Desilu – Page 2 – The Lucy Room

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

Lucille Ball in Wildcat Broadway Promotional Items

In 1960 Lucille Ball headed East to star in the musical comedy “Wildcat” on Broadway. The show, which was partially financed by Desilu, debuted in Philadelphia on October 29, 1960. The official Broadway premiere was delayed because of a major blizzard that left the trucks hauling sets and costumes to New York City stranded for several days. However, on December 16th it opened at the Alvin Theatre on West 52nd Street.

These are some original promotional items which include a large program featuring cast bios on the inside and a fantastic photo of Lucy as Wildcat “Wildy” Jacson on the back, an oversized sticker and pinback button both with matching color scheme of a red and yellow and the proclamation “Broadway Loves Lucy.”

September 4, 2024September 4, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Desilu, Lucille Ball, Television, WildcatTags: 1960, Alvin Theatre, Broadway, Button, Desilu, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Marketing, Musical, New York City, NYC, Pin, Pinback, Program, Promotion, Sticket, Wildcat Leave a comment

Desi Arnaz Indian Wells Hotel Liquor License Application

In 1957, Desi Arnaz opened a hotel outside of Palm Springs in Indian Wells, CA reported by The Desert Sun as “a new, luxurious, million-dollar hotel which nestles at the edge of the desert near the Santa Rosa mountains, bordering on the beautiful greens of the Indian Wells Golf Course.”

Presented here is Desi’s application for an alcoholic beverage license for the hotel. Filed on November 15, 1956 in front of Sergeant Forbes of the L.A.P.D., the two page document includes Arnaz’s personal information, signatures and full set of fringerprints.

The hotel still exists today under the name Indian Wells Resort Hotel and pays homage to its founder with many photos of Desi and Lucille Ball throughout the property.

July 25, 2024July 25, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Babalu, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Palm Springs, Personal, Ricky RicardoTags: Alcohol, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Fingerprints, Handwritten, Hotel, I Love Lucy, Indian Wells, License, Liquor, Lucille Ball, Palm Springs, Personal, Western Hills Hotel Leave a comment

Lucille Ball’s Bandmaster Uniform from The Lucy Show “Main Street U.S.A.”

Lucy Carmichael and Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) travel to Bancroft, a small town whos mayor is asking the bank for a loan to build a highway. Unfortunately this construction would tear right down the middle of Main Street. Lucy joins the residents opposing the demolition for this January 1967 episode in season five of The Lucy Show.

Lucy performs a catchy song and dance number with guest stars Mel Torme and John Bubbles wearing this sequined bandmaster uniform. Designed by Edward Stevenson the costume consists of three, handmade pieces. The heavy, elongated jacket is completely covered in pink sequins with a matching mesh material placed over the top to soften the reflection and shine in the studio lights. It is adorned with gold metal buttons, gold lame trim on all the hems and gold metal fringe on the shoulder epaulettes, cuffs and bottom hem.

To complete the look, Stevenson constructed a custom-made hat that still has the original aqua feather attached and a pink velvet undergarment. This is also trimed with the metal fringe on the leg openings and is visible at the very end of the routine when Lucy does her big finish, raising her arms into the air. This is an incredibly detailed costume that must have taken hours to complete and Lucille looked sensational in it for the show-stopping finale.

July 18, 2024July 18, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: CBS, Costume, Desilu, Edward Stevenson, Gale Gordon, Lucille Ball, Personal, Shown Worn, Television, The Lucy ShowTags: Bandmaster, Desilu, Edward Stevenson, I Love Lucy, John Bubbles, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Owned, Lucille Ball Worn, Main Street, Marching, Mel Torme, Screen Worn, Sequins, The Lucy Show, USA 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

Desi Arnaz Autographed Del Mar Race Track Program

Desi Arnaz loved horse racing and even had a ranch in Corona, California where racers were bred. In the 1950’s a favorite getaway of his was going down to Del Mar, just north of San Diego. There at the famous race track and thoroughbred club “where the turf meets the surf,” Mr. Aranz could be found each racing season. After he and Lucy divorced, Desi bought a home mere feet from the track, right on the ocean and lived there until his passing. This program from the 1977 season was signed by Desi on the cover. Many photos of Desi and family can be seen in and around the track to this day.

