Gary Morton's Widow Auctioning Lucy Memorabilia - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 07-07-2010, 01:13 AM

Lucille Ball memorabilia from the Estate of Gary Morton – including love letters, Rolls Royce, awards and artwork – at auction in Beverly Hills

Link

BEVERLY HILLS, CA -- Fans of the late great Lucille Ball are about to get an exceedingly rare chance to acquire many of the personal effects and mementos of the legendary comedienne – including love letters from Lucy to her second husband, Gary Morton, Lucy’s Rolls Royce, her personal address book and a trio of her favorite backgammon boards – as a trove of Lucy-related material readies for Heritage Auction Galleries Beverly Hills’ July 17 Signature® Music & Entertainment Memorabilia Auction.

This remarkable and likely once in a lifetime offering comes to Heritage via Susie Morton, who married Gary Morton in 1996, seven years after Lucy passed away in 1989. Susie Morton is perhaps better known as Susie McAllister, as she was known during her days as a professional golfer on the LPGA Tour.

“Susie has lived with these relics of Lucy and Gary’s life for more than 10 years,” said Doug Norwine, Director of Music & Entertainment Auctions at Heritage. “She did it out of respect for her late husband and out of respect for Lucy’s amazing legacy. Now she’s ready to part with these treasures as she remodels her house to make it completely her own.”

Lucille Ball, one of the greatest comedic talents of the 20th Century, and the star of television’s I Love Lucy, among her numerous stage and screen credits, was a notoriously private woman, and one who never let the broader public past her Hollywood persona and who treasured discretion above all else concerning her friends and family.

Now, for the first time, Lucy’s private side is being revealed in this amazing archive, especially as evidenced by the various groupings of correspondence between her and Morton that span the 28 years of their devoted marriage. The love letters are especially poignant, consisting of eight different items, including a pretty Valentine's Day card, and a three-page handwritten letter on Hudson-Rissman Decorative Accessories stationery, which the star has signed boldly in blue ink, "Lucy." This letter is quite touching – Lucy had forgotten that morning to wish Gary a Happy Birthday.

"... I love you,” she wrote, “and I know I must have hurt you so much this morning - Please forgive me..."

Lucy and Gary’s 1984 Silver Spur Rolls Royce marks one of the most interesting lots in the grouping and will give one fan an up-close-and-personal relationship with this stylish sedan owned and used by Lucy and Gary in the last years of their happy life together. The car features a white finish with tan vinyl hard top, boasts a powerful V8 engine and the innovative self-leveling suspension that made the model famous. It has vanity plates reading "GARY M” and, perhaps most stunningly, the odometer shows a mere 21,260 miles.

Anyone who knew Lucy well knew of her deep and abiding passion for the game of backgammon – she was known to be a world class player, to have a board in every room, and one by the pool – which she played on a daily basis, without fail. Included in this auction are three portable backgammon boards from Lucy’s personal collection, which will give collectors a chance to ponder the same points on one of three boards that the legendary redhead herself used to consider as she schooled her various opponents.

Also of note, among so many notable lots, is Lucy’s Personal Address Book dating to the mid-1960s. Its contents include addresses and phone numbers for dozens of celebrities of the time, among them Jack Benny, Edgar Bergen, Milton Berle, Dean Martin, Ethel Merman, Edward G. Robinson and many more, as well as her perennial TV co-stars Vivian Vance and Gale Gordon and her former husband, Desi Arnaz, complete with much annotation, some of it in Lucy's own handwriting.

Lucy was the recipient of numerous awards and honors during her prolific life, and several of these are up for auction as part of this collection, including her Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year Award from 1988, her TV Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award from 1984 and her 1984 Vision Award from the Center for the Partially Sighted in Los Angeles.

