"Lucy's hair was a golden apricot color, and she used a henna rinse to achieve it. She met a very wealthy sheik who had heard about her problem getting the right coloring. He said he would send her a lifetime supply of henna, which he did! We kept it in my garage, locked away in a safe."

    About This Interview

    In her three-hour interview, Irma Kusely (1914-2009) describes her early work as a wig stylist at MGM. She speaks about her friendship with Lucille Ball and Danny Thomas, which ultimately led to a job at Desilu, where she was the hairstylist on I Love Lucy as well as other Desilu shows including Our Miss Brooks and December Bride. Kusely recalls working almost exclusively with Lucille Ball after the cancellation of I Love Lucy, following her through The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy, and Life with Lucy, and traveling with her for all public appearances. Karen Herman conducted the interview on June 14, 2001 in Glendale, CA.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Irma Kusely

    Irma Kusely on coloring Lucille Ball's hair for I Love Lucy

    04:42
    Thumbnail of Irma Kusely

    Irma Kusely on the most important things about hairstyling 

    02:24
    Thumbnail of Irma Kusely

    Irma Kusely on various feature films she worked on in her early years in Hollywood

    02:51
    Thumbnail of Irma Kusely

    Irma Kusely on career highlights

    01:12
    Thumbnail of Irma Kusely

    Irma Kusely on the legacy of Lucille Ball

    01:05
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On her early life and influences; on getting involved in the entertainment industry through a job working on wigs at Max Factor; on the process of dressing a wig

    14:51

    On various feature films she worked on in her early years in Hollywood; on doing research for hairstyling jobs; on working with the publicity departments of the studios

    07:00

    On her career turning to television; on meeting Lucille Ball and her friendships with Ball and Katherine Hepburn; on the first time she saw television; on going to work at Desilu

    06:20

    Chapter 2

    On being hairstylist for Our Miss Brooks; on being hairstylist for Make Room for Daddy  and The Dick Van Dyke Show;  on being hairstylist for December Bride

    05:06

    On hairstyling for I Love Lucy;  on working with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz on I Love Lucy;  on coloring Lucille Ball's hair for I Love Lucy

    16:35

    On working with Vivian Vance on I Love Lucy;  on her name being in the credits of I Love Lucy;  on working with various people on the show

    07:05

    Chapter 3

    On the birth of "Little Ricky" on I Love Lucy;  on the Harpo Marx episode of I Love Lucy;  on the I Love Lucy  episode "Lucy's Italian Movie"

    05:14

    On the egg crushing incident on I Love Lucy;  on Lucille Ball's changing hairstyle on I Love Lucy;  on her favorite episodes of I Love Lucy

    06:31

    On doing hair for The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour  and her friendship with Lucille Ball; on working on The Lucy Show  with Lucille Ball; on Lucille Ball switching exclusively to wigs on The Lucy Show

    13:03

    On hairstyling for the feature film "Mame"; on doing hair for Lucy Calls the President;  on doing hair for Lucille Ball's final show, Life With Lucy

    32:27

    Chapter 4

    On the legacy of Lucille Ball; on the most important things about hairstyling; on career highlights

    05:31

    On b-roll pictures from her career- with Katherine Hepburn; with Katherine Hepburn on the set of "Pat and Mike"; with the cast of I Love Lucy; with Lucille Ball at a picnic; the back of Lucille Ball's head; Lucille Ball with Irma Kusley's son; on the set of Here's Lucy; dressing Lucille Ball's hair in the style of Marilyn Monroe 

    08:42

    Danny Thomas Show, The aka Make Room for Daddy

    Irma Kusely on being hairstylist for Make Room for Daddy  and The Dick Van Dyke Show

    01:57

    December Bride

    Irma Kusely on being hairstylist for December Bride

    01:05

    I Love Lucy

    Irma Kusely on hairstyling for I Love Lucy

    03:14

    Irma Kusely on working with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz on I Love Lucy

    06:03

    Irma Kusely on doing Lucille Ball's hair for I Love Lucy

    02:09

    Irma Kusely on coloring Lucille Ball's hair for I Love Lucy

    05:09

    Irma Kusely on working with Vivian Vance on I Love Lucy

    02:27

    Irma Kusely on her name being in the credits of I Love Lucy

    01:58

    Irma Kusely on working with various people on I Love Lucy and the sponsors of the show 

