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Rest in Peace Dear Lucy........
We Remember You With Love!!!
August 6th 1911 - April 26th 1989
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The Determination of the Little Queen
by Amy S. Wiggin
Decades before she became a star on our television screen.
Little Lucille was looking for a way to follow her dreams.
Lucille was bored with her little town.
And the tiny queen was restless, wanted to add some jewels to her crown.
She thought that drama school was her ticket to become a star.
Sadly she didn’t get very far.
They said she couldn’t sing or dance.
Our Little Queen knew that there had to be a chance.
There had to be.
So the Little Queen went to the House of Carnegie.
Hattie was her name
and in the 1920’s the fashion world was her claim to fame.
Hattie was a mother hen who took all her employees under her wing.
The young girls modeled everything from bridal gowns, hats and faux pearl rings.
Lucille was the youngest of all of Hattie’s baby chicks.
Hattie knew she had potential, and she wanted her to learn all that she could and wanted her to learn quick.
If she was going to make it in Hollywood,
she had to learn all she could.
Her little chick could be the Queen of the pond.
Hattie wanted her to grow up to be a beautiful swan.
Along with criticism, Hattie also offered praise
Lucille was nervous, but she ascended the stage
On that afternoon day
Lucille felt severe pain, crashed to the floor and on the stage she lay.
For several days, she had a fever,
but the little Queen kept working.
She was a classic over achiever.
Hattie helped her off the floor, and into a cab.
Lucille was worried, about the bills, Hattie said not to worry that she would pay the tab.
As Lucille screamed in pain,
Hattie screamed at the doctors, hours and hours, the wait was insane
Hattie waited with her, guarded her chick in the nest.
As the doctors preformed test after test.
Back at the House of Carnegie, they all prayed.
Lucille’s diagnosis was RA.
It was said for life she would be in a wheelchair.
Hattie cried, she was a baby, it wasn’t fair.
She sent her back to Jamestown to convalesce.
The young Queen, Hattie’s swan was instructed to get some rest.
Hattie told her it would not be long.
She would walk again, the doctors could be wrong.
If the Little Queen would do as they say.
She would feel well enough to return to New York some day.
The daily injections and experimental medicine controlled her pain.
She was weak, but each day more and more strength she would gain
To Hattie, Lucille sent a wire,
To New York, she was coming back
Hattie knew she would easily tire.
Lucille nor Hattie, would be defeated,
Together they devised a plan where she could model and remained seated.
Lucille was the first model with a disability.
Later Hattie taught Lucille how to use her cane as a prop
Again she tackled the catwalk
At the closing of every show she was appointed the beautiful bride.
In her beautiful swan, Hattie felt happiness and incredible pride
Her talent and beauty the world was beginning to see
She asked her surrogate mother, if she took accept other assignments.
Hattie agreed as long as it didn’t take away from her clients.
Lucille tested early equipment for durable medical equipment companies.
The research helped her pay the remaining medical fees.
This medical testing and research she courageously endured, helped others in many ways.
Lucille continually supported the disabled cause for all her days.
She knew that she had other avenues to explore.
Hattie supported her decision to be a Chesterfield girl.
This was her ticket to the world.
The beautiful swan was now a Queen
And with her courage and motivation and a few roadblocks in between
to establish courage
The Queen soon realized her dream.
Long before she was Lucy…….She was a definite star.
She never gave up until she had her crown full of jewels.
As well as talent and beauty, courage, determination and motivation were Lucille’s most important tools.
Last Update: 7/12/05
Hattie Carnegie thought that a young Lucille resembled 1920's to 1940's actress
Joan Bennett which I believe she did as well,
Joan Bennett and her sister Constance were some of Hattie's most loyal of customers.
Therefore because of this and because of her resemblance to the sisters. Lucille was their mannequin when they visited Hattie Carnegie Inc.
Left: Young Lucille Ball Right: Actress Joan Bennett
Lucille's resemblance to Joan Bennett continued to help her when
she broke into the movies. Because she was often a stand-in for both Joan and Constance.
Reference: The Importance of Lucille Ball
Lucille's resemblance to Joan Bennett continued to help her when
she broke into the movies. Because she was often a stand-in for both Joan and Constance.
Reference: The Importance of Lucille Ball
by Adam Woog (page 33)
They were both Early Pioneer Businesswomen
Some of the similaries..... Hattie loved to work and lived to work, So did Lucy.
