Almost fifty years after I Love Lucy first aired on television, the image of "Lucy" is still omnipresent in U.S. culture. In movies, on television, and emblazoned on various merchandise such as lunchboxes, dolls, piggybanks, and calendars, the zany redhead with the elastic face is an industrial and cultural institution. But beyond simply an image, Lucille Ball was, without a doubt, the first woman of television and the most adored American female comic of the twentieth century. However, the comedienne's struggling years as a model, dancer, and "B" movie actress are often forgotten in the light of her international fame that came at the age of 40.

As a 15-year-old Ball left her family in upstate New York to study acting in Manhattan. Although she acquired skills in acting, dancing, and modeling, she did not find any real success until she landed a job...