!

[@marthay.higuera9723]

That scene was done on I Love Lucy when she is handcuffed to Ricky & they can’t get if off. Ricky has to appear on a television show & she is behind the curtain. It was a funny scene.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

For decades.

[@mediterraneanworld]

Tyranny? You have obviously never worked in the theater - it is hardly a touchy-feely, woke experience! It is very technical and precise and only after that can one add anything extra...

[@kronos5385]

Lucy was a tough cookie but she ran a big studio and had to be. But without Lucy, there would not have been any of the Star Treks as she not only green lit the initial pilot but financed a second one when the first one didn't sell. That's a significant contribution to the world.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

M:I also.

[@williamphillips6049]

Lucille Ball is a long story. Desi Arnaz and her virtually invented the sitcom. Hollywood owes her a lot. Her last movie; Mame, was an embarrassing flop as was Life With Lucy. Her last years did not end well. She was estranged from her kids . . (when you call the father of your kids a loser; you can expect that). I heard a rumor that her husband; Gary Morton, was cheating on her. With all that personal and professional rejection; I think she got this crazy idea that nobody wanted her. There was even a rumor that the producers of Golden Girls were thinking of guest starring her. That never happened of course . . It's just a guess, but I'd bet that Arthur, McClanahan, Getty and maybe even Betty White had no intention of turning their brilliant ensemble into another Lucy show. I'm sixty now and remember how everybody loved Lucy. It's very hard to know just went wrong and saddening that nobody could do anything for her. 'Sorry but I'm becoming very pessimistic these days.

[@tjdomerny4847]

Lucy did over 35 weekly shows per season. Comedy is serious business.

[@edmundcharles5278]

To an extent, after a while however repeating the same storyline over and over again becomes boring and campy! The dtorylind is that Lucy gets into trouble and at the dnd of the show she managed to get herself out of trouble. I prefer Seinfeld in which the writing and cast are vastly superior and oft times unpredictable!

[@gloriamaryhaywood2217]

35 weekly shows!??😨 Did not realise that! And #WOWZA!, ..that's a LOT!!!

[@CaliforniaGuy888]

@@edmundcharles5278loved Seinfeld! But did Jerry and the gang ever wear penguin 🐧 costumes?😂 Lucy and the Franchise Fiasco Episode aired Feb 5, 1973

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Without Lucy Ricardo Seinfeld would never have existed (nor Trek, M:I & MANY others).

[@markaxworthy2508]

I just watched the show and Lucille Ball seemed pretty generous to Burton with some of the best lines.

[@TJ1920]

Lucille Ball came up the hard way after twenty years of making movies she was given the chance of having her own radio show which along with her then husband Desi Arnaz were lucky enough to have there own television series titled I Love Lucy they both became pioneers of television as we know it today Unfortunately Lucy and Desi divorced in 1960 Sine then Lucille Ball had no choice but to become the tough no nonsense master of television comedy as we know it today if she were to succeed in the rough and tumble business of show business. People like Elizabeth Taylor Richard Burton Joan Crawford so full of themselves as big star celebrities along with their egos were no match for the legendary Queen of television Comedy Lucy came up to the hard way after over 20 years in the industry making movies Lucy was finally been recognized for her comedy genius in a very tough business as one of the savviest intelligent women in television and that is how she survived as long as she did in conclusion all I have to say is I Love Lucy Simply because of what she was able to achieve

[@ryokomayuka]

Happy to see a new upload. Keep up the good work.

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

Thanks so much! Sometimes real life takes over and you have to put other things on hold. Hopefully we're back on track!

[@Shrinksjp]

Lucy and Jack benny were next door neighbors.

[@JesusismyRock773]

It is Lucy's name on the show, so she has to do what she has to do to make sure everything goes right. It is Lucy's reputation, not the Burton's that is on the line.

[@jamesbrice6619]

Lame excuse

[@LONDONGUY100]

"so she has to do what she has to do to make sure everything goes right".......do you have any idea what a Directors job is?......why did they bother having one if Ball was running the show?

[@RazvanMihai88]

​@@jamesbrice6619 what a pathetic, jerk. repeating the same comment.

[@mediterraneanworld]

@@jamesbrice6619 is that all you can say?

