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Archives for November 2005

Lucy and Leona Helmsley (From I Loved Lucy)

November 20, 2005 By Joi

Lucille Ball

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.

 

Filed Under: Lucille Ball Tagged With: Lucille Ball, Old Hollywood Biographies

Lucy and Ethel: The Legendary Candy-Making Scene

November 3, 2005 By Joi

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!


Filed Under: Classic Television Moments, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball

Welcome to Hollywood Yesterday!

Ann Sheridan, It All Came True

Ann Sheridan
My name is Joi (“Joy”) and I created Hollywood Yesterday as my personal tribute to Old Hollywood. It’s my effort to help keep the stars from Old Hollywood, Classic Television, and Old Radio Shows alive and shining forever. Old Hollywood was positively magical and I see no reason for the magic to ever die.

Be warned, I am (by nature) overtly positive, I never take anything too seriously, I say extraordinary so often you’d think I invented the word, and I overuse exclamation points to distraction. I’m perpetually over-caffeinated.. we’ll blame that.

Read more about Hollywood Yesterday (and see my personal favorites) here!

Old Hollywood Actresses

Lena Horne, Meet Me in Las Vegas

See the Old Hollywood Actresses page for the index of Classic Hollywood Actresses and Classic TV Actresses.

Old Hollywood Actors

Henry Fonda, Behind the Scenes The Grapes of Wrath

See the Old Hollywood Actors page for the index of Old Hollywood and Classic TV actors.

Old Hollywood Book Reviews

Ann Dvorak: Hollywood's Forgotten Rebel by Christina Rice

I love reading old Hollywood biographies and memoirs as much as I love watching classic movies, and that’s truly saying something!

To see my Old Hollywood book reviews, please see the index listed here: Book Reviews.

Pictures of the Day

Maureen O'Hara, The Parent Trap

Maureen O’Hara

The Old Hollywood & Classic TV Pictures of the Day are published as regularly as possible. If I miss a few days, please just know that the husband, daughters, sons-in-law, grandbabies, and/or my cats were demanding my attention. I’ll be honest, nothing comes before any of them! Not even Maureen O’Hara or Henry Fonda.

Priorities, y’all.

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Thank You for Visiting!

Paulette Goddard and Charlie Chaplin, Modern Times
Thank you so much for visiting Hollywood Yesterday! You truly HONOR me with your presence. ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Olivia de Havilland

Olivia de Havilland, The Adventures of Robin Hood

My main goal with Hollywood Yesterday is to keep the names, faces, and films of the stars that mean so much to me shining brightly. When I’m guilty of focusing more time on my personal favorites (such as Olivia de Havilland) than other stars, I hope you’ll forgive me. I am, by all indications, very human!

Also, please know that I try to keep my posts (except for book reviews) short and to the point, so you can enjoy the pictures, grab the information, and get back to your life. I don’t appreciate anything that’s overly wordy, so I don’t want to do that to others. For better or worse, I write as I talk, so if you ever feel like you’re reading the words of someone who’s a cross between Lucy Ricardo, Daisy Duck, and a Jerry Lewis character, that’s just because you are!

Wait. What did I just admit to?? 

Barbara Stanwyck Quotes

Another personal absolute favorite of mine is Barbara Stanwyck. Not only was she beautiful and outrageously talented, she was exceptionally bright, charismatic, and colorful. This growing collection of Barbara Stanwyck Quotes will give you an idea of just how colorful she was!

Old Hollywood Movies

Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire Top Hat Cheek to Cheek

There’s nothing quite like watching a movie from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Whether it’s a Musical, Western, Comedy, Romance, Film Noir, or Drama – if it’s on, I’m not too far away… with popcorn and raspberry tea in hand and a couple of cats nearby.

Below are a few Old Hollywood movie reviews I’ve done on the blog. There are, as you’d imagine, a lot more to come. – Joi (“Joy”)

We’re in the Money (Joan Blondell, Glenda Farrell)

The Naked Spur (James Stewart, Janet Leigh)

The Prince and the Showgirl (Marilyn Monroe, Laurence Olivier)

The White Sister (Helen Hayes, Clark Gable)

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Howard Keel, Jane Powell, Russ Tamblyn, Julie Newmar)

Rio Bravo (John Wayne, Dean Martin, Angie Dickinson, Ricky Nelson, Walter Brennan)

El Dorado (John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, James Caan, Charlene Holt, Michele Carey)

Rio Grande (John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara)

Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein (What is it With Me and These Movies??)

The Stooge (Jerry Lewis’ favorite Lewis and Martin Movie… for good reason.)

Critic’s Choice (Hilarious movie starring Bob Hope and Lucille Ball)

To Please a Lady (Clark Gable and Barbara Stanwyck team up in a fast track movie)

Grand Hotel (Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore)

Hearts Divided (Marion Davies, Dick Powell)

The Quiet Man (John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Barry Fitzgerald)

More Old Hollywood Movie Reviews

Classic Hollywood Books & Biographies (Reviews)

Maureen O'Hara's Autobiography 'Tis Herself

‘Tis Herself by Maureen O’Hara
I Know Where I'm Going (Katharine Hepburn Biography) and Princess

I Know Where I’m Going: Katharine Hepburn

 

Debbie Reynolds Unsinkable
Unsinkable: A Memoir by Debbie Reynolds

 

Ginger Rogers Autobiography - Ginger: My Story

Ginger by Ginger Rogers
Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball

Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball
Vitagraph by Andrew A. Erish
Vitagraph by Andrew A. Erish
More Old Hollywood Book Reviews!

Dorothy Dandridge

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Getting to Know the Gorgeous and Talented Dorothy Dandridge

My Lucy Obsession

Lucille Ball

Find out just how much I (truly) Love Lucy in the Lucille Ball category. I’m warning you, I call it an obsession for a very good reason…

Legalities…

Aside from pictures of books I review, I do not claim to have taken any of the pictures on this website, nor do I own the pictures – the ones of the stars or the affiliate (product) pictures.  Other, far more talented photographers than me have the credit for the beautiful photos you see. If you would like credit for a photograph or would like one removed, please e-mail me (joitsigers@gmail.com).

Movie posters and promotional photos are used in the belief that they qualify for the Fair Use law. Fair use is a doctrine in the law of the United States that permits limited use of copyrighted material without having to first acquire permission from the copyright holder. Fair use is one of the limitations to copyright intended to balance the interests of copyright holders with the public interest in the wider distribution and use of creative works by allowing as a defense to copyright infringement claims certain limited uses that might otherwise be considered infringement.

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