Desilu
Desilu was an influential American television production company founded by Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball, responsible for landmark series including I Love Lucy, Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, Mannix, and The Untouchables.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Desilu Productions was an American television production company established in 1950 by performers and married couple Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. The name combined elements of their first names and initially described a production partnership created to bring their vaudeville act and Ball's radio property My Favorite Husband to television. The resulting series, I Love Lucy, became one of the defining programs of early American television and provided the foundation for Desilu's expansion into a major studio business. The company differed from many television producers of its period by adopting production practices associated with theatrical filmmaking. I Love Lucy was filmed rather than broadcast live or preserved only through kinescopes. Working with cinematographer Karl Freund, Arnaz helped develop a three-camera method that could capture performances before a live studio audience while maintaining consistent image quality and allowing simultaneous coverage from multiple angles. Desilu accepted the additional production expense in exchange for retaining control of the filmed material and its future distribution. That arrangement allowed the company to profit from repeated broadcasts and helped establish the economic importance of television syndication. Desilu initially operated from rented facilities but expanded rapidly as I Love Lucy succeeded. In 1954 it acquired the Motion Picture Center studio in Hollywood. In 1957 it purchased the former RKO Pictures facilities from General Tire and Rubber, including the Gower Street studio complex, the RKO-Pathé lot in Culver City, and the Forty Acres backlot. These facilities gave Desilu a substantial physical production base and made it one of the largest independent television production organizations in the United States. Although the company became strongly associated with comedy through I Love Lucy and later Lucille Ball vehicles, its business broadened into drama, action, science fiction, game shows, and other formats. Desilu developed or produced programs including The Untouchables, Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, and Mannix. Ball played an important role in approving projects and using continuing series and reruns to build durable revenue streams. Arnaz, meanwhile, contributed an unconventional but commercially effective approach to production and accounting, particularly through his insistence that Desilu preserve ownership of filmed episodes and negatives. Ball and Arnaz divorced in 1960. Desi Arnaz's interest was bought by Ball in 1962, and she became Desilu's president and chief executive, making her one of the first women to lead a major Hollywood studio. During her period as sole owner, Desilu continued to develop prominent programs, including Star Trek, which premiered in 1966, Mission: Impossible, which also premiered in 1966, and Mannix, which began in 1967. The company's independent-television position was strengthened by its ownership and control of a large library and by its studio facilities. In 1967, Ball agreed to sell Desilu to Gulf+Western Industries, then the parent company of Paramount Pictures. The transaction was completed in 1968, and Desilu was absorbed into Paramount's television operation and renamed Paramount Television. The Gower Street facilities became part of the adjacent Paramount lot, while the Culver City property was sold separately. Desilu therefore ceased to operate as an independent production brand, although its programs, production practices, corporate entities, trademarks, and library rights continued through successor companies. Today, Desilu's legacy is distributed among Paramount-related and CBS-related entities. Rights to pre-1960 Desilu programs were sold to CBS, while later productions passed through Paramount Television and its successors. The library includes several of the most commercially durable properties in television history, especially I Love Lucy, Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, Mannix, and The Untouchables. Th…
History
