Tag: Jess Oppenheimer

Vivian Vance’s “The Voice of the Turtle” Program from La Jolla Playhouse

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.

by Categories: Broadway, Desi Arnaz, Ethel Mertz, I Love Lucy, Jamestown, Jess Oppenheimer, Lucille Ball, Personal, Program, Television, The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show, The Lucy Show, The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, Vivian VanceTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

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”

by Categories: Autograph, Desilu, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Jess Oppenheimer, Lucille Ball, Personal, PhotoTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

La Jolla Postcard from Vivian Vance to parents

In the Summer of 1951 Vivian Vance was on stage at the La Jolla Playhouse in the production of “The Voice of the Turtle.” While staying at the La Jolla Palms Hotel, Vance wrote to her parents with this postcard postmarked July 16, 1951 which reads:

“This is the greatest place since Italy – we just love it – and so cool cool. We’ll be here 3 week – Love Vivian”

The show opened on Tueday, July 24, 1951. Around this time the ‘Lucy‘ crew was desparately searching for someone to play Ethel Mertz on a new TV show set to begin production in a few weeks. Director Marc Daniels recalled an actress he’d worked with that was performing at the La Jolla Playhouse. Desi Arnaz and Jess Oppenheimer drove down to see the Saturday, July 28th matinee. They found their Ethel and the rest is history.

by Categories: Autograph, Card, Desi Arnaz, Ethel Mertz, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Jess Openheimer, Personal, Television, The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show, The Lucy Show, The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, Vivian VanceTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

I Love Lucy Creator, Jess Oppenheimer “OPPY AWARD”

At the end of the 5th season of I Love Lucy, creator and head writer Jess Oppenheimer left the show. At his farewell party he presented ‘Oppy Awards’ to select members of the cast and crew in appreciation of their long and devoted service. These bronze statuettes looked similar to an Oscar but more like Jess – a little man with glasses, bald and hands that were discreetly positioned in front of his crotch. Made of plaster and attached to a wood base each award stands 10.5 inches tall and has a bronze plaque affixed to the front. This particular “Oppy” award was presented to Dann Cahn, editor of I Love Lucy.

by Categories: Awards, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Gifts, I Love Lucy, Jess Openheimer, Lucille Ball, Lucy Ricardo, Personal, Ricky Ricardo, Television, Vivian Vance, William FrawleyTags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment