Desilu – Page 3 – 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

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

Christmas Card from Lucille Ball to Joanne Perez

People close to Lucille Ball would surely receive a Christmas card from the redhead every holiday season. This is one such card from the early 1980’s that was sent to Joanne Perez, former veteran vaudeville entertainer along with her husband “Pepito the Spanish Clown.” It was the Perez’s who helped Lucy and Desi develop the props and acts they took on the road to prove to CBS the public would accept them for a new TV show in 1950.

Lucy and Joanne remained close friends throughout their lives as evident in this handwritten card which reads:

“Joanne dear, think of you all the time and love you always – Love Lucy”

I Love Lucy fans can thank Joanne for discovering an original print of the I Love Lucy pilot long thought lost and never seen by the public until the early 1990’s. To learn more about Pepito and Joanne and their incredible time in show business, please visit: https://pepitoandjoanne.com/

December 20, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Card, CBS, Christmas, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Gifts, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Pepito the Spanish Clown, PersonalTags: Card, Christmas, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Love, Lucille Ball, Pepito the Spanish Clown, Personal, Vaudeville Leave a comment

Lucille Ball – Desi Arnaz Show Ticket to “Lucy Hunts Uranium”

For the third episode of the new Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show (aka The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour) the Ricardos and Mertzs are in Las Vegas for Ricky’s band performing at The Sands Casino. Fred MacMurray and June Haver are the special guest stars with MacMurray joining the two couples in hunting for uranium around the desert.

Shown here is an original audience ticket for the November 15, 1957 filming of the episode. Tickets for all the LBDAS are much larger than previous I Love Lucy tickets or any future ‘Lucy series’ for that matter with more of an invitation, square style.

This show had a couple of ‘firsts’ for the series. It was the first epsiode to go outside the studio for location filming as well as the debut of Lucille Ball’s and Lucy Ricardo’s new hairstyle, dubbed by Irma Kusley as the “artichoke cut” which Lucy had variations of for the rest of her life.

December 7, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Babalu, CBS, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Ethel Mertz, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Lucy Ricardo, Ricky Ricardo, Television, The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show, The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, Ticket, Vivian Vance, William FrawleyTags: 1957, CBS, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Ethel Mertz, Fred MacMurray, Fred Mertz, I Love Lucy, Invitation, June Haver, Lucille Ball, Lucy Ricardo, Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, Ricky Ricardo, The Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Show, Ticket, Vivian Vance, WIlliam Frawley Leave a comment

Lucille Ball’s Wig Braid from The Lucy Show & Here’s Lucy

Lucy Carmichael wins a trip to London in The Lucy Show episode entitled “Lucy Flies to London” from the fifth season in 1966. For one day she tours the city in a whirlwind adventure. To mark the occasion of Lucille Ball actually going to London, a one hour prime-time special called “Lucy in London” aired a week later. During a 60’s “mod” montage she wears this long, red braided pony tail extension in a series of poses.

Fast forward three years later during Here’s Lucy, the braid is reused for a Roman-inspired scene in the episode “Lucy and the Generation Gap.” Along side Lucie Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr. and Gale Gordon (portraying Julius Caesar) Lucille Ball wears the braid, this time the bow which was pink in the London special has been changed to gold to match her costume. Its appearance today is the result of Lucy entangling the locks in Gale’s laurel corona by accident when reaching for their harps, snarling it.

November 15, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: CBS, Desi Arnaz Jr, Desilu, Gale Gordon, Here's Lucy, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Shown Worn, Television, The Lucy Show, WigTags: Braid, Desi Arnaz Jr, Desilu, Gale Gordon, Here's Lucy, Julius Caesar, London, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Owned, Lucille Ball Worn, Musical, Roman, Screen Worn, The Lucy Show, wig Leave a comment

Lucille Ball’s Italian Ceramic Ashtray

French Empire, Venetian and Provincial was the decor of Lucille Ball’s Manhattan apartment in the early 1960’s. The color scheme of sunshine yellow and whites were all throughout the 23th floor of the Imperial House at 150 E. 69th Street.

This large, circular shaped ashtray with rooster design sat on the side table in her ‘comfortable’ guest-study. Measuring 9″ across the hand-painted ceramic piece was made in Italy with less than 495 in existance, this one being #50. When Lucy moved back to Beverly Hills she gifted the ashtray to her neice, Pamela Ball-Von Pinnon who retained it for the next five decades.

October 3, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Ashtray, Cigarettes, Desi Arnaz Jr, Desilu, Fred Ball, I Love Lucy, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Personal, TelevisionTags: Ashtray, Beverly Hills, Broadway, Desilu, I Love Lucy, Lucille Bal Owned, Lucille Ball, Manhattan, New York City, Personal, Wildcat Leave a comment

Desilu Productions Stock Certificate

Desilu Productions was a well respected and successful corporation, one that other studios looked at for their inspiring “Desilu Method” of filming shows using three cameras in front of an audience. In 1962, Lucille Ball became the first woman in history to own a television studio and under her reign some very important productions were made – The Untouchables, Mission Impossible and of course Star Trek.

