RKO – The Lucy Room

Elizabeth Patterson Christmas Card

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”

November 21, 2024November 21, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Card, CBS, Christmas, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Personal, Vivian Vance, William FrawleyTags: Card, Christmas, Christmas Card, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Elizabeth Patterson, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, MGM, Mrs. Trumbull, New York City, Note, Personal, RKO, Vivian Vance, WIlliam Frawley 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

Necklace worn by Lucille Ball in “Annabel Takes a Tour” by Joseff of Hollywood

Annabel Takes a Tour (1938) was an early comedic film Lucille Ball starred in while under contract with RKO. It was the sequel to The Affairs of Annabel released that same year. Lucy played Annabel Allison a movie star who is desperate for some good publicity to help boost her career so she does a variety of wacky stunts.

In the film as well as publicity photos, Lucille wears this simulated diamond and sapphire necklace made by Joseff of Hollywood. Measuring twenty three inches in length, it features open metal work centering on a large central medallion.

The necklace as also worn by Bette Davis in a 1930’s publicity portrait, John Bennett in a wardrobe test for The Man in the Iron Mask (1939) Ruth Donnelly in Pillow to Post (1945).

Eugene Joseff was the premier costume jeweler during Hollywood’s golden age. He developed a matte metal finish for his jewelry which minimized the glare from lighting. Their custom jewels were designed, manufactured and rented to movie studios and can be seen in nearly every production from the 1930’s to the 1950’s.

June 13, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Annabel Takes a Tour, Film Worn, Jewelry, Joseff of Hollywood, Lucille Ball, Movie, Necklace, RKOTags: Annabel Takes a Tour, Bette Davis, Diamond, Film, Hollywood, Jewelry, Joan Bennett, Joseff of Hollywood, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Worn, Movie, Necklace, RKO, Ruth Donnelly, Sapphire, Screen Worn Leave a comment

Lucille Ball’s “Panama Lady” Brooch by Joseff of Hollywood

In 1939 Lucille Ball starred in Panama Lady an RKO film about a nightclub girl who gets involved with an oil rigger played by Allan Lane (he would come to be the voice of Mr. Ed). For the publicity shots of the movie Lucille wore this ornate, door knocker-style brooch with simulated amethysts by Joseff of Hollywood.

December 3, 2022August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Jewelry, Joseff of Hollywood, Lucille Ball, Movie, RKOTags: brooch, Film, Hollywood, Jewelry, Joseff of Hollywood, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Worn, Movie, Panama Lady, RKO 1 Comment

Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz Marriage Flower Card

In November of 1940 Desi was playing the Roxy in New York City and Lucy had finished “A Girl, A Guy and a Gob” for RKO. The studio sent her to NYC for the film’s premiere, which was great as she and Desi would be able to see and spend some time with each other. After giving an interview to a magazine about being single, Lucy was told by Desi that what she had said would change because they were going to get married the next day.

On November 30, 1940 Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were married at the Byram River Beagle Club in Connecticut. Wearing a black dress and silver fox coat and hat, Lucy accepted a ring Desi bought at Woolworths. Upon returning to Manhattan for Desi’s show that night, Lucy was presented with a bouquet of flowers from the manager of the Byram River Beagle Club along with this card. The reverse had a message from a Mr. Edward White, which sadly is now partially missing. What is visible Ed writes about seeing her in “Marines Fly High”, another movie Lucy made with RKO.

November 30, 2022August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Desi Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Personal, RKOTags: 1940, Connecticut, Desi Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Married, NYC, Personal, RKO, ROXY, Wedding Leave a comment

Desilu Productions Studio Light

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz formed Desilu Productions in the early 1950’s. By 1957 their company was in high demand, growing and needed more space. While filming the episode “The Celebrity Next Door” for The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, Desi struck a deal to buy RKO. This was the same studio where they met and worked for some 17 years prior. When Desilu took over they now owned multiple lots, many soundstages and all the props and wardrobe from Hollywood’s Golden Age. This included production equipment which Desi had all studio lights painted green and stenciled Desilu.

This studio light – number 692 – retains that original green paint and stencil and has all inner workings, cord and lens. The light still works and casts an extremely bright, very warm spotlight. A detachable arm allows it to be mounted from the rafters or on a rolling stand. This light may have lit some of the biggest film productions like Citizen Kane or King Kong in the RKO days to I Love Lucy and Star Trek for television.

September 24, 2022August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Desi Arnaz, Desilu, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Movie, RKO, TelevisionTags: CBS, Desilu, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, RKO, Studio Light Leave a comment