The Queen of Tuesday: A Lucille Ball Story by Darin Strauss

The queen of Tuesday, Lucille Ball, was an iconic comedienne and television actress whose life story is inspiring and fascinating. Lucille Ball was born in Jamestown, New York in 1911, and from a young age, she exhibited an uncommon wit and gift for comedy. It wasn't until the 1930s that Lucille Ball began her journey towards stardom, when she moved to Hollywood with her husband. After numerous film roles and an appearance in the Broadway show "DuBarry Was A Lady", she achieved small stardom as a comedienne in the 1940s.

It was her role on CBS's "I Love Lucy" in the 1950s that truly made Lucille Ball a household name. On "I Love Lucy," Ball played the scatterbrained but loveable Lucy Ricardo, wife of Cuban-born band leader Ricky Ricardo. For six years, the show aired to consistently high ratings, becoming the first show to ever reach the number one spot in the Nielsen ratings in its final season. The show ended production in 1957 and went down in history as one of the greatest television series of all time.

But, Lucille Ball was not done entertaining audiences. After "I Love Lucy," Lucille Ball created and starred in numerous other series, including “The Lucy Show,” “Here's Lucy,” and “Life with Lucy.” Her roles in the series were often more mature and developed than her previous roles, showing her character as a businesswoman, single mother, and independent woman.

In addition to her on-screen work, Lucille Ball was known as a shrewd woman in the business world. After the cancellation of "I Love Lucy," Ball established her own production company, Desilu Productions. There, she produced "The Untouchables," "The Dick Van Dyke Show," and countless other television series.

In her personal life, Lucille Ball had two marriages and one daughter, Lucie Arnaz. Although her first marriage to Desi Arnaz ended in divorce, their profitable partnership continued throughout the duration of their production company. Her second marriage to Gary Morton, a former comedian, lasted until her death in 1989.

Although Lucille Ball never won an Emmy for her television acting career, her impact on modern day television cannot be overstated. Through her portrayal of Lucy Ricardo and her acting business savvy, Lucille Ball set the stage for countless successful shows that would follow. She is often referred to as the "Queen of Tuesday" due to the fact that "I Love Lucy" aired on Tuesday evenings and achieved unparalleled success on the night.

Darin Strauss' book, "The Queen of Tuesday: A Lucille Ball Story" profiles Lucille Ball's life and career by focusing on her relationships and business ventures as well as the impact she made on the world of television. In this book, Strauss examines the unique and sometimes tumultuous life of Lucille Ball, who, despite being dubbed an icon, was still a woman grappling with heartache and disappointment. Ultimately, this book seeks to offer an up-close understanding of the woman behind the legendary character of Lucy Ricardo, providing a vivid portrait of the creator of modern television.

The Queen of Tuesday: A Lucille Ball Story is a fitting tribute to an actress who brought laughter into homes across America for many years and a lesson to learn from a woman who never stopped fighting for her dreams. Through Strauss' book, readers can gain an insight into the life of an inspiring woman and feel inspired to follow her example.