Aug. 6 (UPI) — Lucille Ball’s daughter says she spent “magic times” with her mom while at home as a family.
Lucie Arnaz, the daughter of I Love Lucy stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, shared childhood memories with Good Morning America in honor of her late mom’s birthday Tuesday. Ball died at age 77 in April 1989.
Ball and Desi Arnaz married in 1940 and were parents to Arnaz and son Desi Arnaz, Jr. Arnaz recalled spending quiet moments at home during the height of I Love Lucy‘s popularity.
“Home and being together is a fond and favorite memory — if she made me a grilled cheese sandwich and we sat in the living room and we talked, that is a great moment in my memory,” Arnaz said. “She was just home. She was just being mom, making sandwiches. Those were the magic times for me.”
“She was very nuts and bolts,” she added of Ball. “[She’d say], ‘You’ve got to take care of business and you’ve got to brush your teeth and you’ve got to do your homework.’ My father [would say], ‘Let’s have a fiesta. Let’s cook and let’s have a good time.’ I have a responsible side … but I’m also very much like my father.”
I Love Lucy co-starred Vivian Vance, William Frawley and Richard Keith, and had a six-season run from 1951 to 1957. Five colorized episodes will play in select theaters Tuesday in honor of Ball’s birthday.
“‘Watching that show got us through some really tough times’ — I can’t tell you how many times someone has said that to me or my brother,” Arnaz said. “I think my mother and my father and Vivian and Bill would be completely honored that 68 years after the show started, people are still loving it the way that they are.”
Fathom Events is hosting the I Love Lucy screenings Tuesday. The event will feature five episodes and “Redhead Tales,” a new featurette on the colorization of I Love Lucy.
