Tag: Christmas

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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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/

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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 & Gary Morton Gifted Lucite LCD Clock

Lucille Ball was known for gifting clocks to those close her, often with a note that said “I’ll always have time for you.” She and husband Gary Morton gave this small quartz table clock on one such occasion. Made of lucite, it is etched with LOVE, LUCY & GARY under the LCD display.

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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 & Gary Morton Gifted Lucite Container

Lucille Ball and Gary Morton gave this large acyrlic storage container to close friends and associates as a Christmas gift. It has three compartments and features a hinged lid that is etched with LOVE, LUCY & GARY. Some say each section held different types of candy or sweets for the holiday season. Once consumed it made a great case to store desk items or anything that needed a little organization.

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Lucille Ball & Gary Morton Gifted Pewter Plate

Each year Lucille Ball and Gary Morton commissioned unique items that were given as Christmas presents to colleagues and friends. This custom-made pewter plate was one such present. Made by Wilton Columbia of Pennsylvania, it measures 9 1/2 inches in diameter and is stamped with RWP on the back which stands for Red Wing Pottery. The rim is engraved in large black letters with “Love, Lucy & Gary.”

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Gold ‘Love, Lucy’ Wristwatch from Lucille Ball

For Christmas in 1986 Lucille Ball gave these gold wristwatches to close family and friends as well as those who worked on her last series Life With Lucy. The face of the watch features the Al Hirschfeld caricature above her ‘Love Lucy’ signature. Each watch had a black leather band and came in a hard shell case. Time pieces were a favorite gift of Lucille’s and would often be accompanied by messages reading – “I will always have time for you.”

Two styles were made – ones with large faces and etched lines on the edge were considered the men’s, while a slightly smaller face and smooth edge were for the ladies. The leather bands were also different with the men’s having textured leather (as seen in these photos) and the women’s being smooth. Less than 100 of these watches are said to have been made making them a special keepsake among fans.

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Happy New Year Handwritten Notes from Lucille Ball

Former TCM host Robert Osborne and Lucille Ball were close friends, ever since Osborne was part of Lucy’s “kids” under contract at Desilu in her workshop during the late 1950’s. The first card and envelope was included with a gift from the redhead to Robert.

The second card was written to Barbara McClay, wife of Howard McClay who was Lucy’s longtime publicist. Ms. McClay wrote on the envelope the years 1983/1984 giving us the accurate timeframe when it was sent.

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Lucille Ball & Gary Morton Silver Mint Julep Cup Christmas Present

Friends of Lucille Ball and Gary Morton were given this silver mint julep cup for Christmas one year. The cup has an affectionate engraving which reads – “Love, Lucy & Gary.” This piece was still wrapped in the original box and holiday paper when it was acquired. It also has what is believe to be Wanda Clark’s writing on the exterior. Wanda was Lucy’s secretary for nearly 30 years. Silver mint julep cups are the standard for this drink because it allows ice to form on the outside of the cup. The proper way for drinking is to hold it by the base or top lip so your hand does not warm the cup.

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Lucille Ball Productions Gifted Ceramic Mug

Another Christmas gift from The Queen of Comedy was this off-white ceramic mug with silver rim. The side features a caricature of Lucy which was originally drawn by Al Hirschfeld in 1943 for the MGM film, Thousands Cheer. Ms. Ball loved the sketch so much she used it as her logo after forming Lucille Ball Productions. Also printed on the mug is “Love, Lucy” which was found on many gifts from the red head over the years.

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Lucille Ball & Gary Morton Gifted Silver Revere Bowl & Plate

For Christmas one year, friends and colleagues of Lucille Ball and Gary Morton were given this silver set consisting of a Revere bowl and plate, each with the engraving “Love, Lucy & Gary” (names in their respective signatures). The bowl measures 4 inches wide while the plate measures roughly 8 inches in diameter. Both are made of solid silver and do require polishing from time to time to stay free of tarnish.

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