Desilu Productions was founded in 1950 by Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. The company was created to package and produce their stage act for television and to adapt Ball's radio comedy My Favorite Husband. The television project evolved into I Love Lucy, which became a major CBS success and established Desilu as both a production company and a rights-owning studio. Desilu's early business model was unusually forward-looking. Rather than rely on live broadcasts and kinescope recordings, Arnaz and cinematographer Karl Freund developed a three-camera filming process that could record a live studio performance from several angles. Desilu filmed episodes on 35 mm stock and retained the negatives, enabling later syndication and repeat broadcasts. The method improved picture quality across the country and created a valuable library whose commercial life extended far beyond the original network run. The company first rented facilities at General Service Studios in Hollywood, where one stage became known as the Desilu Playhouse. As production expanded, Desilu purchased the Motion Picture Center on Cahuenga Boulevard in 1954. In 1957 it acquired former RKO facilities from General Tire and Rubber, including the main Gower Street lot, the RKO-Pathé lot in Culver City, and the Forty Acres backlot. These purchases made Desilu one of the largest independent television production organizations in the United States. Although I Love Lucy remained the company's signature property, Desilu pursued a wide range of programming. It produced or developed comedy, crime, action, science fiction, game-show, and dramatic projects. Its notable television portfolio included The Lucy Show, The Untouchables, Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, and Mannix. Lucille Ball approved original concepts and helped direct the company's development priorities, while Desi Arnaz's production leadership and ownership strategy shaped its early financial and operational structure. Ball and Arnaz divorced in 1960. That year Arnaz sold the pre-1960 Desilu programs to CBS, while Desilu retained ownership of programs premiering after 1960. In November 1962, Arnaz sold his remaining interest to Ball and resigned as president. Ball became president and chief executive, making her one of the first women to lead a major Hollywood studio. Under her sole ownership, Desilu continued to develop successful series, including Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, and Mannix. Desilu also experimented with unscripted television and distribution. A partnership with Ralph Andrews and Bill Yageman developed game-show formats, including You Don't Say!, before the relationship separated in 1964. Desilu Sales distributed selected programming, including Fractured Flickers, and later became part of the CBS distribution structure. In 1967, Ball agreed to sell the company to Gulf+Western Industries, which had recently acquired Paramount Pictures. The sale was completed in 1968 for a reported $17 million. Gulf+Western integrated Desilu into Paramount's television operations and renamed it Paramount Television. The former RKO Gower lot was absorbed into Paramount's neighboring studio property, while the Culver City lot was sold to another owner. Desilu no longer operates as an independent company, but its legal and commercial legacy continues. Paramount-related successor entities control rights to many programs produced after 1960, while CBS controls properties produced and concluded before 1960 that Desilu sold to CBS. Licensing, home-video, syndication, and trademark arrangements have also involved Lucille Ball Productions, Desilu Too, CBS, Paramount, MPI Home Video, and Warner Bros. Television, depending on the property. Desilu's enduring importance rests on its role in establishing filmed television, creator-friendly library ownership, large-scale independent studio production, and several of the most influential franchises in American television.
- 2019
CBS renews trademark protection for Desilu
[1]CBS Studios registers the DESILU trademark again in connection with the historic brand.
- 1968
Desilu is renamed Paramount Television
[1]The independent Desilu brand is absorbed into Paramount's television production operation.
- 1967
Ball agrees to sell Desilu
[1]Gulf+Western Industries agrees to acquire Desilu as part of its expansion around Paramount Pictures.
- 1966
Star Trek and Mission: Impossible premiere
[1]Desilu-backed series in science fiction and espionage broaden the company's cultural and commercial reach.
- 1962
Lucille Ball becomes sole owner
[1]Ball buys Arnaz's remaining holdings and becomes Desilu's president and chief executive.
- 1960
CBS acquires pre-1960 program rights
[1]Desilu sells its pre-1960 shows to CBS while retaining later productions.
- 1957
Desilu acquires former RKO facilities
[1]The purchase adds the Gower Street lot, the RKO-Pathé lot, and the Forty Acres backlot to Desilu's production base.
- 1954
Desilu buys the Motion Picture Center
[1]The company acquires its own Hollywood studio facility on Cahuenga Boulevard.
- 1951
I Love Lucy premieres
[2]The series becomes Desilu's foundational success and a landmark in filmed television comedy.
- 1950
Desilu Productions is founded
[1]Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball establish Desilu to produce their television work and adapt My Favorite Husband.
Products and positioning
A vertically capable, filmmaker-oriented television studio that combined star-driven entertainment with ownership of filmed programming, physical production facilities, and long-term syndication rights.
