Vivian Vance

Vivian Vance

Born: Vivian Roberta Jones on July 26, 1909

Died: August 17, 1979 (70 years old)

We all love Lucy. Naturally, talented and hilarious, and humble. What is not to love about Lucy? We also love the neighbors, Fred and Ethel Mertz. Who have lighted up our lives for many years and who happen to be America's favorite neighbors. What surprises the world, is that America's favorite team, was the teams least favorite people. Meaning? Vivian Vance and William Frawley hated each other. I always wondered, is "Hate" too strong a word for the way they felt about each other? The fact remain, that William Frawley was okay with making another series, a spin-off and it would have been their own show. The Mertzs show. But Vivian Vance said no and  that was that. Although both went their own ways, they will always be remembered as the Mertzs. 

Vivian Vance became a star through her home town. Appearing in plays, she was a great singer, but an even more fantastic actress. She appeared onstage in Albuquerque, New Mexico. While William Frawley was a stage man too, the both never crossed paths. But then again, she was onstage as a singer and actress, he was in vaudeville. She was married a few times, and also suffered from depression. A disease most common in America. But she persevered and became a well known TV actress. She was married to a man most people would recognize at a drop off a hat. His name was Philip Ober. You might know him from such classics as From Here To Eternity and also a little scene from Hitchcock's classic, North by Northwest. The scene in which Cary Grant is in the United Nations Building, and the man he is talking to all of a sudden has a knife thrown into his back? You know that scene... That's Philip Ober. In From Here To Eternity, he is Burt Lancaster's boss. 

But though he was someone what appeared in such classics, he was awfully jealous when Vivian Vance became a huge success in I Love Lucy. He began beating her, and would often stalk her. I know that sounds so odd, a husband stalking his wife. But he would literally sit in the audience and laugh loudly while Vivian was working. Some say he loved the sound of his own voice. And would watch the episodes and knew when he was laughing. Though, nobody else knew either. Lucille Ball was aware of his abuse and one day told Vivian Vance "if you don't divorce that man, I will." She eventually did, and was better for it. I can't imagine anyone hating Vivian Vance, or William Frawley for that matter. But I guess that happens.

She died of cancer. Breast and bone cancer. While sick, even though at the beginning of I Love Lucy, she did not love Lucy at first and even said "if this show takes off, I'll learn to love that bitch." But while she was sick, Lucille Ball went to visit Vivian in  her home. They laughed and talked and reminisce on old times. That was a great day for both women. And a deserved time.

I hope you enjoyed reading about Vivian Vance. I enjoyed writing it. I enjoy her very much and enjoy her comedic side. 

From Here to Eternity

From Here to Eternity
Released Date: October 15, 1953
Director: Fred Zinnemann
Actors: Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr, Donna Reed, Frank Sinatra, Philip Ober, Mickey Shaughnessy, Harry Bellaver, Ernest Borgnine, and Jack Warden

     There are a lot of movies on the attack of Pearl Harbor. Some are big movies, some are documentaries but all are fantastic. Such an incredible story and such bravery from our Military Men. You couldn't have a more perfect cast. During this movie Burt Lancaster, who was a tad older than Montgomery Clift, was nervous while shooting because he was such a huge fan of Clift. Frank Sinatra was fantastic as well. Montgomery Clift was going through stuff, and was drinking on the set. He is known to have had kept a bottle with him at all times and would stick pills in the bottle. He had a very dangerous addiction, one that cost him his life. You know it was great because the movie was the tenth highest grossing film in the 1950s. The movie grossed $18 Million dollars. If you have not seen this movie, I'd  highly recommend you do so.

     It is 1941, on the beach of Hawaii. Pearl Harbor, the military base. Robert E. Lee Prewitt (Montgomery Clift) was a boxer in his early days. But because of an accident during one of his fights, he no longer wants to box. He is in the Army, a true American. Sgt. Milton Warden (Burt Lancaster) takes Prewitt under his wings and watches out for him. The boys take on love, Prewitt with Lorene (Donna Reed) and Sgt. Warden with the Captain's wife, Karen Holmes (Deborah Kerr). This affair has one of the biggest known scenes in hollywood history, the beach scene with Deborah Kerr and Burt Lancaster. It is a beautiful scene. They are taking a chance on love, but they can't help themselves. Meanwhile, Angelo Maggio (Frank Sinatra), a friend of Prewitt's, is drinking heavily and even going A-Wall. So much is happening during the days before the attack. But every scene makes you wish you were on the beach of Hawaii. The movie shows a love between army men. It is such a beautiful film, so please see it, put it on your bucket list!

     Oh, and one more cool piece of  information, the Captain, Philip Ober, was married to I Love Lucy's Ethel. Thought that was very interesting.