Category: Card

1952 Holiday Card from Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz

Christmas 1952 was a special one for the Arnazes as their family would soon grow in less than a month with the birth of their second child. Lucille Ball sent this holiday card to Joanne & Pepito Perez, close friends and former vaudeville entertainers who helped Lucy and Desi develop acts that eventually lead to I Love Lucy.

The card is printed on the inside with Lucille, Desi and Lucie Arnaz however Lucy wrote the following:

“and “Thumper” – Hope you’ll call us & come up over the Holidays – Please do – Empire 3-1597 Love Lucy & Desi“

Joanne also wrote in pencil the intersection of Sepulveda Blvd. and Devonshire St. along with the street number 19700 of the Desilu ranch in Chatsworth, CA.

I Love Lucy fans can thank Joanne for discovering an original print of the I Love Lucy pilot long thought lost and never seen by the public until the early 1990’s. To learn more about Pepito and Joanne and their incredible time in show business, please visit: https://pepitoandjoanne.com/

by Categories: Autograph, Card, CBS, Christmas, Desi Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr, Desilu, Gifts, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Pepito the Spanish Clown, PersonalTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Large 1957 Hawaiian Postcard from Lucille Ball to Journalist Radie Harris

In May of 1957, during the hiatus of filming I Love Lucy, the Arnaz family vacationed on the Big Island of Hawaii. The last photo shown of Lucy, Desi, Lucie and Desi Jr. is believed to have been taken on this trip in the eastern city of Hilo. While on the island, Lucille Ball sent this oversized postcard of an erupting Mauna Loa to journalist Radie Harris with the quirky message:

“Dear Radie – I took 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of flour, just a pinch of baking soda – and look what happened – but everything is so different and gigantic over here I should have known – Love Lucy Arnaz”

Radie was best known for her work for The Hollywood Reporter, writing columns from the 1940s until 1989. She then had her own radio show interviewing celebrities, befriending many of them, on CBS. Harris also was a contributing writer to Photoplay magazine, Variety, and other movie magazines throughout her career. In 1982, Radie was honored by the Publicists Guild of America and lived to be ninety six passing away in 2001 at the Actors Fund Nursing Home in Englewood, New Jersey.

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Lucille Ball’s Lip Print on birthday note card from Gary Morton

On Lucille Ball’s 69th birthday in 1980, Gary Morton gave her a beautiful piece of jewelry. Inside a small envelope with Lucy on the outside was this notecard which Gary affectionately wrote:

“Lucy – Cause I Love you Happy Birthday Morty”

Lucille adored what Gary gave her not only keeping this card but writing what she got in blue marker “gold diamond and pearl necklace!!” On the front of the envelope, she also wrote the year and kissed it leaving a big lip print. This was something Lucy was known to do if she was really impressed by something, or it had special meaning.

by Categories: Autograph, Birthday, Card, Gary Morton, Gifts, Handwritten, Jewelry, Letter, Lucille Ball, PersonalTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Appreciative handwritten notecard from Lucille Ball to Frank Gorey

The Ball/Arnaz families were very loyal and generous to those close to them. These people were more like extended family, there for decades, through the good times and bad. One such person was Frank Gorey. He first started working with the Arnazes in 1959 as a chauffeur. After the divorce he stayed with Lucille Ball for the next 30 years, becoming the majordomo of the households.

An example of her admiration for ‘Francis’ is written in this note which included a check:

“Frank dear – I do appreciate how thoughtful and helpful you have been these last few months – which have been really so difficult for me – I never expected to fall apart as I have – Please buy your camera or whatever you want – Greatfully Lucy”

Frank was kind-hearted and loved to tell stories about his days with the redhead. He remained close to the family, as well as friends and loved ones met along the way until his passing in 2019.

by Categories: Autograph, Card, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Gifts, Handwritten, Letter, Lucille Ball, PersonalTags: , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Christmas Card from Lucie Arnaz to Pepito & Joanne Perez

Lucie Arnaz wrote in this Christmas card to Pepito and Joanne Perez in the early 1960’s. The couple were former veteran vaudeville entertainers known as “Pepito the Spanish Clown” and “Joanne the Twisting Marvel.” It was the Perez’s who helped Lucy and Desi develop the props and acts they took on the road to prove to CBS the public would accept them for a new TV show in 1950.