Desi and Lucy were president and vice president of Desilu Productions when it became a publicly traded company in 1958. Investors and everyday people could own a piece of the Desilu empire. This is an original stock certificate for 100 common shares retained by Desilu Productions Inc. that was redeemed on January 19, 1966.

September 20, 2023September 21, 2023 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Desilu Sales, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Paramount, Personal, RKO, TelevisionTags: Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Desilu Sales, Hollywood, I Love Lucy, Investment, Lucille Ball, Mission Impossible, Star Trek, Stock, Stock Certificate, Stock Exchange, Studio, The Twilight Zone, Traded 2 Comments

Desilu Sales Promotional Pencil Cup

Desilu was a powerhouse in the television industry by the late 1950’s. Thus, a department called Desilu Sales Inc. was created to handle the sales, marketing and distribution of its shows and productions to markets across the country. Promotional items were created as gifts that were not available to the general public, such as this rare pencil cup.

Measuring 4 1/4 inches high and just over 3 inches in diameter, the ceramic cup with cork bottom features a gold rim and the Desilu Sales logo underneath a large Lucy Ricardo stick figure saying “Hi!” along with Lucille Ball’s signature. A rare addition is the small plate or catch-all that the holder sits on. Other promotional gifts included coffee mugs, ashtrays, letter openers and more.

September 7, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Desilu Sales, Gifts, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Lucy Ricardo, Pencil Cup, Personal, Ricky Ricardo, TelevisionTags: Ceramic, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Desilu Sales, Gifts, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Pencil Cup, Personal Leave a comment

Lucille Ball Earrings worn on The Lucy Show

Lucy Carmichael tries to go on a date with Frank Winslow played by Clint Walker in The Lucy Show episode “Lucy and the Sleeping Beauty” which aired on November 15, 1965. Frank is a construction worker who is extremely tired when she shows up to Lucy’s place. If startled from sleeping he goes into combat mode from being in the war and starts swinging. Lucy unfortunately finds this out when he dozes off on her couch.

Lucy looks absolutely gorgeous in her new dress and wears these beautiful earrings for the date. The clip-on set features a circular gold base with emerald green beads and a cluster of lighter jade beads in a series of layers. They are very similar to the Miriam Haskell set Lucille owned and could very well been made by Haskell as well.

August 29, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Desilu, Earrings, Jewelry, Lucille Ball, Miriam Haskell, Shown Worn, Television, The Lucy ShowTags: Clint Walker, Desilu, Earrings, Hollywood, Jewelry, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Worn, Miriam Haskell, Personal, Screen Worn, Television, The Lucy Show Leave a comment

Lucille Ball’s Crystal Table Lighter

If Lucille Ball liked something whether it be a garment or household item she held onto it as long as possible. This very ornate crystal table lighter is one such thing. Standing 8 inches tall it features three sections of crystal in a diamond cut or etched pattern. The solid square base anchors the piece while a brass rod holds it all together. The refillable lighter is in working condition with a push knob flint.

This lighter is (to our knowledge) first seen on the coffee table inside Lucy’s dressing room at Desilu Studios in the late 1950’s/early 60’s. When she moved to New York City and was doing Wildcat on Broadway, it appeared on the side table of the living room. Fast forward to 1974 when The Sunday Times Magazine interviewed Lucille Ball and did a spread at home for their coverstory entitled, “The eternal Lucy show” it is visible in her Beverly Hills sitting room.

August 8, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Cigarettes, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, I Love Lucy, Lighter, Lucille Ball, Personal, TelevisionTags: Beverly Hills, Brass, Broadway, Crystal, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Desilu Studios, I Love Lucy, Lighter, Lucille Ball, New York City, Personal, Wildcat Leave a comment

Vivian Vance Feather Headpiece from The Lucy Show

Vivian Vance returned to TV after I Love Lucy in 1962 for Lucille Ball’s second hit series, The Lucy Show. Airing on the last day of the year the episode entitled “Chris’ New Years Eve Party,” Lucy Carmichael and Vivian Bagley perform a silent movie sketch to help save Chris’ dull party.

In full costume, Lucy brilliantly portrays Charlie Chaplin while Viv is a flirtatious 1920’s flapper wearing this black feather headpiece. One end has an attached comb to secure the feather to her hair and a black velvet bow to hide it. This may have been added later for use in another production as the bow does not appear visible in the sketch.

August 1, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: CBS, Costume, Desilu, Feathers, Lucille Ball, Shown Worn, Television, The Lucy Show, Vivian VanceTags: Charlie Chaplin, Costume, Desilu, Feather, Flapper, Head Piece, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Personal, Screen Worn, Show Worn, The Lucy Show, Vivian Vance Leave a comment