Rest in Peace Dear Lucy........

  We Remember You With Love!!!

August 6th 1911 - April 26th 1989

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The Determination of the Little Queen

by Amy S. Wiggin

Decades before she became a star on our television screen.

Little Lucille was looking for a way to follow her dreams.

Lucille was bored with her little town.

And the tiny queen was restless, wanted to add some jewels to her crown.

She thought that drama school was her ticket to become a star.

Sadly she didn’t get very far.

They said she couldn’t sing or dance.

Our Little Queen knew that there had to be a chance.

There had to be.

So the Little Queen went to the House of Carnegie.

Hattie was her name

and in the 1920’s the fashion world was her claim to fame.

Hattie was a mother hen who took all her employees under her wing.

The young girls modeled everything from bridal gowns, hats and faux pearl rings.

Lucille was the youngest of all of Hattie’s baby chicks.

Hattie knew she had potential, and she wanted her to learn all that she could and wanted her to learn quick.

If she was going to make it in Hollywood,

she had to learn all she could.

Her little chick could be the Queen of the pond.

Hattie wanted her to grow up to be a beautiful swan.

Along with criticism, Hattie also offered praise

Lucille was nervous, but she ascended the stage

On that afternoon day

Lucille felt severe pain, crashed to the floor and on the stage she lay.

For several days, she had a fever,

but the little Queen kept working.

She was a classic over achiever.

Hattie helped her off the floor, and into a cab.

Lucille was worried, about the bills, Hattie said not to worry that she would pay the tab.

As Lucille screamed in pain,

Hattie screamed at the doctors, hours and hours, the wait was insane

Hattie waited with her, guarded her chick in the nest.

As the doctors preformed test after test.

Back at the House of Carnegie, they all prayed.

Lucille’s diagnosis was RA.

It was said for life she would be in a wheelchair.

Hattie cried, she was a baby, it wasn’t fair.

She sent her back to Jamestown to convalesce.

The young Queen, Hattie’s swan was instructed to get some rest.

Hattie told her it would not be long.

She would walk again, the doctors could be wrong.

If the Little Queen would do as they say.

She would feel well enough to return to New York some day.

The daily injections and experimental medicine controlled her pain.

She was weak, but each day more and more strength she would gain

To Hattie, Lucille sent a wire,

To New York, she was coming back

Hattie knew she would easily tire.

Lucille nor Hattie, would be defeated,

Together they devised a plan where she could model and remained seated.

Lucille was the first model with a disability.

Later Hattie taught Lucille how to use her cane as a prop

Again she tackled the catwalk

At the closing of every show she was appointed the beautiful bride.

In her beautiful swan, Hattie felt happiness and incredible pride

Her talent and beauty the world was beginning to see

She asked her surrogate mother, if she took accept other assignments.

Hattie agreed as long as it didn’t take away from her clients.

Lucille tested early equipment for durable medical equipment companies.

The research helped her pay the remaining medical fees.

This medical testing and research she courageously endured, helped others in many ways.

Lucille continually supported the disabled cause for all her days.

She knew that she had other avenues to explore.

Hattie supported her decision to be a Chesterfield girl.

This was her ticket to the world.

The beautiful swan was now a Queen

And with her courage and motivation and a few roadblocks in between

to establish courage

The Queen soon realized her dream.

Long before she was Lucy…….She was a definite star.

She never gave up until she had her crown full of jewels.

As well as talent and beauty, courage, determination and motivation were Lucille’s most important tools.

Last Update: 7/12/05

Hattie Carnegie thought that a young Lucille resembled 1920's to 1940's actress

Joan Bennett which I believe she did as well,

Joan Bennett and her sister Constance were some of Hattie's most loyal of customers.

Therefore because of this and because of her resemblance to the sisters. Lucille was their mannequin when they visited Hattie Carnegie Inc.

Lucille's resemblance to Joan Bennett continued to help her when

she broke into the movies. Because she was often a stand-in for both Joan and Constance.

Reference: The Importance of Lucille Ball

Lucille's resemblance to Joan Bennett continued to help her when

she broke into the movies. Because she was often a stand-in for both Joan and Constance.

