His roots
Desi’s family lost everything when they fled Cuba. They weren’t living in luxury any longer, so Desi had to work as soon as his family docked in the US. From the beginning, he started working as a bartender, but he also used his spare time to audition for acting roles. It wasn’t until 1939 that he got his huge break: starring in the Broadway musical, Too Many Girls.
Meanwhile, Lucy was doing pretty well, landing roles here and there, though she had yet to reach the level of stardom she would accomplish in the future. But it was clear that her time at the John Murray Anderson School for Drama Arts helped set her up for success in the entertainment world.