Paramount – The Lucy Room

Lucille Ball Handwritten Postcard to Prop Master Kenny Westcott

While vacationing on the Island of Hawaii in June of 1973, Lucille Ball and Gary Morton sent Kenny Westcott and his wife Betty this postcard from the Manua Kea Beach Hotel. Lucy simply writes:

“Dear Betty and Kenny – This place is heavenly! See you soon – Love Lucy & Gary”

Kenneth Westcott first worked at MGM’s commissary when he was in high school during the late 1930’s, then joined the Navy before the start of World War II. Following his service to the US, Kenny went back to work at MGM becoming the second assitant property master and then did a brief stint at Hal Roach Studios before going back to MGM. Around this time he first started working with Lucille Ball on her new series The Lucy Show, continuing onto Here’s Lucy. In between these shows and after, he worked on Lucy’s other films and specials. Kenny was responsible for all the props for every scene of every show or movie.

January 9, 2025January 9, 2025 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, George Cukor, Handwritten, Here's Lucy, Lucille Ball, MGM, Movie, Paramount, Personal, Prop, The Lucy ShowTags: Friendship, Gone With The Wind, Handwritten, Hawaii, Here's Lucy, Hollywood, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, MGM, Note, Paramount, Personal, Postcard, Prop, Signed, The Lucy Show Leave a comment

Lucille Ball Letter to director George Cukor

George Cukor was one Hollywood’s most respected directors, especially during the Golden Age. The Oscar-winning filmmaker directed 48 feature films, 22 of which earned a collective total of 70 Oscar nominations and 18 wins. He personally took home the Oscar for Best Director in 1965 for My Fair Lady starring Audry Hepburn. Lucy was a huge fan of Cukor, especially for his work on the film A Star is Born (1957) starring Judy Garland. She wrote this birthday letter to George on her personal stationery which reads:

“George darling – I have very few regrets or unfulfilled desires but one of them is that I have never had the pleasure and good fortune to have been directed by you “The Fabulous Cukor” Someday – Maybe – Somehow – Have a Happy Happy Birthday Love As Always Lucy”

It is unknown when this letter was written but Lucille would almost get her wish. Cukor was scheduled to direct Lucy’s film version of Mame, but left the project after she broke her leg in a skiing accident and production was delayed a year. Gene Saks took over when she was well enough to return in 1973. Lucy and George would correspond often and remained friends until his passing in 1983.

October 9, 2024October 9, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Birthday, Film, George Cukor, Handwritten, Letter, Lucille Ball, MAME, MGM, Movie, Paramount, Personal, RKOTags: Audrey Hupburn, Birthday, DIrector, Friendship, George Cukor, Gone With The Wind, Handwritten, Hollywood, I Love Lucy, Judy Garland, Letter, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Owned, MAME, MGM, Note, Oscar, Paramount, Personal, RKO, Signed, Stationary Leave a comment

Here’s Lucy Cast & Crew Gifted Hat

Here’s Lucy premiered on CBS in late September of 1968. The third sitcom for ‘Lucy and Co.’ centered around the Carter family who lived in Southern California. Lucille Ball starred alongside Gale Gordon, who portrayed brother-in-law Harrison Carter, and her children Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. as her on screen kids Kim and Craig. The show ran for six successful seasons, ending in 1974.

This navy blue baseball hat was gifted to the cast and crew during the series’ run. The patchwork font of Here’s Lucy adorns the front along with an embroidered replication of the Lucille Ball Productions logo and caricature of Lucy by artist Al Hirschfeld. Very few of these exist today as they were not made for the general public.

September 26, 2024September 26, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Al Hirschfeld, CBS, Desi Arnaz Jr, Desilu, Gale Gordon, Gifts, Hat, Here's Lucy, I Love Lucy, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Paramount, TelevisionTags: Cast & Crew, CBS, Comedy Series, Desi Arnaz Jr, Desilu, Gale Gordon, Gifts, Hat, Here's Lucy, I Love Lucy, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Series, Sitcom, Television, TV Leave a comment

Here’s Lucy Audience Tickets

A change in format was necessary for the Lucy series after Lucille Ball sold Desilu to Gulf & Western in 1967. The rights and ownership were now under their control so she formed Lucille Ball Productions and created a new sitcom called Here’s Lucy.

The Carter family lived in Los Angeles with Lucy’s character employed as a secretary at “Carter’s Unique Employment Agency” owned by brother-in-law Harry, played by co-star Gale Gordon. Lucille’s real-life children portrayed her on screen kids with Lucie Arnaz as Kim and Desi Arnaz Jr. as Craig. The show ran for six seasons from 1968 to 1974.

Here are two original audience tickets – one to the December 11, 1969 filming in season two and the other for a July 9, 1971 episode from season four. There are a few noticable difference between the tickets. For the first couple of seasons the show was filmed at Paramount Studios (formly Desilu). Now a tenant, Lucy and company began to have issues with their new “landlords” so it was decided to move to more favorable conditions at Universal Studios where they remained for the rest of the show’s run. Second, the Lucy image was changed from the 60’s sketch to a favorite of hers by Al Hirschfeld. Lastly, a member of the cast is absent on the ticket from 1971. After the third season Desi Arnaz Jr. left the series to pursue other career opportunities but would return for one last appearance in the fifth season espisode “Lucy and Joe Namath.”

June 19, 2024June 19, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Al Hirschfeld, CBS, Desi Arnaz Jr, Desilu, Gale Gordon, Here's Lucy, I Love Lucy, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Paramount, Television, TicketTags: CBS, Comedy Series, Desi Arnaz Jr, Desilu, Gale Gordon, Here's Lucy, I Love Lucy, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Sitcom, Television, Ticket, TV Leave a comment

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.

September 20, 2023September 21, 2023 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Desilu Sales, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Paramount, Personal, RKO, TelevisionTags: Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Desilu Sales, Hollywood, I Love Lucy, Investment, Lucille Ball, Mission Impossible, Star Trek, Stock, Stock Certificate, Stock Exchange, Studio, The Twilight Zone, Traded 2 Comments

Plaid Tartan Blazer worn by Lucille Ball in ‘Sorrowful Jones’

In 1949, Lucille Ball starred opposite Bob Hope in the comedic film Sorrowful Jones. Lucy plays Gladys a nightclub singer and can be seen wearing this plaid wool tartan blazer. Featuring dark brown velvet cuffs and lapels, the jacket originally had three covered buttons in the front however only one is still present. Inner design elements include shoulder pads and metal weights sewn into the back hem to help keep it weighted down. The neckline still retains the original designer label and Paramount studio label with “L.Ball” written in pen. The black wool skirt photographed with this blazer also belonged to Lucille Ball’s personal wardrobe circa 1980’s.

January 23, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Bob Hope, Film Worn, Lucille Ball, Movie, Paramount, Personal, Shown WornTags: Bob Hope, Film Worn, Lucille Ball Owned, Lucille Ball Worn, Paramount, Personal, Screen Worn, Sorrowful Jones Leave a comment