Veteran character actor Gale Gordon appeared in all of Lucille Ball’s television series from the 1950’s until the 1980’s. Lucy originally wanted him to play the roll of Fred Mertz however he was commited to Our Miss Brooks. He was an incredible talent and perfect foil for all of Lucy’s antics.
In the 1980’s there were dinner theaters throughout Canada operated by Stage West. This included two locations in Winnipeg and Edmonton. Gale performed on the Edmonton stage in 1980 for “A Ghost on Tiptoe.” Then in 1982 at the Winnipeg location in “Norman is That You?” These were promotional drinking glasses the theater company produced to honor the stars performing in their shows. Each stand around seven inches tall and hold 8 oz. of liquid.
Today, Stage West still operates a dinner theater in Calgary. The Winnipeg theater was dempolished in 1985, while the one Edmonton now operates under the name Mayfield Dinner Theater.
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)
If a hairstyle called for a certain look or something extra, wiglets were used in addition to the regular wig. Simply pinned on the main wig these added height, shape, more curls or possible used to cover something.
This was one of Lucy’s red wiglets. Her longtime hairstylist Imra Kusely dyed it to match her hair color and the piece still retains the original curls and shape with hairspray from when it was used.
“The Audition” was filmed on October 12, 1951, a mere three days before the official television premiere of I Love Lucy. This was the sixth episode of the show where Lucy Ricardo replaces a clown named Buffo for an act at Ricky’s club. Lucy is referred to as “the professor” and is dressed in an oversized blue suit who plays the cello.
This act was initially conceived by the Arnazes along with Pepito & Joanne Perez as part of a vaudeville style act Lucy and Desi used, touring the country proving to CBS audiences across America would accept them. They also used the skit for the I Love Lucy pilot.
Part of Lucy’s costume were these cotton finger cots. Each used to cover the fingers of her left hand as she takes them off in dramatic fashion to the beat of the drum. The entire costume was originally on display at Universal Studios Hollywood ‘Lucy A Tribute’ exhibit for over 20 years. The rest of the outfit is now displayed alongside the prop cello in Lucy’s hometown of Jamestown, NY at the Lucy-Desi Museum.
The Ball/Arnaz families were very loyal and generous to those close to them. These people were more like extended family, there for decades, through the good times and bad. One such person was Frank Gorey. He first started working with the Arnazes in 1959 as a chauffeur. After the divorce he stayed with Lucille Ball for the next 30 years, becoming the majordomo of the households.
An example of her admiration for ‘Francis’ is written in this note which included a check:
“Frank dear – I do appreciate how thoughtful and helpful you have been these last few months – which have been really so difficult for me – I never expected to fall apart as I have – Please buy your camera or whatever you want – Greatfully Lucy”
Frank was kind-hearted and loved to tell stories about his days with the redhead. He remained close to the family, as well as friends and loved ones met along the way until his passing in 2019.
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.
In July of 1951 Vivian Vance was performing at the La Jolla Playhouse in the production of “The Voice of the Turtle.” This would be the stage where Desi Arnaz and Jess Oppenheimer watched their soon to be ‘Ethel Mertz’ portray Olive Lashbrooke in the Saturday, July 28th matinee.
The program shown here is the original copy Vivian Vance kept for her archives. Viv’s sister Lou Ann Graham inherited all of her programs from her years of stage performances. These were sold to the public in Lucille Ball’s hometown of Jamestown, NY during one of the annual festivals.
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/
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:
Aaron Spelling Productions started a new weekly series on ABC for the Fall of 1986 called “Life With Lucy.” Lucille Ball would return to television in an attempt to resurrect the “Lucy” character fans all knew and loved. Wanting to get ‘back in her arena’ she called on veteran actor Gale Gordon to be her straight man and co-star.
This sweatshirt is believed to be a gift to the cast and crew or possibly a prototype. Since the show was unfortunately canceled early on, plans to potentially mass produce these ceased. It features the Al Hirschfeld caricature and a variation of show’s logo printed in a totally 80’s salmon pink with royal blue shadowing. Similar promotional items were made including hats, bumper stickers and a jacket (which was shared in a past post).
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.
A polka dot dress was a signature look of Lucy Ricardo and to this day, Lucy and polka dots are synonymous with one another. Throughout her television career Lucille Ball wore variations of this pattern in the form of dresses in the 1950’s to blouses in the 60’s and 70’s.
On October 6, 1958 the premiere episode of the second season of TheLucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show (The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour in syndication) aired, entitled “Lucy Goes to Mexico.” The Ricardos and Mertzes are in San Diego, staying at the Hotel Del Coronado because Ricky is doing a USO show with Maurice Chevalier onboard the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier Yorktown. Lucy and the Mertzes decide to go south into Tijuana on a routine souvenir hunt. In true fashion, Lucy gets into trouble when a stowaway causes problems as they attempt to come back across the border.
Lucy wears an iconic polka dot dress for nearly the entire episode. Presented here is her stunt double’s dress, an exact replication to the one Lucille Ball wore. It can be seen on Lucy’s stand-in who’s running from the Policia through the streets of Tijuana. The unique polka dot pattern confirms this as the one Lucy Ricardo wears is slightly different and is currently in a private collection.
The two piece, A-line dress is made of a light brown silk-taffeta with beige polks dots. A long sleeve jacket features a zipper front, off-white canvas trim on the cuffs and waist along with a very large notched collar. Inside the jacket is a CBS garment tag attached near the zipper. The short sleeve dress features the same off-white canvas trim on the sleeve hems and has a full length zipper with hook and eye closures on the back. A sheer white silk lining can be found on the inside of the body.
This look was the inspiration of a large wooden statue carved out of a tree stump that once stood in the Lucille Ball Memorial Park from the late 1990’s to early 2000’s. The park banks Lake Chautauqua in Lucy’s hometown of Celeron, NY and is the current home of a beautiful bronze statue by Carolyn Palmer of Lucille Ball as Lucy Ricardo wearing a polka dot dress.
