•The Archive•

Joanne’s Little Black Vaudeville Scrapbook (2022)

“Joanne’s Little Black Vaudeville Scrapbook”, a time capsule documenting Pepito & Joanne Perez’s stage career, 1928 to 1942. Contains candid and studio photographs, accompanied by extensive annotations.

How Lucille Ball Went From B-Movie Queen to Comedy Superstar (2021)

The surprising true story of how TV’s funniest woman got that way — and why you won’t see it in “Being the Ricardos.” By Mark Peikert, December 20, 2021. Lucille Ball wasn’t a natural comic genius. Her true brilliance lay in recognizing that fact, and surrounding herself with people who made her look like one. “I’m…

Papermoon Loves Lucy … and Pepito

This Tumblr post by papermoonloveslucy is a condensed biography of Pepito Perez’s life. Source:  https://www.tumblr.com/papermoonloveslucy/643273167843016704/pepito-pérez

Papermoon Loves Lucy: The “I Love Lucy” Pilot

Papermoonloveslucy’s Tumblr page about the Lost Pilot of “I Love Lucy” is a delight. Source:  https://papermoonloveslucy.tumblr.com/tagged/Pilot

The Cello Museum: Pepito and a Cello Helped Launch One of the Most Popular TV Shows of All Time (2020)

Without this “loaded” cello, the most popular TV show of all time might never have existed. It was 1951 and due to prejudice in America at the time, it had taken 10 years for Lucille Ball to get a chance to co-star with her Cuban-American husband, Desi Arnaz. CBS gave them only one month to…

VIDEO: Lucille Ball Biographer Kathleen Brady Explains Pepito’s Involvement In How “I Love Lucy” Came to Be (2019)

From the “Great Lives” lecture series at Mary Washington University, watch author Kathleen Brady recount the life and career of Lucille Ball, and how the television series “I Love Lucy” was created in 1951. For details on about Pepito’s involvement in the production of the audition (pilot) episode, scroll the video to minute 35:00. The…

Pepito & Joanne Story Treatment Registration With the Writers Guild of America (2014)

Excited to say that I have registered my Pepito & Joanne story treatment with the Writer’s Guild.  It feels good to have finally reached that milestone after researching since 2003.  But of course I will continue re-writing and revising and re-registering, because I am still researching and collecting more info about the lives of these…

Escobar Cousins Reunion (2013)

by Marivi Escobar Santo Tomas, Grand-niece of Pepito, the Spanish Clown (Jose Escobar Perez) What a pity Pepito and Joanne aren’t here anymore.  So long I have talked to Joanne for years and never could I comment anything of all this appearing in the newspapers. I had only her narratives from the past.  She was…

“Little Ricky’s School Pageant” 1956 Signed Cast Photo from Lucy and Desi to Pepito and Joanne (2013)

I Love Lucy” cast signed photograph of the “Enchanted Forest” school recital featured within “I Love Lucy” Episode 163 “Little Ricky’s School Pageant” (Season 6, Episode 10), Desilu, 1956. Sold by Heritage Auctions in 2013 for $6,600.00. This photo hung on the wall of Joanne’s dance studio from 1956 until her estate was liquidated after…

Pocharte: Pepito the Clown & Joanne the Dancer (2012)

August 19, 2012 Sandra “Pocha” Pena blogged on her “Pocharte” WordPress blog about her 2004 personal interviews with Joanne Perez. “Joanne was a dancer who fell in love with a Spanish clown her mother was dating.  This was way back in the 1920’s so the clown, Pepito, called upon his pal Charlie Chaplin to have…

Pepito, Joanne, and Daniger’s Tea Room at the Santora Building in Santa Ana, California (2012)

July 7, 2012 On Saturday, July 7th, the Santora Arts Building celebrated 84 years with a 1920’s-inspired themed celebration which kicked off a month-long celebration highlighting the history of the building from 1928 to the present.  Showcased was a dazzling array of fine art, music, cars, film, and fashions of a bygone era, as well as a tour of…

Clifford Combes, Muriel Combes, and Pepito the Spanish Clown (2011)

January 1, 2011 To write the biography of Pepito and Joanne, I have organized their personal archive of photos and newspaper clippings; and researched all the available historical newspaper databases on the internet.   One of the missing pieces is Pepito’s scrapbook of his entire vaudeville career, which sat in Pepito & Joanne’s Santa Ana parlor…

The Secrets of Pepito’s Lost Clown Car (2010)

November 8, 2010 In 1927, Pepito the Spanish Clown purchased a one-of-a-kind miniature car to use in his vaudeville act.  He also used this unique theatrical automobile on the city streets everywhere he traveled, as a rolling advertisement for his upcoming appearances.  In 1928, the California license plate number was 1-681-904, and would have been…

Chaplin Film Clip Sparks Time Travel Controversy (2010)