Situation comedy · 1951
I Love Lucy
Desilu's defining production, starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, followed the comic domestic and professional misadventures of Lucy Ricardo and Ricky Ricardo. Its filmed production before a live audience, ensemble structure, recurring sets, and extensive syndication made it a model for later American sitcoms. Desilu's retention of the filmed episodes and negatives created a valuable long-term library.
Situation comedy · 1962
The Lucy Show
A Lucille Ball vehicle produced after I Love Lucy, The Lucy Show continued Desilu's relationship with CBS and demonstrated the company's ability to build a new successful format around its leading star. The series helped sustain Desilu's comedy business during the period when Ball was becoming the company's sole owner and executive leader.
Crime drama · 1959
The Untouchables
This crime series, based on the federal campaign against organized crime during Prohibition, represented Desilu's expansion beyond situation comedy. Its dramatic style and serialized crime storytelling contributed to the company's reputation as a producer capable of handling serious, high-profile network programming.
Science-fiction series · 1966
Star Trek
Desilu developed and produced the original Star Trek television series, which premiered in 1966. The program was initially made at Desilu and later became part of the Paramount television library. Its continuing syndication, films, and later series made it one of the most important franchises to emerge from the Desilu period.
Spy and action drama · 1966
Mission: Impossible
Desilu's espionage series followed a specialized team undertaking covert missions using elaborate planning and deception. It became a durable television property and later supplied the basis for a major feature-film franchise. The series illustrated Ball's willingness to approve projects outside the comedy genre.
Private-eye drama · 1967
Mannix
Mannix was a detective drama developed during Ball's period as sole owner and launched in 1967. Its sustained run and later library value reinforced Desilu's position in the production of commercially durable dramatic television immediately before the company's sale to Gulf+Western.
Brand decisions
1968
Sell Desilu to Gulf+WesternM&ABackground
Desilu had returned to profitability, but Ball accepted an acquisition by Gulf+Western, the parent company of Paramount Pictures.
Action taken
Ball sold her shares and Gulf+Western integrated Desilu into Paramount's television operation, renaming it Paramount Television.
Aftermath
Desilu ceased to function as an independent production studio, while its programs and later rights passed to Paramount and CBS successor organizations.
sale price. $17 million (1968)
1962
Lucille Ball buys out Desi ArnazOtherBackground
Following the couple's divorce, Arnaz no longer continued as Desilu's operating partner.
Action taken
Ball purchased Arnaz's holdings, became sole owner, and assumed the company's presidency and chief executive responsibilities.
Aftermath
Desilu continued operating under Ball's leadership and developed several major dramatic and science-fiction series.
1957
Acquire the former RKO studio facilitiesStrategyBackground
Growing television production required more stages and backlot capacity than Desilu's original rented and acquired facilities could provide.
Action taken
Desilu purchased the former RKO production facilities from General Tire and Rubber, including properties in Hollywood and Culver City.
Aftermath
The acquisitions created one of the largest independent studio footprints in American television.
purchase price. $6 million (1957)
1951
Film I Love Lucy and retain the filmed materialsStrategyBackground
Most network television was broadcast live and preserved through lower-quality kinescope recordings. Desilu faced higher costs by filming the program but sought control of the resulting negatives and prints.
Action taken
Desilu used a three-camera, live-audience filming method and retained ownership and control of the filmed episodes.
Aftermath
The decision enabled nationwide distribution and lucrative reruns, helping establish television syndication as a significant business.
Recent events
- 2019
CBS registers the Desilu trademark again[1]
Other
CBS Studios registered the DESILU trademark in connection with its continuing use and protection of the historic name.
- 1968
Desilu is sold to Gulf+Western and becomes Paramount Television[1]
M&A
Lucille Ball sold Desilu to Gulf+Western Industries, then the parent company of Paramount Pictures. The company was subsequently reorganized as Paramount's television production arm.
Sources4 sources
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