Reference: The Importance of Lucille Ball

by Adam Woog (page 33)

They were both Early Pioneer Businesswomen

Most people who worked for Hattie said she was a tough task master with a heart of gold.

I am sure she has earned her wings in Heaven.
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Upon her return to New York, this is what Lucy had to say about Hattie Carnegie.
Even though, I Still had pain, as soon as I could move again, I headed right back to that railroad station and New York City.
The first day back in New York was on of the coldest days I've ever exprienced in my life, I was wearing four layers of clothes, and I could not keep out the chill my legs were still really killing me.
Hattie was as good as her word, and she gave me my job back.

When I finally could walk again, Hattie taught me how to dress, how to stand and how to walk with grace again. I won't ever forget her kindness.

"Lucy in the Afternoon"

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Lucy speaking about one of her first roles in Hollywood.....
"I got a job in "Roberta" with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

I walked down a staircase in a fashion show wearing a white satin dress and a white ostrich feather cape.
I remembered how Hattie had taught me how to walk and turn. It worked, I stood out and was offered a contract with RKO."
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Hattie always wanted the girls to see the world. In this case the United States Capital.
Lucy and the other girls took part in a special fashion show in Washington, D.C.
After the show, she took some of the girls around for some sightseeing At least Lucy,  to meet some of the V.I.P.'s of Congress, The President etc.

Some of the girls weren't the least bit impressed, but Lucy was considering she had NOT been too far out of Jamestown when she was younger.           Hattie being an Austrian Immigrant who officially became a United States citizen on her own accord,  after a few years of living here. Hattie loved just about everything about her adopted country and wanted to share her patriotism.
Hattie also loved the fact that Lucy enjoyed travelling as much as she herself did.
Lucy and Hattie went on a lot of little trips together. Hattie grew up poor as did Lucy and both were determined from a young age to be somebody important.
 

Dream is a wish your heart makes

They acheived their dreams, going to the top of their chosen fields

Lucy as we now was "The Queen of Comedy" and "First Lady of Television" 

 Hattie Carnegie as "The Queen of The Fashion World."
Hattie sensed this same drive to succeed in Lucy that she herself had at the same age while working at Macy's Department Store and just helped her along the way. Not only by being a second mother to her, but making an effort to introduce her to

"Very Important, Very Successful People."

Goldwyn is Calling

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Hattie Carnegie Model to

Chesterfield Cigarette Girl

 When the Chesterfield Cigarette company saw that famous ad that Lucy did for Hattie Carnegie Inc.

That photograph of Lucy with the hat was actually from a Hattie Carnegie ad when she modeled for her.

Hattie hired a sketch artist, to draw the girls in various hats, dresses, jewelry etc to be sent to customers upon placing an order from her shop.

Hattie explained in her Life Magazine Interview,

 She used to include pictures or sketches of the various models wearing what the customer ordered......Along with a swatch of material if it was a dress, so the customer could see the color.

 Hence the picture of young Lucille was sent to many of Hattie Carnegie's customers. Hattie also chose Lucy to do mostly print work for her and that meant magazines and advertisements.

Most went national as Hattie Carnegie was

THE TOP DESIGNER OF THE 1920'S. She was very famous back then. Hattie used to be a household name at one time.
The Hattie Carnegie print ads and her famous sketch she had had drawn of Lucy caught the attention of the Chesterfield Cigarette company, and they contacted Hattie.

Hattie being the intelligent lady she was "Thank you very much. LOL" They asked her what model she recommended. She stated, "Lucille Ball"

 The Chesterfield Ads lead to her being discovered by Agent Sylvia Hablo while she was walking down the street in New York City. As luck would have it, Sylvia worked for Sam Goldwyn.

Sylvia recognized Lucille as the Chesterfield Cigarette Girl and informed her their was an opening for a chorus girl as the other girl who was selected was pulled out of the lineup by her mother and there was no time to test she had to leave for Hollywood this Saturday.

 No Exceptions.

"Lucille Honey, When opportunity knocks, you must answer that door."- Hattie Carnegie-1932

Hattie Carnegie had a major hand in not only mentoring Lucy but helping get her discovered, she was always proud of her.

Stating in an interview.

"Lucille was my Pride and Joy."

