Category: Lucy Ricardo

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.”

by Categories: Autograph, Brown Derby, Ethel Mertz, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Lucy Ricardo, Vivian Vance, William FrawleyTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

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.

by Categories: Ashtray, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Desilu Sales, Gifts, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Lucy Ricardo, Personal, Ricky Ricardo, TelevisionTags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Desilu Sales Promotional Lighter

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 lighter.

Measuring 3 1/2 inches tall, the ceramic table lighter with gold trim, brass flint and cork bottom features the Desilu Sales logo underneath a Lucy Ricardo stick figure saying “Hi!” and Lucille Ball’s signature. Other promotional gifts included coffee mugs, ashtrays, coasters and more.

by Categories: Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Desilu Sales, Gifts, I Love Lucy, Lighter, Lucille Ball, Lucy Ricardo, Personal, Ricky Ricardo, TelevisionTags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Desilu Sales Promotional Letter Opener

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 very rare letter opener.

Measuring 8 inches long, the brass plated letter opener has a ceramic inlay plate with the Desilu Sales logo alongside a Lucy Ricardo stick figure and Lucille Ball’s signature. Other promotional gifts included coffee mugs, ashtrays, lighters and more.

by Categories: Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Desilu Sales, Gifts, I Love Lucy, Letter Opener, Lucille Ball, Lucy Ricardo, Personal, Ricky Ricardo, TelevisionTags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

I Love Lucy Studio Audience Ticket to “The Audition” Episode

On October 12, 1951, three days before the official television premiere of I Love Lucy, an audience packed the Desilu Playhouse to watch the filming of an episode called “The Audition.” This was the sixth I Love Lucy show of season one where Lucy Ricardo replaces a clown named Buffo for an act at Ricky’s club. Lucy is referred to as “the professor” and is dressed in an oversized blue suit who plays the cello. Shown here is an original ticket to that show. Tickets were complementary and given out in excess to fill the roughly 300 member audience each week. Accounting for all the episodes of I Love Lucy and number of people in each audience, over 50,000 tickets would have been made during the series run. However so few still exist today making them a rarity and highly collectible among fans.

by Categories: Babalu, CBS, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Ethel Mertz, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Lucy Ricardo, Ricky Ricardo, Television, Ticket, Vivian Vance, William FrawleyTags: , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Elois Jenssen Lucy Ricardo fashion sketch for Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy

A fashion sketch by designer, Elois Jenssen for Lucille Ball’s character Lucy Ricardo on I Love Lucy. This particular illustration was recreated by Elois reportedly in the 1970’s. The original sketches Elois drew in the 1950’s are distinguished by darker vellum paper, tanned presumably from age.

The dress and can be seen in four classic I Love Lucy episodes – “Lucy Has Her Eyes Examined”, “Million Dollar Idea”, “Oil Wells”, and “The Black Wig” spanning 1953 to 1954.

Thankfully, many of Elois’ sketches like this exist as it has aided to accurately colorize garments when CBS began doing to a handful of I Love Lucy shows. This dress and other memorable looks were beautifully recreated in 2004 for the official I Love Lucy Paper Dolls book.

by Categories: Autograph, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Elois Jenssen, Ethel Mertz, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Lucy Ricardo, Ricky Ricardo, Shown Worn, TelevisionTags: , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

I Love Lucy Creator, Jess Oppenheimer “OPPY AWARD”

At the end of the 5th season of I Love Lucy, creator and head writer Jess Oppenheimer left the show. At his farewell party he presented ‘Oppy Awards’ to select members of the cast and crew in appreciation of their long and devoted service. These bronze statuettes looked similar to an Oscar but more like Jess – a little man with glasses, bald and hands that were discreetly positioned in front of his crotch. Made of plaster and attached to a wood base each award stands 10.5 inches tall and has a bronze plaque affixed to the front. This particular “Oppy” award was presented to Dann Cahn, editor of I Love Lucy.

by Categories: Awards, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Gifts, I Love Lucy, Jess Openheimer, Lucille Ball, Lucy Ricardo, Personal, Ricky Ricardo, Television, Vivian Vance, William FrawleyTags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Desilu Sales Promotional Coaster Set

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 very rare coaster set.

Held together in a 4 inch square wooden case, is a ceramic toper featuring the Desilu Sales logo under a Lucy Ricardo stick figure and Lucille Ball’s signature. Underneath is a set of seven cork coasters for use when those meetings go a little longer than expected. Other promotional gifts included coffee mugs, ashtrays, lighters and more.

by Categories: Coaster, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Desilu Sales, Gifts, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Lucy Ricardo, Personal, Ricky Ricardo, TelevisionTags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Gifted I Love Lucy Zippo Lighter

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.

by Categories: Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Gifts, I Love Lucy, Lighter, Lucille Ball, Lucy Ricardo, Personal, Ricky Ricardo, TelevisionTags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment