TELEGRAM from LUCY

May 25, 1965

On May 25, 1965, Ann Miller received a telegram from Lucille Ball praising her performance on “The Hollywood Palace” on May 22, 1965. Miller was so surprised that she called Western Union to verify the telegram’s authenticity. 

“The Hollywood Palace” was an hour-long television variety show that aired from 1964 to 1970. It was staged at the Hollywood Playhouse on Vine Street. Desi Arnaz Jr. appeared on the show with Dino, Desi & Billy in 1964 and 1968.

This episode was recorded on Friday, April 23, 1965. 

This was Miller’s fourth appearance on the program. She performed “Trapped in a Web of Love” and “Won’t You Come Home Bill Bailey” with a leg injury, defying a doctor who told her she needed to stay in bed. She asked Bob Mackie to prepare a special set of tights that would help her dance on her injured leg. 

The costume was auctioned off in 2009 fetching more than $1,200. 

Miller had appeared with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in their 1939 film Too Many Girls. 

Ball had several reasons to watch that evening’s episode of “Hollywood Palace”.  In addition to Miller, the show was hosted by Tennessee Ernie Ford, who had appeared three times on “I Love Lucy” and would go on to make guest star appearances on “The Lucy Show” in 1967 and “Here’s Lucy” in 1969. In return, Ball also appeared on his television specials. 

Guests included Edie Adams, who appeared on the very last episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” in April 1960. She went on to appear in a 1968 episode of “The Lucy Show.”  

Comedian Jack Carter was the best man at Lucy’s wedding to Gary Morton in 1961. A few weeks later he married Paula Stewart, who played Lucy’s sister Janie in Broadway’s Wildcat. He acted in “Lucy Sues Mooney” (TLS S6;E12) and directed two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”