That is why in many things you read about Hattie Carnegie It states she discovered Lucille Ball.

Even though it wasn't offical.   In a way, She did because she opened doors for her. The rest is history.

Hattie really was an IMPORTANT part of Lucille Ball's career.
I respect Hattie for so many reasons, Especially for helping Lucy.

I take great pride in wearing clothes with Hattie Carnegie labels.

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This is from the website of a lady named Carol who I correspond with on occasion.

She and her husband both have rheumatiod arthritis and she put this tribute to Lucille Ball on her site, she mentioned Hattie Carnegie so therefore, I thought I would add it to the Hattie-Carnegie.com

I didn't think she would mind.

Lucille Ball is revered as the queen of comedy. She left a legacy of film from "I Love Lucy" shows and other work that live on long past her death in 1989. Her body of work supplements our memories of "Lucy" as an actress, comedienne, and clown. The characters she played were often portrayed with vigorous physical comedy, and required endurance, timing, and energy. With this realization, a little known fact about Lucy becomes somewhat unbelievable. As a teenager, Lucille Ball was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

As a 17 year old girl possessing aspirations of becoming an actress, Lucille Ball went to New York City with the intention of making her dreams come true. She was not an overnight success, and struggled through theater school, working as a chorus line girl, and as a model. When she began working for Hattie Carnegie's internationally famous dress shop as a model her luck improved. She was then in a world of rich society women and glamorous movie stars.

On one particular day while standing on a dais for a fitting at Hattie's dress shop, Lucy felt excruciating pain in both her legs, as if they were on fire. This incident was preceded by several days with a bout of pneumonia and fever. Hattie sent Lucy around the corner to her doctor. The doctor advised Lucy that the pains were arthritic, possibly rheumatoid arthritis.

He described rheumatoid arthritis as an incurable disease which becomes progressively more crippling until the sufferer ends up in a wheelchair, and instructed Lucy to go to a hospital immediately. The doctor gave her the address of an orthopedic clinic near Columbia University.

Lucy sat for three hours at the clinic, awaiting her turn. By the time she was seen by the clinic doctor Lucy was crying and half fainting from the intense pain.

After examining her, the clinic doctor shook his head, and asked her permission to try a new, radical treatment described by Lucy as "some kind of horse serum".

She agreed to the treatment, willing to do anything for some relief. Lucy stayed in her room and the doctor came and gave her the injections for several weeks, until her money ran out.

Her legs were not better and she decided her only option was to return to her parents home in Jamestown, New York.

At this point Lucy described herself as "discouraged, but not terribly frightened".

At her parents home, Lucy was lectured by her grandfather on taking better care of herself. Her mother devoted her evenings to massaging her legs and cheering her up.

Months passed by, and Lucy was still in such pain that she described the time that passed as a blur. The horse serum injections were continued. It was a highly experimental treatment, last ditch effort and Lucy considered herself a guinea pig.

Gradually the pain subsided and finally one day with the support of her fgrandather and doctor, Lucy stood up, feeling wobbly and unsteady. Her left leg was now somewhat shorter than her right leg and it pulled sideways. To correct this she began wearing a 20 pound weight in one of her black orthopedic shoes. She continued to convalesce at home. Though Lucy had residual pain she was able to take a part offered her with the Jamestown Players, and she later returned to New York City in search of her dreams.

REFERENCE: "Love, Lucy" by Lucille Ball

      -Lucille Ball and her Courageous Battle with Rheumatoid Arthritis

When Lucille Ball was just 17 years old. She had collapsed in severe pain while she was working for fashion designer Hattie Carnegie.

   Hattie had attempted to persuade young Lucille to go to the doctors for a checkup as she was getting sicker and sicker.

  Lucille had been feeling sick for some time, and her legs were very weak but she just dismissed the symptoms as a case of the flu and didn’t think twice about till the day she collapsed on the floor of Hattie’s shop

  Lucille Ball was told by Hattie’s doctor that she had rheumatoid arthritis, and that it was progressive meaning it was going to get worse, till she ended up confined to a wheelchair for life.    Young Lucille determined to walk again courageously volunteered to become a guinea pig thus testing early forms of medication, treatments and durable medical equipment

  Rheumatoid Arthritis isn’t really arthritis at all. .....It’s an autoimmune disorder which basically means that the body’s immune system is attacking itself.   The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis most often start showing up over a period of a few months but with some people it seems to appear overnight. Patients often go through cycles of severe to light symptoms.

