Q. Hi, Lucie,
I just found this website and am glad to find it. Curiously, what was it like to work with Neil Diamond? A few years ago, I won front row seats to his concert here in Texas. It was absolutely wonderful, seeing him that close. I met him backstage and he was a cordial guy.
Lori
LUCIE: You have pegged Neil just right. He is a "cordial guy" and "up close" he's even better. Great sense of humor, self deprecating and childlike, a terrific knowledge of music, and a respect for the success that he has earned. I did love being around him and he treated me like a queen.
Q.
Hi, Lucie,
Congratulations on your performances in Witches of Eastwick. I wish I could have seen it.
I was wondering, have you ever considered going back to television? Like doing a TV show drama (I think you would be great ina dramatic program like E.R. for example) or even a talk show like Donny and Marie, only with you and Desi Jr. I think you could really get creative with that and at the same time promote quality programming since you and your brother are both very wholesome performances and seem like you could do anything you set your mind to.
I certainly admire all your courage because it is often very hard for some celebrity's kids to surpass the shadows of their parents' glory and become something great of their own. You have certainly overcome and then some. I hope you get to read this. Thank you for your time and I know you are busy, you are certainly gracious and we, your fans, are very grateful.
Your fan and admirer, Jen Blackburn.
LUCIE: Thanks for the congrats on Witches. It was a wonderful experience and I will remember my 15 months in London with great pride.
I would LOVE to find a running part on a show like ER or West Wing, or any "intelligent" drama/comedy. That has always been my favorite type of script. As for a talk show -- there's a lot of "talk" about that. I am flattered by what you said about Desi and me doing a show together, but I doubt we'll end up doing that. Desi and I have different agendas about what we would like to "talk" about, but your comments have buoyed me tremendously. Thanks!
Q. Lucie,
Well first off this is sooo cool how you take time to answer questions like this. I love your website! I am 16 and I have a fairly good relationship with my mother But sometimes I am like "oh my gosh, just leave me alone" or "what is her problem?!!!" Did you ever feel like that? Basically, did you ever have the typical teenager vs parent agruments? And did you find it harder because they were in the spotlight? I have always wondered.
~Jolynn
LUCIE: From 12 to 32!! Seriously. That's what mothers and daughters do. I do it with my teenaged daughter, and she will do it with hers (if she's lucky enough to have one). The difference is we (my daughter and me) try hard to not scream at each other. We don't always succeed, but we try. It was difficult for my mother who knew very little of my day to day routine, being as she worked such long hours and wasn't home often. So when she'd try to figure out what was happening with me, she'd be confused and sort of out of her element, and that tended to make her nervous and uncomfortable and in turn, angry. It was just her fear that she was doing the wrong thing.
If you realize that your mom is only doing what her motherly instincts tell her is the right thing to do, to keep you safe and to love you the way you need her to -- whether you know it or not! Be patient with each other, and try not to take it all too seriously at the time.
Q. Hi, Lucie!!
Do you have a son named Thad Luckinbill and is he an actor on the soap opera "The Young and the Restless"? If he is, you must be thrilled. He is an attractive guy and I predict a wonderful future for him as an actor.
Best wishes, Ellen Rhudy
LUCIE: No. I have a Simon and a Joe, and 2 stepsons Nick and Ben Luckinbill. No Thad and no actors -- all artists, musicians and film makers...so far. Sorry. I wonder if he might be related somehow to my
husband's family?
Q
Dear Lucie;
My 85 year old father is in a nursing home, confined to a bed. His health is failing and, though our family visits him daily, he is often sad, lonely and depressed. Today during a visit, we watched two back-to-back episodes of I Love Lucy in which Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel drive the new Pontiac to California -- classics! My father smiled, giggled and laughed heartily -- for the first time in a year. I thought as I watched those four magical characters, what an incredible gift we've all been given.
Clare Markie
LUCIE: Thanks for that. It's not the first story I've heard like that, and I know it's one of the reasons I Love Lucy has survived for half a century. It makes you feel better to watch it. I hope your dad has many,
many re-runs ahead of him.
