Lucille Ball’s Bandmaster Uniform from The Lucy Show “Main Street U.S.A.”

Lucy Carmichael and Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) travel to Bancroft, a small town whos mayor is asking the bank for a loan to build a highway. Unfortunately this construction would tear right down the middle of Main Street. Lucy joins the residents opposing the demolition for this January 1967 episode in season five of The Lucy Show.

Lucy performs a catchy song and dance number with guest stars Mel Torme and John Bubbles wearing this sequined bandmaster uniform. Designed by Edward Stevenson the costume consists of three, handmade pieces. The heavy, elongated jacket is completely covered in pink sequins with a matching mesh material placed over the top to soften the reflection and shine in the studio lights. It is adorned with gold metal buttons, gold lame trim on all the hems and gold metal fringe on the shoulder epaulettes, cuffs and bottom hem.

To complete the look, Stevenson constructed a custom-made hat that still has the original aqua feather attached and a pink velvet undergarment. This is also trimed with the metal fringe on the leg openings and is visible at the very end of the routine when Lucy does her big finish, raising her arms into the air. This is an incredibly detailed costume that must have taken hours to complete and Lucille looked sensational in it for the show-stopping finale.

Leave a Reply