Hattie was a pioneer businesswoman so was Lucy.
Lucy was the oldest child. Hattie was the eldest daughter.
Hattie left school to support her family, so did Lucy.
Both Lucy and Hattie's fathers died when they were very young.
Lucy and Hattie grew up poor.
Lucy and Hattie were both task masters and perfectionists.
Lucy and Hattie both helped a lot of younger people, they believed showed promise to be somebody.
Lucy and Hattie both had a passion for games. Hattie created a special table with a light so she could play cards in the dark as she would turn off every other in her house, because she believed it helped her concentrate. She would also gamble till she won.
Lucy and Hattie were very kind and warm hearted to those they loved and gave a lot of gifts to friends, family and charities.
Both had a lot of success and respect in their chosen field.
Hattie was an immigrant from Austria who married an American
( John Zanft)
Lucy was an American who married a Cuban.
(We all know who he is. LOL!!!)
Lucy and Hattie were both very conservative and old fashioned in their way of thinking.
Lucy and Hattie were both self made millionaires
Hattie venturing out on her own opened up her first shop at age 23 (Used to work for Macy's Department Store.)
Lucy left for Hollywood around that same age.
(She used to work for Hattie.)
Lucy and Hattie both had a sense of family being important and turned their companies into a family business.
Both were very hardworking.
Both frowned upon prejudice and were very accepting of differences
Both faced prejudice as not only early business women but also because Hattie was Jewish and Austrian-American and Lucy was disabled and married a Cuban-American.
I just couldn't believe the similaries these two ladies shared and their are many others those are just the basics.
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Lucy NEVER considered herself, a glamour girl type, because she was a tomboy growing up Lucy mentioned more than once that Hattie was going to make her into a refined young lady if it killed them both in the process.
She never particularily liked modeling, but she loved Hattie, The beautiful clothes and developed close friendships with the other girls. She just didn't like being on display and wearing about forty outfits per day.
Red Stickers
Well one day, I don't really remember why but, all seven or eight girls were lined up. It was probably a fashion show or something I can't recall. Hattie was also always attempting to get the girls discovered as she was friends with a lot of New York and/or Hollywood big wigs of the time (As at the time she was one herself.)
Lucy decided she wanted to be noticed so she stuck these red dot stickers all over her face.
Hattie being so business like wanted to make sure they were all doing what she asked of them. So she walked down the line.
Lucy was the last one in line and Hattie walked past her and didn't say a thing.
Thinking she had gotten away with something breaking the code of glamour, She started laughing, as did the other girls.
Hattie turns around a few minutes later, and said,
"Lucille, Lucille (rolling her eyes.) "You didn't think I saw that...... Did you?" and started peeling the stickers one by one off of Lucy's face, while struggling the entire time not to laugh.
Full of Hell
Lucy was also nortorious for joking around during fittings. Hattie used to claim she accidently stuck her with a pin and promptly apoligized but Lucy believes she actually did it on purpose to get her to behave. Lucy was only like seventeen years old the baby of the group the other models were two or three years older than she was. So in a way, Lucy grew up in Hattie's shop.
Little Mermaid
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When Lucy was a teenager her and the other "Hattie Carnegie Models" were in a parade in New York. (Probably Macy's Parade.....lol) Seeing that Macy's provided Hattie with valuable training and her first job upon arriving in the United States from Austria when Hattie was just a teenager herself.
Lucy and the other girls were supposingly riding on a float.
It was a themed float. The girls were dressed as mermaids with the rhinestone covered gowns with designs that actually looked like fish scales. (Knowing Hattie they were probably amazingly detailed.)
Well it started to rain actually it turned into a downpour and when Lucy got back to the shop the dress and those scales were sticking to her skin literally.
She was certain that thanks to Hattie she would have to live her life as a mermaid.
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"Lucille, You are aggravating my ulcer!" - Hattie Carnegie
I would have loved to have gone back in time, been a fly on the wall just to see how the reacted to one another. I'm sure it was hysterical.
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It's NOT difficult to love a lady who was NOT ONLY a kindhearted mentor to our beloved Lucy, but somebody who also helped her when she was extremely sick. She also believed in the concept of the Americans with Disabilites Act long before it existed.
Getting Sick
Lucy was so concerned when she got sick, that she would lose her job, because she was having difficulty walking.
