Desi Arnaz Indian Wells Hotel Liquor License Application

In 1957, Desi Arnaz opened a hotel outside of Palm Springs in Indian Wells, CA reported by The Desert Sun as “a new, luxurious, million-dollar hotel which nestles at the edge of the desert near the Santa Rosa mountains, bordering on the beautiful greens of the Indian Wells Golf Course.”

Presented here is Desi’s application for an alcoholic beverage license for the hotel. Filed on November 15, 1956 in front of Sergeant Forbes of the L.A.P.D., the two page document includes Arnaz’s personal information, signatures and full set of fringerprints.

The hotel still exists today under the name Indian Wells Resort Hotel and pays homage to its founder with many photos of Desi and Lucille Ball throughout the property.

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.

Lucille Ball & Gary Morton Keys to Palm Springs Home and Trunks

A large set of personal keys to Lucille Ball’s Palm Springs home, footlockers and extra miscellaneous keys. The plastic ID tags have hand-writing on them which reads: “Foot Locker’s” – “Extra Keys” – “Extra P.S. Keys.” The Palm Springs set appear to be that of Lucy or Gary’s writing. An example of one of the foot lockers can be found HERE. This set of keys were acquired from the Ball-Morton-Arnaz estate.