January 2024 – The Lucy Room

My Favorite Husband 1950 Audience Ticket

Lucille Ball ventured into a regular radio show in 1948 with CBS’s My Favorite Husband. Ball starred in the program as “Liz Cooper”, a slightly zany housewife, alongside her husband “George”, a business man, played by Richard Denning. The show was based on the book by Isabel Scott Rorick called Mr. & Mrs. Cugat.

It was very popular with high ratings and CBS decided to turn the radio show into a television series by 1950, keeping Lucy as the main character with Denning recurring his role as well. She refused wanting her real husband, Desi Arnaz to be her TV husband. Writers for the show were Bob Carroll, Jr. Madelyn Pugh Davis and Jess Oppenheimer who also all moved to the TV version. They were the brillant minds that turned Lucille into the LUCY we all know and love.

This is an original audience ticket for the May 10, 1950 recording, admitting entrance into the Columbia Square Playhouse on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood.

January 31, 2024August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Babalu, CBS, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Ethel Mertz, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Lucy Ricardo, Ricky Ricardo, Television, Ticket, Vivian Vance, William FrawleyTags: CBS, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Ethel Mertz, Fred Mertz, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Lucy Ricardo, My Favorite Husband, Radio, Ricky Ricardo, Ticket, Vivian Vance, WIlliam Frawley Leave a comment

Desi Arnaz’s 1959 US Passport

By the late 1950’s Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz’s marriage was sadly coming to an end. As a “last ditch effort” attempt to possibly rekindle what was left, they went on a trip to Europe in May of 1959. What should have been a getaway of just the two of them became a mini entourage that included their children, Lucie and Desi Jr., Lucy’s cousin Cleo and her husband Ken Morgan.

The group traveled to London, Paris and Rome from the end of May to early June. This was the passport Desi carried with him on that trip. Issued on April 21, 1959 this U.S. Passport includes a handsome photo of Mr. Arnaz, multiple signatures, the addresses in Beverly Hills and Del Mar, plus all the original visa stamps entering and exiting various countries.

In November 1959 Desi left the country alone, going back to Europe as he and Lucy’s marrage was all but over by that point. The visa stamps from this trip are also present. The estate created “Lucy & Desi: The Real Life Scrapbook of America’s Favorite TV Couple” in 2004 which includes copies of documents and photos throughout their lives. This passport was used in that book to illustrate that particular time in their relationship.

January 18, 2024August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Babalu, Desi Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr, Desilu, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Passport, Personal, Ricky RicardoTags: Desi Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr., Desilu, Europe, France, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Italy, London, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Paris, Passport, Personal, Rome, United Kingdom, United States Leave a comment

Lucille Ball’s Rhinestone Ring Worn to MAME Premiere

Auntie Mame returned to the big screen in 1974 with Lucille Ball starring as Mame Dennis in her last theatrical performance. Directed by Gene Saks (originally George Cukor) the technicolor musical was slated to begin production in early 1972 but was postponed a year after Lucy broke her leg in a skiing accident.

Finally on March 26th the film was released with a lavish Hollywood premiere at the Cinerama Dome on Sunset Blvd. Lucy wore a white ensemble, the same costume she would also wear in the movie, as well as this rhinestone encrusted ring. Featuring clusters of jewels balled together in a mound with an elastic band, it can be seen on her left index finger. Lucille celebrated and danced the night away along side her family, cast, crew and celebrities with the picture at last coming to fruition.

January 11, 2024August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Costume, Jewelry, Lucille Ball, MAME, Movie, Ring, Warner BrothersTags: Auntie Mame, Broadway, Diamond, Film, Gene Saks, George Cukor, Hollywood, Jewelry, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Owned, Lucille Ball Worn, MAME, Movie, Musical, Premiere, Rhinestones, Ring, Warner Brothers Leave a comment

William Frawley Handwritten Letter on I Love Lucy Stationery

William Frawley writes to a friend by the name of Roger in this personal letter dated April 10, 1953. Bill thanks him for his visit in Hollywood and also lets him know he is scheduled to be in New York City early June to appear on Milton Berle’s show.

Handwritten notes and letters from Frawley are quite rare and what is even more interesting is that this was done on his own personalized I Love Lucy stationery. It is unknown if the other principle actors from the show had similar letterhead of their own or something Bill made for himself.

January 3, 2024October 9, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, CBS, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Letter, Lucille Ball, Personal, Vivian Vance, William FrawleyTags: Desi Arnaz, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Letter, Lucille Ball, Milton Berle, New York City, Note, Personal, Vivian Vance, WIlliam Frawley Leave a comment