Thursday, October 28, 2010 Pepito met Joanne in 1928 when they both were hired separately to perform in the live pre-show “Ballyhoo” before each showing of Charlie Chaplin’s “The Circus” at Grauman’s Chinese Theater.  Pepito Meets Joanne:  Their Matchmaker Was Charlie Chaplin (1928) VIDEO: “The Ballyhoo” of Charlie Chaplin’s “The Circus” (1928) Pepito the Spanish Clown…

Orange County Register: Were You A Dance Student of Joanne Perez? (2010)

Tuesday, October 19, 2010 Were you a dance student of Joanne Perez?     OCRegister.com Joanne and Pepito Perez ran a dance studio in Orange County that they opened in 1941 when their days on the road as performers ended. Memorabilia collector Melani Carty attended the dance school in the 1970s (when she was Melani Motzkus.) Carty…

Orange County Register: Can You Solve These 5 Mysteries About Pepito and Joanne Perez (2010)

Tuesday, October 19, 2010 Melani Carty is looking for the answer to these Nancy Drew-inspired research questions about Pepito and Joanne Perez, former vaudevillians who ran a dance studio … 1.  The Secret of the Missing Clown Car In 1927, Pepito purchased a one-of-a-kind 1925 Monroe Pezel roadster.  The Monroe Body Works in Michigan was the original…

Orange County Register: Pepito, Joanne and Nancy Drew (2010)

Monday, October 18, 2010 Ex-Student Unlocks Mystery of Couple’s Past. The old house fascinated the girl long after her dancing days there ended. The majestic Victorian – a mansion it seemed – stood on the corner of Ross and 15th streets in Santa Ana. It was there, in the 1970s, that young Melani Motzkus studied…

Huffington Post: Pepito the Clown Mentioned in Article About Van Zandt & Milman’s script for “I Love Lucy, The Very First Show” (2010)

Thursday, September 23, 2010 They’ll Take Manhattan: Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore’s cyber-comedy “You’ve Got Hate Mail” opens lengthy run at NYC’s Triad Theatre (Scroll down to the pertinent paragraph in red). Star Trek: The Motion Picture, the 1979 movie, was ground breaking for many reasons. It was, for instance, the first movie created…

VIDEO: Pepito and Joanne Portrayed on Living History Tour at Santa Ana’s Fairhaven Cemetery (2010)

Saturday, October 23, 2010 The annual guided historical tour of Fairhaven Memorial Park and Santa Ana Cemetery features costumed actors portraying historic figures who share stories from Orange County, California’s past.  This unique “living history tour” is the recipient of a prestigious California State Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation, and is a joint presentation of…

Thanking the People Behind the Scenes at PepitoAndJoanne.com (2009)

Saturday, December 19, 2009 The end of the year is time for reflection.  PepitoAndJoanne.com is now 15 months old.  Looking back, I have many new friends, and many people to thank, for providing me with the all the stories, anecdotes and clues that are coming together to form the timeline of  Pepito & Joanne’s fascinating…

Michael Brannan’s SmugMug Site About Pepito The Spanish Clown (2009)

Saturday, December 12, 2009 A wonderful photo website about Pepito the Spanish Clown (Pepito Perez, or Jose Escobar Perez), has been created by my online friend Michael Brannan.  Michael was one of the people fortunate to purchase Perez estate items on Ebay in 2008.  Michael is dedicated to preserving the history of early show business,…

The Mystery of Pepito’s Missing Scrapbook (2009)

Thursday, May 28, 2009 After the death of Joanne Perez, her entire estate was liquidated, and the proceeds benefitted Biola University in Southern California.  One of the items that was sold was Pepito’s scrapbook.  The current whereabouts of this fabulous scrapbook are unknown.  It is my hope that the current owner will contact me, and consider…

Helena Escobar, Pepito’s Great-Grand-Niece, Is An Award-Winning Spanish Clown Named “La Bleda” (2009)

Monday, May 25, 2009 In honor of the Escobar families in Spain and France, this text is presented first in Spanish, then French, with the English translation below. En honor de la familia Escobar en España y Francia, este texto se presenta primero en español y, a continuación, Francés, Inglés con la traducción a continuación.…

Roger Schutt and Pepito’s Trick Violin (2008)

Thursday, December 25, 2008 by Melani Carty This is the story of a magical Christmas present given to me by a very kind person I have never met:  Mr. Roger Schutt.  It all began last autumn, when a number of Pepito-related items were being sold on eBay.  One of the eBay lots contained a number…

Raymond Escobar, Pepito’s Great-Nephew (2008)

Saturday, December 20, 2008 by Melani Carty Thanks to the wonders of the internet, Pepito’s great-nephew, Raymond Escobar, has found this website and become a good penpal.   Raymond Escobar is the son of Ramon Escobar and the grandson of Rafael Escobar Perez (Pepito’s brother!) Raymond emailed me the most wonderful treasure:  the earliest known photo…

Television Obscurities Website: “I Love Lucy” Unaired Pilot Episode (2008)