       Some of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are………

         Joint swelling-Especially in the hands and feet

         Joint tenderness, stiffness and pain most often in the morning

         Lumps under the skin called rheumatoid nodules found on bony sites most common on elbows, hips, heels and the back of the head, Yet they can also form under the skin, in the fingers, toes, heel pads or tendons

      Cartilage and bone destruction, when this happens, the joint becomes deformed and immobile, most often seen in hands and feet but can also occur in the knees, hips and shoulders

      Patients can also experience weight loss, low- grade fever and fatigue because of the diseases affect on the body.

     Rheumatoid arthritis and other immune system disorders affect women two to three times more often than men.

  In most cases, Arthritis generally affects the older senior citizen population, with rheumatoid arthritis the opposite seems to be true as the majority of patients are diagnosed in their adolescent years.

Some are diagnosed earlier and some later but the majority of patients are diagnosed between 14 years of age up to the early 20’s

  Some patients can go through extended periods of remission where no symptoms are present

   Rheumatoid Arthritis is a very serious disease, As it not only makes the joints sore and stiff. It also affects the body’s vital organs, like the membranes of the heart, lungs, and can affect the eyes. Because the person with rheumatoid arthritis has a weakened immune system they can often become seriously sick and can end up hospitalized with common every day ailments such as colds, which can develop into pneumonia.

  People that have had rheumatic fever in the past can develop rheumatoid arthritis, in Lucille Ball’s case her heart was severely weakened due in part to the rheumatoid arthritis which was probably further aggravated by her years of chain smoking.

  When Lucy was diagnosed just about every drug on the market was experimental and there were very few if there were any restrictions at all on their use.  This just goes to show, what a courageous young lady that Lucy was especially considering she wasn’t even out of her teenage years yet.

   The doctor would give young Lucille the injections, than test their effects and her reaction to them.

    It took weeks for the injections to begin working and the young girl spent many months in unbelievable pain, but gradually the injections begun to work, and Lucy was finally able to stand up and walk again. Progress was slow, but happily progress was won.

   Lucy had to wear the old fashioned leg braces which were metal with an insert for an orthopedic shoe for sometime when she went back to her modeling job with Hattie Carnegie.  Hattie believed in young Lucille, so much that she modified her modeling assignments and allowed Lucille to poise for photographs while sitting down or allowed her to lean against various props if a photo shoot called for her to stand up. Hattie also had Lucille model long dresses or coats for her so her metal braces and orthopedic shoes would not be an issue. She also permitted Lucy to do a lot of print ads and magazine advertisements as opposed to the runway

The following quotes were taken from “Lucy in the Afternoon” Lucy discussing her own illness.

   Lucy believed in walking where she going, whenever she could because she considered herself fortunate to be able to walk at all.

  Lucy said, “I was so scared then.” Then shaking off any insights she had, She added, “What difference does it make? I got out of bed, didn’t I?”

        Lucille Ball and Wildcat………….The show was an instant hit, but the eight shows a week were taking it’s toll.  All the elements she once suffered –the osteomyelitis, the rheumatism, the dehydration, and the exhaustion-were coming back all at once. When she came down with the flu, the audience would not accept the understudy. After several more bouts of sickness the final curtain came down on WILDCAT

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   Lucy and her Generousity

    The Heart Fund, which I now believe is The American Heart Association

    The American Cancer Society

    Easter Seals Society

    National Arthritis Foundation

    Los Angeles Children’s Hospital Orthopedic Unit

     There were many others but those charities were Lucille Ball’s main focus.

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                  REFERENCES AND INFORMATION ON RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS ……….

        Arthritis-Symptom.com

         http://www.arthritis.org/conditions/DiseaseCenter/ra.asp            

                http://www.seffera.net/jra/links.html

           http://mentalhealth.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.arthritis.org

http://arthritis.about.com/library/weekly/aa072997.htm?iam=savvy&terms=Lucille+Ball+and+Rheumatoid+Arthritis

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Hattie Carnegie saw much of herself in young Lucille Ball thus Hattie wanted her to succeed and believed in her so much that she was very strict with the young girl.

