Category: Desi Arnaz Jr

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/

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Lucille Ball’s Lilac 3-Piece Ensemble

Lucille Ball returned to TV in the Fall of 1986 in Life With Lucy. The show was produced by Aaron Spelling in association with Lucille Ball Productions for ABC. Her return to a weekly sitcom was heavily publicized, and for good reason. Fans could not wait to see the beloved redhead on television again. One publicity photoshoot of Lucy was done at Spelling’s Holmby Hills mansion dubbed “The Manor.” Photos of Ball wearing various outfits were taken by the pool and in and around the lush backyard.

One such garment was this custom-made, silk 3-piece ensemble. Pale lavender with a scattered floral pattern in black and white, it consists of a deep V-neck short sleeved blouse, loose fitting jacket with long, bell sleeves and pants featuring a bow attached at the waist, side pockets and French cut slits at the hemline. The jacket securely attaches to the blouse at the shoulders with snap buttons.

One image taken during this session can be seen in the October 1986 issue of Life Magazine in a beautiful, color full page spread. Had the series continued longer, Lucille would most likely have worn this outfit on the show. A very similar gown was constructed using the same material but in pale blue and worn in the episode “Mother of the Bride.” Lucy then wore this to Desi Jr. and Amy’s wedding in 1987.

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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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Television Academy Arts & Sciences 14th Annual Ball Honoring Lucille Ball Ticket & Program

The Television Academy Arts & Sciences honored Lucille Ball on October 25, 1969 with an award and event proclaiming her “The First Lady of Television.” Held in the International Room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, the 14th annual affair was emceed by ‘Mr. Television’ himself Milton Berle in front of 1,000 members. Also in attendance was Lucy’s husband Gary Morton, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz, Jr., Vivian Vance and many other friends.

Shown here is an original program, ticket and RSVP stub from the ball. A three-inch gold-plated metal table favor was also given to guests that evening. Lucy wore a beautiful aqua chiffon grown adorned with beads and rhinestones that trimmed the collar and front hem with sleeves that were engulfed with ostrich feathers at the ends. (to be featured in another post)

by Categories: Al Hirschfeld, Awards, CBS, Desi Arnaz Jr, Emmy Awards, Gary Morton, Gifts, I Love Lucy, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Milton Berle, Personal, Photo, Program, Television, Ticket, Vivian VanceTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Here’s Lucy Cast & Crew Gifted Hat

Here’s Lucy premiered on CBS in late September of 1968. The third sitcom for ‘Lucy and Co.’ centered around the Carter family who lived in Southern California. Lucille Ball starred alongside Gale Gordon, who portrayed brother-in-law Harrison Carter, and her children Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. as her on screen kids Kim and Craig. The show ran for six successful seasons, ending in 1974.

This navy blue baseball hat was gifted to the cast and crew during the series’ run. The patchwork font of Here’s Lucy adorns the front along with an embroidered replication of the Lucille Ball Productions logo and caricature of Lucy by artist Al Hirschfeld. Very few of these exist today as they were not made for the general public.

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Here’s Lucy Audience Tickets

A change in format was necessary for the Lucy series after Lucille Ball sold Desilu to Gulf & Western in 1967. The rights and ownership were now under their control so she formed Lucille Ball Productions and created a new sitcom called Here’s Lucy.

The Carter family lived in Los Angeles with Lucy’s character employed as a secretary at “Carter’s Unique Employment Agency” owned by brother-in-law Harry, played by co-star Gale Gordon. Lucille’s real-life children portrayed her on screen kids with Lucie Arnaz as Kim and Desi Arnaz Jr. as Craig. The show ran for six seasons from 1968 to 1974.

Here are two original audience tickets – one to the December 11, 1969 filming in season two and the other for a July 9, 1971 episode from season four. There are a few noticable difference between the tickets. For the first couple of seasons the show was filmed at Paramount Studios (formly Desilu). Now a tenant, Lucy and company began to have issues with their new “landlords” so it was decided to move to more favorable conditions at Universal Studios where they remained for the rest of the show’s run. Second, the Lucy image was changed from the 60’s sketch to a favorite of hers by Al Hirschfeld. Lastly, a member of the cast is absent on the ticket from 1971. After the third season Desi Arnaz Jr. left the series to pursue other career opportunities but would return for one last appearance in the fifth season espisode “Lucy and Joe Namath.”

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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.

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Television Academy Arts & Sciences Table Favor Honoring Lucille Ball

The Television Academy Arts & Sciences honored Lucille Ball on October 25, 1969 with an award and event proclaiming her “The First Lady of Television.” Held at the Beverly Hilton, the 14th annual affair was emceed by ‘Mr. Television’ himself Milton Berle in front of 1,000 members. Also in attendance was Lucy’s husband Gary Morton, two children, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz, Jr. and close friend Vivian Vance. During her emotional speech talking about Viv she said,

“I’m supposed to say something like ‘the vivacious, vital, Vivian Vance.’ But that isn’t it. We’ve been through so much together on the screen and off. Some good times, some bad times.”

This three inch gold plated metal table favor was given to guests that evening. The souvenir statue is made to look like a TV atop the academy’s acronym: ‘NATAS.’ An engraved insert features the Lucille Ball caracature drawn by Al Hirschfeld and the text ‘A Salute To Lucille Ball – October 25, 1969.’

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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.

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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.”

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Desi Arnaz’s 1959 US Passport

By the late 1950’s Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz’s marriage was sadly coming to an end. As a “last ditch effort” attempt to possibly rekindle what was left, they went on a trip to Europe in May of 1959. What should have been a getaway of just the two of them became a mini entourage that included their children, Lucie and Desi Jr., Lucy’s cousin Cleo and her husband Ken Morgan.

The group traveled to London, Paris and Rome from the end of May to early June. This was the passport Desi carried with him on that trip. Issued on April 21, 1959 this U.S. Passport includes a handsome photo of Mr. Arnaz, multiple signatures, the addresses in Beverly Hills and Del Mar, plus all the original visa stamps entering and exiting various countries.

In November 1959 Desi left the country alone, going back to Europe as he and Lucy’s marrage was all but over by that point. The visa stamps from this trip are also present. The estate created “Lucy & Desi: The Real Life Scrapbook of America’s Favorite TV Couple” in 2004 which includes copies of documents and photos throughout their lives. This passport was used in that book to illustrate that particular time in their relationship.

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Lucille Ball’s Wig Braid from The Lucy Show & Here’s Lucy

Lucy Carmichael wins a trip to London in The Lucy Show episode entitled “Lucy Flies to London” from the fifth season in 1966. For one day she tours the city in a whirlwind adventure. To mark the occasion of Lucille Ball actually going to London, a one hour prime-time special called “Lucy in London” aired a week later. During a 60’s “mod” montage she wears this long, red braided pony tail extension in a series of poses.

Fast forward three years later during Here’s Lucy, the braid is reused for a Roman-inspired scene in the episode “Lucy and the Generation Gap.” Along side Lucie Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr. and Gale Gordon (portraying Julius Caesar) Lucille Ball wears the braid, this time the bow which was pink in the London special has been changed to gold to match her costume. Its appearance today is the result of Lucy entangling the locks in Gale’s laurel corona by accident when reaching for their harps, snarling it.

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