Autograph – Page 2 – The Lucy Room

Lucille Ball Letter to director George Cukor

George Cukor was one Hollywood’s most respected directors, especially during the Golden Age. The Oscar-winning filmmaker directed 48 feature films, 22 of which earned a collective total of 70 Oscar nominations and 18 wins. He personally took home the Oscar for Best Director in 1965 for My Fair Lady starring Audry Hepburn. Lucy was a huge fan of Cukor, especially for his work on the film A Star is Born (1957) starring Judy Garland. She wrote this birthday letter to George on her personal stationery which reads:

“George darling – I have very few regrets or unfulfilled desires but one of them is that I have never had the pleasure and good fortune to have been directed by you “The Fabulous Cukor” Someday – Maybe – Somehow – Have a Happy Happy Birthday Love As Always Lucy”

It is unknown when this letter was written but Lucille would almost get her wish. Cukor was scheduled to direct Lucy’s film version of Mame, but left the project after she broke her leg in a skiing accident and production was delayed a year. Gene Saks took over when she was well enough to return in 1973. Lucy and George would correspond often and remained friends until his passing in 1983.

October 9, 2024October 9, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Birthday, Film, George Cukor, Handwritten, Letter, Lucille Ball, MAME, MGM, Movie, Paramount, Personal, RKOTags: Audrey Hupburn, Birthday, DIrector, Friendship, George Cukor, Gone With The Wind, Handwritten, Hollywood, I Love Lucy, Judy Garland, Letter, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Owned, MAME, MGM, Note, Oscar, Paramount, Personal, RKO, Signed, Stationary Leave a comment

Lucille Ball’s 20th Century Fox Personal Statement

By the late 1940’s Lucille Ball was freelancing, not under contract with any studio and able to do whatever work she wanted. In 1946 she did a movie for 20th Century Fox called “The Dark Corner” a crime film noir and genre she had not done before. Lucy protrays ‘Kathleen Stewart’ a secretary who sets out to clear her private eye boss (Mark Stevens) of false murder charges.

Lucille completed this employee personal statement for the studio which included all biographical data on January 15, 1946. Most of the information is typed but she did write in some missing details including her middle name, age, date of birth and place of birth. She signed her full name at the bottom and was assigned employee number 03733. This would be the only film she would do for the studio.

September 18, 2024September 17, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: 20th Century Fox, Autograph, Card, Film, Lucille Ball, Movie, Personal, The Dark CornerTags: 20th Century Fox, Clifton Webb, Crime, Drama, Film, Film Noir, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Mark Stevens, Movie, Personal, Personal Information, Signature, Signed, William Bendix Leave a comment

Lucille Ball Birthday Letter to Marion Van Vlack

Lucille Ball sent this letter to her childhood friend from Jamestown, Marion Van Vlack on what would be Lucy’s 59th birthday in 1970. The typed, signed letter on Lucy’s personal blue stationery reads in part:

“Thank you for remembering my birthday, and I’m glad you and yours are all shipshape.” “Will be calling Jamestown for some Swedish rye bread and some Swede Sill in the near future… – Lucy”

Lucille would often call The Jones Bakery in her hometown to have her favorite bread and pastries shipped out West. She and Marion would communicate over the years via many letters keeping their special bond forever cemented.

August 1, 2024October 9, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Birthday, Handwritten, Jamestown, Letter, Lucille Ball, Marion Van Vlack, PersonalTags: 1970, Birthday, Friendship, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Jamestown, Letter, Love, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Owned, Marion Van Vlack, New York, Note, Personal, Signed, Stationary Leave a comment

Desi Arnaz Indian Wells Hotel Liquor License Application

In 1957, Desi Arnaz opened a hotel outside of Palm Springs in Indian Wells, CA reported by The Desert Sun as “a new, luxurious, million-dollar hotel which nestles at the edge of the desert near the Santa Rosa mountains, bordering on the beautiful greens of the Indian Wells Golf Course.”

Presented here is Desi’s application for an alcoholic beverage license for the hotel. Filed on November 15, 1956 in front of Sergeant Forbes of the L.A.P.D., the two page document includes Arnaz’s personal information, signatures and full set of fringerprints.

The hotel still exists today under the name Indian Wells Resort Hotel and pays homage to its founder with many photos of Desi and Lucille Ball throughout the property.