Ever since I found out that Hattie told Lucy,
"I'm holding your job for you, as soon as you are well enough to return to New York City you may have your job back. Don't worry about anything, we will work something out."
I have loved Hattie Carnegie ever since, and appreciated how she loved Lucy like her own.
Model Lucille
Whenever I see those old photographs of Lucy modeling Hattie Carnegie's fashions especially since she sat down in a majority of them or wore long dresses so she wouldn't be self conscience about her feet.....or she allowed her to lean against things As a disabled person this warmed my heart, that this lady was so accepting. I am sure Hattie along with Lucy is being rewarded in Heaven.
I also read that one of Hattie's favorite charities, like Lucy, she had many, but her favorite, was .......
"The Columbia University Medical School." and that little free clinic, near it. (Which we ALL know helped Lucy.)
Hattie's nephew also attended Columbia University, He was a year younger than Lucy. He just died last year. I found this out while researching Hattie.
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Surrogate Mother
When Lucy collapsed in severe pain from the rheumatoid arthritis.
Hattie not only rushed to her side, but she dropped everything and left a showroom full of customers. Hattie went with Lucy to the emergency room and/or doctor's because she was concerned about her friend.
Lucy regarding Hattie
I remember reading a few comments Lucy made regarding Hattie Carnegie.
She said she was screaming and crying in pain and fear all the way to the hospital. Hattie was holding her hand trying to keep her calm even though she was just as scared herself.
Hattie stayed with her through all her medical testing and the like. So Lucy wouldn't have to endure it alone because she was just a young teenager.
Hattie also paid for all of Lucy's medical expenses due to her sickness, the hospital room, the medication everything. She was so motherly toward Lucy.
Even though she wanted despartely to stay in New York City. She felt guilty taking any further charity from Hattie.
When she decided her only other option was to go back home to Jamestown. Hattie insisted on paying for her train ticket back to Jamestown.
Hattie promised Lucy when she was well enough to return to New York City. Her job would be waiting for her. That promise she kept.
Modifying her job to meet her special needs making Lucy the first disabled model and one of the first to be photographed sitting down in at least 90% of photographs. The rest leaning against something to help her stand.
Hattie and the other girls assisted Lucy because she had to change outfits quickly and because she was in a lot of pain.
She sometimes needed assistance.
Lucy also said, Once she was totally up on her feet again. Hattie taught her how to walk with grace again.
I just think Hattie Carnegie was such a kind hearted wonderful person.
Most people who worked for Hattie said she was a tough task master with a heart of gold.
I am sure she has earned her wings in Heaven.
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Here is what Lucy had to say about Hattie Carnegie.
This is my all time FAVORITE Lucy story, and the reason, I came to love and respect Hattie as well as Lucy.
"I couldn't be a failure at seventeen, so I stayed on as a model with Hattie Carnegie until tragedy struck.
I was working one afternoon, it was just after lunch, and there was this big show. Hattie's salon was packed. Everybody was there, including Joan Bennett, and I made my first entrance. I was in the middle of the floor, and all of a sudden it was like two hot pokers were stuck through my feet and right up my legs. Well down I went. Right in front of everybody. God, I've never felt pain like that in my entire life. All these high class dames, just stared at me as if I were crazy, all except for Hattie......
I was lying on the floor screaming and writhing in pain. Hattie came over and picked me up off the floor. She was a great lady. She let the show go on without her, and she went with me in a cab to see her doctor.
She tried to keep me calm, but I just screamed and cried all the way there.
I was told by Hattie's doctor that it was rheumatiod arthritis, and that I was going to have to spend the next few months in bed.
I was devastated, I wanted to stay in New York, but I hadn't any money. Hattie paid all my medical bills and transportation back home to Jamestown."
Per "Lucy in the Afternoon"
Upon her return to New York, this is what Lucy had to say about Hattie Carnegie.
Even though, I Still had pain, as soon as I could move again, I headed right back to that railroad station and New York City.
The first day back in New York was on of the coldest days I've ever exprienced in my life, I was wearing four layers of clothes, and I could not keep out the chill my legs were still really killing me.
Hattie was as good as her word, and she gave me my job back.
When I finally could walk again, Hattie taught me how to dress, how to stand and how to walk with grace again. I won't ever forget her kindness.
"Lucy in the Afternoon"
Lucy on leaving for Hollywood.
