Category: Gifts

Here’s Lucy Cast & Crew Gifted Hat

Here’s Lucy premiered on CBS in late September of 1968. The third sitcom for ‘Lucy and Co.’ centered around the Carter family who lived in Southern California. Lucille Ball starred alongside Gale Gordon, who portrayed brother-in-law Harrison Carter, and her children Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. as her on screen kids Kim and Craig. The show ran for six successful seasons, ending in 1974.

This navy blue baseball hat was gifted to the cast and crew during the series’ run. The patchwork font of Here’s Lucy adorns the front along with an embroidered replication of the Lucille Ball Productions logo and caricature of Lucy by artist Al Hirschfeld. Very few of these exist today as they were not made for the general public.

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Lucille Ball & Gary Morton Gifted Lucite LCD Clock

Lucille Ball was known for gifting clocks to those close her, often with a note that said “I’ll always have time for you.” She and husband Gary Morton gave this small quartz table clock on one such occasion. Made of lucite, it is etched with LOVE, LUCY & GARY under the LCD display.

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Television Academy Arts & Sciences Table Favor Honoring Lucille Ball

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 at the Beverly Hilton, 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, two children, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz, Jr. and close friend Vivian Vance. During her emotional speech talking about Viv she said,

“I’m supposed to say something like ‘the vivacious, vital, Vivian Vance.’ But that isn’t it. We’ve been through so much together on the screen and off. Some good times, some bad times.”

This three inch gold plated metal table favor was given to guests that evening. The souvenir statue is made to look like a TV atop the academy’s acronym: ‘NATAS.’ An engraved insert features the Lucille Ball caracature drawn by Al Hirschfeld and the text ‘A Salute To Lucille Ball – October 25, 1969.’

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Life With Lucy Prototype Members Only Jacket

Lucille Ball and company began a new weekly series on ABC in the Fall of 1986 called “Life With Lucy.” Her return to TV in a sitcom was well publicized and highly anticipated with fans getting to see another version of the “Lucy” character they all love.

This black satin members only jacket is believed to be a prototype, the only one created, as a possible gift to cast and crew. Featuring the Al Hirschfeld caricature and her signature ‘Love Lucy’ embroidered in hot pink and light blue on the chest, this jacket was given to Lucille’s cheauffeur and majordomo, Frank Gorey. Frank wore it to appearances at Lucy Conventions in the late 1990’s.

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Lucille Ball’s Wool & Silver Fox Fur Coat

Lucille Ball once said, “I love furs. I actually like them more than jewelry.” This black wool coat trimmed in silver fox fur was one of her favorites. For their one year anniversary Lucy and Gary decided to head East to New York City and celebrate where they first met. During the Thanksgiving holiday hiatus, Lucy and Vivian Vance flew into Idlewild Airport to meet their husbands on November 15, 1962 where Lucy was photographed wearing the coat.

An image of Lucy and Viv taken on this trip inspired famed characture artist Al Hirschfeld to capture the dynamic dou which he rendered into the well-known sketch of Lucille holding her purse and cigarette. This artwork would be used over the years for such things as the 1984 Museum of Broadcasting event honoring Lucy as the First Lady of Comedy.

Lucy Carmichael would wear the coat as part of a disguise on the March 22, 1965 episode of The Lucy Show entitled, “Lucy and the Beauty Doctor.” It is most likely around this time Lucille gifted the coat to close friend and actress Carole Cook who often guest starred in the series and lent her voice as ‘Lady Cynthia’ for this particular episode. Carole would wear and retain the coat for over the next 50 years.

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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/

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Joanne Perez Letter from Lucille Ball

Many people assisted Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in the early days of the television journey. Two such individuals were Pepito and Joanne Perez, veteran vaudeville entertainers better known in those days as “Pepito the Spanish Clown” and “Joanne the Twisting Marvel.” It was the Perez’s that 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 developement.

The couples remained close friends throughout their lives as evident in this handwritten letter from Lucille to Joanne which reads:

“Dearest Joanne, I love you more each year for your thoughfulness. Please know I think of you often and appreciate you. – 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/

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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.

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Lucille Ball Handwritten Letter to Brother Fred

On April 24, 1949 Lucille Ball’s brother Fred married his second wife Phyllis Brier. For their first anniversary in 1950, Lucy wrote this letter to the couple playfully addressing them as ‘Philly and Freddy.’

“With our love and appreciation of a wonderful sister and great brother! This is to make the coffee-pot-on-the-stove-all-day routine a bit easier – Affectionately Lucy & Desi”

The original blue envelope with “Happy Anniversary” in Lucille’s hand on the front accompanies the letter. It is believed the Arnaz’s gave the Ball’s a new coffee percolator. Coincidentally, Phyllis was also born in Jamestown, NY like Lucy and Fred.

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Lucille Ball’s Custom Backgammon Board

Lucille Ball loved playing backgammon. By the late 1970’s and throughout the 80’s she played for hours on end with whomever was up for the challenge.

She also often played at PIPS, a backgammon club in Beverly Hills founded by Hugh Hefner. It is very possible PIPS had this beautiful, custom backgammon board made for Lucy. It features a solid wood frame and bar, brown suede fabric and her famous Al Hirschfeld caricature.

Lucille Ball owned many backgammon sets. She even constructed permanent tables to be installed in her home, had several traveling cases to play on the go and often held private in-home tournaments with those close to her.

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Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz Gifted Watch to Dann Cahn

One of the original creative members of the I Love Lucy team was editor, Dann Cahn. He pioneered the editing of television shows shot with the three-camera system. In 1954 Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz gave him this small token of their apprecaiton for all the hard work he had done.

Made by CYMA, this 10 karat gold wristwatch is engraved – “To Danny Love Lucy and Desi.” A letter on Desilu stationary signed by the Arnaz’s accompanies the watch and was kept by Dann for nearly sixty years until his death in 2012.

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Desilu Sales Promotional Ashtray

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 ashtray.

Measuring 6 3/4 inches across, the ceramic ashtray features a gold rim and the Desilu Sales logo underneath a large Lucy Ricardo stick figure saying “Hi!” along with Lucille Ball’s signature. Other promotional gifts included coffee mugs, lighters, letter openers and more.

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