The Elusive Magic of Desi Arnaz
Recording the podcast just now, Rob Long, James Lileks and I found ourselves discussing Lucille Ball's husband, the Cuban band leader Desi Arnaz. (How did he come up? Ah, you'll have to tune in to find out.)
Rob provided a brief Hollywood history lesson, explaining that Arnaz was a business genius. That is, of course, good to know, but it leaves the central puzzle unsolved. Desi Arnaz couldn't act, couldn't sing, and couldn't really dance. And yet, and yet. He was a really marvelous entertainer. Just get a load of this clip of Arnaz singing one of his biggest hits, "Cuban Pete."
As I say, Arnaz couldn't act, sing, or dance--but he was just marvelous all the same.
If you can figure out how he did it, would you let the rest of us know?
- Comment (30)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (5)
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
Comments :
Re: The Elusive Magic of Desi Arnaz
Okay, so I was a kid, but I watched I Love Lucy obsessively (and daily) from about ages 7-12, and in my mind, Desi was a great singer and actor! I'm almost afraid to watch the clip and have my childish convictions dashed. The word "entertainer" seems so .... seedy. He was more, so much more.
But, you are right, Peter, there's a magic to his skills (or lackthereof) which is hard to define.
Jun '10
Re: The Elusive Magic of Desi Arnaz
Yep, Desi was a great entertainer, you could flip from CBS, to ABC, to NBC and not find his equal. (snark)
Jul '10
Re: The Elusive Magic of Desi Arnaz
It was a different world back then. I mean, for Pete's sake, Lawrence Welk was a superstar.
I suspect the culture of Desi Arnaz and Lawrence Welk was responsible for driving boomer hippies to take drugs and dance naked in muddy fields.
Jun '10
Re: The Elusive Magic of Desi Arnaz
"...chick, chicky, bum, chick, chicky, bum..."
Pretty much says it all, doesn't it? The man was a veritable genius. What's next? A monograph on the genius of Bob Denver and the socio-political importance of Gilligan's Island? Honestly, gentlemen.
Re: The Elusive Magic of Desi Arnaz
No, No, Ursula! Watch the clip! He's just wonderful.
Re: The Elusive Magic of Desi Arnaz
Peter Robinson:
As I say, Arnaz couldn't act, sing, or dance--but he was just marvelous all the same.
If you can figure out how he did it, would you let the rest of us know? ·
Get yourself a funny red-head and keep her by your side at all times.
That'll do it.
Mar '11
Re: The Elusive Magic of Desi Arnaz
Desi, like all business geniuses, knew how to hire skilled people, manage them, and delegate. In the clip above his band is tight, has has a song with a memorable chorus (chicky chicky bum), and he delegated the real entertainment to his truly talented wife Lucy.
Dec '10
Re: The Elusive Magic of Desi Arnaz
Tommy De Seno
Peter Robinson:
As I say, Arnaz couldn't act, sing, or dance--but he was just marvelous all the same.
If you can figure out how he did it, would you let the rest of us know? ·
Get yourself a funny red-head and keep her by your side at all times.
That'll do it. · Apr 28 at 11:13am
Pretty much. Lucille Ball was simply a comic genius. Has there ever been a funnier comedienne?
But I think Arnaz would have been a great TV producer if he'd gotten the chance without her.
Dec '10
Re: The Elusive Magic of Desi Arnaz
You've reminded me of the notes on Fred Astaire's first screen test: "Can't sing. Can't act. Can dance a little."
In this clip, Desi looks a little bit like Eddie Cantor, with the eye roll. And Desi is playing essentially a straight man to Lucy's sassy Sally. He does that wonderfully.
Dec '10
Re: The Elusive Magic of Desi Arnaz
Oh, and by the way, Desi Arnaz was a pretty good congolero.
Babalu
Re: The Elusive Magic of Desi Arnaz
From my column in this week's The National:
The rest of it is here....
May '10
Re: The Elusive Magic of Desi Arnaz
In many regards Desi could echo the sentiments of George Burns "I did have talent," insisted George, "and I was married to her for 38 years."
What Desi did have, like George, was a willingness to allow others to make fun of him and allow his wife to shine. And Lucy went to the mat for him. The original idea was for Lucy just to move her highly successful radio show, My Favorite Husband, to TV. Lucy insisted that Desi be included but CBS wanted no part of him or his thick Cuban accent. Thankfully for all of us CBS caved.
