Here’s Lucy – Page 2 – The Lucy Room

Lucille Ball’s Personal Red Wig

Irma Kusely first worked with Lucille Ball in the 1940’s at MGM. Nearly a decade later they would reunite on I Love Lucy. Irma became Lucy’s hair stylist for next four decades. Kusely began her Hollywood career at Max Factor styling wigs where she learned the technique of how they were made by hand using real hair.

In the clip shown above from a 2001 Television Academy Arts & Sciences interview, Irma makes it clear about Lucy’s hair color – “It’s not red at all, it’s a golden apricot color.”

Irma’s career with Lucy spanned hundreds of appearances both on and off screen. In the early 1990’s she was asked to supply some of Lucy’s custom wigs for Universal Studio’s “Lucy: A Tribute” exhibit. This is one of those wigs, still styled and untouched since Irma did it over 30 years ago.

March 13, 2024March 13, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Here's Lucy, I Love Lucy, Irma Kusely, Life With Lucy, Lucille Ball, Lucy Ricardo, Max Factor, MGM, Personal, Shown Worn, Television, The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show, The Lucy Show, The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, WigTags: Custom Made, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Owned, Lucille Ball Worn, Max Factor, MGM, Museum, Personal, Red Wig, Redhead, Universal Studios, wig 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 Yellow Paisley Blouse Worn on Dinah!

This yellow paisley blouse was custom-made for Lucille Ball in the early 1970’s and is constructed of a sheer silk chiffon. It features a deep V, ruffled neckline and balloon sleeves with snap closure ruffled cuffs, all in a yellow and green print. The inside is lined with champagne silk and has a built-in adjustable waistband with snap buttons.

The blouse was first worn on screen by Lucie Arnaz in an episode of Here’s Lucy “Lucy and the Mountain Climber” which aired on September 20, 1971. In June of 1976 Lucille was a guest on Dinah Shore’s show DINAH! wearing the top with guests Carol Burnett, Valerie Harper and a surprise appearance by Gale Gordon. Later that same year Lucy is seen in it again, guest starring on Danny Thomas’ show The Practice playing an eccentric patient named Matilda Morrison. This blouse is an example where if Ms. Ball liked a particular style of clothing she often had similar ones made. We have a nearly identical top but with pink polka-dot fabric so please check out our past post!

October 11, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Dinah Shore, Gale Gordon, Here's Lucy, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Personal, TelevisionTags: Broadway, Carol Burnett, Chiffon, Danny Thomas, Dinah Shore, Dinah!, Gale Gordon, Lucille Ball Owned, Lucille Ball Worn, Personal, Screen Worn, Show Worn, Television, Valerie Harper, Wildcat Leave a comment

Lucille Ball’s Gold Coin Necklace from Here’s Lucy

This 19″ gold coin necklace was worn by Lucille Ball on Here’s Lucy in two separate Season 3 episodes. The first was entitled, “Lucy and Rudy Vallee” that originally aired on November 30, 1970. The second was “Lucy’s Vacation” where Lucille Carter dresses like a hippie, airing on January 4, 1971. The three tiered, charm style, necklace features bronze like Roman coins in various sizes and fish attached to link chains. It ties in the back with gold elastic.

July 10, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Costume, Gale Gordon, Here's Lucy, Jewelry, Lucille Ball, Necklace, Rudy Vallee, Shown Worn, TelevisionTags: Coins, Costume, Gale Gordon, Gold, Here's Lucy, Hippie, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Owned, Lucille Ball Worn, Necklace, Rudy Vallee, Screen Worn Leave a comment

Gold Serpent Bracelet worn by Lucille Ball, Vivian Vance & Lucie Arnaz

It is amazing to see costumes and props being utilized multiple times. This brass serpent bracelet is one such item that spanned the course of two decades and three different Lucille Ball series. It was first seen on Vivian Vance’s (Ethel Mertz) arm in the I Love Lucy episode “Charm School” from season 3 which aired on January 25, 1954. Then Lucy Carmichael wore it on the first episode of season 2 of The Lucy Show – “Lucy Plays Cleopatra” that aired on September 30, 1963. Several years later it makes a final appearance on Lucie Arnaz’s arm, on the season 2 Here’s Lucy episode “Lucy and the Generation Gap” airing on December 8, 1969.

