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”