Lucy and Gary were also avid art collectors, and devoted a great amount of passion to the paintings in their home. Besides the quality of the artwork, the couple were frequently photographed in front of their favorites and, where applicable, those photographs come with the work itself. Among the highlights are L'Opera, Paris by Regis (Count) de Bouvier de Cachard, pictured in the auction catalog cover, The Joker (1965) by Albert Locca, one of Lucy’s favorite pieces, and New York Traffic by Meinsdorff.

“This barely begins to touch the surface of how deep this archive goes,” said Norwine. “We have a huge selection of artwork, dishware, silverware, perfume bottles and various trinkets that came straight from Lucy. The things in this grouping are literally the things Lucy lived with every day during the last portion of her life.”

Heritage Auctions, founded by Steve Ivy and Jim Halperin, is the world’s third largest auction house, with annual sales more than $600 million, and 500,000+ registered online bidder members. For more information about Heritage Auctions, and to join and gain access to a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HA.com.

Want to get the up-to-the-minute updates and breaking news stories about Heritage Auctions? Get them as they happen at: Twitter.com/HeritagePress; Twitter.com/JimHalperin; Facebook: Heritage Auction Galleries. To view a compete archive of Heritage press releases go to: HA.com/PR. To link to this press release on your blog or Website: HA.com/PR-1862.

Zoneboy · 07-07-2010, 01:14 AM

The source also contains links for the items mentioned in the article along with the opening bids. I think it will be interesting to see what some of these will go for.

Marvo301 · 07-07-2010, 01:22 AM

Some of the items in the auction seem very personal and I think Mrs. Morton should have given them to Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. rather than auctioning them off.

Zoneboy · 07-07-2010, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

Some of the items in the auction seem very personal and I think Mrs. Morton should have given them to Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. rather than auctioning them off.

Agreed.

TV Knowledge Fan · 07-07-2010, 03:20 AM

"...with all this junk cluttering up the house?", Susie McAllister Morton probably thought to herself. "I loved Gary and I certainly loved Lucy, too, but I have to go on with my life. And seeing all the reminders of Gary around here isn't helping me any with what I want to do with this place. The sooner I get rid of them, the better!".

old grouch · 07-07-2010, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

Some of the items in the auction seem very personal and I think Mrs. Morton should have given them to Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. rather than auctioning them off.

Why didn't Gary will them to Lucie and Desi in the first place instead of Susie? Makes more sense to me.

Hughsgirl · 07-07-2010, 03:11 PM

I also think the kids should have gotten these items of Lucy's. And I'm sorry i don't believe for a minute that this "marriage" of Lucy and Gary's was that special....Desi IMO was always the love of her life despite the divorce!

JamesG · 07-15-2010, 06:40 PM

Ball's Daughter Threatens Legal Action Over Auction
July 15, 2010

The daughter of legendary U.S. funnywoman Lucille Ball is threatening to take legal action over an upcoming auction of her late mother's personal items because it "insults her memory".

The widow of Ball's second husband, Susie Morton, is planning to sell off items including love letters, a Rolls Royce and trophies from the star's acting career this weekend (17-18Jul10).

Lucie Arnaz Luckinbill, who was left the belongings in her mum's will when the comic died in 1989, is trying to halt the auction in Los Angeles, insisting she'll take legal action if it continues as planned.

Luckinbill's lawyer Ronald J. Palmieri says, "To demean their true nature, and prostitute their value in monetary terms, is insulting to Ms Ball's memory and contravenes her express desire that these items were to belong to her daughter after her death."

But Morton is adamant she has a right to sell the goods on Saturday, claiming Luckinbill failed to collect them following Ball's passing.

-IMDB News

Mr. Television · 07-15-2010, 07:14 PM

I don't know why Lucie didn't collect them but if they were left to her in Lucy's will then it's hers.

Hughsgirl · 08-14-2010, 07:01 PM

Yeah and HOW does this woman thinks she has the right to sell anything of Lyucy's? That pisses me off! No one but Lucy's kids have the right to her personal belongings especially love letters! I would go as far as saying that fans have no right to it either being that it was so personal and despite Lucy's fame she still had her right to privacy! I'm so glad I never pursued any acting like I wanted to as a kid, people just have no soul when it comes to respecting a person's privacy.

