ENTERTAINMENT REALM

Josephine Baker [1906-1975]

–Josephine Baker was born in St. Louis to an African-American mother and Jewish/Spanish father, who deserted the family.

–Baker grew up in poverty and became terrorized by a 1917 race riot.

–At age 19, she moved to Paris to join the dance company La Revue Negre and then became part of Follies Bergere. In France, there was no racial segregation. Baker became a French citizen in 1937.

–During WWI, Baker became a spy for the French Resistance,gathering information mingling among café society, and also entertained troops in North Africa and the Middle East.

–Baker married three times and adopted 12 children of different nationalities.

–Back in the United States, Baker joined the Civil Rights movement and marched on Washington in 1963.

Lucille Ball [1911-1989]

–Ball worked in the entertainment business for three decades before becoming extremely successful. She modeled and made some forgettable films.

–In 1940, Ball married musician Desi Arnaz and spent most of the 40s on tour with his band.

–Ball and Arnaz created Desilu Productions in 1950 and created the television comedy I Love Lucy based on their own lives. Ball and Arnaz divorced in 1960.

–She won four Emmy awards and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1984.