Lucille Ball penned to husband Gary Morton “Gary! Gary! Gary! My Guy “Your Missus – Lucy” on this uncommon side portrait of her from the mid-1940’s. Against a red background that almost matches her lips, Lucy wears a white top that has her initials embroidered on the center neckline – LDB for Lucille Desiree Ball. During their marriage she and Gary would write each other many notes and letters and Lucille sometimes gave him photos of herself with inscriptions such as this.
Category: Personal
MAME Ashtray Gift from Lucille Ball
Friends, some press as well as cast and crew of the 1974 motion picture MAME received this off-white porcelain ashtray from its star, Lucille Ball. The circular, gold rimmed ashtray features the film’s title in the center and Lucy’s signature Love Lucy below. This particular piece was never used and still included the original box when it was aquired. Two versions of ashtrays were made, possibly for different years. The other is a square style that has a felt bottom.
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.
Vivian Vance’s Caftan Blouse by Don Loper
This colorful silk caftan-style blouse was owned and worn by Vivian Vance. Designed by Don Loper it features a floral painted-like pattern, 3/4 length kimono sleeves, side seam slits and a boat neckline. Viv gave the blouse to her little sister Lou Ann Graham who kept it for many years before consigning the piece for an auction held in Lucille Ball’s hometown of Jamestown, New York in the mid 2000’s.
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.
Lucille Ball & Gary Morton Gifted Lucite LCD Clock
Lucille Ball’s Prescription Pill Bottle
Gary Morton told reporters that in May of 1988 that wife, Lucille Ball had a “very slight heart attack” and was taken to Cedars-Siani. At the time cardiac tests failed to pinpoint the actual problem. Less than a year later on Tuesday, April 18th Lucy was rushed to the hospital again suffering from yet another heart attack. This would lead to several hours of open-heart surgery to replace an aortic value from a 27-year old donor.
After the surgery, Dr. Robert Kass said “the next 24 hours would be crucial and her condition is guarded, but optimistic” especially since she had a history of high blood pressure. This was Lucille Ball’s medication bottle for Procardia, a prescription issued on March 30, 1989, to treat hypertension and chest pain.
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.
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.
Lucille Ball’s Bandmaster Uniform from The Lucy Show “Main Street U.S.A.”
Lucy Carmichael and Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) travel to Bancroft, a small town whos mayor is asking the bank for a loan to build a highway. Unfortunately this construction would tear right down the middle of Main Street. Lucy joins the residents opposing the demolition for this January 1967 episode in season five of The Lucy Show.
Lucy performs a catchy song and dance number with guest stars Mel Torme and John Bubbles wearing this sequined bandmaster uniform. Designed by Edward Stevenson the costume consists of three, handmade pieces. The heavy, elongated jacket is completely covered in pink sequins with a matching mesh material placed over the top to soften the reflection and shine in the studio lights. It is adorned with gold metal buttons, gold lame trim on all the hems and gold metal fringe on the shoulder epaulettes, cuffs and bottom hem.
To complete the look, Stevenson constructed a custom-made hat that still has the original aqua feather attached and a pink velvet undergarment. This is also trimed with the metal fringe on the leg openings and is visible at the very end of the routine when Lucy does her big finish, raising her arms into the air. This is an incredibly detailed costume that must have taken hours to complete and Lucille looked sensational in it for the show-stopping finale.
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.
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”