07-07-2010, 01:13 AM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,392	Gary Morton's Widow Auctioning Lucy Memorabilia Lucille Ball memorabilia from the Estate of Gary Morton – including love letters, Rolls Royce, awards and artwork – at auction in Beverly Hills Link BEVERLY HILLS, CA -- Fans of the late great Lucille Ball are about to get an exceedingly rare chance to acquire many of the personal effects and mementos of the legendary comedienne – including love letters from Lucy to her second husband, Gary Morton, Lucy’s Rolls Royce, her personal address book and a trio of her favorite backgammon boards – as a trove of Lucy-related material readies for Heritage Auction Galleries Beverly Hills’ July 17 Signature® Music & Entertainment Memorabilia Auction. This remarkable and likely once in a lifetime offering comes to Heritage via Susie Morton, who married Gary Morton in 1996, seven years after Lucy passed away in 1989. Susie Morton is perhaps better known as Susie McAllister, as she was known during her days as a professional golfer on the LPGA Tour. “Susie has lived with these relics of Lucy and Gary’s life for more than 10 years,” said Doug Norwine, Director of Music & Entertainment Auctions at Heritage. “She did it out of respect for her late husband and out of respect for Lucy’s amazing legacy. Now she’s ready to part with these treasures as she remodels her house to make it completely her own.” Lucille Ball, one of the greatest comedic talents of the 20th Century, and the star of television’s I Love Lucy, among her numerous stage and screen credits, was a notoriously private woman, and one who never let the broader public past her Hollywood persona and who treasured discretion above all else concerning her friends and family. Now, for the first time, Lucy’s private side is being revealed in this amazing archive, especially as evidenced by the various groupings of correspondence between her and Morton that span the 28 years of their devoted marriage. The love letters are especially poignant, consisting of eight different items, including a pretty Valentine's Day card, and a three-page handwritten letter on Hudson-Rissman Decorative Accessories stationery, which the star has signed boldly in blue ink, "Lucy." This letter is quite touching – Lucy had forgotten that morning to wish Gary a Happy Birthday. "... I love you,” she wrote, “and I know I must have hurt you so much this morning - Please forgive me..." Lucy and Gary’s 1984 Silver Spur Rolls Royce marks one of the most interesting lots in the grouping and will give one fan an up-close-and-personal relationship with this stylish sedan owned and used by Lucy and Gary in the last years of their happy life together. The car features a white finish with tan vinyl hard top, boasts a powerful V8 engine and the innovative self-leveling suspension that made the model famous. It has vanity plates reading "GARY M” and, perhaps most stunningly, the odometer shows a mere 21,260 miles. Anyone who knew Lucy well knew of her deep and abiding passion for the game of backgammon – she was known to be a world class player, to have a board in every room, and one by the pool – which she played on a daily basis, without fail. Included in this auction are three portable backgammon boards from Lucy’s personal collection, which will give collectors a chance to ponder the same points on one of three boards that the legendary redhead herself used to consider as she schooled her various opponents. Also of note, among so many notable lots, is Lucy’s Personal Address Book dating to the mid-1960s. Its contents include addresses and phone numbers for dozens of celebrities of the time, among them Jack Benny, Edgar Bergen, Milton Berle, Dean Martin, Ethel Merman, Edward G. Robinson and many more, as well as her perennial TV co-stars Vivian Vance and Gale Gordon and her former husband, Desi Arnaz, complete with much annotation, some of it in Lucy's own handwriting. Lucy was the recipient of numerous awards and honors during her prolific life, and several of these are up for auction as part of this collection, including her Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year Award from 1988, her TV Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award from 1984 and her 1984 Vision Award from the Center for the Partially Sighted in Los Angeles. Lucy and Gary were also avid art collectors, and devoted a great amount of passion to the paintings in their home. Besides the quality of the artwork, the couple were frequently photographed in front of their favorites and, where applicable, those photographs come with the work itself. Among the highlights are L'Opera, Paris by Regis (Count) de Bouvier de Cachard, pictured in the auction catalog cover, The Joker (1965) by Albert Locca, one of Lucy’s favorite pieces, and New York Traffic by Meinsdorff. “This barely begins to touch the surface of how deep this archive goes,” said Norwine. “We have a huge selection of artwork, dishware, silverware, perfume bottles and various trinkets that came straight from Lucy. The things in this grouping are literally the things Lucy lived with every day during the last portion of her life.” Heritage Auctions, founded by Steve Ivy and Jim Halperin, is the world’s third largest auction house, with annual sales more than $600 million, and 500,000+ registered online bidder members. For more information about Heritage Auctions, and to join and gain access to a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HA.com. Want to get the up-to-the-minute updates and breaking news stories about Heritage Auctions? Get them as they happen at: Twitter.com/HeritagePress; Twitter.com/JimHalperin; Facebook: Heritage Auction Galleries. To view a compete archive of Heritage press releases go to: HA.com/PR. To link to this press release on your blog or Website: HA.com/PR-1862.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