Q. Lucie,
I just wanted to let you know that recently our 8 year old daughter Kayla has become a HUGE fan of I Love LUCY!!! It just happened out of the blue! I happened to have rented a video of Vitameatavegemin and invited her to watch it with us. She laughed and laughed and laughed. She had never seen anything like it before. She is now on a mission to see every single episode (she has her own episode guide!)
It is so wonderful- the legacy that your parents left behind. Who would have guessed that nearly 50 years after the "beginning", Lucy would still be entertaining the young generation. I am very thankful that our children can have something wholesome to enjoy on television- thanks to your family.
Take care. Julie Nielson
LUCIE: Gosh! Another great I Love Lucy story! We are producing a 50th anniversary celebration special to air on CBS in the fall. I wish I could include you (and all the others like you with stories like these that help to
explain the longevity of this program) on the special. Thanks for your comments. My mother used to say, "We've babysat for three generations!" It's probably 4 by now!
Q. Lucie,
My friend and I are practically fanatical about the "Here's Lucy" shows, from the first episode when you lose your voice to the last. Lately, there have been many specials about your parents that it's mind-boggling. The Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie was a welcome account to your parents' lives, because we knew it was coming from a reliable source. But the impression all of the documentaries give is that your mother was a real workhorse, especially after her divorce to your father. My question to you is, how was it working with your mother during the "Kim Cuts You-Know-Who's Apron Strings." episode, your own pilot. Was her presence a hindrance or a blessing? Was your first venture into 'leading lady' a difficult transition? I can only imagine the pressure on you for branching out, and the additional anxiety of your mother being the head of the studio as well. We watched that episode recently, and just wondered.
Thanks,
Peter
LUCIE: It's hard for me to remember exactly what the working conditions were like during that, other than great fun and full of hopeful anticipation. My mother was a terrific fan of mine. I say that not in an egocentric way, but to say that she loved what I could do, and enjoyed watching me work. I made her laugh and she used to say things like, "God, I don't know how you do it!"
She was always very supportive of me around the set. She let the director do the directing on that episode, and made only the most minute comment about wardrobe or casting as I recall. She was very upset that the network did not pick the show up -- much more than I was, I think. I don't think we were very good. It was "pushed" comedy and I was not upset when we moved on. But thank you for your observations, and for being such interested fans of our shows.
Q. Dear Ms. Arnaz,
I am a big fan of yours. I was ASTOUNDED by your performance in the musical "The Witches of Eastwick." I have several questions regarding the production: When they played you the song "Another Night At Darryl's" how did you react? It has been such a long time since we have had a great theatre song like that, and your delivery of it is excellent. How do they get you "off stage" after your flying at the end of Act One? And, please let me know your impressions of Rosemary Ashe. She is such a wonderful performer, and it would be nice to know she is a wonderful person, as well.
Thank you for your time, I hope you come over with "Eastwick" when it takes Broadway by storm. and thank you for everything you have given to your fans!
Be well, Ryan
LUCIE: I'm so pleased that you enjoyed my work in Witches. It was a tremendous challenge doing that show and I learned a lot.
I thought "Another Night at Darryl's" was one of the best songs I'd heard in ages. I chose the part based on it, and agree that it's one of those "can't lose" moments in the show. We've all been addicted to a person we maybe shouldn't have been, and this song "speaks" to so many people, but with sexy humor.
Rosie Ashe is a phenomenon. She is a powerhouse of talent, of humor, of sarcastic wit. She makes a mean martini, and she was one of the nicest "perks" of being in the show for a year. She is continuing on with the show, by the way. Long Live Rosie Ashe!
Q. Hi, Lucie!
I wrote to you once before; that was back when I didn't know that The Witches of Eastwick even existed.....silly me. Anyway, I saw clips from some of the musical numbers on the WOE website, and I think you're wonderful in them, and you are surrounded by a great cast! The stamina and effort you put into your work really shows in your performances. So, I want to know, how do you like working and living in London? Are you separated from your family right now? I'm really sorry if you are, that must be tough. Anyway, thank you for taking the time to read my letter! Keep up the great work!
