After their show became a succesful hit, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz gave this unqiue Zippo lighter to family, close friends as well as the cast and crew of I Love Lucy. This particular one belonged to Lucy’s brother Fred Ball. It features the I Love Lucy heart logo with Lucy and Ricky stick figures engraved on the front, while the back has facsimiles of Lucy and Desi’s signatures. The Desilu team was considered family to the Arnazes and this is just one small token of their appreciation for all their hard work.
Category: Gifts
Desilu Sales Promotional Coffee Mug
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 coffee mug.
The gold rimmed, off-white ceramic mug features a Lucy Ricardo stick figure along with Lucille Ball’s signature and the Desilu Sales logo underneath. What makes this particular mug extra special is a name was printed in the “Hi!” bubble. Could this be Bill Frawley or Bill Asher? Hard to say but most of these were made without a name. Other promotional gifts included pencil cups, ashtrays, letter openers and more. See the previous posts of Desilu Sales items as examples.
1952 Holiday Card from Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz
Christmas 1952 was a special one for the Arnazes as their family would soon grow in less than a month with the birth of their second child. Lucille Ball sent this holiday card to Joanne & Pepito Perez, close friends and former vaudeville entertainers who helped Lucy and Desi develop acts that eventually lead to I Love Lucy.
The card is printed on the inside with Lucille, Desi and Lucie Arnaz however Lucy wrote the following:
“and “Thumper” – Hope you’ll call us & come up over the Holidays – Please do – Empire 3-1597 Love Lucy & Desi“
Joanne also wrote in pencil the intersection of Sepulveda Blvd. and Devonshire St. along with the street number 19700 of the Desilu ranch in Chatsworth, CA.
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/
Lucille Ball & Gary Morton Bedside Turn Down Mat
Turn down mats are placed bedside on the floor so when you step into bed it reads “Good Night.” Then when you arrise and get out of bed, the opposite side reads “Good Morning.” This white linen turn down mat was made for Lucille Ball and Gary Morton. Embroidered with light blue thread the mat reads:
“Good Morning Lucy – Good Night Gary”
It’s unclear if this is a prototype sample or a gift to the couple as the same name should appear on both sides but it is certainly a unique item from the Morton’s bedroom.
Lucille Ball’s Lip Print on birthday note card from Gary Morton
On Lucille Ball’s 69th birthday in 1980, Gary Morton gave her a beautiful piece of jewelry. Inside a small envelope with Lucy on the outside was this notecard which Gary affectionately wrote:
“Lucy – Cause I Love you Happy Birthday Morty”
Lucille adored what Gary gave her not only keeping this card but writing what she got in blue marker “gold diamond and pearl necklace!!” On the front of the envelope, she also wrote the year and kissed it leaving a big lip print. This was something Lucy was known to do if she was really impressed by something, or it had special meaning.
Television Academy Arts & Sciences 14th Annual Ball Honoring Lucille Ball Ticket & Program
The Television Academy Arts & Sciences honored Lucille Ball on October 25, 1969 with an award and event proclaiming her “The First Lady of Television.” Held in the International Room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, the 14th annual affair was emceed by ‘Mr. Television’ himself Milton Berle in front of 1,000 members. Also in attendance was Lucy’s husband Gary Morton, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz, Jr., Vivian Vance and many other friends.
Shown here is an original program, ticket and RSVP stub from the ball. A three-inch gold-plated metal table favor was also given to guests that evening. Lucy wore a beautiful aqua chiffon grown adorned with beads and rhinestones that trimmed the collar and front hem with sleeves that were engulfed with ostrich feathers at the ends. (to be featured in another post)
Appreciative handwritten notecard from Lucille Ball to Frank Gorey
The Ball/Arnaz families were very loyal and generous to those close to them. These people were more like extended family, there for decades, through the good times and bad. One such person was Frank Gorey. He first started working with the Arnazes in 1959 as a chauffeur. After the divorce he stayed with Lucille Ball for the next 30 years, becoming the majordomo of the households.
An example of her admiration for ‘Francis’ is written in this note which included a check:
“Frank dear – I do appreciate how thoughtful and helpful you have been these last few months – which have been really so difficult for me – I never expected to fall apart as I have – Please buy your camera or whatever you want – Greatfully Lucy”
Frank was kind-hearted and loved to tell stories about his days with the redhead. He remained close to the family, as well as friends and loved ones met along the way until his passing in 2019.
Lucille Ball’s film MAME Pinback Button
‘She’ll coax the blues right out of your heart’ was the tagline used in promotion of the 1974 motion picture MAME starring, Lucille Ball. In addition to posters, hanging mobiles, and even a fashion line, this rare pin button help advertise the Warner Bros. film. Worn by theater works and ushers the badge measures roughly three inches across and features the seated Lucy Mame drawing with her one roller skate, fur trimmed coat and gloves.
Lucille Ball’s Tan Mink Car Coat
Lucille Ball kept warm in the winter months for over three decades wearing this tank mink car coat. Her husband Gary Morton gave her the fur in the mid 1960’s, wearing it on camera for their mid-January appearance of the gameshow Password.
The coat features a gold silk lining, two side pockets, a large lapel and collar that can be stood up or laid down and a rear belt. While on Password she says, “I like furs better than I do jewelry,” this fur being one of her favorites.
While in New York Lucy had a series of publicity shots taken in the coat high above the NYC skyline. She took it with her on overseas trips to Europe and into the 1980’s wore the coat to a “Little Shop of Horrors” show.
Christmas Card from Lucie Arnaz to Pepito & Joanne Perez
Lucie Arnaz wrote in this Christmas card to Pepito and Joanne Perez in the early 1960’s. The couple were former veteran vaudeville entertainers known as “Pepito the Spanish Clown” and “Joanne the Twisting Marvel.” 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.
They remained close friends with Ball-Arnaz-Morton families throughout their lives, going on vacations and sending correspondence to one another over the better part of three decades.
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/
Life With Lucy Cast & Crew Sweatshirt
Aaron Spelling Productions started a new weekly series on ABC for the Fall of 1986 called “Life With Lucy.” Lucille Ball would return to television in an attempt to resurrect the “Lucy” character fans all knew and loved. Wanting to get ‘back in her arena’ she called on veteran actor Gale Gordon to be her straight man and co-star.
This sweatshirt is believed to be a gift to the cast and crew or possibly a prototype. Since the show was unfortunately canceled early on, plans to potentially mass produce these ceased. It features the Al Hirschfeld caricature and a variation of show’s logo printed in a totally 80’s salmon pink with royal blue shadowing. Similar promotional items were made including hats, bumper stickers and a jacket (which was shared in a past post).
MAME Ashtray Gift from Lucille Ball
Friends, some press as well as cast and crew of the 1974 motion picture MAME received this off-white porcelain ashtray from its star, Lucille Ball. The circular, gold rimmed ashtray features the film’s title in the center and Lucy’s signature Love Lucy below. This particular piece was never used and still included the original box when it was aquired. Two versions of ashtrays were made, possibly for different years. The other is a square style that has a felt bottom.