    02:36

    Irma Kusely on the birth of "Little Ricky" on I Love Lucy

    00:56

    Irma Kusely on the Harpo Marx episode of I Love Lucy

    02:27

    Irma Kusely on the I Love Lucy episode "Lucy's Italian Movie"

    01:51

    Irma Kusely on the egg crushing incident on I Love Lucy

    00:26

    Irma Kusely on Lucille Ball's changing hairstyle on I Love Lucy

    01:45

    Irma Kusely on her favorite episodes of I Love Lucy

    04:20

    Life With Lucy

    Irma Kusely on doing hair for Lucille Ball's final show Life With Lucy

    01:38

    Lucy Calls the President

    Irma Kusely on doing hair for Lucy Calls the President

    00:55

    Lucy Show, The

    Irma Kusely on working on The Lucy Show  with Lucille Ball

    02:22

    Irma Kusely on Lucille Ball switching exclusively to wigs on The Lucy Show

    00:57

    Irma Kusely on working with the cast of The Lucy Show  and working with the various guest stars

    05:26

    Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, The

    Irma Kusely on doing hair for The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour and her friendship with Lucille Ball

    04:16

    Our Miss Brooks

    Irma Kusely on being hairstylist for Our Miss Brooks

    02:02

    Hair Stylist

    Irma Kusely on the process of dressing a wig

    03:59

    Irma Kusely on doing research for hairstyling jobs

    03:10

    Irma Kusely on the most important things about hairstyling 

    02:24

    Stylists

    Irma Kusely on the process of dressing a wig

    03:59

    Irma Kusely on doing research for hairstyling jobs

    03:10

    Irma Kusely on the most important things about hairstyling 

    02:24

    Comedy Series

    Irma Kusely on being hairstylist for Our Miss Brooks

    02:02

    Irma Kusely on being hairstylist for The Danny Thomas Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show

    01:57

    Irma Kusely on being hairstylist for December Bride

    01:05

    Irma Kusely on working with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz on I Love Lucy  (Part 1)

    20:26

    Irma Kusely on doing hair for I Love Lucy (Part 2)

    11:45

    Irma Kusely on doing hair for The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour

    04:16

    Irma Kusely on doing hair for The Lucy Show  

    08:47

    Irma Kusely on doing hair for Lucy Calls the President

    00:55

    Irma Kusely on doing hair for Lucille Ball's final show Life With Lucy

    01:38

    Desi Arnaz

    Irma Kusely on working with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz on I Love Lucy

    06:03

    Irma Kusely on going to work for Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz at Desilu 

    01:03

    Lucille Ball

    Irma Kusely on working with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz on I Love Lucy

    06:03

    Irma Kusely on doing Lucille Ball's hair for I Love Lucy

    02:09

    Irma Kusely on coloring Lucille Ball's hair for I Love Lucy

    05:09

    Irma Kusely on Lucille Ball's changing hairstyle on I Love Lucy

    01:45

    Irma Kusely on doing hair for The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour  and her friendship with Lucille Ball

    04:16

    Irma Kusely on working on The Lucy Show  with Lucille Ball

    02:22

    Irma Kusely on Lucille Ball switching exclusively to wigs on The Lucy Show

    00:57

    Irma Kusely on doing hair for Lucille Ball's final show, Life With Lucy

    01:38

    Irma Kusely on her career turning to television, meeting Lucille Ball, and her friendships with Ball and Katherine Hepburn

    03:38

    Irma Kusely on going to work for Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz at Desilu 

    01:03

    Irma Kusely on the legacy of Lucille Ball

    01:05

    Katharine Hepburn

    Irma Kusely on her career turning to television, meeting Lucille Ball, and her friendships with Ball and Katherine Hepburn

    03:38

    Harpo Marx

    Irma Kusely on the Harpo Marx episode of I Love Lucy

    02:27

    Vivian Vance

    Irma Kusely on working with Vivian Vance on I Love Lucy

    02:27

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