Saturday, December 20, 2008 In March of 1951, a 34-minute pilot episode for a proposed I Love Lucy series was filmed in an attempt to sell the series to CBS and potential sponsors. It worked, but the pilot itself was never broadcast. Instead, its storyline was worked into an episode that was shown on November 19th, 1951…

VIDEO: Samaroff & Sonia, Pepito the Spanish Clown & Ron Pesch (2008)

Friday, December 5, 2008 by Melani Carty This was a first for me:  the first time my blog has been blogged upon by another blogger!  “An e-mail arrived the other day from Melani Carty with a subject line that immediately caught my attention. It said, “Samaroff and Sonia & Pepito the Clown.”  I knew instantly…

Biola University Newsletter: New Cutting Edge Media Production Center Puts Biola on the Top (2008)

Thursday, November 13, 2008 After more than $2.2 million worth of renovation, Biola’s ambitious Media Production Center is ready for lights, cameras and plenty of action. The center — a state-of-the-art home away from home for students in the University’s film and journalism programs — is currently in the process of being outfitted with cutting-edge…

Biola University Newsletter: Studio B [Where the Perez Estate Money Was Spent] (2008)

Monday, June 23, 2008 Full scale construction is underway on Biola University, Studio B, Cinema & Media Arts and Journalism, and will be complete for Fall ’08 classes. The rough shape of the exterior is clearly visible now, and drywall has been installed in the interior. The new Equipment Checkout Room will be ready for…

EverythingLucy: Pepito’s World’s Smallest Bicycle in Lucy-Desi Museum (2007)

Saturday, June 23, 2007 Pepito’s World’s Smallest Bicycle, six inches wide by ten inches high, manufactured by Anderson, Melbourne, Australia, 1928, was at one time entered into “Ripley’s Believe It or Not.”  Pepito and Joanne were in Australia in 1928 for an extended vaudeville tour, and he must have ordered this bicycle at that time. …

City of Santa Ana: Restored Pepito & Joanne House Wins Preservation Award (2007)

Monday, January 1, 2007 Historic Preservation Award Winners Congratulations to the 2007 Outstanding Historic Preservation Award Winners!  The first winner is Fermin Valencia for Restoration of the Pepito and Joanne’s Dance Studio. Pepito and Joanne were long-time friends of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, and were in fact “co-conspirators” in getting the first episode of…

EverythingLucy: “I Love Lucy” Frog Costume Donated to The Lucy-Desi Center (2006)

Friday, December 15, 2006 As reported by the Lucille Ball – Desi Arnaz Center in Jamestown, NY, the frog costume worn by William Frawley in the I Love Lucy episode,”Little Ricky’s School Pageant” has been donated to the center by Bill and Mary Rapaport of East Amherst, New York. Fifty years ago this Sunday, on December 17,…

EverythingLucy: Pepito’s “I Love Lucy” Episode 52 Costumes Donated to Lucy-Desi Center (2006)

Monday, March 13, 2006 Two costumes worn in the classic I Love Lucy television series have been donated to the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center in Lucille Ball’s hometown, Jamestown, New York. Both costumes, a 13-piece clown outfit and a lion tamer ensemble complete with safari hat and bullwhip, were worn by Pepito Perez, a long-time…

LucyFan: Lucy Cello in Jamestown, New York (2005)

Monday, November 7, 2005 The “loaded cello” used by Lucille Ball in the pilot episode of I Love Lucy, has found a new home — at the Lucy-Desi Museum in Jamestown, New York (see photo above). The instrument, originally owned and redesigned by performer “Pepito” (Jose Escobar Perez), was purchased on the Museum’s behalf by…

Biola University Newsletter: Perez House Sells (2005)

Saturday, October 1, 2005 The Perez House, home of the late Joanne and Pepito Perez, has been sold, along with a much of the memorabilia. In 2004, Joanne Perez left her entire estate to Biola University, specifically the Mass Comm department.  The Perez’s spent their lives in the entertainment industry and Joanne wanted her estate…

San Gabriel Valley Tribune: Pepito’s Comedic Legacy, Clown’s “Lucy” Archive At Auction (2005)

Saturday, July 23, 2005 By Ben Baeder, Staff Writer, San Gabriel Valley Tribune LA MIRADA — Tucked in a tiny back room in the basement of the Biola University library is a very strange collection.  It includes two bicycles, a tiny one and a huge one.  Sitting on a metal cabinet is a clown puppet…

“The New Book of Lists”: Joanne Perez Mentioned in List of 9 Valuable Artworks Found Unexpectedly (2005)

Saturday, January 1, 2005 Joanne is mentioned on page 117 of The New Book of Lists, published in 2005, under the category of “9 Valuable Artworks Found Unexpectedly.”   4.  Under A Bed Joanne Perez, the widow of vaudeville performer Pepito the Spanish Clown, discovered the only existing copy of the pilot for the TV series I Love…

“Organizing from the Right Side of the Brain”: Joanne Perez Mentioned in Bestselling Book (2004)

