What Would Ricky Ricardo Make If Real

[ZeroZero]

I put this here as I am looking for a factual answer to this.

Just wondering what Ricky Ricardo, the bandleader from the “I Love Lucy” show would make if he was a real person.

I was thinking Ricky could live a bit more prosperous, but then Lucy does waste a lot of his money.

So if anyone knows salary info. What would he make in today’s money as a bandleader in 2005 in New York City, Manhattan?

[astro]

[QUOTE=ZeroZero]
I put this here as I am looking for a factual answer to this.

Just wondering what Ricky Ricardo, the bandleader from the “I Love Lucy” show would make if he was a real person.

I was thinking Ricky could live a bit more prosperous, but then Lucy does waste a lot of his money.

So if anyone knows salary info. What would he make in today’s money as a bandleader in 2005 in New York City, Manhattan?
[/QUOTE]

Interesting question. That was always one of the weirder parts of the ILL premise. That someone who ran a big, popular NYC nightclub would have this very middle class lifestyle. Even in the 50’s their lifestyle should have been at least a notch or two above the level where the show had them.

[ZipperJJ]

For what it’s worth, Desi Arnaz WAS actually a bandleader:

He began his career as a professional musician in 1936, playing guitar and percussion for a Latin orchestra. He then took a pay cut to work in New York City for Xavier Cugat, his mentor, whom he later described as world-class cheapskate but an excellent teacher. Arnaz returned to Miami six months later to lead his own combo. It was there he introduced American audiences to the Conga Line, which soon became a national rage. He formed his own orchestra and returned to New York.

Arnaz was also a successful recording artist, beginning in 1937, and had a hit with the Santeria-flavored “Babalu” (1946), his signature song, which was recorded at RCA Victor.

From Wikipedia