 The writers mirrored the actors real lives in presenting the  character back stories. Lucy Ricardo, like Lucile Ball was born in  Jamestown, New York, attended Celeron High School, and came to  Manhattan as young woman. Ricky Ricardo, like Desi Arnaz, was from  Cuba, and both lead their own Latin America bands. Ricky and Lucy,  like Desi and Lucy, eloped to Connecticut to get married. Ethel  Mertz, like Vivian Vance, was from Albuquerque, New Mexico where  they got their start in show business by appearing in the  Albuquerque Little Theater. Like Bill Frawley, Fred Mertz was a  Mid