Thursday, January 1, 2004 From page 204: “Joanne Perez, the wife of vaudeville performer Pepito the Spanish Clown, cleaned out underneath her bed and discovered the only existing copy of the pilot for the TV series I Love Lucy.  Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball had given it to Pepito as a gift.  He guest starred on…

VIDEO: Pepito the Spanish Clown Reenactor at Fairhaven Cemetery (2003)

Sunday, June 1, 2003 This is a wonderful video clip from the Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society’s 2003 Fairhaven Cemetery historical tour.  Volunteer actors re-enacted the highlights of the lives of some of the famous people interred there, including Pepito Perez (real name Jose Escobar Perez), known in vaudeville and on I Love Lucy as…

The Lost “I Love Lucy” Pilot Released On DVD (2002)

Tuesday, July 2, 2002 DVD Review of The Lost Pilot of I Love Lucy, from DigitallyObsessed.com In one of those happy accidents that doesn’t happen often enough, the self-financed pilot that Lucy and Desi produced to sell CBS on the idea resurfaced after 40 years, thanks to Joanne Perez, wife of famed Spanish clown Pepito…

City of Santa Ana Register of Historical Properties: Ford House / Pepito & Joanne’s Dance Studio (2001)

Monday, October 29, 2001 NAME:  Ford House/Pepito and Joanne’s Dance Studio ADDRESS:  1502 North Ross Street, Santa Ana, CA 92706 YEAR BUILT:  1892/Moved 1924. LOCAL REGISTER CATEGORY:  Key HISTORIC DISTRICT:  N/A NEIGHBORHOOD:  Willard NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION:  B, C NATIONAL REGISTER STATUS CODE:  5S1 ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: Queen Anne (Late Victorian) DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND RELATED TO PERIOD ARCHITECTURE: The Queen Anne (Late Victorian) (also known as…

“Lucille: The Life of Lucille Ball” by Kathleen Brady, Mentions Pepito and the Cello (2001)

Monday, January 1, 2001 “… and Pepito, a celebrated Spanish clown who was a fishing buddy of Desi. Part of Pepito’s act involved a cello and a row of horns set up like a xylophone, and he taught Lucille his routine over the course of two weeks with the … ” Source:

Orange County Register: Ballet Teacher Still Going Strong at 91 (1999)

Joanne, surrounded by students in the late 1990s. Although she was reliant on a wheelchair, she continued to teach dance classes.

Laughs, Luck…and Lucy: How I Came To Create the Most Popular Sitcom of All Time, by Jess Oppenheimer and Gregg Oppenheimer (1999)

Friday, January 1, 1999 Excerpt: “Bob and Madelyn wrote some sketches for Lucy and Desi’s act, which was billed as “Desi Arnaz and Band with Lucille Ball.” Desi got his old fishing buddy, the internationally famous clown “Pepito,” to come up with some clown routines for Lucy to do.  Pepito also built a Rube Goldberg-type cello for Lucy, equipped with all sorts of…

Daily Gazette: CBS Video Issues Original Pilot For “I Love Lucy” On VHS (1994)

Sunday, June 26, 1994 Lovers of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz will not want to miss an outstanding new video: the historic, unnamed pilot show that loosely served as the basis for their legendary comedy series “I Love Lucy.” The tape, a CBS Video release, features narration by Lucie Arnaz, Ball and Arnaz’ daughter, as well…

Eye On Santa Ana: Pepito and Joanne, Dancing With the Hollywood Stars (1994)

Wednesday, June 1, 1994 by Catherine C. Cate  (This article originally appeared in the Summer 1994 issue of “Eye on Santa Ana.”) Behind the iron gates that surround the Victorian-style building at 1502 N. Ross in Santa Ana, California lies a world well known to thousands of aspiring performers:  “The Pepito and Joanne Academy of Dance.”…

“Desilu: The Story of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz” Mentions Pepito (1994)

Saturday, January 1, 1994 Page 56 … the renowned international Spanish clown Pepito, to devise some p… Page 63: …The first story concerns a TV audition for Ricky, where Pepito, the … Page 153: According to Marcella, Desi came for a visit with his friend Pepito … Source:

VIDEO: Pepito & Joanne Recital: “Hansel and Gretel” (1993)

Friday, June 18, 1993 1993 Pepito & Joanne Recital: Hansel and Gretel, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wzxz94wT6k Friday, June 18, 1993 (first recital of two evening recitals). Fourteen minutes of beautiful angels, baby butterflies, and the grand finale, the Big Butterfly. Link to all 1993 recital video clips. Source: Courtesy of The Laurie Hickman Collection of home movies.

