RIP BETTY WHITE

1922-2021

Lucille Ball and Betty White shared the small screen at least 18 times over three decades on TV’s “Password”, Lucille’s favorite game show, which was originally hosted by White’s third husband, the love of her life, Allan Ludden.  

Betty White’s 1957 TV series “Date with the Angels” was filmed at Desilu Studios. It was loosely based on the Elmer Rice play Dream Girl, a play that Lucille Ball appeared in 1947.  

“I can still see her. Tall and built and she had a navy blue dress on with white polka dots and this hair that made it look like her head was on fire.”

In 1977, Lucille Ball was ringmaster for “Circus of the Stars II.” 

Lucy introduced her old friend, who works with a camel (actually a dromedary) named Little Valentine. Valentine does a variety of tricks. White (a known animal lover) ad libs about Lawrence of Arabia when Valentine refuses to get up to answer the telephone!  When Valentine finally does the trick and White hangs up the call (from the camel’s agent), Valentine keeps picking it up again. “You can’t get some kids off the phone!”  The show also included Lucie Arnaz taming an elephant. 

Back on “Password”, White partnered with Desi Arnaz Jr. in 1981.

On December 3, 1984 Betty and Lucy where both guests of Joan Rivers (guest host) on NBC’s “The Tonight Show.”

White with Lucille Ball, Ann Dusenberry (”Life with Lucy”), and Estelle Getty in 1986 on “Password”. 

Also in 1986, Betty White joined those paying tribute to Lucy during “All Star Party for Lucille Ball”.  Lucy and Betty were both on hand to pay tribute to Carol Burnett when she was similarly feted in 1982. 

In 1987, Lucille Ball and Carol Channing came to a book signing to support their mutual friend Betty White.

That same year (1987) White and Ball were two of the stars in “Happy 100th, Birthday, Hollywood.” Ironically, White passed away just 17 days before her own 100th Birthday. 

May 1988′s “Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years at NBC” brought together celebrities like White and Ball to tribute Hope. 

White last shared the “Password” panel with Lucille in November 1988, just six months before Ball’s untimely death.

In 1989, after Lucille Ball’s passing, White was part of “Bob Hope’s Love Affair With Lucy.” To the accompaniment of “Thank You for Being a Friend” Golden Girl Betty White is introduced. She lists three-word TV titles of the ‘50s, “Our Miss Brooks,” “I Married Joan,” “Life with Elizabeth,” “Father Knows Best,” and “I Love Lucy.”