This was my 2nd trip to the annual Loving Lucy Convention held in Burbank, California. It was also one of the shortest trips of my life. School started early this year so I totally missed out on Friday's events. I taught school then jumped on a plane to California. My first time being on a plane by myself was kind of scary, but with the Lord's help I made it.
I arrived around 11:30 that night, so no one was there to greet me. Everyone else was at the Opening Night Ceremonies. Finally around 12, Tammy came in. It was so great to see her, it had been a year since we had seen each other. I was so excited to see her, my fever blister burst! We caught up on things, then she told me that Breck and Eve were to meet us and hopefully get something to eat. It was 12 California time, but 2:00 my time! Finally Breck and Eve arrived, and it was so wonderful seeing them again, too. We had a snack in our hotel room and I was about to fall asleep from jet lag from being up all day. Eve told me that Glen and Mike were supposed to have been in the restaurant holding up a sign welcoming in, but I got there before anyone expected. (Let me tell you - if you have never been on a shuttle van ride from the LAX, it is one experience you would never forget!) But the thought was very sweet and almost made me cry. They also told me that for the Dinner Banquet, we were all going to be extras on stage during the show. Now THAT was exciting. Glen and Mike called right before bedtime and told me the good news. Glen and Mike are great guys and it was fun spending time with them again. You should hear them do Lucy impressions!
The next day Tammy and I got up very early to stand in line for the vending rooms while Glen stood with us. You have to know Glen - he waits until the last minute, and then searches for someone that he knows near the front of the line and stands by that person. He's a riot. I had my video camera so while we finally got in, Tammy tried to avoid me while I'm taping. There were news cameras there, and I kept trying to get in the way so they would interview me, but it never worked. After watching Tammy spend a lot of money, we then went on to the panel discussion. I could only buy very little since I had gone to Jamestown in May. Somehow we managed on the front row and sat by Mike and Glen. They divided the discussion into two segments. We saw Roz and Marilyn Borden, Bob Carroll, Jr., Madelyn Davis, Keith Thibodeaux, Doris Singleton, Bart Braverman, and many more.
After that Tammy and I went to lunch and she dropped a hot dog and it went rolling and rolling. It was hilarious. That took place right outside the vendor room. Breck and Eve joined us, too. Since rehearsals for the Dinner Show started at 2:00, I missed the auction. But Tammy got to go, and she got some pretty nice things.
Rehearsal was pretty interesting. Glen, Mike, Breck, and Eve and I got to change some of the set around and sit. We also had to change clothes for different scenes. The exciting part to me was watching everyone rehearse. I met Tab Hunter, and he was very down to earth and was not like that big movie star type. I stayed confused most of the day, which was nothing new. But it was fun anyway. Eve and I had the honor of eating dinner with Rhonda Richards (Ethel) and Roz and Marilyn Borden (Teensy and Weensy). They were VERY nice. Adrian Flowers, who played Ricky, was very nice, too. I got to discuss with him about a Spanish speaking child who is in my room this year. He gave me some really good advice on that subject. Right before the show started, Lucie Arnaz came backstage and was videotaping everybody. I introduced myself to her, and thanked her for the nice faxes that she had sent my class. I was nervous talking to her, so I'm not sure if she understood everything that I was trying to say! She was extremely nice. She's probably used to people acting like that. It was thrilling to see her and Suzanne LaRusch sing "By the Light of the Silvery Moon." Lucie was videotaping everyone backstage for her kids at home. The dinner show was called "All Redheads on Deck" and it was written by Tom Watson and directed by Patrick Zeigler. I loved it, and I especially loved being a part of it. That night in our room Tammy and I played the Lucy Trivia Game until we couldn't hold our eyes open.
Sunday morning started with more shopping. Then it was time for breakfast which was simply yummy. That day Eve wore her pretty Ethel dress. Glen found Tammy and me and jumped in line by us. Mary came for the breakfast, and it was great seeing her again, too. She didn't break in line though. After eating, we got to listen to different Lucy authors have a discussion. I was thrilled to finally meet Bart Andrews, who is such a nice man. This year I got to meet Gregg Oppenheimer, another nice person. We are all on the Lucy list together.