Los Angeles Times: No Desi, No “Lucy” – An Author Pieces Together the Teaming that Made TV History (1991)

Sunday, February 10, 1991 by Bart Andrews It was inevitable. A movie about Lucille Ball, the American icon, the Queen of Comedy, the First Lady of Television. A shoo-in, a sure-fire ratings-getter. An earlier program, the Dec. 18, 1989, airing of the 1956 “I Love Lucy” Christmas episode garnered CBS a 18.5 rating, placing it…

People Magazine: Lucie Arnaz on Seeing the Lost Pilot: “I Just Laughed” (1990)

Even Lucy and Desi’s Daughter Saw Something Newly Hilarious in the I Love Lucy Pilot Airing This Week Monday, May 7, 1990 Call it “I Found Lucy.” When Joanne Perez, 84, peered under a bed in her Orange County, Calif., home last December, she saw a canister of film labeled Lucy-Desi-Pepito audition. She took it to…

1951 “Lucy” Pilot Beats 1990 Shows (1990)

Wednesday, May 2, 1990 NEW YORK (Associated Press) America still loves Lucy — particularly the pilot for what became CBS’s classic “I Love Lucy” series.  No matter that the show was made during the Korean war, when Harry S. Truman was president. By a CBS estimate, 40 million viewers saw “I Love Lucy: The Very…

VIDEO CLIP: “I Love Lucy, The Very First Show” (1990)

Monday, April 30, 1990 “If you are wondering how we got tonight’s film [the Lost Pilot of “I Love Lucy”], my father (Desi Arnaz) gave it to Pepito the Clown as a thank you for guest-starring in the Pilot … but more importantly, for creating my parents’ vaudeville act.  Only after hearing it was missing,…

CBS Unveils A Long-Lost Episode of ‘I Love Lucy’ (1990)

Monday, April 30, 1990 by Hal Boedeker, Knight-Ridder Newspapers Tonight, CBS will take us back to March 2, 1951, a night television history was made — then lost for almost 40 years. On that day, two characters named Lucy and Ricky Ricardo were born — they were to have been Lucy and Larry Lopez.  They…

TV Time Capsule: I Love Lucy, The Very First Show (1990)

Monday, April 30, 1990 by Chris Baker Think you’ve seen every episode of “I Love Lucy” dozens of times? You probably have. But maybe you’ve never seen the sitcom’s “lost” pilot, which CBS aired for the first time on this night in 1990 under the banner “I Love Lucy: The Very First Show.” On March 10,…

Washington Post: “Love That ‘Lost’ Lucy” (1990)

Monday, April 30, 1990 by Tom Shales The Washington Post On Dec. 18, 1989, 33 years after its first and only previous broadcast, CBS aired “The I Love Lucy Christmas Show” in prime time. Result: A very healthy 18.6 rating and 28 share, good enough to put the special in sixth place for the week,…

USA Today: Decades Later, Lost “Lucy” Pilot Finally Gets On the Air (1990)

Monday, April 30, 1990 USA TODAY, by Tom Green HOLLYWOOD – Here’s “I Love Lucy,” the home video. Sort of. On March 10, 1951, a five-months-pregnant Lucille Ball and husband Desi Arnaz, with $5,000 out of their own pockets, filmed the pilot for the CBS series that would eventually invent the live audience, three-camera TV…

Orange County Register: “And In the Beginning Was ‘Lucy:’” Joanne and the Lost Pilot (1990)

Sunday, April 29, 1990 Byline: Ray Richmond, The Orange County Register  On March 2, 1951, a pilot episode was shot for a televised version of a comedy radio show that Lucille Ball had done called “My Favorite Husband.”  By October of that year, “I Love Lucy” was on the air and starting a six-season, 179-episode…

TV Guide: A Long Lost Gem, the Pilot That Launched Lucy (1990)

April 29, 1990 In March of 1951, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz filmed an “audition” for a TV sitcom that premiered as a series on CBS the following October. Since then, the 179 half-hour episodes of I Love Lucy have been seen by millions around the world, but until tonight the March pilot, once believed…

Tribune Media Services: “I Love Lucy” Pilot Airs (1990)

Saturday, April 28, 1990 by Jay Bobbin, Tribune Media Services Just when you thought you’d seen every episode of “I Love Lucy” in existence, here comes one more.   In 1951, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz did a portion of their nightclub act as a pilot for CBS executives, in the hope that a series would…

All That’s Left: A Lasting Impression (1990)

Wednesday, April 11, 1990 For those who still love Lucy, there’s more to love. An audition film (these days known as a pilot) for “I Love Lucy,” which runs 34 minutes and has never been seen on television, will be shown in May as part of a CBS special devoted to Lucille Ball. The film…

Deseret News: Long Lost ‘I Love Lucy’ Pilot Is Found (1990)

Tuesday, April 10, 1990 By Scott D. Pierce, Television Editor, Deseret News If you still love Lucy, you’re in for a treat.  The “I Love Lucy” pilot has been found, and will be broadcast by CBS next month. For TV buffs, this find ranks up there with discovery of King Tut’s tomb. Most experts believed…

Los Angeles Times: “I Love Lucy” Pilot Discovered (1990)

Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and international news services and the nation’s press, by Greg Braxton Monday, April 9, 1990 “I Love Lucy” Pilot Discovered. The original pilot for “I Love Lucy,” which has been missing for 40 years, has been found under a bed where it had been forgotten for 39…

