With the start of vacation season in full swing, we’d like to share a snapshot of Lucille Ball and Gary Morton taking sun and enjoying their tropical surroundings. This 5×7 photo of the couple was taken most likely in Hawaii in the early to mid-1960’s. With its gold/bronze color frame, the picture once hung in the Morton’s home. Aloha!
Category: Photo
Ross Martin’s Signed Photo of a Toddler Lucille Ball
Actor and director Ross Martin began his career in the late 1940’s but is best known for portraying Artemus Gordon on CBS’s Western The Wild Wild West in the 1960’s. Martin ventured into the Desilu orbit in the late 50’s appearing in various productions like Whirlybirds and The Twilight Zone. This is when he most likely became friends with Lucille Ball.
In 1970, he first directed Lucille on season 3, episode 14 of Here’s Lucy entitled “Lucy, the Part-Time Wife.” Then again in 1971 for the episode “Lucy and the Raffle.” The photo of Ross and Lucy shown here was taken during this filming. The following year the two would appear on an episode of Password with Allen Ludden.
Martin lived in Ramona, CA about 35 miles northeast of San Diego. The walls of his billiards room and bar area was said to have many signed photos of celebrities as children or babies. This framed toddler photo of Lucille Ball was one of them. Lucy inscribed in the white areas:
“Now hear this! Ours is a long friendship. Love Lucy”
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)
Lucille Ball Inscribed Portait to Gary Morton
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.
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”
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.
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.’
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.
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.”
Gary Morton’s Ornately Framed Photo of Lucille Ball
Morton Goldaper better known as Gary Morton married Lucille Ball in the early 1960’s. After moving into the home on Roxbury Drive in Beverly Hills, Lucy gave Gary this beautiful and seductive photo of her. Mounted in an oval and very ornate brass frame, Lucille added the sultry inscription – Gary! Gary! Gary! This piece sat on Gary’s nightstand in the Morton’s bedroom for over two decades. It was seen publicly when Barbara Walters interviewed Lucy and Gary in 1977 and cameras went inside the mansion.
Lucille Ball & Gary Morton Kennedy Center Personal Photo with Ronald & Nancy Reagan
In late 1986, Lucille Ball was one of the recipents of the Kennedy Center Honors. The ninth annual awards ceremony, held in Washington, D.C. was a tremendous celebration for the performing arts . Lucy and husband Gary Morton posed for a photo before the Honors gala with then President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan. The Morton’s were later given this photo and framed it for display in their Beverly Hills home. In a rare, candid picture taken inside the Roxbury Drive mansion, this framed photo can be seen on a side table in the living room.