~Mel
LUCIE: Most of my family was with me during my remarkable London experience. My eldest son, Simon, is college age now, and he visited when he could. But my younger two were in London with us, and went to school there. They loved the London life-style, the easy transportation, the clubs, the parks, etc.
I worked so hard that I saw less of London and it's surrounds than I would have liked. My one day off a week didn't afford me quite enough recharge time to go touring about and get enough rest to start all over again with the 8 performances a week.
I did find some favorite restaurants and some lovely museums and cathedrals. I picnicked in all the parks, toured Buckingham Palace and did all the usual things one must do if one is in the UK for any great length of time. The people embraced me, and in turn, I feel as though I have a second home to return to, whenever I can. Having said that, I must tell you that I was always quite homesick for America, and was so happy to return after my run in Witches ended on June 30th!
Q.
Hello, Lucie!
This is Mark Easley in Texas. Being a public school teacher, I was wondering who your favorite school teacher was and why?
Thanks, Mark.
LUCIE: Hey there Mark! How are you? Glad you found the website. My favorite teacher? That's a toughie.
I had great teachers at Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles. I adored Eloise Klein, my English
teachers because she talked to us like we were women, and she had an hysterical sense of humor. She was
also a very talented poet in her own right. I sensed I was in the presence of real talent.
I was also fortunate to have studied Art with a lady who still teaches there (and doesn't look a day older!) named
Janet Weber. She taught us a lot of the Sister Corita style of artwork, Ben Shawn printing, silk
screening, stick and pen drawing. She taught me to appreciate abstract art, and to incorporate shapes
around me into my writing. I still have some of the portfolios we put together for that class, and I am
very proud of my work. She also had a great way of communicating with young women, she never talked down
to kids. She expected a lot, and there we performed to her expectations.
Another favorite teacher was Sister Doule' (later Sister Suzanne), head of our drama department. She was a joy.
She loved theatre, had a loving and fun-making way about her, and she really was a fantastic theatre director and
coach. She inspired me and launched my theatre career while I was at theschool, and has never been replaced in
my opinion.
Then there was Ruth Anne Murray (formerly Sister Charles) who failed me in Biology (rightly so) and went on
to become one of my mentors and life long friends. She's tough and weirdly funny and was passionate about
IHHS, and every student there.
All these women gave me a foundation I will never forget. I can't choose a best. They were all gifts.
Q. Lucie,
I know you once filmed a movie in British Columbia but I was wondering if you have been to Canada on any other occasions? I was also wondering the same about your parents and brother.
Thanks, Brock.
LUCIE: : I have been to Canada on many other occasions. With the musicals Seesaw (1974), My One and Only (1985), my nightclub act (1989) and on several promotional trips. It's a lovely country, and I have always enjoyed my stays there. I cannot speak for my parents, but I'm sure Desi has been. He's worked everywhere!
Q. Dear Lucie,
I hope all is going well in London. The Witches of Eastwick is a wonderful musical and you were brilliant in it.
1. It's so wonderful that you and your husband have been married for more than twenty years. How did you meet and how did he propose to you?
2. I remember you mentioning on the "Late, Late Show with Tom Snyder" that you took pictures on the set of the Jazz Singer. Are you an avid photographer? If so, what are some of your favorite photos that you have taken?
Thanks for answering my questions. Best Wishes, Amy
LUCIE: Thanks! I'm glad you liked my performance in Witches, and enjoyed the show. Larry Luckinbill and I met at Joe Allen's restaurant in New York City on September 10, 1979. We were both living there and appearing in two different Neil Simon shows at the time. Larry proposed to me on New Year's Eve 1979 after a Woody Allen party, and we were married on June 22, 1980.
I used to be into photography much more than I am today. Having kids stole quite a bit of my time! I have hundreds of favorite photos and I intend to put a book together someday. First I have to be famous enough for anyone to care about Lucie's photographs!
Lucie Arnaz
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