November, 2005 | Hollywood Yesterday

As I said in a couple of posts back, I’m reading “I Loved Lucy,” by a great writer named Lee Tannen. He and his partner, Tom, knew Lucille Ball very well during the last decade of her life.

I’m at a section of the book where they were invited to her hotel suite for a game of backgammon with everyone’s favorite redhead.

Tom and Lee, through business, had had dealings with Leona Helmsley, and of course didn’t think much of her. Lucy, however, wasn’t even aware that the queen of mean shared her universe. When she did hear from her, she was less than impressed.

From the book:

” ‘All right, Lucy, you’re up,’ I said and Lucy sat down in Tom’s place. Now I was in the box, playing against Lucy and Tom. This time Lucy set up the board completely backward but Tom and I didn’t say anything, just quickly reset it when Lucy got up to answer the phone.

‘Yes,’ Lucy said in a bass octave dead-on unintentional imitation of Harvey Fierstein. ‘Thank you very much, yes, I am very glad to be back east,’ she continued, winking at us, who were conspicuously staring at her. ‘Everything is wonderful, just perfect, thank you.’ Lucy continued, impatiently wanting to get back to the game, ‘Tell me, dear, what’s your name?’ Pause. ‘Leona.’ Pause. ‘Leona what?’

I started wildly flailing in my seat. ‘Oh, Helmsley!’ Lucy deadpanned, making one of those contorted gestures with her mouth that Lucy Ricardo used to make when she was caught doing something naughty. Then Lucy saved the day by bursting out laughing and telling Leona that of course she knew it was she all the time. Lucy thanked Leona for calling and Tom and I applauded, while Lucy graciously took a bow.

‘Good God, what a bore,’ Lucy said. ‘Let’s play backgammon!’ ”

I Loved Lucy is a MUST read for all fans of Lucille Ball. It’s one of my favorite books I’ve ever read – filled with laughs and obvious love and respect.

For the famous “Candy Making” episode (Job Switching), the stage manager of I Love Lucy, Herb Browar, hired a real candy maker for a few scenes. Her name was Amanda Milligan and she, unintentionally, provided the laugh-makers with a few laughs. Below are two stories about this character – the first one is by Browar, the second is by Jess Oppenheimer (Producer and head writer).

“I remembered seeing a See’s Candy factory somewhere nearby on Santa Monica Boulevard. It was on the second floor of a building. I dropped by and spoke to the manager, telling him I wanted to hire the best candy maker he had. He introduced me to this lady whose name was Amanda Milligan. She was the best as far as the swirls on top of each chocolate were concerned. A real pro. I made arrangements to get her into the Screen Extras Guild simply because no one already in the union had her particular expertise. Now, remember, all this woman did all day long was put swirls on chocolates. Eight hours a day, for years. So, it’s the second day of rehearsals and I notice her sitting by the Lucy set watching the principals rehearse the first scenes. I go up to her and say, ‘Well, what do you think about being in the movies?’ She looked at me wearily and said, ‘I’ve never been so bored in my life!” – Herb Browar

“Lucy was introduced to the woman on the stage and asked if she liked the show. The woman answered, ‘What show?’ Lucy replied, ‘I Love Lucy.’ Then the dipper asked, ‘When is it on?’ and Lucy answered, ‘Monday Night.’ ‘Oh,’ said the woman, ‘I watch wrestling that night.’ ” – Jess Oppenheimer

Priceless, I’d have given half my material possessions to have ever met Lucy and here’s someone who stood before the queen of comedy and made her take a back seat to wrestling!