Lucille was the youngest model Hattie had ever hired. She was two or three years younger than Hattie's other models and she was relectant to hire someone that young, but did so on the advice of a friend.

This was Lucille's first professional job and she was introduced to many famous people due to her employment with Hattie Carnegie and she often traveled to interesting places with Hattie and the other girls, even perticipating in a famous show for the Congressmen's wives in Washington, DC

Lucille met many rich, eligible young men due to the fact that she was a Hattie Carnegie model. Beautiful Lucille was asked for her hand in marriage on several occasions but she never accepted any proposals because at 17 years of age marriage was the last thing on her mind. Like the other models though she dated quite often and Lucille who was too proud to take charity would take home all the leftover food from those fancy dinners that she was invited to.

Lucy Discusses Hattie Carnegie

Reference: Love, Lucy

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Lucille Ball discussing Hattie Carnegie in her autobiography, Love Lucy

My reference "Love, Lucy" by Lucille Ball

page 44

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Back to New York I went and this time my luck improved. I moved into an atmosphere of guided elegance. I became a model at Hattie Carnegie's internationally famous dress shop on East 49th Street. Overnight I found myself in a world of rich society women, glamourous movie stars and free spending men-about town.

Hattie was born Henrietta Kanengeiser, the daughter of Viennese immigrants who settled in Manhatten's Lower East Side. When Hattie opened up her first shop on Tenth Street, she took the name Carnegie in tribute to one of America's greatest success stories. Her partner Rosie Roth, whom I got to know very well, designed the dresses and Hattie made the hats.

Hattie combined unerring good taste and a shrewd business sense; her shop was a fabulous success from the start, and she and Rosie moved uptown, nearer the carriage trade. Just a few years before I first went to New York, Hattie had bought a brownstone at 42 East 49th St.Her salon was lavishly beautiful, with entire rooms of gold leaf antiques from French Chateaux.  Hattie was a tiny dynamo, direct and outspoken. She wouldn't let anyone buy a dress that she considered unbecoming. Gertrude Lawrence once spent $22,000 in a single afternoon in her shop. I'm told she would have spent more but Hattie didn't approve of some of her choices.

Hattie told me how to slouch properly in a $1000.00 hand sewn sequin dress and how to wear a $40,000 sable coat as casually as rabbit. Since I was her youngest and least inexpeirenced model. I was soon covered in bruises where she kicked me in the shins to remind me to bend my knees properly or pinched me in the ribs to make me raise my chest higher. Fiery, volatile Hattie fired me at least once a week, but like all the other models. I responsed not to those outbursts but to her great warmth, and I loved her.

Mostly I modeled long slinky evening gowns and suits, Thirty to forty changes per day. With each change I slipped into matching shoes, whether they were my size or not, and went wobbling over the ultra thick carpet. By night time my feet were as swollen and sore as my shins. For this I earned the pricely sum of $35.00 per week. Good wages back in 1929.

Connie and Joan Bennett were frequent customers and I lost no time in bleaching my hair the color of Joan's and imitating her style. Flat on top with dippy waves on each side.

Joan Crawford, Gloria Swanson and Ina Claire also came to Hattie's. I tried to analyse their styles; how they walked and moved their hands and eyes, and how they talked. I also scrutinized the Social Register, full of Vanderbilt's,and Whitney's and Rhinelander's to whom a price tag was just something a maid snipped off a dress. Barbara Hutton bought carloads of clothes. And at the Plaza and St Regis and St. Pierre Hotels where we appeared in all the important fashion shows, I learned to recognize all the leading debutantes.

I didn't know it at the time, but I was storing up a lot of useful knowledge. An actress must draw upon her background; what she has lived, seen and observed. It's often been pointed out that Ginger Rogers and I can function on any level; high society, middle class or street urchin. A superb comedianne like Irene Dunne was only convincing in well bred parts.  Ginger could play a finishing school girl, a housewife or Kitty Foyle. I can be as regal as a marquise, if the part calls for it or peel a potato convincingly.