[@mediterraneanworld]

If she had been a man they would not have spoken that way about her.

[@missmercurys]

I just watched this episode for the first time recently. It was fantastic.

[@stevemitchell4241]

Milton Berle had said “…..that doesn’t mean she was easy to work with.”

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Pot, kettle. Male chauvinist pot calling out female kettle, not unusual & way too ez.

[@katesleuth1156]

Working on television is a completely different ball game than in movies or theatre.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Burton had already played Heathcliff on television.

[@mediterraneanworld]

@@unowen-nh9ov that is hardly the same as a very tight weekly sitcom.

[@anitahargreaves9526]

Very well out together. Fascinating topic. Thank you for sharing this.

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

Thank you!

[@pamczech5984]

I have a brother who is type A personality and he always corrected you in the middle of a story straighten your collar told you to sit up straight told you which silverware to use didn't matter how old you were we called him father knows best

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Well now we know what the A stands for.

[@eleanorwalmsley635]

😂😂😂😂 Father knows best 😂😂😂😂

[@Pharoset]

Your AI was BRILLIANT and VERY COMPELLING!!!!

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

Thank you!

[@cindyhorn5786]

You could tell Lucy was unbearably strong-willed. Her humorous acting and timing/ sense of humor were her gifts. But not her natural personality. Still, no one is perfect, and some don’t get the concept of rudeness.

[@BackWordsJane]

I agree. Many legendary directors and producers throughout history have been this way but at a cost to their reputation. Some actors refused to work with them

[@kellybrown8638]

Seriously, Ball,was a professional. Burton was NOT at this point in his life

[@bigezbarry]

Had Lucille Ball been a man, she would have been praised for how she handled this very narcissistic temperamental Burton

[@BronzeDragon133]

@@bigezbarry Probably not and no excuses for "woman." If one is nasty, one is nasty, man or woman. Ball, apparently, was a bit nasty. If it were a one-off, we might accept that it's just Burton. It's not a one-off report.

[@Jasper7182009]

Lucille Ball‘s humorous acting and timing/sense of humor, as you state, we’re not her gifts. She worked years and years at the back end of studios, observing and learning. Her comedic talent is the result of work, work, and more work. They were not gifts. All the years of Richard Burton‘s drinking - monumental as they are. - do not equal the years Lucille Ball put into honing her craft.

[@hanschristianbrando5588]

Everyone has said the same thing: to work with Lucy, especially post-"I Love Lucy" when she was in charge of the studio, was to not like her. Why the Burtons agreed to do the episode is a little hard to understand. To quote Lucie Arnaz, "Even God was afraid of my mother." The AI recreation of Richard Burton's voice isn't bad. The most likely reason Jack Benny worked with Lucy so often, despite it becoming an increasingly unpleasant experience, is because she hired his writers after his show went off the air. Also, they were next door neighbors. What's sad is that Lucille Ball was said to be very complimentary to her guests once filming was finished, and invited them to dinner and wondered why they couldn't wait to get out of there, and ended up sitting home alone in her last years.

[@williamwindomtributesite1640]

Yes, Bill Windom had the same experience when appearing on The Lucy Show. She wasn't happy with his performance in reversals. He went home and worked on the character. The next day they filmed and at the end Lucy hugged Bill and said he was wonderful.

[@Jasper7182009]

This was years ago but I saw in an interview how Lucille Ball told the story that at some kind of affair or gathering, Richard Burton turned to her and stated, “I want to be on your show.” I remember that story distinctly. And that Lucille Ball asked her old writers if they could write the episode with the Burtons’ as guest stars.

[@michaelstacey8303]

Everyone? Lol! You don’t know that

[@unowen-nh9ov]

PUBLICITY for 3 of the biggest 🌟s on the planet.

[@jeffwalsh6015]

Didn't Vivian Vance say she would have to pull over on the way to the I Love Lucy set and vomit? Many people, including her daughter, said she was very difficult to work with.

[@caragarcia2307]

I think it was in the contract that Vivian had to stay above a certain weight. They dressed Vivian down for the show but they were pictures of her dressed up and she was more attractive than Lucy. It's probably her personality and style that wasn't part of her character that made her photogenic.