As I am sure Rob pointed out in the podcast, Desi invented the three-camera sitcom that's still in vogue today. And he insisted on film instead of kinescope which accounts for the fact that I Love Lucy is still seen and enjoyed today.
Both he and Lucy had great business and show business instincts. They purchased the old RKO-Radio studios (where Lucy toiled in bit parts in Astaire-Rogers musicals) and made it a major production force as Desilu until they sold out to Paramount in the late 1960's.
Edited on Apr 28, 2011 at 11:38amMay '10
Re: The Elusive Magic of Desi Arnaz
And as a PS, Madelyn Pugh Davis, who wrote just about everything Lucy did on TV died just last week at age 90.
Her LA times obit is here:
Madelyn Pugh Davis dies at 90; 'I Love Lucy' writer
Nov '10
Re: The Elusive Magic of Desi Arnaz
It's because he could say "Lucy! You have some uh-splainin to do!"
Feb '11
Re: The Elusive Magic of Desi Arnaz
My favorite I Love Lucy is the one with Harpo Marx where Harpo and Lucy do the mirror routine from one of the early Marx Brothers movies (forget which one).
Thanks Rob Long and EJHill. Your article & comments have been very informative.
Re: The Elusive Magic of Desi Arnaz
Rob Long: From my column in this week's The National:
The rest of it is here.... · Apr 28 at 11:27am
Thanks, Rob, for pointing out that, contrary to the doltish views of some, women can be genuinely funny writers. Madelyn Pugh Davis is certainly an unsung hero. I feel bad that I'd never heard of her. I might also point out something that goes against the belief of some here on Ricochet -- women can work together and produce great -- no, brilliant -- results. So much for that "all women hate each other" thing.
I like that the show has reruns around the world. It would certainly comfort me, too. There are few memories more dear to me than summer mornings when I was young, waiting impatiently for the hour when it was okay to start ringing the doorbells of my friends' houses, and passing the time by watching I Love Lucy. It's in my mind's eye like it's happening now.
Apr '11
Re: The Elusive Magic of Desi Arnaz
Just like we find that many times people with the highest IQ's tend not to make good decisions,I have found that often times the greatest entertainers have a special something...a charisma or personality trait that transcends their talents and make them a pleasure to watch or listen to.....I agree that Desi Arnez is one such entertainer...as would be John Wayne ........
Jan '11
Re: The Elusive Magic of Desi Arnaz
This was an exercise in synchronicity. When I came onto Ricochet, I was listening to iTunes. I happened to be listening to a collection of Bob Hope bits; i.e., duets with Crosby, radio recordings of USO monologues, and so on. As soon as I saw the word entertainer, I couldn't help but associate Hope and Arnaz.
It also just happens that earlier today, I hit the YouTube button on my iPhone, and the first saved video was of a guy named Cozy Morley. Morley was sort of the minor league version of Bob Hope. He was a comedian who owned a little nightclub outside of Wildwood, New Jersey. He had a funny, pleasant show that ran every night. He told jokes, sang a few songs, danced a little, and served plenty of drinks.
These were three guys who just knew how to have a little fun. A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants. I'm trying to think of a contemporary equivalent. We have plenty of snarky, political, cutting-edge comics (yawn), and angst-ridden singers. Do we have any real entertainers?
Seems like there's a market for one.
Re: The Elusive Magic of Desi Arnaz
Another thing worth contemplating: when Lucy married Ricky, he wasn't considered "Hispanic." He was Latin. Spanish, Italian, that sort of thing.
It wasn't an "inter-racial" marriage.
These days, would they say the same thing? Or have we "progressed?"
May '10
Re: The Elusive Magic of Desi Arnaz
Stop me if you've heard this one...
Folks from that era developed personas that they presented to the public, a cross between themselves and the character they wanted presented. It was a bit of a cage but it was a gilded one. If you did two-a-days on the vaudeville circuits and lived out of suitcases in theatrical boarding houses, radio (and later television) was a great gig if you could get it and you appreciated it.
No one will ever hit the trifecta of entertainment the way Crosby did (1st in broadcasting, records and movies). It's just an era that will never return.