By the time, I worked for Hattie. I was no longer Diane Belmont, but Lucille Ball. I can't say that I enjoyed the life of a high fashion model; I hated the stagnation that sets in when you are just a clotheshorse. At Hattie's,  I felt like a well dressed dummy, But I did get get out and see things and meet people for the first time in my life, and some pretty funny things could happen.-Love, Lucy

Toward the final years of her reign with Hattie Carnegie. Lucy took several other modeling assignments. Hattie had a set of rules regarding other employment of her models and designers to safeguard her own business.

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Hattie Carnegie's Rules for Employment

Additional employment had to meet the approval of Hattie

Employees were allowed to take other employment as long as the other company was not in direct competition with Hattie Carnegie Inc. (Exceptions if designer was a former trainee of or personal friend of Hattie Carnegie.)

Additional employment could not have interfered with the responsibilites and job duties of said employee with Hattie Carnegie Inc.

Hattie encouraged education whether possible for choice of trade whether formal or informal.

Hattie NEVER stood in any employees way if they wished to pursue other employment to bring them up the ladder of success whether it be within her company or elsewhere.

(If she was given notice or a good/important reason to be let out of their employment contract with Hattie Carnegie Inc.)

    For More Information on Lucille Ball, Hattie Carnegie and Lucille Ball’s Modeling Years (1928-1932)

     Please refer to my Essay, How Amy Became a Hattie Carnegie Fan

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Happy Birthday Lucille

 August 6th 1911

Lucille Desiree Ball was born in Jamestown, New York on August 6th 1911.

In Loving Tribute to Lucille Ball on what would have been her 93rd birthday.

I wanted to explore the contributions of Lucille Ball and Hattie Carnegie and the similaries they shared.

The Beginning

The early life experiences of Lucille and Henrietta were similar in many ways.

These early life experiences would ultimately lead to their strong work ethic.

They both lost their beloved fathers, which affected them deeply for the rest of their lives.

 Lucille and Henrietta were young teenagers when they went to work to support their families. Neither of the girls had much of a childhood because they had to take responsibility for younger siblings.

Both women were extremely close to their mothers and took care of them for the rest of their lives.

Even though the relationships they held with their mothers were very different.

   Little Lucille

Lucille’s mother was very young when she gave birth to her. Lucille’s mother also lost her young husband to typhoid fever when Lucille was just a toddler,  Lucille was very afraid of birds, because when she was told about her father's death, a black crow flew through the open window and a picture fell off the wall. Lucille reminded this event vividly despite her young age, and always associated birds with death. When Lucille's father died.  Her mother, De De was also five months pregnant with Lucille’s younger brother.

Lucille’s mother was often absent from the family while Lucille was growing up, and for a time was married to a man who didn’t like children and did not wish to be a father.

 Lucille was raised by her maternal grandparents. 

( Although, Lucille's grandmother died when she was eight.)

Lucille’s mother eventually chose to divorce Lucille’s stepfather, because he would not accept her children and she returned to the family.

Lucille adored her mother and was very close to her throughout her life.  Still De De was more like an older sister instead of a mother to Lucille. Lucille always referred to her mother by her first name.

Little Henrietta
 

(Henrietta only had a sixth grade education quitting school at twelve years old to help support her family.)

Henrietta’s mother remained a homemaker.

Drama School
 

When she was just 15 years old. Lucille had talked her mother into letting her attend drama school. She was very shy and withdrawn at the time.  Lucille attended the John Murray Anderson-Robert Milton Theater School in New York City, but was surprisingly rejected by the school. They  told her that she might as well go home because she hadn’t any talent and would never make it in show business.  Lucille wasn’t ready to give up, and return to Jamestown, so she auditioned for theatre roles,

 She sadly, didn’t have much luck, but she had determination.

Macy’s Department Store

When her family arrived in the United States. Henrietta struggled with the English language, so she cleaned houses, to bring in income to her family. She often cried herself to sleep at night because the more well to do people that she worked for were snobbish

They made fun of her accent, her religion and her culture in general. 

When she first begun dating an American, her first love and future husband, John Zanft. The couple faced much prejudice.