[@dragonwithagirltattoo598]

Vivian and Lucy were actually friends who argued on occasion. They never stayed mad at each other long.

[@texasgirl6000]

That was because of tje actor who played Fred. She couldn't stand William frawley ( fred) and neither did William frawley like Ethel ( Vivian vance).

[@lindac6919]

I didn't hear that she had that kind of reaction. I heard that she told Lucy to "get effed" at least once!

[@LJ-ht4zs]

I have said this before - the people , ie writers on the shows stayed with Lucy for years. The first director Marc Daniels said Lucille Ball was the greatest star he ever directed and he worked with Sally Fields, Julie Harris, Paul Newman and Lawrence Olivier (he son said this on one of the Lucy Desi documentaries. Orson Wells who appeared on the ILL show said she was the best one of best actresses of the 20th century. People also said she was rude with Johnny Carson and Dick Cavett - I saw her on those shows - not so. She and Johnny Carson were friends and she was on his show several times; also with Cavett again, good - both seemed to like being together.

[@RoyalBard]

After years of smoking, Lucy's voice was deeper than Burton's.

[@raquelgarvin8391]

😂😂😂

[@LJ-ht4zs]

My father started smoking at age 12 and at least as an adult he smoked four packs a day - did not change her voice at all.

[@tedrobinson372]

So Jerry Paris directed the 1970 episode of the Burtons? Poor soul 😢

[@robertwalker2052]

Jerry Paris played the dentist in the Dick van Dyke show.

[@jasonsbrain2]

Lee Tannen, who was friends with Lucy for several years, wrote a book after her death called "I Loved Lucy." According to him, Lucy did read Burton's book when it came out and was quite devastated by his remarks. Driven to tears, in fact. She obviously was not expecting it at all...

[@adams8132]

Burton was an earthy guy, believe it or not. Which is a good thing. Ball not so much. Martin Short tells a story of how he was on a plane with Ball and how actively nasty she was to him. He was sitting in front of her. She didn’t know who he was. Other stories of flight attendants being treated like trash by Ball also.

[@kerriethompson2073]

My Grandparents saw Lucy and Desi filming the Long, Long, Trail in Yosemite and they commented how she treated her staff poorly. If only I could find the film that they took of that.

[@adams8132]

@@kerriethompson2073 Very interesting.

[@michaelstacey8303]

Let’s all bash a dead icon with hyperbole and innuendo passed along through untrustworthy sources

[@unowen-nh9ov]

​@@michaelstacey8303It's called the internet & is for porn & morons, did you know beloved children's author J.K. Rowling is transphobic? Unless of course you can actually read her writings on the subject.

[@jamesbrice6619]

​@@michaelstacey8303untrustworthy? When 10 people tell you that you have a tail, you'd better turn around and look.

[@vanpelt2321]

Great presentation and your closing comments probably sum it up best. It was a monumental example of irresistible forces and immovable objects. Richard had stopped his alcohol intake (around three bottles of vodka, inter alia, per day) around 1970 and was in a perpetually foul and explosive mood. I remember reading that before the 1970 Academy Awards when Richard and Elizabeth were visited by John Wayne and his wife Pilar in their bungalow, Burton was nauseated by just the smell of liquor on Duke's breath. So, Burton was wound up and on edge, Lucy was being the dictatorial authoritarian she always was on her set but they were both professionals who stepped up, did their best and made television history.

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

Thank you!

[@englishincontext4025]

Lucy built a hugely successful empire through very hard work and dedication to her craft. The fact that some actors with large egos and thin skins didn't like it, is just tough. Burton was a lush; Taylor was an egotist. The fact that Vance worked happily and successfully with Lucy for many years shows that Lucy preferred professionals, not 'stars' expecting to be cosseted. The show was quite rightly a higher priority for her.

[@LJ-ht4zs]

Actually the Burtons asked to be on her show. Burton came on set late, muttered his lines. was drinking.

[@scaryharryflanagan70]

You're on that copium pretty bad. She was a bitch.

[@lindac6919]

Even William Frawley was more professional than that.

[@googlamonster5086]

Wow! Great story. Thank you. I've always heard that Lucy was tough, but I didn't know she went as far as she did. I don't know why this came into my feed, but you have a new subscriber.