New York Times: Broadcasting Museum Seeks TV’s Self-History (1987)

Sunday, January 25, 1987 (Scroll down to paragraph in red). Thousands of people will videotape Super Bowl XXI today. But fans looking for a copy of the first Super Bowl broadcast — in which the Green Bay Packers trounced the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 and Max McGee grabbed two touchdown passes — are out of…

Orange County Register: Glamorous Lifestyle More Than A Memory For Former Star Joanne Perez (1984)

Wednesday, September 5, 1984 By Jim O’Connell, The Register For skeptics who believe there is no glamour left in the world, a trip to 1502 N. Ross Street in Santa Ana, California could change their minds.   There, at the Pepito and Joanne Ballet Academy, Joanne Perez is continuing a tradition that was lost when the…

Letter From Lucille Ball to Joanne Perez (1983)

Thursday, August 18, 1983 A one-page handwritten letter from the Lucille Ball to long-time friend, Joanne Perez, written on Lucy’s personal stationery. In blue ink, she writes,  “Joanne dear—Thank you for remembering my birthday—hope you had a chance to see some of that marathon on TV. Pepito had a lot to do with our initial…

“A Book” by Desi Arnaz: Pepito’s Contributions to the Lost Pilot for “I Love Lucy” Explained (1976)

An Excerpt From “The Outspoken Memoirs of ‘Ricky Ricardo’ — The Man Who Loved Lucy” I had a very dear friend named Pepito, who used to go fishing with me. He’s retired now but he was one of the world’s greatest clowns. His billing was “Pepito, the Spanish Clown.” He headlined at the Hippodrome for…

Variety: Obituary for Pepito Perez, Pepito the Spanish Clown (1975)

Wednesday, July 23, 1975 Pepito Perez, 79, Orpheum headliner for many years where he was billed as Pepito the Spanish Clown, died July 13, 1975, of cancer at his home in Santa Ana, California.  He had made his residence there for the past 15 years where he and his wife conducted a dance school.   Born…

Los Angeles Times: Ex-Associate of Lucille Ball, Onetime Spanish Court Jester Dies (1975)

Wednesday, July 9, 1975 SANTA ANA — Pepito, the ontime court jester to King Alfonso of Spain and a former associate of Lucille Ball, is dead.   The 77-year old famed Spanish clown, who was the “King of the Playmates” in vadevulle for 20 years and a regular on the initial I Love Lucy show, died…

Santa Ana Register: “Once Spanish Court Jester, He Devotes His Time To Youth” (1965)

By Gwen Starr, The Register Sunday, October 3, 1965 Pepito, the world famous Spanish clown who reigned as “King of Playmates” in vaudeville for more than 20 years and who has devoted his life to entertaining children, again shares billing with his talented wife Joanne.  Only now, the marquee is atop an old Santa Ana…

Pepito & Joanne Academy of Dance Advertisement in the Telephone Book (1959)

A 1959 telephone book advertisement for Pepito & Joanne Theatrical Arts. I unearthed this gem at the Santa Ana Public Library History Room a few years back.

Pepito & Joanne’s phone number was KImberly3-0393 from the 1940s to 2004 and Joanne’s passing.

VIDEO: Easter Recital at the Balboa Bay Club (1957)

Saturday, April 20, 1957 Recital Cast (list in progress): Leigh Fernandez, Linda Fernandez, Shirley Gardner & ZaZa, Christy Nelson, Steve Nelson, Peggy Oberdorfer, Joanne Perez, Linda Rumph, Nellie Rumph, Ken Tabor. For more like this, jump over to Recital Videos.

Pepito’s Filmography: “I Love Lucy: Little Ricky’s School Pageant” (1956)

Monday, December 17, 1956 I Love Lucy, Season 6, Episode 163, filmed October 25, 1956 at Ren-Mar Studio., aired December 17, 1956. The Ricardos and the Mertzes get more involved than they anticipated in Little Ricky’s school pageant, “The Enchanted Forest.”  The sets and costumes for the pageant were designed by Pepito Perez, and choreography…

Shirley Gardner and Zsa Zsa the Horse (1956)

Saturday, June 2, 1956 GIANT JUVENILE PRODUCTION “Varieties of 1956” with a cast of 500 Orange County youngsters will be presented to the public June 20 and 21 at Orange Coast College Auditorium.  Here we see Shirley Gardner of Tustin and “Friend” in one of the scenes from the production.  The program is being presented…

Pepito’s Filmography: “Here Come the Girls” Starring Bob Hope (1953)

Thursday, October 22, 1953 Pepito can be seen briefly in the circus sequence of Paramount’s “Here Come the Girls” with Bob Hope, Rosemary Clooney and Fred Clark.  Here Come the Girls Summary: Originally intended as a 3D film, this standard-issue Bob Hope musical comedy was released “flat.” The 50-year-old Hope plays over-aged chorus boy Stanley Snodgrass, whose attempts…

VIDEO: Pepito’s Filmography: “Scared Stiff” Starring Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis (1953)

