Monty Hall says that this is the 7th annual Variety Club All-Star Party. Two years earlier, Hall hosted the 1984 event honoring Lucille Ball. In 1986, Ball served as Hostess for the "All-Star Party for Clint Eastwood."
Lucy reads a letter from the White House signed by Ronald Reagan. Reagan would be the guest of honor in 1983. He would also send notes of congratulations and regrets in 1984 (for Lucille Ball) and 1986 (for Clint Eastwood). The latter two notes were read by Cary Grant.
Tom Selleck delivers his message via a video on a large projection TV that Jim Nabors said he brought all the way from Hawaii (where he lived at the time).
Jimmy Stewart croons Cole Porter's "Easy to Love," the evening's second song from the 1934 stage musical 'Anything Goes.' The song was also included in the 1936 film 'Born To Dance' starring Stewart and Eleanor Powell (whose voice was dubbed). Stewart manages to get through the first chorus (although shaky and out of key). For the second chorus he asks that the lights be dimmed so it is just him singing to Burnett. It is a truly intimate and lovely moment considering that the only time the two ever saw each other was on award, talk, or tribute shows. Burnett and Stewart never appeared together in a dramatic context.
Carol tells how she and her grandmother used to go to the movies to see many of the folks in the room: Jimmy Stewart, Lucille Ball, Fred Astaire and Bette Davis.