Next came the Lucy Trivia Contest. It started out Suzanne and Adrian acting out the scene from "The Quiz Show" with Freddie Fillmore. Then on with the questions. They had two different games, and I won the second one. It was one of the greatest moments of my life. Mike taped it for me, but he had the camera sideways! I won two ornaments, magnets, and the Lucy Magnetic Dress up set. Mike also took a picture of Larry Anderson, the host, and me. Thanks, MIKE! Larry Anderson called me cocky because I didn't need the multiple choice answers. Larry is one tall person. Stuart Stostak, who Lucy declared as her #1 fan, made out the questions for the contest.
The final event of the convention was the panel discussion with Lucie Arnaz, Carole Cooke, Eve Whitney, Frank Gourey, and Irma Kusely. Before that started we got to see different shots of Lucy while the song "Once Twice Three Times a Lady" was playing. Talk about a tear jerker! The discussion was awesome. There is no better word to describe it. Lucie said some very nice and touching things about her mother. Carole Cook is simpley hilariuos. I wish everyone would have gotten the chance to hear this last panel discussion. I have this really cool picture of Suzanne, Adrian, Keith, and Billy (from Dino, Desi, and Billy.) Lucie said something like, "you know it's weird to be talking about them (lucy and desi) and then look in the back of the room." Those four were sitting there watching. It was kind of eerie, but an awesome picture.
Terra and her boyfriend, Mike, came to the hotel to pick me up. It was so sweet of them to go out of their way to do this. They drove Tammy and me around Hollywood and LA. Our time was limited, and luckily I got to see a lot of Lucy sights from last year. First we went to the Forrest Lawn Cemetary. Words can not describe the feeling I had when I got to see Lucy's grave. I have often thought of how I would react to seeing it, but it's just so different in person. I was very teary eyed and emotional over it.
Next it was on to Hollywood. Of course, I had my picture taken on Lucy's star - this one was the movie star. I have another sitting on her television star. It was so much fun walking down the Walk Of Fame. Next we went to a great place to eat - Ed Devicics. We saw Shelley and her parents there.I'd advise anyone to go there. I also got to see the Knickerbocker Hotel where William Frawley once lived.
We went to Mann's Chinese Theater and Terra and I stood on John Wayne's block to get our picture taken. Yes, we checked to see if it was loose. I wanted to get my handprints in the cement, but I didn't know how I would get that home on the plane. I had my picture taken by Julie Andrews' handprints. It was so neat to see all of that, and stand where so many of those good old stars had stood.
It was getting late, so we headed back to the hotel. Tammy filmed Terra and me singing different ILL songs. We did this outside the hotel so if anyone saw us, I apologize, but BOY was it fun. I hated to say bye to Terra because I know it will be another year before I see her again. It will be a year for all of us. Thank goodness for email! I didn't want the weekend to end. I have great memories of Eve, Tammy, Mike, Mike, Glen, Cathy, Kathryn, and Charlie all sitting around chatting about Lucy in the restaurant at the hotel. It was particularly funny watching Glen chase down Adrian and the humorous story Eve told about someone like Glen. It's just so much fun sitting around in a group and talking about Lucy. Too bad the rest of the world is not like that. :)
UGH! I had to go to bed because my plane for the real world would be leaving at 7 am the next morning. I was so sad to have to say good bye to everyone, when it seemed like I just got there. The trip was fast and short, but oh so worth it. Tom Watson and his crew do an excellent job every year. I hope that my videotaping once again did not bother y'all too much but I want the folks back at home to see my great Lucy friends and experince my wonderful weekend with me. I'm so glad that Tammy and I got the chance to room together this year, she's so nice and a lot of fun. I'm already planning my vacation for July 2000!
Go to The Lucy Fan Club Homepage to find out more.
Also make sure that you visit Glen's Lucy Page to see pictures from the past Lucy conventions.
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