They had a embattled courtship, and fought to be together despite objections

When Henrietta became more confident in her speaking skills, her life improved a little, she got a job in the garment factory, where she worked on the assembly line, encouraged by her friends she sought employment through Macy’s Department Store.

Models
 

Ironically both Lucille and Henrietta began their careers as models to support themselves and their families.

Still wanted to achieve her dreams and wanted to remain in New York, Lucille turned to modeling.

Hattie Carnegie was reluctant to hire a young girl of seventeen, and was very tough on Lucille because she was very young and inexperienced as a model. Hattie often ended up kicking Lucille in the shins to remind her to stand up straighter or pinching her in the ribs, so she would learn not to slouch.

Her Hattitude
 

 Hattie Carnegie was very direct and outspoken.

Hattie lost her patience with teenaged Lucille, because she was often joking around when Hattie thought that she should be serious.

Fiery-tempered Hattie fired Lucille once a week. Lucille never took her seriously, and would leave the shop laughing knowing that once Hattie had calmed down she was going to receive a phone call promptly rehiring her.

Hattie never denied her bad temper, and admitted that she was tough on her young trainees, she never denied, but also defended her bad temper and stated,

 If these young people couldn’t take direction from her, how did they except to make it in their chosen careers. 

 Hattie was never a designer and never claimed to be, she was a fashion editor and teacher.

Being an educator she was very strict and only hired young people who she felt had ambition and showed promise of a bright future. Although she never coddled any employee, she had a kind and generous heart. When Lucille was sick Hattie modified her job for her and paid her medical bills.

Lucille hated modeling, and being on display.  However she loved Hattie and her modeling days prepared her for a future career.

Hattie also had a loving maternal side.

Strict Employers
 

Young Henrietta also had a strict no nonsense employer. Her boss at Macy’s was named Isador Straus. He took over the department store after the death of R. H. Macy.

When Henrietta took it upon criticize a dress stating that in her opinion that it would look perfect with beaded pearls and fur cuffs and a collar would be a nice addition.

Her boss replied, “You’re such a stupid girl,  You never put a fir collar, cuffs and beads on an evening gown, You are completely crazy!!!!!”

He finally decided to implement Henrietta’s idea, because he was frustrated with her.

 He was surprised when the dress sold like hotcakes. He finally took her seriously.

Henrietta was a salesgirl, then took a higher paying job, as a model, but like Lucille she dreaded modeling and modeled to support herself and her family.

Henrietta was very tiny, and was very embarrassed by that fact.

She was always considered cute, but never beautiful.  

When they offered her millinery training it was her dream come true, and she excelled at hat-making. Henrietta was forever referred to as Hattie.

Change of Heart

He didn’t like her in the beginning, but began to respect her ambition and considered her his young prodigy, when he drowned in the sinking of the Titanic two years after Hattie left Macy’s, Hattie was heartbroken and never forgot the ideals and work ethic her boss instilled in her.

Hattie Carnegie was the first successful female American designer and pioneered many design trends that are still widely used today.

(Please see the facts section for additional information.)

Lucille-The First Woman President
 

Lucille as a Pioneer
 

Lucille Ball by the 1950’s former model and Queen of the B’s, picture actress became a  household name. Lucille had achieved her ultimate dream working with her Cuban husband on a sitcom. They were going to be together at last

I Love Lucy revolutionized television. Many of pioneering innovations first use of the three-camera technique, taping before a live audience, Lucille’s ground breaking on air pregnancy,

and the first mixed marriage featured in a sitcom.

It was Desi Arnaz who wanted the studio, not Lucy. She was informed of his purchase of the former RKO Studios after a taping of an episode of The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour. The series of hour specials, the couple produced according to their contract.

In 1960, with their marriage on the rocks, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz sadly divorced an era had ended. America was shocked and saddened by their separation.

On her Own
 

Lucille and Desi continued to work together,but by this time,  Desi had developed alcoholism. The couple found it painful and difficult to work together. It was either Lucy or Desi. Lucy did NOT want the studio because she lacked confidence in her management abilities, but reluctantly accepted the task.

She did not wish to put thousands of employees out of work.

She always underestimated her amazing business skills.

 In 1962-When Lucille bought out Desi's share of the company,

Lucille became the first woman president of a production company.