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jay1hi547]

I believe Richard Burton and Lucie Arnaz. Sounds like Lucy was a perfectionist which got great results but no need to be rude and treat people that way.

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

She wasn't rude, she was trying to put together a show in a very professional manner - there's a big difference!

[@jay1hi547]

@@Nunofurdambiznez Tapping people on their heads is rude and not professional. Did you not listen to what Richard Burton and Elizabeth said about Lucy. Not to mention her own daughter. That's not the way you treat people.

[@mariestoeberl9373]

And the way she treated Gail Gordon he was a fine funny actor. Was mean. The first time I saw her being interviewed , I expected a funny down to earth woman. Boy was I surprised when I saw the real Lucy! With her very low liquor sounding voice She was like a Leona Helmsley areal bitch!

[@lawtalk5665]

She was a woman in a man’s world. She HAD to be tough & unwavering. Shoot, it’s hard today for women! I can’t imagine being the head of RKO in those days as a woman! You get em, Lucille! More power to you! 💪🏽

[@jay1hi547]

@@lawtalk5665 I absolutely agree! I know it must have been very difficult and a lot of pressure to always deliver. Lucille Ball is a legend and icon. No one is perfect!

[@letshaveacuppa_official]

Lots of people said that she like to get things done, but she was a sweetheart and many people loved her. My philosophy is tell her to someone’s face before they die. I love Lucy always well.

[@Freddie-gv1yg]

That is why you posted what you posted. Because you love Lucy. Many airline folks posted and said bad things about Lucy as well,

[@ninamc6116]

Burton was a Shakespearean actor & you’re telling him how to entertain? Lucy sounded challenging

[@michaelplunkett8059]

That he was. But known for comedy, no. Familiar with the rigors of 3 camera weekly sitcom production, no. For that, Lucy as star and producer, was.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Shakespeare holds NO appeal to most modern audiences, they think classic means Harry Potter. But certainly Shakespearean actors like Burton & O'Toole starred in pop box office hits or they couldn't have been movie 🌟s, or the reverse for Taylor in Taming of the Shrew.

[@desertlillie9659]

Have mercy! I could watch and listen to Richard Burton read the phone book. He was as handsome as his voice. Too bad he and “E” never had children. To his own detriment, he passed way too young. He will forever be King Arthur, Hamlet and Becket. May they all rest in peace.

[@charlesprice925]

The AI voice was perfect, and impressive. But scary that words could be put into someone's mouth quite credibly.

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

I agree, we are living in a strange new world!

[@Nitedawg1]

When my mom was about 20 she worked at a hotel in Florida all the stars went to. She really disliked the way Milton Berle treated all the employees and how he didn’t leave a tip for any of them, and though she never met Lucy she said some of the other employees had and they disliked her. She said it was made worse because they all expected her to be nice and were shocked at how much their image was out of alignment with reality

[@gc3847]

Ok and good , but he was a bit of a wanker so who cares. He wasnt faithful to his wife ,and called Taylor , the slag he buggered off with "a fat cow" He was an opinionated drunk ,with a posh voice , he was one of those actors ,that was just himself ,in every part he ever played , but I will grant you ,he shouldnt have been. He was flawed, arent we all ? Lucille Ball ,may have been the same ,with a lot less acting talent .But she had a brain ,and Desilu ,brought her more wealth than Burton and Taylor had between them . Im sure ,that rare occasion that brought them together on screen earned Lucille Ball 50 times what SHE paid burton to do it.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Watch her earlier film career, she had wide range before television typecast her.

[@BruceRichardsonMusic]

I think an old theater maxim really explains it best. There's all kinds of tension leading to opening night. But a standing ovation cures it all, and everyone loves each other again at the cast party.

[@lcdrforbes]

I knew Hal King her makeup man for 30 years. He told me how difficult she was and that the only reason he lasted with her as long as he did was because he would give it right back to her. He was a very witty man. He would tell me how stingy she was. “ She wouldn’t give you a nickel if you were starving.” He shared a story about an outdoor dinner party that she held at her home. A young lady was serving meatballs and put two on his plate. He asked for one more and she said, “I am only allowed to give two per person.” He put his plate down and began to make his exit and Lucy asked him where he was going. He stated, I’m hungry. I’m going to get something to eat.” 😂

[@Rushmore222]

I'm with Liz Taylor. Taking firm direction is one thing. If Lucy really did put her hands on the actors, that's way out of bounds. Grabby direction doesn't seem like a great idea, and likely wouldn't fly anywhere else.

