-
RIP Louisa Moritz ~ Who played Terry in the Lucille Ball special “Happy Anniversary & Goodbye” (1974), although the two share no scenes together. Moritz left Cuba and moved to New York City during the upheaval of the 1950s. Louisa was inspired to change her last name from Castro to Moritz to distance herself from the communist leader and chose her new moniker after seeing the St. Moritz Hotel. She may be the inspiration for the character of Lily St. Regis in the musical Annie. Although often cast as the dumb blonde, she later worked as an attorney in Southern California. She was 72 years old.
-
Attention Academy Members!
For Your Consideration:“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” starring Lucille Ball
-
Attention Academy Members!
For Your Consideration:“Bohemian Lucy”
-
RIP Kaye Ballard ~ Actress and singer who guest-starred on “Here’s Lucy” in 1971 in “Lucy and Harry’s Italian Bombshell” (S4;E3). In her DVD introduction to the episode, Ballard says that at Lucille Ball’s insistence she was padded for the part and was furious about it. She says she was promised a return engagement where she would not be padded, but the call never came.
In August 1971 Ballard was the musical guest on the “Tonight Show” which also featured Lucille Ball, Broderick Crawford, and Victor Buono.
In 1967 she had co-starred in “The Mothers-In-Law” with Eve Arden, a sitcom produced and directed by Desi Arnaz, who also appeared in a couple of episodes.
Ballard remained friends with Lucy and Desi and lived in the Rancho Mirage home near Palm Springs once owned by them. Ballard purchased it in 1970, a decade after the celebrity couple divorced.
“Lucy would come over often and talk about Desi, who I don’t think she ever got over. She was a tough, strong woman, and not like her TV character at all.”
Ballard was 93 years old and friends and neighbors of Lucie Arnaz and her husband Larry Luckinbill.
-
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DESI ARNAZ JR. ~ January 19, 1953
-
RIP CAROL CHANNING
1921 – 2019
Carol Channing and Lucille Ball were both known for playing leading roles in Jerry Herman musicals: Channing in Hello Dolly and Lucy in Mame (1974).
Lucille came backstage to meet Carol Channing during her run as Dolly.
There was probably a time that Lucy flirted with the idea of playing Dolly on stage or screen, but the 1969 film version would go to Barbra Streisand and Channing would continue to revive the stage show through the years.
At the height of Carol Channing’s Broadway success with Hello Dolly Lucille Ball produced an episode of “The Lucy Show” in which Lucy Carmichael goes undercover as Carol Channing! It also starred Broadway star Jack Cassidy (She Loves Me).
Naturally, Lucy wears the red dress that is so associated with Channing’s Dolly.
And imitates Channing’s unique voice.
Ball even performs the show’s title song, with lyrics altered to fit the episode’s plot.
In July 1965, just before filming this episode, Lucille Ball and Carol Channing were both mystery guests on “What’s My Line?” They did not share the same stage.
Ginger Rogers (a friend and co-star of Ball’s) was also a mystery guest (sharing a chair with Channing) to announce that she was taking over the role of Dolly on Broadway from Carol.
In 1966, Desi Arnaz produced a sitcom pilot for Carol Channing where she delivered Lucille Ball-style comedy.
Although Lucy was not involved in the series, her “I Love Lucy” writers were.
Sadly, “The Carol Channing Show” was not picked up for series.
In 1967, Lucille Ball and Carol Channing were two of ten celebrity narrators of a documentary short titled “All About People” produced by the United Jewish Welfare Fund.
In 1985, Lucille Ball, Lucie Arnaz, and Carol Channing performed with 97 other celebrities in “Night of 100 Stars 2″ on ABC. The event was taped at Radio City Music Hall.
Friends! In 1987, Lucille Ball and Carol Channing came to a book signing to support their mutual friend Betty White.
Lucille Ball and Carol Channing finally came face to face on the same stage during Lucille Ball week on “Password Plus” in November 1988, just months before Lucille’s death. It would be Ball’s last game show appearance.
In 2000, Carol Channing journeyed to Jamestown to make a special appearance at Lucy-Desi Days in Lucy’s hometown.
In 2016, Lucie Arnaz performed at Channing’s 95th birthday party in Palm Springs, California, where Channing lived.
“More down to earth than any star I ever met, and I’ve met a few.” ~ Lucie Arnaz about Carol Channing
-
In 2016, Paste Magazine listed “I Love Lucy” as #8 Best Sitcom of all time!
-
political cartoon by Mike Luckovich, 2019
-
JAMESTOWN ~ The dramatic series follows the lives of three courageous performers who decide to leave their dark pasts behind in England for a new life in 17th-century America.
-
RIP Daryl Dragon of Captain & Tennille. He appeared with Lucille Ball on “Bob Hope’s All-Star Comedy Tribute To Vaudeville” in 1977. Captain & Tennille performed “Can’t Stop Danicin’”, “Circles”, and engaged with Bob Hope in some comic banter about vaudeville. Dragon shared no scenes with Lucille Ball.
-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Papermoon Loves Lucy 