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!
Tag: Hawaii
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.
Lucille Ball Handwritten Postcard to Prop Master Kenny Westcott
While vacationing on the Island of Hawaii in June of 1973, Lucille Ball and Gary Morton sent Kenny Westcott and his wife Betty this postcard from the Manua Kea Beach Hotel. Lucy simply writes:
“Dear Betty and Kenny – This place is heavenly! See you soon – Love Lucy & Gary”
Kenneth Westcott first worked at MGM’s commissary when he was in high school during the late 1930’s, then joined the Navy before the start of World War II. Following his service to the US, Kenny went back to work at MGM becoming the second assitant property master and then did a brief stint at Hal Roach Studios before going back to MGM. Around this time he first started working with Lucille Ball on her new series The Lucy Show, continuing onto Here’s Lucy. In between these shows and after, he worked on Lucy’s other films and specials. Kenny was responsible for all the props for every scene of every show or movie.