[@Angelo_Manuel]

If you do your research you’ll know that before Burton and Taylor there was Sinatra and Gardner; that was explosive!

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Both men's careers benefitted from their famous wives.

[@EricBrunoBorgman]

Wow that AI voice of Burton's was fantastic! What was the software used to create it? At the beginning I thought it was him!

[@Mithra-bl7nv]

People try and make excuses for Ball, woman in a man's world and all that. But from the myriad of stories that have come out I say that's nonsense. Like ignoring the flight attendant because, as her assistant said, 'Miss Ball doesn't talk to the help'. The woman was just plain mean. Some people shouldn't be that successful. They just can't handle it.

[@costernocht]

On the other hand, think of the millions she still continues to make laugh on reruns.

[@ohmeowzer1]

Love Lucy ❤

[@unowen-nh9ov]

The sexist historical revisionism here is laughable. With the advent of television, radio & movie 🌟s like Ball & frequent co-star Bob Hope became not just national institutions but huge 1-person multimedia conglomerates. Also, in the day, as with JFK, NONE of this was reported, Hope was famous for his USO tours, NOT for his womanizing. Given the amount of money Desilu was generating for the network & sponsors, it's embarrassing Ball was forced to fly coach & be exposed to public observation, let alone criticism. Where are all the stewardesses busting Captains of Industry's bad behaviour? There was none? Obviously Ball had no concern about her public image, America's most famous mother could be seen with that hair from 1 end of the cabin to the other. Yet she refused to pander to strangers whose only job it was was to SERVE their passengers? Forget poor J.K. Rowling, apparently now we're canceling DEAD female legends - what was the line about Ginger having to dance the same as Fred, only backwards & in heels? How much time did Desi have to spend in hair & makeup while running Desilu? If ANYTHING had gone wrong with the Burtons' appearance, who would have been blamed? The world famous 1-shot guests, who had already survived being pilloried as adulterers? Or the divorced middle-aged mother of 2 teens whose name was on both the show & its studio? Bad Lucy, for being stressed professional wanting to not only make history but to get it RIGHT! What other shows did Liz & Dick guest on?

[@OceanKingNY]

Look, we know that Lucy was a major control freak. But Liz and Dick were hardly shrinking violets. They were known to have gargantuan egos. And Burton had his own terrible reputation for mistreating people. It was inevitable that there would be friction when they worked together. Like it or not, they agreed to be Lucy's employees for a week, and they had to do her show the way that she wanted it done. They got the same treatment that Lucy gave to all of her guest stars. But in the end, it all came together. Even Burton admits that the filming before the audience went very well. Could it be that, after 19 years, Lucy knew what she was doing? In the end, all that matters is what gets on the screen, and that episode looks great today and is very funny. It also made the Burtons look wonderful and helped to clean up their somewhat wild reputation at the time.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

As their box office proved, audiences loved the scandal. It would tumble in their middle age & the Burtons would themselves cash in on television, in 2 television movies entitled Divirce: His and Divorce: Hers. I 💩 ye not.

[@OceanKingNY]

@@unowen-nh9ov Wow, I had forgotten about the "Divorce: His" and "Divorce: Hers" TV movies. They weren't very good, and they have been forgotten over the decades.

[@Jean-e3q]

Take people as you find them. I love Lucy!

[@5cloudwalker]

Reminds me a bit of Jerry Lewis, funny on screen but different persona off screen … sad

[@deniseandrews113]

Yes, I've read some really negative things about JL...

[@juliestrom412]

I love Lucy 💃 l also love Richard Burton. 🌱

[@adamantman3200]

There is a book called THE LUCY BOOK which is all about her TV career. There are interviews with numerous actors who had worked with her. NONE OF THEM mentioned any positive experiences to relate with working on her show. They all had been treated like dirt by Lucy.

[@1jessetaylor]

Lucille was in it for the money and she was a work alcoholic, not an alcoholic. Most of her worst critics had substance abuse problems with big egos.