In the 1950’s, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz gave this Zippo lighter to close friends as well as the cast and crew of I Love Lucy. It features the Lucy and Ricky stick figures engraved against a heart with the inscription ‘Love Lucy & Desi.’ The Desilu team were considered family to the Arnazes and this was just one small token of their appreciation.
Category: Gifts
Lucille Ball and Gary Morton Gifted Coffee Mug
A gift from the Morton’s sometime in the 1960’s was this off-white ceramic mug with gold rim. One side features a stick figure of Lucy which was the same image and signature used for the Desilu Sales items a few years earlier. The opposite side however has a rare stick figure and signature of Gary Morton swinging a golf club yelling “Fore!” This item may be the last time the stick figures were used because after forming Lucille Ball Productions, her Al Hirschfeld caricature would become the ‘standard’ for promotional products and gifts.
Valentine’s Day card from Lucille Ball to Gary Morton
A Valentine’s Day card filled with love from Lucille Ball to husband Gary Morton. The scalloped edge card features rose, bleeding heart and forget-me-not flowers with lace along with a note For you, Honey on the cover. The inside has a preprinted poem of which Lucy has underlined certain words. She also hand wrote “Gary Darling” and signed it “Your Wife.”
Lucille Ball Gifted Solid Perfume Keychain
An interesting gift from the Queen of Comedy was this solid perfume keychain. Measuring roughly four inches long and in the original case, it features a small book-like container holding a square of solid perfume that smells like ‘1970’s musk.’ The entire piece is gold plated with an abalone shell plate engraved with Lucille Ball’s caricature by Al Hirschfeld and Love Lucy below in blue.
Happy New Year Handwritten Notes from Lucille Ball
Former TCM host Robert Osborne and Lucille Ball were close friends, ever since Osborne was part of Lucy’s “kids” under contract at Desilu in her workshop during the late 1950’s. The first card and envelope was included with a gift from the redhead to Robert.
The second card was written to Barbara McClay, wife of Howard McClay who was Lucy’s longtime publicist. Ms. McClay wrote on the envelope the years 1983/1984 giving us the accurate timeframe when it was sent.
Lucille Ball & Gary Morton Silver Mint Julep Cup Christmas Present
Friends of Lucille Ball and Gary Morton were given this silver mint julep cup for Christmas one year. The cup has an affectionate engraving which reads – “Love, Lucy & Gary.” This piece was still wrapped in the original box and holiday paper when it was acquired. It also has what is believe to be Wanda Clark’s writing on the exterior. Wanda was Lucy’s secretary for nearly 30 years. Silver mint julep cups are the standard for this drink because it allows ice to form on the outside of the cup. The proper way for drinking is to hold it by the base or top lip so your hand does not warm the cup.
Lucille Ball Productions Gifted Ceramic Mug
Another Christmas gift from The Queen of Comedy was this off-white ceramic mug with silver rim. The side features a caricature of Lucy which was originally drawn by Al Hirschfeld in 1943 for the MGM film, Thousands Cheer. Ms. Ball loved the sketch so much she used it as her logo after forming Lucille Ball Productions. Also printed on the mug is “Love, Lucy” which was found on many gifts from the red head over the years.
Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz Gifted Catch-All
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz gave this whimsical ceramic catch-all to their niece, Pamela Ball in the mid to late 1940’s. It has been hand-painted by Lucy or Desi reading “Uncle Desi” and “Aunt Susie.” When Pamela was a little girl she had trouble pronouncing her aunt’s name, saying Susie instead of Lucy. She continued to call her Aunt Susie for years to come. We’re not sure what it originally held or contained but it was lovingly kept by Pamela for over 70 years.
Lucille Ball & Gary Morton Gifted Silver Revere Bowl & Plate
For Christmas one year, friends and colleagues of Lucille Ball and Gary Morton were given this silver set consisting of a Revere bowl and plate, each with the engraving “Love, Lucy & Gary” (names in their respective signatures). The bowl measures 4 inches wide while the plate measures roughly 8 inches in diameter. Both are made of solid silver and do require polishing from time to time to stay free of tarnish.
Lucy & Gary’s Lucite Candy Boxes
Pair of Lucite boxes from Lucille Ball and Gary Morton. In the 1980’s, President Ronald Reagan famously had a huge jar of jelly beans on his desk in the Oval Office. Staying on trend Mr. Morton had a similar version, using the “Morton’s Munchies” box filled with hard candies in his office at Lucille Ball Productions. The “Love, Lucy” heart box was given as a Christmas gift to close friends and family.
*Shared from the collection of Thomas J. Watson.
John Wayne “Swing Out, Sweet Land” Participant Stein
John Wayne hosted a TV special on November 29, 1970 called Swing Out, Sweet Land (also known as John Wayne’s Tribute to America). The show featured an array of celebrities singing and performing sketches of Americana. Lucille Ball was a guest star along with fellow entertainers like Bob Hope, Phyllis Diller, Jack Benny, Ann-Margret and many more. This stein was gifted to those involved with the program and features facsimile signatures of all the stars.
The ensemble Lucy wears while singing “God Bless America” was also worn on a Here’s Lucy episode ten years earlier called “Lucy and the Generation Gap.” In a particular scene, for the musical number, the Carters’ portray a family in the Roman era. Lucille plays Calpurnia wearing this same dress.
Lucille Ball Gifted Gold Signature Keychain
Lucille Ball gave this gold plated keychain to friends and associates some time in late 1960’s to early 70’s. It features her signature Love Lucy embossed on one side and a twist open top. This particular piece also has the original case with instructions. Lucy had a similar keychain made with the word MAME in celebration of the 1974 film.