I wanted to be a "Goldwyn Girl" but I told them I couldn't give them an answer right away, but I would call them with my decision.
I went right to my surrogate mother, Hattie Carnegie, who told me,
"Lucille, Honey, when opportunity knock's, you must open that door."
In the Summer of 1932, she traded the hot streets of New York for the unbelievably hot desert in California.
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Lucy speaking about one of her first roles in Hollywood.....
"I got a job in "Roberta" with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
I walked down a staircase in a fashion show wearing a white satin dress and a white ostrich feather cape.
I remembered how Hattie had taught me how to walk and turn. It worked, I stood out and was offered a contract with RKO."
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Hattie always wanted the girls to see the world. In this case the United States Capital.
Lucy and the other girls took part in a special fashion show in Washington, D.C.
After the show, she took some of the girls around for some sightseeing At least Lucy, to meet some of the V.I.P.'s of Congress, The President etc.
Some of the girls weren't the least bit impressed, but Lucy was considering she had NOT been too far out of Jamestown when she was younger. Hattie being an Austrian Immigrant who officially became a United States citizen on her own accord, after a few years of living here. Hattie loved just about everything about her adopted country and wanted to share her patriotism.
Hattie also loved the fact that Lucy enjoyed travelling as much as she herself did.
Lucy and Hattie went on a lot of little trips together. Hattie grew up poor as did Lucy and both were determined from a young age to be somebody important.
Dream is a wish your heart makes
They acheived their dreams, going to the top of their chosen fields
Lucy as we now was "The Queen of Comedy" and "First Lady of Television"
Hattie Carnegie as "The Queen of The Fashion World."
Hattie sensed this same drive to succeed in Lucy that she herself had at the same age while working at Macy's Department Store and just helped her along the way. Not only by being a second mother to her, but making an effort to introduce her to
"Very Important, Very Successful People."
Goldwyn is Calling
When the chance was offered to Lucy to leave New York City to be a Goldwyn Girl, She knew she would have to get Hattie's blessing to go.
Hattie knew she would be losing one of her best models and would miss a dear friend that she loved like a daughter, She told her,
"Lucille, When opportunity knocks honey, You must open the door." That was a Wednesday afternoon in the Summer of 1932.
She knew in her heart that she wanted to be a star, Lucy was very scared of the unknown, because she had just regained her ability to walk not long before, she was extremely worried about the dancing involved in her new career, but Hattie encouraged her with a little tough love to go out to Hollywood.
That following weekend, The two ladies said their tearful goodbyes.
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Hattie Carnegie Model to
Chesterfield Cigarette Girl
One of young Lucille's earliest modeling photographs
Hattie Carnegie Salon-1928
Lucille was just seventeen
Picture is featured in
The Complete Picture History of the Most Popular Television Show Ever
I Love Lucy
by Michael Mc Clay-Page 5
Also featured in
The Importance of Lucille Ball
by Adam Woog-Page 28
They needed a beautiful model, and when the Chesterfield Cigarette company saw that famous ad that Lucy did for Hattie Carnegie Inc.
That photograph of Lucy with the hat was actually from a Hattie Carnegie ad when she modeled for her.
Sketch Artist
Hattie hired a sketch artist, to draw the girls in various hats, dresses, jewelry etc to be sent to customers upon placing an order from her shop.
Hattie explained in her Life Magazine Interview,
She used to include pictures or sketches of the various models wearing what the customer ordered......Along with a swatch of material if it was a dress, so the customer could see the color.
Hence the picture of young Lucille was sent to many of Hattie Carnegie's customers. Hattie also chose Lucy to do mostly print work for her and that meant magazines and advertisements.
Most went national as Hattie Carnegie was
THE TOP DESIGNER OF THE 1920'S. She was very famous back then. Hattie used to be a household name at one time.
The Hattie Carnegie print ads and her famous sketch she had had drawn of Lucy caught the attention of the Chesterfield Cigarette company, and they contacted Hattie.
Hattie being the intelligent lady she was "Thank you very much. LOL" They asked her what model she recommended. She stated, "Lucille Ball"
The Chesterfield Ads lead to her being discovered by Agent Sylvia Hablo while she was walking down the street in New York City. As luck would have it, Sylvia worked for Sam Goldwyn.
Sylvia recognized Lucille as the Chesterfield Cigarette Girl and informed her their was an opening for a chorus girl as the other girl who was selected was pulled out of the lineup by her mother and there was no time to test she had to leave for Hollywood this Saturday.
