DESI ARNAZ
We love Lucy, and we also love Ricky, a talented actor, singer, musician, and innovative television pioneer. Born March 2, 1917, of a wealthy Cuban family, Desi Arnaz and his clan fled to Miami, Florida after a revolution in Cuba that occurred in 1933. He went on to become the creative force and one of the stars of the iconic television comedy named after his wife, Lucille Ball. I Love Lucy only ran for six years, from 1951 – 1957 but to this day is still one of the most watched and beloved shows in television history.
I have many favorite Ricky scenes, but one of my favorites is when he rushes to the hospital after the birth of Little Ricky. Since he came from a performance in his club, The Tropicana, he was still in the full makeup and costume of an Oceanic native. Ricky was so excited and overcome by the birth of his son that his legs froze. He could not move them. Fred and Ethel had to help him totter up to the viewing window to see his baby—after which the emotional first time father fainted dead away.
In honor of our vintage hero Ricky Ricardo, allow me to share a vintage Cuban cocktail. Since it is a type of zombie, this treat is terribly appropriate for October and our upcoming Halloween celebration.
CUBAN ZOMBIE
1 ounce Cuban rum (or, if still unavailable to law abiding souls, a high end white rum)
1 ounce dark rum
½ half ounce orange liqueur
½ ounch crème de almond
½ ounce orange juice
½ ounce sweet and sour mix (For homemade, stir 1 cup sugar with 1 cup water until sugar is completely dissolved. Add 1 cup fresh lime juice and 1 cup fresh lemon juice and keep in refrigerator.) 
An additional ½ ounce of Cuban or white rum
Pour white rum, dark rum, orange liqueur, and creme de almond over ice into a hurricane glass. Alternate equal parts of orange juice and sweet and sour mix until the glass is almost full. Top off with the additional rum. Do not stir. Sip through a straw and enjoy.
What is your favorite Ricky Ricardo moment?
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic in Romance
Never heard of him or the show. But I trust your appreciation on him.
Regarding the drink, I hope it warms us. We need it right now here in an autumn that looks more like winter, cold, unfriendly.
I grew up with the show, and Desi Arnaz always reminded me of my father, Carmen. It’s probably the most watched show in reruns over here– for 60 plus years– amazing when you think about it. I bet you would like it. Here is a link to the episode where Lucy had pregnancy cravings. https://youtu.be/oOfuoA146Y0
Thank you for the link! I will watch it right away.
I never realized I Love Lucy had such a short run. considering it’s so iconic. I loved Desi Arnaz. I don’t really remember any special scene that stood out for me (I caught the series much later in repeats), but even as a young child, I knew he was something special 🙂
She went on to have other Lucy shows, but you’re right– so few years for the original concept. Yes, mine was in reruns as well, although I seem to remember actually seeing the original at age 3 as well– one of the episodes where Tennessee Ernie Ford appeared. I can remember my father and grandfather belly laughing with it.
I’ve seen every episode many times, and my fav Ricky Ricardo scene is also in my fav scene of the entire show, when Lucy puts on a putty nose to hide her identity from Bill Holden, after her disastrous encounter with him earlier at the Brown Derby. When she lights a cigarette, the tip of the putty nose is set on fire. The look on Ricky’s face is priceless. She dunks her fake nose into her coffee cup (which was an ad-lib). Brilliant.
Diane, I remember the scene you are talking about. It is hilariously funny. It’s so strange to me how this show never grows old or outdated to me, despite Ricky’s heavy handed husband tactics. Their relationship seems so genuine, along with their friendship with the Mertzes, and their talent genius.