Letter – The Lucy Room

Handwritten Birthday Letter from Lucille Ball to Fred Williams

Fred Williams was a renowned makeup artist and celebrity portrait painter. He became Lucille Ball’s primary makeup man in the early 1970’s on her series Here’s Lucy and feature film, MAME. Lucille wrote this letter on her personal stationary to Fred and his wife Christine thanking them for remembering her birthday.

“Dearest Chris & Fred – Have tried to call you several times to tell you how happy I was with your birthday remembrance – I’m glad I caught you that nite you two are a slippery pair! Hope everything is well with you – My love as always Lucy”

Williams continued helping Lucy look incredible throughout the 80’s as well. Today fans can see a portrait of Lucy from MAME Fred painted on display at the Lucy-Desi Museum in her hometown of Jamestown, New York.

July 31, 2025July 31, 2025 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Birthday, CBS, Film, Fred Williams, Handwritten, Here's Lucy, Jamestown, Letter, Lucille Ball, Makeup, MAME, Movie, Personal, TelevisionTags: 1970s, 1980s, Artist, Autograph, Birthday, Film, Fred Williams, Friendship, Handwritten, Here's Lucy, I Love Lucy, Jamestown, Letter, Love, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Owned, Makeup, MAME, Movie, New York, Note, Painter, Personal, Signed, Stationary, TV 2 Comments

Lucille Ball’s Lip Print on birthday note card from Gary Morton

On Lucille Ball’s 69th birthday in 1980, Gary Morton gave her a beautiful piece of jewelry. Inside a small envelope with Lucy on the outside was this notecard which Gary affectionately wrote:

“Lucy – Cause I Love you Happy Birthday Morty”

Lucille adored what Gary gave her not only keeping this card but writing what she got in blue marker “gold diamond and pearl necklace!!” On the front of the envelope, she also wrote the year and kissed it leaving a big lip print. This was something Lucy was known to do if she was really impressed by something, or it had special meaning.

March 12, 2025March 12, 2025 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Birthday, Card, Gary Morton, Gifts, Handwritten, Jewelry, Letter, Lucille Ball, PersonalTags: 1980, Birthday, Diamond, Gary Morton, Gift, Gold, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Kiss, Letter, Lipstick, Love, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Owned, Necklace, Note, Pearl, Personal Leave a comment

Appreciative handwritten notecard from Lucille Ball to Frank Gorey

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.

January 29, 2025January 29, 2025 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Card, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Gifts, Handwritten, Letter, Lucille Ball, PersonalTags: Desi Arnaz, Frank Gorey, Gift, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Letter, Love, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Owned, Note, Personal Leave a comment

Lucille Ball Letter to director George Cukor

George Cukor was one Hollywood’s most respected directors, especially during the Golden Age. The Oscar-winning filmmaker directed 48 feature films, 22 of which earned a collective total of 70 Oscar nominations and 18 wins. He personally took home the Oscar for Best Director in 1965 for My Fair Lady starring Audry Hepburn. Lucy was a huge fan of Cukor, especially for his work on the film A Star is Born (1957) starring Judy Garland. She wrote this birthday letter to George on her personal stationery which reads:

“George darling – I have very few regrets or unfulfilled desires but one of them is that I have never had the pleasure and good fortune to have been directed by you “The Fabulous Cukor” Someday – Maybe – Somehow – Have a Happy Happy Birthday Love As Always Lucy”

It is unknown when this letter was written but Lucille would almost get her wish. Cukor was scheduled to direct Lucy’s film version of Mame, but left the project after she broke her leg in a skiing accident and production was delayed a year. Gene Saks took over when she was well enough to return in 1973. Lucy and George would correspond often and remained friends until his passing in 1983.

October 9, 2024October 9, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Birthday, Film, George Cukor, Handwritten, Letter, Lucille Ball, MAME, MGM, Movie, Paramount, Personal, RKOTags: Audrey Hupburn, Birthday, DIrector, Friendship, George Cukor, Gone With The Wind, Handwritten, Hollywood, I Love Lucy, Judy Garland, Letter, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Owned, MAME, MGM, Note, Oscar, Paramount, Personal, RKO, Signed, Stationary Leave a comment

Lucille Ball Birthday Letter to Marion Van Vlack

Lucille Ball sent this letter to her childhood friend from Jamestown, Marion Van Vlack on what would be Lucy’s 59th birthday in 1970. The typed, signed letter on Lucy’s personal blue stationery reads in part:

“Thank you for remembering my birthday, and I’m glad you and yours are all shipshape.” “Will be calling Jamestown for some Swedish rye bread and some Swede Sill in the near future… – Lucy”

Lucille would often call The Jones Bakery in her hometown to have her favorite bread and pastries shipped out West. She and Marion would communicate over the years via many letters keeping their special bond forever cemented.

