Category: Life With Lucy

Life With Lucy “Mother of the Bride” Script Signed by Lucille Ball

Actress Audrey Meadows, best known for portraying Alice Kramden on The Honeymooners, guest starred on the 8th episode of Life With Lucy which aired on November 15, 1986. This was sadly the last show of the series ABC released on television. The show was titled ‘Mother of the Bride’ and Audrey (using her real name for her character) is Lucy Barker’s sister who visits and takes over planning the wedding vows renewal of Ted (Larry Anderson) and Margo (Ann Dusenberry).

The on-screen chemistry between Lucy and Audrey was palpable and had the series continued, Audrey would have most likely become a regular cast member and cohort to Lucy’s antics. This is an original, revised first draft script from that show and has been signed on the cover boldly by Lucille Ball using her signature – Love, Lucy.

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Lucille Ball’s Lilac 3-Piece Ensemble

Lucille Ball returned to TV in the Fall of 1986 in Life With Lucy. The show was produced by Aaron Spelling in association with Lucille Ball Productions for ABC. Her return to a weekly sitcom was heavily publicized, and for good reason. Fans could not wait to see the beloved redhead on television again. One publicity photoshoot of Lucy was done at Spelling’s Holmby Hills mansion dubbed “The Manor.” Photos of Ball wearing various outfits were taken by the pool and in and around the lush backyard.

One such garment was this custom-made, silk 3-piece ensemble. Pale lavender with a scattered floral pattern in black and white, it consists of a deep V-neck short sleeved blouse, loose fitting jacket with long, bell sleeves and pants featuring a bow attached at the waist, side pockets and French cut slits at the hemline. The jacket securely attaches to the blouse at the shoulders with snap buttons.

One image taken during this session can be seen in the October 1986 issue of Life Magazine in a beautiful, color full page spread. Had the series continued longer, Lucille would most likely have worn this outfit on the show. A very similar gown was constructed using the same material but in pale blue and worn in the episode “Mother of the Bride.” Lucy then wore this to Desi Jr. and Amy’s wedding in 1987.

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Lucille Ball’s “FLAME” Max Factor Creme Rough Makeup

We dug into Lucille Ball’s travel cosmetics case from a previous post to share one of her creme rouges. Made by Max Factor, a preferred makeup brand, the color is called ‘FLAME’ (cue the reference to her flaming red hair). Directions say to use finger tips to apply and blend. The swirl marks made by Lucy’s can easily be seen inside of this heavily used cosmetic.

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Gale Gordon Commemorative Theater Glasses

Veteran character actor Gale Gordon appeared in all of Lucille Ball’s television series from the 1950’s until the 1980’s. Lucy originally wanted him to play the roll of Fred Mertz however he was commited to Our Miss Brooks. He was an incredible talent and perfect foil for all of Lucy’s antics.

In the 1980’s there were dinner theaters throughout Canada operated by Stage West. This included two locations in Winnipeg and Edmonton. Gale performed on the Edmonton stage in 1980 for “A Ghost on Tiptoe.” Then in 1982 at the Winnipeg location in “Norman is That You?” These were promotional drinking glasses the theater company produced to honor the stars performing in their shows. Each stand around seven inches tall and hold 8 oz. of liquid.

Today, Stage West still operates a dinner theater in Calgary. The Winnipeg theater was dempolished in 1985, while the one Edmonton now operates under the name Mayfield Dinner Theater.

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Lucille Ball’s Curly Red Wiglet

If a hairstyle called for a certain look or something extra, wiglets were used in addition to the regular wig. Simply pinned on the main wig these added height, shape, more curls or possible used to cover something.

This was one of Lucy’s red wiglets. Her longtime hairstylist Imra Kusely dyed it to match her hair color and the piece still retains the original curls and shape with hairspray from when it was used.

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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).

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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 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.

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Lucille Ball’s 3-Piece Aqua Pant Suit

Aqua was a color that just looked sensational on Lucille Ball. It’s no wonder many of her garments from the 1960’s through the 1980’s were made with variations of this hue.

This 3-piece raw silk pant suit was one of those creations, custom-made for Lucy in the early 1980’s. It was a favorite of hers as it was worn on multiple television appearances and publicity pictures. The aqua blazer features a notched lapel with stitching detail that follows the entire hem, side vents and is lined with a light blue silk. The matching pants have an elastic waist with rear zipper and hook and eye closures, front pleats and two pockets, along with side vents at the bottom hem. A short sleeve silk blouse in a lavender and aqua floral pattern has a mandarin collar with attached bow tie and faux covered buttons down the front. The actual closure for the blouse are a series of hidden snap buttons.

Lucille wears the ensemble to a filming of Password Plus in August of 1980, opposite Dick Martin. The clip shown from this episode is adorable as she beats the buzzer and guesses the password and mentions her hometown of Jamestown, NY. She then can be seen in it again as a guest on The Tonight Show with Joan Rivers. In 1984 Lucy donned it for an interview with Entertainment Tonight (ET) talking about I Love Lucy and her career. The photoshoot in 1986 for Life With Lucy had her sitting in a white wicker peacock chair wearing the outfit in various poses. Photos from this session have been widely used online, in print and even book covers.

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Gold ‘Love, Lucy’ Wristwatch from Lucille Ball

For Christmas in 1986 Lucille Ball gave these gold wristwatches to close family and friends as well as those who worked on her last series Life With Lucy. The face of the watch features the Al Hirschfeld caricature above her ‘Love Lucy’ signature. Each watch had a black leather band and came in a hard shell case. Time pieces were a favorite gift of Lucille’s and would often be accompanied by messages reading – “I will always have time for you.”

Two styles were made – ones with large faces and etched lines on the edge were considered the men’s, while a slightly smaller face and smooth edge were for the ladies. The leather bands were also different with the men’s having textured leather (as seen in these photos) and the women’s being smooth. Less than 100 of these watches are said to have been made making them a special keepsake among fans.

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Lucille Ball’s pink Reebok sneakers worn on “Life With Lucy”

  • LIFE WITH LUCY – “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do” – Shoot Date: October 23, 1986. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)LUCILLE BALL

Pink 1980’s Reebok sneakers worn by Lucille Ball in the Life With Lucy episode, “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do.” In this eleventh and unaired episode, Lucy Barker comes up with a unique gimmick in hopes of bringing more customers to the hardware store.

The sneakers were altered by the prop department, placing a grommet in the heel to run a rope through, which makes the mallet hit the drum whenever she lifts and puts down her foot.

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