About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherSimon & Schuster

ISBN-101668023067

ISBN-139781668023068

eBay Product ID (ePID)23072095047

Product Key Features

Book TitleDesi Arnaz : the Man Who Invented Television

Number of Pages368 Pages

LanguageEnglish

TopicEntertainment & Performing Arts, Film / History & Criticism, Television / Genres / Comedy

Publication Year2025

IllustratorYes

GenrePerforming Arts, Biography & Autobiography

AuthorTodd S. Purdum

FormatHardcover

Dimensions

Item Height1.2 in

Item Weight19 Oz

Item Length9 in

Item Width6 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceTrade

LCCN2025-410658

Reviews[Arnaz's] legacy is forever and undeniable. Purdum does a bang-up job of spotlighting Arnaz's many vital contributions to television history in this lively and engaging biography., In many ways, Desi Arnaz was Ricky Ricardo, the character he played on television--creative, hardworking, excitable, lovable, an embracing personality, a natural entertainer. . . . Mr. Purdum tells this classic rise-and-fall story with an élan his subject would appreciate.

Dewey Edition23/eng/20250522

Dewey Decimal791.4502/8092 B

SynopsisAn illuminating biography of Desi Arnaz, the visionary, trailblazing Cuban American who revolutionized television and brought laughter to millions as Lucille Ball's beloved husband on I Love Lucy , leaving a remarkable legacy that continues to influence American culture today. Desi Arnaz is a name that resonates with fans of classic television, but few understand the depth of his contributions to the entertainment industry. In Desi Arnaz , Todd S. Purdum offers a captivating biography that dives into the groundbreaking Latino artist and businessman known to millions as Ricky Ricardo from I Love Lucy . Beyond his iconic role, Arnaz was a pioneering entrepreneur who fundamentally transformed the television landscape. His journey from Cuban aristocracy to world-class entertainer is remarkable. After losing everything during the 1933 Cuban revolution, Arnaz reinvented himself in pre-World War II Miami, tapping into the rising demand for Latin music. By twenty, he had formed his own band and sparked the conga dance craze in America. Behind the scenes, he revolutionized television production by filming I Love Lucy before a live studio audience with synchronized cameras, a model that remains a sitcom gold standard today. Despite being underestimated due to his accent and origins, Arnaz's legacy is monumental. Purdum's biography, enriched with unpublished materials and interviews, reveals the man behind the legend and highlights his enduring contributions to pop culture and television. This book is a must-read biography about innovation, resilience and the relentless drive of a man who changed TV forever., An illuminating biography of Desi Arnaz, who forever transformed television through his trailblazing success both in front of the camera in I Love Lucy and behind it as the genius driving Desilu Productions, exploring a bold and turbulent life marked by addiction and divorce.

LC Classification NumberPN2287.A69P87 2025