07-07-2010, 01:22 AM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	Some of the items in the auction seem very personal and I think Mrs. Morton should have given them to Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. rather than auctioning them off.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

07-07-2010, 03:20 AM	#5
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	"Well, what am I going to do..." "...with all this junk cluttering up the house?", Susie McAllister Morton probably thought to herself. "I loved Gary and I certainly loved Lucy, too, but I have to go on with my life. And seeing all the reminders of Gary around here isn't helping me any with what I want to do with this place. The sooner I get rid of them, the better!".

07-15-2010, 07:14 PM	#9
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	I don't know why Lucie didn't collect them but if they were left to her in Lucy's will then it's hers.
	__________________ Sonny

07-07-2010, 01:14 AM	#2
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,392	The source also contains links for the items mentioned in the article along with the opening bids. I think it will be interesting to see what some of these will go for.

07-07-2010, 03:11 PM	#7
Hughsgirl Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 22, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 804	I also think the kids should have gotten these items of Lucy's. And I'm sorry i don't believe for a minute that this "marriage" of Lucy and Gary's was that special....Desi IMO was always the love of her life despite the divorce!

07-15-2010, 06:40 PM	#8
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,136	Ball's Daughter Threatens Legal Action Over Auction July 15, 2010 The daughter of legendary U.S. funnywoman Lucille Ball is threatening to take legal action over an upcoming auction of her late mother's personal items because it "insults her memory". The widow of Ball's second husband, Susie Morton, is planning to sell off items including love letters, a Rolls Royce and trophies from the star's acting career this weekend (17-18Jul10). Lucie Arnaz Luckinbill, who was left the belongings in her mum's will when the comic died in 1989, is trying to halt the auction in Los Angeles, insisting she'll take legal action if it continues as planned. Luckinbill's lawyer Ronald J. Palmieri says, "To demean their true nature, and prostitute their value in monetary terms, is insulting to Ms Ball's memory and contravenes her express desire that these items were to belong to her daughter after her death." But Morton is adamant she has a right to sell the goods on Saturday, claiming Luckinbill failed to collect them following Ball's passing. -IMDB News

08-14-2010, 07:01 PM	#10
Hughsgirl Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 22, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 804	Yeah and HOW does this woman thinks she has the right to sell anything of Lyucy's? That pisses me off! No one but Lucy's kids have the right to her personal belongings especially love letters! I would go as far as saying that fans have no right to it either being that it was so personal and despite Lucy's fame she still had her right to privacy! I'm so glad I never pursued any acting like I wanted to as a kid, people just have no soul when it comes to respecting a person's privacy.