July 25, 2024July 25, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Babalu, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Palm Springs, Personal, Ricky RicardoTags: Alcohol, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Fingerprints, Handwritten, Hotel, I Love Lucy, Indian Wells, License, Liquor, Lucille Ball, Palm Springs, Personal, Western Hills Hotel Leave a comment

Lucille Ball Handwritten Note to Gary Morton

Lucille Ball wrote this note to her husband Gary Morton on her personal stationery, crossing out the word desk and writing Love, requesting in part:

“I wish you’d write me a letter – I know it’s asking you to do something you really don’t give a damn about but I’d love it – Your wife”

Many personal letters between Lucy and Gary such as this were first made available to the public through an entertainment auction held in Beverly Hills in 2010. Gary’s former wife after Lucy, Susie Morton (McAllister) consigned many effects retained by Gary in the Palms Springs home he once shared with Lucille. This is the same home she built in the 1950’s with Desi Arnaz.

July 12, 2024October 9, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Gary Morton, Handwritten, Letter, Lucille Ball, PersonalTags: Desi Arnaz, Gary Morton, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Letter, Love, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Owned, Note, Palm Springs, Personal Leave a comment

Lucille Ball Large 1960’s Photo inscribed to Jess Oppenheimer

Jessurun (Jess) Oppenheimer was called “the brains” behind I Love Lucy. He was the series creator, producer and head writer. It was in radio where Lucy and Jess would first work together on My Favorite Husband that eventually spawned, arguably, the most popular TV show of all time.

This oversized photo of Lucille taken in the mid to late 1960’s has been framed and matted with Lucy’s inscription to the “force” behind the ‘Lucy’ show, simply put:

“Dear Jess with my Love Lucy”

July 3, 2024July 3, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Desilu, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Jess Oppenheimer, Lucille Ball, Personal, PhotoTags: Autograph, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Jess Oppenheimer, Lucille Ball, My Favorite Husband, Personal, Photo, Publicity, Publicity Photo, Radio, Signature, Signed Leave a comment

Desi Arnaz Autographed Del Mar Race Track Program

Desi Arnaz loved horse racing and even had a ranch in Corona, California where racers were bred. In the 1950’s a favorite getaway of his was going down to Del Mar, just north of San Diego. There at the famous race track and thoroughbred club “where the turf meets the surf,” Mr. Aranz could be found each racing season. After he and Lucy divorced, Desi bought a home mere feet from the track, right on the ocean and lived there until his passing. This program from the 1977 season was signed by Desi on the cover. Many photos of Desi and family can be seen in and around the track to this day.

May 30, 2024May 30, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Babalu, Desi Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr, Desilu, Here's Lucy, I Love Lucy, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, TelevisionTags: 1977, Autograph, Del Mar, Desi Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr., Desilu, Horse Racing, Horses, I Love Lucy, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Racetrack, Signed, Television, Thoroughbred Leave a comment

Lucille Ball Signed Oversized MGM Publicity Photo

Lucille Ball was awarded the title “Technicolor Tessie” by make-up artists and cameramen when she was with MGM in the early 1940’s. Her blue eyes, coral-rouged lips, fair skin and newly changed haircolor to a shade of “Tech Red” made her apperance in technicolor sensational and pop on screen.

This oversized publicity photo highlights this very glamourous time in Lucy’s career. Taken during the run of the films Du Barry Was A Lady and Best Foot Forward, images from this session were used throught the press world to showcase the studio’s new leading lady. Measuring roughly 15 inches by 19 inches it has been signed in blue ink by the redhead and beautifully framed in gold, one of Lucy’s favorite colors.

May 9, 2024May 21, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Feathers, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, MGM, Movie, Personal, PhotoTags: 1943, Autograph, Best Food Forward, Du Barry Was a Lady, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, MGM, Personal, Photo, Publicity, Publicity Photo, Signature, Signed Leave a comment

Lucille Ball’s Scrapbook Photo with Red Skelton

When I Love Lucy changed its format from 30 mintues to a whole hour in 1957, the Desilu team renamed it “The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show” aka “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.” For the second season, episode three, airing February 9, 1959 – ‘Lucy Goes to Alaska’ the guest star was fellow red-headed comedian Red Skelton. Towards the end of the show the duo perform a memorable pantomime sketch portraying tramps and finish with a song titled “Poor Everybody Else.”