They remained close friends with Ball-Arnaz-Morton families throughout their lives, going on vacations and sending correspondence to one another over the better part of three decades.

I Love Lucy fans can thank Joanne for discovering an original print of the I Love Lucy pilot long thought lost and never seen by the public until the early 1990’s. To learn more about Pepito and Joanne and their incredible time in show business, please visit: https://pepitoandjoanne.com/

by Categories: Autograph, Card, Christmas, Desi Arnaz, Gifts, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Pepito the Spanish Clown, PersonalTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Elizabeth Patterson Christmas Card

Elizabeth Patterson was a veteran character actress before she famously became known as Matilda Trumbull, neighbor to Lucy and Ricky Ricardo on I Love Lucy. Like most actors from the golden era of Hollywood, Patterson began her career in the theatre with her first Broadway appearance in 1913’s Everyman. Her first movie was a silent film made in 1926 called The Boy Friend.

Elizabeth’s introductory appearance on television was in fact I Love Lucy for the 1952 episode “The Marriage License.” She portrayed Mrs. Willoughby who marries the Ricardos for a second time in Greenwich, Connecticut (honoring where Lucy and Desi were wed in real life). She was then cast as Mrs. Trumbull after Little Ricky was born.

This is a holiday card sent by the actress. The single sided piece of red cardstock with a metallic gold border, measures roughly 8 inches by 3 inches and features Patterson’s writing and signature printed in white that reads:

“Christmas Greetings from Elizabeth Patterson”

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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.

by Categories: 20th Century Fox, Autograph, Card, Film, Lucille Ball, Movie, Personal, The Dark CornerTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 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.

by 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: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Christmas Card from Lucille Ball to Joanne Perez

People close to Lucille Ball would surely receive a Christmas card from the redhead every holiday season. This is one such card from the early 1980’s that was sent to Joanne Perez, former veteran vaudeville entertainer along with her husband “Pepito the Spanish Clown.” It was the Perez’s who helped Lucy and Desi develop the props and acts they took on the road to prove to CBS the public would accept them for a new TV show in 1950.

Lucy and Joanne remained close friends throughout their lives as evident in this handwritten card which reads:

“Joanne dear, think of you all the time and love you always – Love Lucy”

I Love Lucy fans can thank Joanne for discovering an original print of the I Love Lucy pilot long thought lost and never seen by the public until the early 1990’s. To learn more about Pepito and Joanne and their incredible time in show business, please visit: https://pepitoandjoanne.com/

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Lucille Ball Autographed ‘Stone Pillow’ Poster

Lucille Ball stepped out of her “Lucy” comfort zone in 1985 to portray a homeless woman living on the streets of New York City. In the TV film Stone Pillow, Lucille plays ‘Florabelle’ (named after her grandmother) an eccentric bag lady who prides herself on being an independant loner toting all her worldly possessions in cart.

This window card sized poster was made to promote the movie however a selection of 100 were autographed ‘Love Lucy’ for a charity event. Production took place during an unusal warm spell in the Big Apple and wearing layers of winter clothing for her costume, Lucy at age 73, endured extreme temperatues well into the triple digits. Reviews are mixed but she should be commended for completing the project all while giving a superb performance.

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1974 Postcard from Vivian Vance

Based on this response, Vivian Vance was writing a book in the early 1970’s. Postmarked on February 14, 1974 this postcard sent to a Mr. Michael Marcel, she states – “I am writing my book – Viv and will be unable to grant your request for it’s all in my book.” To our knowledge this project never came to fruition so could there be an undiscovered autobiography somewhere out there?

by Categories: Autograph, Card, Ethel Mertz, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Personal, Television, Vivian VanceTags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Lucille Ball & Gary Morton Wedding Favors

On November 19, 1961 Lucille Ball and Gary Morton were married by Norman Vincent Peale at the Marble Collegiate Church in New York City. Their reception was held in Lucy’s penthouse apartment located on East 69th Street. This collection of wedding favors were from that evening.

The set includes a card and envelope with The Mortons printed in blue on the front, gold and white monogrammed box of matches with matching napkin and “Lucy and Gary” matchbooks.

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