Monday, April 27, 1953 Dean Martin … Larry ToddJerry Lewis … Myron MertzLizabeth Scott … Mary CarrollCarmen Miranda … Carmelita CastinhaPepito Perez … Rowboat Operator Larry Todd (Dean Martin), and Myron Mertz (Jerry Lewis), cross paths with a gangster named “Shorty” when Larry hits on Shorty’s girl. After fleeing from Shorty, they meet an heiress (Lizabeth…

Pepito’s Filmography: “I Love Lucy” Episode 52: Lucy’s Show-Biz Swan Song (1952)

Monday, December 22, 1952 The now-pregnant Lucy tries, for one last time, to “get in the show” as Ricky is putting on a Gay Nineties revue—failing all else, she “crashes” the Barbershop Quartet number (singing Good Night Ladies), leading into a “pie fight” of shaving cream.  Highlights of the episode include the auditions, including Pepito the…

Colliers Magazine: Illustration of Lucille Ball Playing the Loaded Cello (1952)

Funny [Ladies?] by Evelyn Harvey October 18, 1952 A bumper crop of professional funny women promise to turn this into a banner year for comedy on stage and TV. A flock of newcomers have joined the select handful of comediennes, the ladies of the sagging seams and flap-toed shoes, who have long been in a…

“I Love Lucy” Season 1 Episode 6, “The Audition” (1951)

Monday, November 19, 1951 The I Love Lucy episode titled “The Audition” first aired on November 19, 1951.  Lucy’s act as the dim professor with the uncooperative cello is the vaudeville routine that Pepito taught her. unfortunately, Pepito does not appear as himself in Episode 6 to reprise his role from the Lost Pilot. Instead his role was…

Pepito’s Filmography: “The Raging Tide” Starring Richard Conte & Shelley Winters (1951)

Thursday, November 1, 1951 The Raging Tide stars Richard Conte as San Francisco crime boss Bruno Felkin. After killing off a rival, Felkin tries to arrange an alibi with his girlfriend Connie Thatcher (Shelley Winters). Unfortunately, she isn’t available, obliging Felkin to hide out on a fishing boat owned by Ilmael Linder (Charles Bickford) until Connie can…

VIDEO: Rare On-Set Color Footage of the Filming of “I Love Lucy” Season 1 Episode 6, “The Audition” (1951)

Friday, October 12, 1951 Watch it here thanks to the wonders of YouTube.  This may be the only movie footage in existence from the I Love Lucy audience’s point of view.  A member of the audience at the filming of I Love Lucy Episode 6, “The Audition” shot this 8mm color footage from the grandstand seating using a…

VIDEO: Pepito’s Filmography: “Iron Man” Starring Jeff Chandler & Rock Hudson (1951)

Friday, August 17, 1951 Pepito Trivia Challenge: if you spot Pepito (Jose Escobar Perez) in his uncredited role in the original major motion picture release Iron Man, use the email link below to let us know in which scenes he appears. Synopsis: Iron Man is a 1951 American film noir drama sport film directed by Joseph…

Jess Oppenheimer’s Treatment for the “I Love Lucy” Pilot (1951)

Friday, March 2, 1951 On March 2, 1951, Jess Oppenheimer registered his treatment with the Screen Writer’s Guild for the pilot episode of “I Love Lucy.”  The final paragraph:  “The first story concerns a TV audition for Ricky, where Pepito, the clown, due to an accident, fails to appear and Lucy takes his place for the show. …

“I Love Lucy: The Lost Pilot” (1951)

Friday, March 2, 1951 Pepito played a large supporting role as himself, Pepito the Spanish Clown, in the pilot for the “I Love Lucy” show.   Five months pregnant, Lucy stepped before the live TV cameras at Studio A at CBS headquarters on Sunset Boulevard and Gower Street on March 2, 1951, to do the “audition…

VIDEO: Pepito’s Filmography: “Branded” Starring Alan Ladd (1950)

Wednesday, November 1, 1950 In the Alan Ladd action-adventure drama Branded, Pepito Perez (real name, Jose Escobar Perez) has a small, uncredited role.   Synopsis: Twenty-five years ago the Lavery baby was kidnapped. Alan Ladd plays Choya, a bandit who poses as the long-lost son of a wealthy Texas rancher to gain the Lavery estate. Shamed by the…

Pepito + Lucy = The Cello Routine (1950)

Thursday, June 1, 1950 Pepito devised the famous cello routine for Lucy, and built the trick cello from an old cello he bought in a pawn shop.  In fact, he came up with an entire vaudeville act for Lucy and Desi to perform around the United States, to prove to television executives that the public…

Pepito, Lucy and Desi Rehearse Vaudeville Act at the Hotel Del Coronado (1950)

The Hotel Del Coronado near San Diego, California was instrumental in helping to launch the careers of some television giants. In fact, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz retreated to The Del in 1950 to polish their comedy routine under the direction of “Pepito the Spanish Clown,” a renowned vaudeville performer. They stayed at “The Del” for a…