August 1, 2024October 9, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Birthday, Handwritten, Jamestown, Letter, Lucille Ball, Marion Van Vlack, PersonalTags: 1970, Birthday, Friendship, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Jamestown, Letter, Love, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Owned, Marion Van Vlack, New York, Note, Personal, Signed, Stationary Leave a comment

Lucille Ball Handwritten Note to Gary Morton

Lucille Ball wrote this note to her husband Gary Morton on her personal stationery, crossing out the word desk and writing Love, requesting in part:

“I wish you’d write me a letter – I know it’s asking you to do something you really don’t give a damn about but I’d love it – Your wife”

Many personal letters between Lucy and Gary such as this were first made available to the public through an entertainment auction held in Beverly Hills in 2010. Gary’s former wife after Lucy, Susie Morton (McAllister) consigned many effects retained by Gary in the Palms Springs home he once shared with Lucille. This is the same home she built in the 1950’s with Desi Arnaz.

July 12, 2024October 9, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Gary Morton, Handwritten, Letter, Lucille Ball, PersonalTags: Desi Arnaz, Gary Morton, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Letter, Love, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Owned, Note, Palm Springs, Personal Leave a comment

William Frawley Handwritten Letter on I Love Lucy Stationery

William Frawley writes to a friend by the name of Roger in this personal letter dated April 10, 1953. Bill thanks him for his visit in Hollywood and also lets him know he is scheduled to be in New York City early June to appear on Milton Berle’s show.

Handwritten notes and letters from Frawley are quite rare and what is even more interesting is that this was done on his own personalized I Love Lucy stationery. It is unknown if the other principle actors from the show had similar letterhead of their own or something Bill made for himself.

January 3, 2024October 9, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, CBS, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Letter, Lucille Ball, Personal, Vivian Vance, William FrawleyTags: Desi Arnaz, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Letter, Lucille Ball, Milton Berle, New York City, Note, Personal, Vivian Vance, WIlliam Frawley Leave a comment

Joanne Perez Letter from Lucille Ball

Many people assisted Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in the early days of the television journey. Two such individuals were Pepito and Joanne Perez, veteran vaudeville entertainers better known in those days as “Pepito the Spanish Clown” and “Joanne the Twisting Marvel.” It was the Perez’s that 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 developement.

The couples remained close friends throughout their lives as evident in this handwritten letter from Lucille to Joanne which reads:

“Dearest Joanne, I love you more each year for your thoughfulness. Please know I think of you often and appreciate you. – 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/

October 26, 2023October 26, 2023 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Desi Arnaz, Gifts, Handwritten, Letter, Lucille Ball, Pepito the Spanish Clown, PersonalTags: Desi Arnaz, Handwritten, Letter, Love, Lucille Ball, Note, Pepito the Spanish Clown, Personal, Vaudeville Leave a comment

Lucille Ball Handwritten Letter to Brother Fred

On April 24, 1949 Lucille Ball’s brother Fred married his second wife Phyllis Brier. For their first anniversary in 1950, Lucy wrote this letter to the couple playfully addressing them as ‘Philly and Freddy.’

“With our love and appreciation of a wonderful sister and great brother! This is to make the coffee-pot-on-the-stove-all-day routine a bit easier – Affectionately Lucy & Desi”

The original blue envelope with “Happy Anniversary” in Lucille’s hand on the front accompanies the letter. It is believed the Arnaz’s gave the Ball’s a new coffee percolator. Coincidentally, Phyllis was also born in Jamestown, NY like Lucy and Fred.

August 23, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Desi Arnaz, Fred Ball, Gifts, Handwritten, Letter, Lucille Ball, PersonalTags: Anniversary, Desi Arnaz, Fred Ball, Handwritten, Letter, Love, Lucille Ball, Note, Personal Leave a comment

Lucille Ball Handwritten “The Mrs.” Love Letter to Gary Morton

Gary Morton received the handwritten love letter from Lucille Ball affectionately signed “The Mrs.” Using pink stationary Lucy writes on a Sunday in part, “how much I love and need you,” expressing her appreciation and that he is “really special and adored.” The letter is complete with a matching envelope which reads My Gary.

May 23, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Gary Morton, Gifts, Handwritten, Letter, Lucille Ball, PersonalTags: Desi Arnaz, Gary Morton, Handwritten, Letter, Love, Lucille Ball, Note, Personal Leave a comment