May 25, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Costume, Desi Arnaz Jr, Desilu, Ethel Mertz, Here's Lucy, I Love Lucy, Jewelry, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Personal, Prop, Shown Worn, Television, The Lucy Show, Vivian VanceTags: Bracelet, Brass, Costume, Gold, Here's Lucy, I Love Lucy, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Owned, Lucille Ball Worn, Prop, Screen Worn, Serpent, The Lucy Show, Vivian Vance Leave a comment

Lucille Ball Gifted Rocks Glass Set

For Christmas during the Here’s Lucy years, Lucille Ball gave this set of eight rocks glasses to the cast and crew of her third hit series. One side features a large caricature of Lucy by Al Hirschfeld in black while the reverse has “Love, Lucy” mimicking her actual signature. Each glass measures 4 1/4 inches tall and has a heavy, solid base. These rocks glasses were made to accompany the black vinyl ice bucket featured in a previous post. Cheers to Lucy!

May 8, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Gifts, Here's Lucy, Lucille Ball, Personal, Rocks Glasses, TelevisionTags: Al Hirschfeld, Bar, Cocktails, Gifts, Glass, Here's Lucy, Lucille Ball, Personal, Rocks Glasses Leave a comment

Lucille Ball Gifted Black Vinyl Ice Bucket

During the Here’s Lucy years, Lucille Ball gave this black vinyl ice bucket to the cast and crew of her third hit series. The front features a large caricature of Lucy by Al Hirschfeld in gold. The reverse has “Love, Lucy” mimicking her actual signature. The ice bucket stands 11 inches tall and measures roughly 8 inches in diameter. This particular bucket includes the original thongs just as it was given to a crew member of the show.

March 27, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Gifts, Here's Lucy, Lucille Ball, Personal, TelevisionTags: Al Hirschfeld, Gifts, Here's Lucy, Ice Bucket, Lucille Ball, Personal Leave a comment

Lucille Ball’s ‘Fright’ Wig from Here’s Lucy

This brown fright wig was worn by Lucille Ball on Here’s Lucy in the show entitled “Lucy Goes on her Last Blind Date” from Season 5, episode #16 that originally aired on January 8, 1973. (Synopsis: Uncle Harry’s wealthy cousin Ben played by Don Knotts goes on a date with Lucy but she’s not interested. In a scheme to scare him off she becomes a werewolf in a Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde bit.) The base color matches Lucy’s red hair and it appears to have been over-dyed the dark brown. The wig still retains its rigidness from the original hair spray.

March 23, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Don Knotts, Here's Lucy, Lucille Ball, Shown Worn, Television, WigTags: Don Knotts, Here's Lucy, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Owned, Lucille Ball Worn, Screen Worn, wig Leave a comment

Blue Polka Dot Blouse Worn by Lucille Ball on Here’s Lucy

Season 2 of Here’s Lucy saw the return of the ‘dynamic duo’ when Vivian Vance guest starred in an episode called “Lucy and Viv Visit Tijuana.” Lucille Ball wore this custom-made, blue and white polka dot polyester blouse on their trip south of the border with Gale Gordon.

It features a large pointy collar, covered buttons down the front, side vents, large cuffs with faux button and snap closure at the wrists. The off white pants shown with this blouse were also Lucy’s but the scarf is after market but used here to complete the look. When Lucy liked a certain style of garment she often had multiples made in different colors. This blouse is a prime example – she also had ones made in brown, yellow and pink.

