Tag: Beverly Hills

Lucille Ball’s 1983 March of Dimes Jack Benny Memorial Award

On Thursday evening, June 2, 1983 Lucille Ball was honored by the March of Dimes with the Jack Benny Memorial Award at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. Guests for the event included Julie Andrews, Bob Hope, Jack Lemmon, Dean Martin and Gregory Peck. Close friend and fellow comedian Carol Burnett presented Lucy the award for lifelong contributions to the world of entertainment and her dedicated support of charitable causes.

The award is actually an enameled wood music box that measures roughly 9 inches by 5 inches and features a bronze plaque on the inside engraved “March of Dimes Jack Benny Memorial Award presented to Lucille Ball – June 2, 1983” along with a depiction of Benny’s signature violin and the March of Dimes logo.

The exterior lid is adorned with a decorative antique porcelain rose from the People’s Republic of China, crafted circa 1862-74 by Tung Chih. Also shown here is an original silver program from the ceremony with an illustration sketch of Lucille on the cover. Ball also signed it on the front as well inside with an inscription “To Eddy.” The program is filled with photos and salutations from various celebrities, friends, industry leaders and networks.

by Categories: Autograph, Awards, Bob Hope, Carol Burnett, Jack Benny, Lucille Ball, Personal, Program, TelevisionTags: , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Lucille Ball’s Nu-Trex Wig Cleaner

Categorized under unique and unusual is this empty tin quart of Nu-Trex Wig Cleaner once owned and used by Lucille Ball. Since 1947, Nu-Trex has created shampoos, conditioners and cleaners for hair industry professionals, including products for synthetic and real wigs.

Lucy famously wore many wigs starting in 1960’s so she and longtime hairstylist Imra Kusely most likely went through many bottles of this product. The tin was part of a collection of pieces Frank Gorey kept as he assisted the estate of cleaning and clearing out items from the Beverly Hills home, after Lucille’s passing. Frank was the Ball/Arnaz/Morton family’s majordomo for over three decades.

by Categories: I Love Lucy, Irma Kusely, Lucille Ball, Max Factor, Personal, Television, WigTags: , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Lucille Ball & Gary Morton Bedside Turn Down Mat

Turn down mats are placed bedside on the floor so when you step into bed it reads “Good Night.” Then when you arrise and get out of bed, the opposite side reads “Good Morning.” This white linen turn down mat was made for Lucille Ball and Gary Morton. Embroidered with light blue thread the mat reads:

“Good Morning Lucy – Good Night Gary”

It’s unclear if this is a prototype sample or a gift to the couple as the same name should appear on both sides but it is certainly a unique item from the Morton’s bedroom.

by Categories: Gary Morton, Gifts, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, PersonalTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Lucille Ball’s Travel Backgammon Board

By the late 1970’s and throughout the 80’s Lucille Ball played backgammon for hours on end with whomever was up for the challenge. She also often played at PIPS, a backgammon club in Beverly Hills founded by Hugh Hefner. Lucy even constructed permanent tables in her homes and often held private tournaments with friends.

Sometimes she would bring her own traveling set to PIPS like this one, which she would also take on trips to play on the go. The board and pieces can be seen with Lucy and her opponent in the photograph by Peter C. Borsari taken at PIPS.

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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.

by Categories: Cigarettes, Gary Morton, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Personal, TelevisionTags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

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.

by Categories: Ashtray, Cigarettes, Desi Arnaz Jr, Desilu, Fred Ball, I Love Lucy, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Personal, TelevisionTags: , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

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.

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

Lucille Ball’s Custom Backgammon Board

Lucille Ball loved playing backgammon. By the late 1970’s and throughout the 80’s she played for hours on end with whomever was up for the challenge.

She also often played at PIPS, a backgammon club in Beverly Hills founded by Hugh Hefner. It is very possible PIPS had this beautiful, custom backgammon board made for Lucy. It features a solid wood frame and bar, brown suede fabric and her famous Al Hirschfeld caricature.

Lucille Ball owned many backgammon sets. She even constructed permanent tables to be installed in her home, had several traveling cases to play on the go and often held private in-home tournaments with those close to her.

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Lucille Ball’s Monogramed Clothes Hanger

Out of Lucille Ball’s closet is this ornate, personal clothes hanger. Monogramed with a large ‘L’ the wooden hanger is painted in white and gold – a favorite color scheme of the redhead. We can imagine one of her finest gowns or furs hanging from it in Beverly Hills.

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Lucille Ball’s 1985 Will Rogers Memorial Award

On March 1, 1985 Lucille Ball was the recipient of the annual Will Rogers Memorial Award from the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association, at a black-tie Silver Anniversary Ball held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Past honorees include Bob Hope, Carol Burnett, Ella Fitzgerald, George Burns with Jimmy Durante being the first entertainer recognized in 1960 for outstanding contributions to the entertainment world.

The wooden plaque measures 11″ x 13.5″ with a copper-faced plate featuring the sculptured relief image of Will Rogers at the top and the engraved commendation below. Paired with the award is an original program from the evening signed by Lucy on the cover.

by Categories: Autograph, Awards, Lucille Ball, Personal, Television, Will RogersTags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment