You Got Some ‘Splainin To Do! Fun And Crazy “I Love Lucy” Facts

A Difficult Love

They may have played it off on screen, but Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz had a difficult marriage. Arnaz was a womanizer and he did like to party, which (for obvious reasons) got in the way of his relationship with Ball.

The day after the series ended, Ball filed for a divorce. She remarried, and so did Arnaz, but his was short lived. At the end of his life, Arnaz said that Ball was the love of his life. The day before he passed away of lung cancer, Ball spoke to him, as they still had a very close relationship.

New York, New York

Desi was quite an innovator when it came to how the show was filmed. Although most shows were filmed in New York at the time, Desi and Lucy did not have any desire to relocate to The Big Apple. Instead, they insisted that they remain in Los Angeles.

In order to sway the network, Arnaz suggested that they use three cameras to film the show, which had never been done before. He enlisted the assistance of cinematographer Karl Freund, who helped Desi construct a set. Arnaz also negotiated that Desilu Productions take ownership over the show, in exchange for lower salaries for him and Ball.