Category: I Love Lucy

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.

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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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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.

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Vivian Vance’s Large Embroidered Shawl

Vivian Vance owned and wore this oversized, off-white silk shawl. It features an ornate floral pattern embroidered in a champagne color with very long tassels around the hem for added drama. Viv gave the wrap to her little sister Lou Ann Graham who kept it for many years before consigning the piece for an auction held in Lucille Ball’s hometown of Jamestown, New York in the mid 2000’s.

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Lucille Ball’s Glass Coaster from NYC Apartment

Lucille Ball returned to New York City in the early 1980’s when she and Gary moved into an apartment on the East side of Manhattan so she could be closer to her grandkids and daughter Lucie. Paula Stewart, close friend and co-star of the Broadway musical Wildcat, was tasked to be the interior decorator. Lucy wanted a “clean, uncomplicated space that was cheerful and child-proof.” This glass coaster with silver trim was part of that decor and adorned her dining room table as featured in the May 1984 issue of Architectural Digest.

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Lucille Ball’s Crystal Cigarette Box

This ornate crystal cigarette box was used by Lucille Ball and Gary Morton to hold their favorite ciggies. It features an etched line pattern with brass hinges and trim along with a sold brass rose handle.

In 1974 The Sunday Times Magazine interviewed Lucille Ball and did a spread at home for their coverstory entitled, “The eternal Lucy show” where the box is visible on a side table in her Beverly Hills sitting room. The crystal lighter we featured in a previous post can also be seen next to this holder.

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Lucie Arnaz Birthday Party Invitation

A good ole fashioned hoedown was theme one year for Lucie Arnaz’s birthday party based on this original invitation. Held at the house on Roxbury Drive in Beverly Hills, guests were asked to “wear yer Levi’s ‘n ginghams” and RSVP for the July 17th celebration. Reading this flyer sounds like script from the I Love Lucy episodes where Cousin Ernie visited the Ricardos.

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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.

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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.

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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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William Frawley Inscribed Brown Derby Menu

The Brown Derby was once an iconic restaurant in Hollywood and the surrounding area. It was a place where one could spot their favorite movie stars enjoying a meal – “Remember, they’re just people like you and me.” Said to be birthplace of the Cobb Salad, the building was also shapped like the hat which it was named.

Lucy Ricardo, Fred and Ethel Mertz went to ‘the watering hole’ in a famous epsiode of I Love Lucy, seeing the likes of Cary Grant, Eve Arden and of course William Holden. This original dinner menu from ‘The Derby’ was used by a fan to obtain an autograph from William Frawley. Bill inscribed on the back in part…”hello and good wishes.”

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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.

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