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Growing up, I was able to view the hilarious antics of Lucille Ball each evening on Nick at Nite. Ball, most commonly known to her fans as simply "Lucy," had an extensive career in the acting industry before her gig as Lucy Ricardo that many people are not too familiar with.

I was first introduced to Lucille Ball as Lucy Ricardo, the charming yet scheming housewife married to a Cuban bandleader in "I Love Lucy." As I began to watch Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel, I had no idea the extensive past careers of the cast. All I knew was that they made me laugh and constantly left me wanting more.

It was not until after many years of viewing "I Love Lucy" that I even realized Lucille Ball had other experiences in television sit-coms. As soon as I learned of her other television personalities, I began watching and soon became enthralled in those series as well. Later, I found out I could watch her on the big screen. I was in heaven.

Lucille Ball began her career at 15 as a struggling model under the name of Diane Belmont. She jumped at the chance of relocating to Hollywood from New York to become a Goldwyn Girl in 1933 when one of the other girl's mothers refused to let her go. Being a Goldwyn Girl gave Ball the opportunity to be cast in many B films. Goldwyn Girls were "loaned" out to various production companies for bit roles. When Lucy became tired of being on loan, she signed for a short stint with Columbia Pictures, where she began accepting the slapstick parts that other leading-ladies shunned. After her contract at Columbia Pictures was canceled (due to cutbacks), Ball signed with RKO.

So far, Ball had been involved in such films as "Moulin Rouge," "Roberta," "Top Hat" and "Stage Door." From her fooling around on movie sets, Ball's potential as a comedic actress was observed by director Edward Sedgwick, who taught Ball many comedy techniques. During her time at RKO, Ball played many leading roles, yet they were mainly in B movies, giving her the nickname, "Queen of B Movies." Ball left RKO and signed with MGM, where she starred with Red Skelton in the comedy "Du Barry was a Lady." After a couple leading roles with MGM, Ball left yet another company and signed again with Columbia Pictures. Here, her friendship with Bob Hope began as the two starred together in "Sorrowful Jones" and "Fancy Pants."

While working with many glamorous actresses in motion pictures, Ball was always willing to take a pie in the face, play the goofy and less desirable roles and be the pun of

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