VIDEO: Pepito’s Filmography: “Red, Hot and Blue” Starring Betty Hutton & Victor Mature (1949)

Friday, November 25, 1949 In “Red, Hot and Blue,” an aspiring actress’ rising career is threatened when she finds a dead gangster in her apartment. Eleanor Collier (Betty Hutton) is taken hostage by gangster Hair-Do Lempke, who demands that she name his boss’s killer. Eleanor is unable to name the murderer, but buys time by…

Pepito & Joanne’s First Dance School Location in Santa Ana (1949)

Thursday, June 2, 1949 After retiring from performing on the road, Joanne Perez began her career as a dance teacher. During World War II, she taught dance in her converted garage studio on Balboa Island in Newport Beach.  Very quickly, she had over 100 students, and began opening more dance school locations around Orange County,…

Pepito, Spain’s Court Jester, Recalls Glittering Era (1948)

NEWPORT-BALBOA PRESS, PAGE 7—PART II THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1948. Pepito, “playmate of kings” and official court jester for the Spanish Crown under King Alfonso, chewed on a theatrical-looking cigar and spoke of clowns. “In Spain and Europe, generally clowns enjoyed the dignified status of dramatic artists,” Pepito said, comparing the position of the beloved fraternity…

Pepito’s Filmography: “Road to Rio” Starring Bing Crosby, Bob Hope & Dorothy Lamour (1947)

December 25, 1947 Pepito Perez (real name, Jose Escobar Perez) has a small, uncredited role as the Dignified Gentleman at a wedding reception, in the Bob Hope-Bing Crosby-Dorothy Lamour movie Road to Rio (1947). 

VIDEO: Pepito’s Filmography: “Golden Earrings” Starring Ray Milland & Marlene Dietrich (1947)

Wednesday, August 27, 1947 Pepito Perez (real name, Jose Escobar Perez) has an uncredited role as “Gypsy Boy” in this Ray Milland and Marlene Dietrich adventure film, “Golden Earrings.”    In the fight scene, Pepito is a mustached man with shoulder-length dark hair, a vest, and a gold earring, seated on the ground in a cluster…

VIDEO: Pepito’s Filmography: “California” Starring Ray Milland & Barbara Stanwyck (1946)

Sunday, December 1, 1946 https://www.imdb.com/video/vi2914779417?

VIDEO: Pepito’s Filmography: “Masquerade in Mexico” Starring Dorothy Lamour & Arturo deCordova (1945)

Monday, December 3, 1945 Pepito Perez [Actor …. Angel’s chauffeur] (uncredited) Actors: Dorothy Lamour, Arturo de Cordova, Patric Knowles, Ann DvorakSynopsis: Masquerade in Mexico is Mitchell Leisen’s remake of his own Midnight. Stranded in Mexico City without a dime, glamorous Angel O’Reilly (Dorothy Lamour) is rescued by wealthy Thomas Grant (Patric Knowles). But Grant’s motivations are anything but altrustic. In…

VIDEO: Pepito’s Filmography: “A Medal For Benny” Starring Dorothy Lamour & Arturo deCordova (1945)

Monday, April 16, 1945 Pepito, the famous clown, was signed for an important role in the Dorothy Lamour – Arturo de Cordova co-starrer, “A Medal For Benny,” at the Liberty Theater. Pepito plays a paisano with authority and for a good reason. He was born in Barcelona and started his circus career with the Circo Parisch…

Signed Portrait “For Joanne and Pepito, Our Love and Gratitude Always, Lucy and Desi” (1945)

Monday, January 1, 1945 For those of us who were dance students at the Pepito And Joanne Academy of Dance in Santa Ana, California, this framed and signed photo was a familiar sight in a place of honor in Joanne’s dark-paneled studio.  Inscribed by Lucille Ball, “For Joanne and Pepito, Our Love and Gratitude Always,…

VIDEO: Pepito’s Filmography: “Lady in the Dark” Starring Ginger Rogers & Ray Milland (1944)

Saturday, January 1, 1944 Pepito the Spanish Clown in the Ginger Rogers motion picture, “Lady In the Dark.” This is the only COLOR imagery known to exist of Pepito in his famous clown costume. Pepito is the clown in the green coat, on the left side of the screen, leaning over the edge of the spectator…

Autographed Photo: To Pepito, From Gary Cooper (1943)

June 1, 1943 Pepito operated his own deep sea fishing charter boat after he and Joanne retired from “the road” at the outset of World War II. One of his customers was the famous actor, Gary Cooper. Mr. Cooper inscribed this photo “To Pepito, with my kindest regards and thanks — I’m fishin — Gary…

Pittsburgh Press: Famous Clown Pepito in Hollywood (1943)

Sunday, May 16, 1943 HOLLYWOOD – If you want to brighten the day for the kids, and for anybody else you know, you can tell them that Pepito, probably the most famous clown of this generation and the one which preceded it, is back on the job — in Hollywood. Two years ago, Pepito put…