This black and white 8×10 original publicity photo of Lucy and Red was retained by Lucille Ball for her scrapbook. The interior of the folder that displays the photo reads “Scrapbook – with Red “poor us” – poor everybody else” written entirely by Lucille. She was known to keep special photos, write ups in the press and momentos in huge scrapbooks throughout her career. This ‘Freddy the Freeloader’ act is brilliant for it was done by two of the best pantomime actors.

April 17, 2024April 17, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, CBS, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Lucy Ricardo, Personal, Photo, Red Skelton, Ricky Ricardo, Television, The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show, The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, Vivian Vance, William FrawleyTags: Alaska, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Owned, Notes, Pantomime, Personal, Photo, Red Skelton, Scrapbook, Television, The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show, The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, TV, Vivian Vance, WIlliam Frawley Leave a comment

Lucille Ball Annotated Here’s Lucy Script “Lucy and Carol Burnett”

This final draft script from Here’s Lucy is dated June 19, 1970 for an episode entitled “Lucy and Carol Burnett..The Unemployed Twosome.” It contains multiple pages of Lucille Ball’s handwritten notes and corrections. Typically once a script is finalized, shows for which they were written for are filmed within a couple of months. This one however did not ultimately air until February 8, 1971 and was also renamed “The Hollywood Unempolyment Follies.” The headline with ‘Lucy and Carol Burnett’ was also dropped since it was previously used from Carol’s prior guest appearance. The script was written between Season 2 and 3’s hiatus so it’s possible it was kept until Carol was available to do the show.

March 28, 2024March 28, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Carol Burnett, Carole Cook, CBS, Desi Arnaz Jr, Gale Gordon, Handwritten, Here's Lucy, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Personal, Script, TelevisionTags: Carol Burnett, Carole Cook, Corrections, Desi Arnaz Jr, Gale Gordon, Handwritten, Here's Lucy, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Notes, Personal, Script, Television, TV Leave a comment

La Jolla Postcard from Vivian Vance to parents

In the Summer of 1951 Vivian Vance was on stage at the La Jolla Playhouse in the production of “The Voice of the Turtle.” While staying at the La Jolla Palms Hotel, Vance wrote to her parents with this postcard postmarked July 16, 1951 which reads:

“This is the greatest place since Italy – we just love it – and so cool cool. We’ll be here 3 week – Love Vivian”

The show opened on Tueday, July 24, 1951. Around this time the ‘Lucy‘ crew was desparately searching for someone to play Ethel Mertz on a new TV show set to begin production in a few weeks. Director Marc Daniels recalled an actress he’d worked with that was performing at the La Jolla Playhouse. Desi Arnaz and Jess Oppenheimer drove down to see the Saturday, July 28th matinee. They found their Ethel and the rest is history.

February 29, 2024February 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Card, Desi Arnaz, Ethel Mertz, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Jess Openheimer, Personal, Television, The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show, The Lucy Show, The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, Vivian VanceTags: Autograph, Broadway, Desi Arnaz, Ethel Mertz, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Jess Oppenheimer, La Jolla, La Jolla Playhouse, Lucille Ball, Personal, Play, Postcard, Theater, Vivian Vance Leave a comment

Dolores “Lolita” Arnaz Portrait

Dolores (Lolita) Arnaz de Acha y de Socias was considered to be one of the most beautiful women in Cuba. For Lucy fans she was the mother of none other than, Desi Arnaz. Dolores was born in 1896 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and her father was a founding member of the Bacardi Rum Company in Cuba.

The Arnaz family lived a life of privilege until they lost everything in 1933 when the Cuban Revolution began. Desi helped his mother flee their home before it was destroyed, eventually coming to Miami. Desi continued to diligently care for his mother for the rest of his life and beyond until her passing on October 24, 1988.

This is an original, over-sized photo one owned by the family of Lolita where Desi handwrote on the back “1 Big one for me – D.A.”

February 22, 2024February 22, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Babalu, Desi Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr, Desilu, Dolores Arnaz, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Personal, Photo, Ricky RicardoTags: Bacardi Rum, Cuba, Desi Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr, Desilu, Dolores Arnaz, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Lolita, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Mother, Personal, Photo, Santo Domingo Leave a comment