No Exceptions.
She asked Hattie's permission if she could break contract to work for Goldwyn.
Hattie Carnegie and her husband Major John Zanft were personal friends of Goldwyn, So Hattie happily gave her blessing telling her young prodigy
"Lucille Honey, When opportunity knocks, you must answer that door."- Hattie Carnegie-1932
Hattie Carnegie had a major hand in not only mentoring Lucy but helping get her discovered, she was always proud of her.
Stating in an interview.
"Lucille was my Pride and Joy."
That is why in many things you read about Hattie Carnegie It states she discovered Lucille Ball.
Even though it wasn't offical. In a way, She did because she opened doors for her. The rest is history.
Hattie really was an IMPORTANT part of Lucille Ball's career.
I respect Hattie for so many reasons, Especially for helping Lucy.
I take great pride in wearing clothes with Hattie Carnegie labels.
The 1931 sketch that led to Lucille being selected as The Chesterfield Girl
1931-Picture is featured in
The Complete Picture History of the Most Popular Television Show Ever
by Michael McClay-Page 6
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This is from the website of a lady named Carol who I correspond with on occasion.
She and her husband both have rheumatiod arthritis and she put this tribute to Lucille Ball on her site, she mentioned Hattie Carnegie so therefore, I thought I would add it to the Hattie-Carnegie.com
I didn't think she would mind.
Lucille Ball is revered as the queen of comedy. She left a legacy of film from "I Love Lucy" shows and other work that live on long past her death in 1989. Her body of work supplements our memories of "Lucy" as an actress, comedienne, and clown. The characters she played were often portrayed with vigorous physical comedy, and required endurance, timing, and energy. With this realization, a little known fact about Lucy becomes somewhat unbelievable. As a teenager, Lucille Ball was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.
As a 17 year old girl possessing aspirations of becoming an actress, Lucille Ball went to New York City with the intention of making her dreams come true. She was not an overnight success, and struggled through theater school, working as a chorus line girl, and as a model. When she began working for Hattie Carnegie's internationally famous dress shop as a model her luck improved. She was then in a world of rich society women and glamorous movie stars.
On one particular day while standing on a dais for a fitting at Hattie's dress shop, Lucy felt excruciating pain in both her legs, as if they were on fire. This incident was preceded by several days with a bout of pneumonia and fever. Hattie sent Lucy around the corner to her doctor. The doctor advised Lucy that the pains were arthritic, possibly rheumatoid arthritis.
He described rheumatoid arthritis as an incurable disease which becomes progressively more crippling until the sufferer ends up in a wheelchair, and instructed Lucy to go to a hospital immediately. The doctor gave her the address of an orthopedic clinic near Columbia University.
Lucy sat for three hours at the clinic, awaiting her turn. By the time she was seen by the clinic doctor Lucy was crying and half fainting from the intense pain.
After examining her, the clinic doctor shook his head, and asked her permission to try a new, radical treatment described by Lucy as "some kind of horse serum".
She agreed to the treatment, willing to do anything for some relief. Lucy stayed in her room and the doctor came and gave her the injections for several weeks, until her money ran out.
Her legs were not better and she decided her only option was to return to her parents home in Jamestown, New York.
At this point Lucy described herself as "discouraged, but not terribly frightened".
At her parents home, Lucy was lectured by her grandfather on taking better care of herself. Her mother devoted her evenings to massaging her legs and cheering her up.
Months passed by, and Lucy was still in such pain that she described the time that passed as a blur. The horse serum injections were continued. It was a highly experimental treatment, last ditch effort and Lucy considered herself a guinea pig.
Gradually the pain subsided and finally one day with the support of her fgrandather and doctor, Lucy stood up, feeling wobbly and unsteady. Her left leg was now somewhat shorter than her right leg and it pulled sideways. To correct this she began wearing a 20 pound weight in one of her black orthopedic shoes. She continued to convalesce at home. Though Lucy had residual pain she was able to take a part offered her with the Jamestown Players, and she later returned to New York City in search of her dreams.
REFERENCE: "Love, Lucy" by Lucille Ball
-Lucille Ball and her Courageous Battle with Rheumatoid Arthritis
When Lucille Ball was just 17 years old. She had collapsed in severe pain while she was working for fashion designer Hattie Carnegie.
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