March 7, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Here's Lucy, Lucille Ball, Personal, Television, Vivian VanceTags: Gale Gordon, Here's Lucy, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Owned, Lucille Ball Worn, Mexico, Personal, Screen Worn, Tijuana, Vivian Vance Leave a comment

Here’s Lucy & Happy Anniversary and Goodbye Butterfly Dress

Lucille Ball’s custom-made butterfly house dress worn on Here’s Lucy. Lucy can be seen wearing this one of a kind frock in the episode entitled “Lucy the Mountain Climber” from Season 4, episode #1 and originally aired on November 20, 1971. It’s then seen again later that season in the episode “Lucy’s Replacement” which aired on January 17, 1972. After Lucy broke her leg skiing later that year, she’s confined to a wheelchair wearing the dress in the episode “A Home Is Not an Office” that was part of Season 5 – episode #4 that aired October 2, 1972.

After Here’s Lucy went off the air in early 1974, Lucille starred in a handful of TV specials under her production company – Lucille Ball Productions. One of them was Happy Anniversary and Goodbye alongside Art Carney which aired on November 19,1974. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who played Rico a message therapist, had his first television appearance in a scene with Lucy wearing the butterfly dress.

This polyester garment features a long and dramatic collar, indicative of the 70’s. Faux plastic buttons are visible down the front with hidden snap buttons and full zipper closure on the inside. Also present are two side seam pockets on the hips. The oversized style of this dress allowed for comfortability and helped play into Lucy’s “thicker” stature with the use of a bodysuit in the first half of Happy Anniversary and Goodbye.

January 6, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Art Carney, Here's Lucy, Lucille Ball, Personal, Shown Worn, TelevisionTags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Art Carney, Happy Anniversary and Goodbye, Here's Lucy, Lucille Ball Owned, Lucille Ball Productions, Lucille Ball Worn, Personal, Screen Worn Leave a comment

Lucille Ball’s Pink Polka Dot Blouse

Lucille Ball’s custom-made pink polka dot blouse. Made of sheer silk chiffon it features a ruffled neckline, balloon sleeves with snap closure ruffled cuffs, plus matching pink chiffon belt and scarf. The inside is lined with champagne silk and has a built-in adjustable waistband with snap buttons.

Lucy wore the blouse in promotional photos for Here’s Lucy in the late-1960’s. One of which was used as a photocard with her facsimile signature that would be sent to fans who wrote letters to the star. She is also known to wear it at a private party in the early 70’s. If Lucille liked a particular style of garment she often had similar ones made but in different colors, patterns, or materials. This blouse is an example, where another was made in a yellow/green paisley fabric.

November 15, 2022August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Here's Lucy, Lucille Ball, Personal, TelevisionTags: Chiffon, Lucille Ball Owned, Lucille Ball Worn, Personal, Pink Leave a comment

Lucille Ball’s Blonde Wig from Here’s Lucy

Lucille Ball’s blonde wig worn on Here’s Lucy in the show entitled “Lucy and Jack Benny’s Biography” from Season 3, episode #11 and originally aired on November 23, 1970. (Synopsis: Harry sends Lucy to Jack Benny’s house to write down his biography. Throughout the series of flashbacks we meet many of the women in Jack’s life whom are all played by Lucy.)

Lucy portraying blonde bombshell, “Lola,” wears this Max Factor Studios wig in the ‘fifth chapter’ of the show. The laced sides and front high quality wig was originally styled by Irma Kusely, and it is possible Lucy wore it more than once in other skits. This item was acquired from the estate of Frank Gorey who was the Ball/Arnaz/Morton family’s majordomo for over three decades.

November 5, 2022August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Here's Lucy, Jack Benny, Lucille Ball, Max Factor, Shown Worn, Television, WigTags: blonde, Here's Lucy, jack benny, Lucille Ball Owned, Lucille Ball Worn, Max Factor, Screen Worn, wig Leave a comment