May 30, 2024May 30, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Babalu, Desi Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr, Desilu, Here's Lucy, I Love Lucy, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, TelevisionTags: 1977, Autograph, Del Mar, Desi Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr., Desilu, Horse Racing, Horses, I Love Lucy, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Racetrack, Signed, Television, Thoroughbred Leave a comment

Lucille Ball’s Scrapbook Photo with Red Skelton

When I Love Lucy changed its format from 30 mintues to a whole hour in 1957, the Desilu team renamed it “The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show” aka “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.” For the second season, episode three, airing February 9, 1959 – ‘Lucy Goes to Alaska’ the guest star was fellow red-headed comedian Red Skelton. Towards the end of the show the duo perform a memorable pantomime sketch portraying tramps and finish with a song titled “Poor Everybody Else.”

This black and white 8×10 original publicity photo of Lucy and Red was retained by Lucille Ball for her scrapbook. The interior of the folder that displays the photo reads “Scrapbook – with Red “poor us” – poor everybody else” written entirely by Lucille. She was known to keep special photos, write ups in the press and momentos in huge scrapbooks throughout her career. This ‘Freddy the Freeloader’ act is brilliant for it was done by two of the best pantomime actors.

April 17, 2024April 17, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, CBS, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Lucy Ricardo, Personal, Photo, Red Skelton, Ricky Ricardo, Television, The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show, The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, Vivian Vance, William FrawleyTags: Alaska, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Owned, Notes, Pantomime, Personal, Photo, Red Skelton, Scrapbook, Television, The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show, The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, TV, Vivian Vance, WIlliam Frawley Leave a comment

The Lucy Show Audience Tickets

The 1960’s saw a return of the “Lucy” character when Lucille Ball started a new weekly comedy series called The Lucy Show. Teaming up with old pal Vivian Vance, the dynamic duo brought back the hilarity that was beloved the world over.

Lucy Carmichael, a widow with two kids and Vivian Bagley, a divorcee with one kid share a home together in ficticious Danfield, New York in a show that first aired on October 1, 1962. It was hit, lasting six seasons until early 1968.

Presented here are two audience tickets to a filming of this iconic sitcom. The first is from the eighth show of the second season for the episode “Lucy Decides to Redecorate” which was filmed on June 20, 1963. This season was the start of the series being filmed in color, giving fans the chance to finally see the red-head in all hues on TV. Special note – the ticket lists Vivian Vance as a co-star.

The other ticket is from a fifth season, October 27, 1966 filming of the episode entitled “Lucy and the Monkey” and does not list Viv or any co-stars. Vance left the series at the end of the third season but would return occasionally as a guest star. By this time Gale Gordon was the primary co-star and foil to Lucy’s antics.

April 3, 2024May 21, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: CBS, Desilu, Ethel Mertz, Gale Gordon, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Television, The Lucy Show, Ticket, Vivian VanceTags: CBS, Comedy Series, Desilu, Ethel Mertz, Fred Mertz, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Sitcom, Television, The Lucy Show, Ticket, TV, Vivian Vance Leave a comment

Dolores “Lolita” Arnaz Portrait

Dolores (Lolita) Arnaz de Acha y de Socias was considered to be one of the most beautiful women in Cuba. For Lucy fans she was the mother of none other than, Desi Arnaz. Dolores was born in 1896 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and her father was a founding member of the Bacardi Rum Company in Cuba.

The Arnaz family lived a life of privilege until they lost everything in 1933 when the Cuban Revolution began. Desi helped his mother flee their home before it was destroyed, eventually coming to Miami. Desi continued to diligently care for his mother for the rest of his life and beyond until her passing on October 24, 1988.

This is an original, over-sized photo one owned by the family of Lolita where Desi handwrote on the back “1 Big one for me – D.A.”

February 22, 2024February 22, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Babalu, Desi Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr, Desilu, Dolores Arnaz, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Personal, Photo, Ricky RicardoTags: Bacardi Rum, Cuba, Desi Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr, Desilu, Dolores Arnaz, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Lolita, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Mother, Personal, Photo, Santo Domingo Leave a comment

Lucille Ball’s Wool & Silver Fox Fur Coat

Lucille Ball once said, “I love furs. I actually like them more than jewelry.” This black wool coat trimmed in silver fox fur was one of her favorites. For their one year anniversary Lucy and Gary decided to head East to New York City and celebrate where they first met. During the Thanksgiving holiday hiatus, Lucy and Vivian Vance flew into Idlewild Airport to meet their husbands on November 15, 1962 where Lucy was photographed wearing the coat.

An image of Lucy and Viv taken on this trip inspired famed characture artist Al Hirschfeld to capture the dynamic dou which he rendered into the well-known sketch of Lucille holding her purse and cigarette. This artwork would be used over the years for such things as the 1984 Museum of Broadcasting event honoring Lucy as the First Lady of Comedy.

Lucy Carmichael would wear the coat as part of a disguise on the March 22, 1965 episode of The Lucy Show entitled, “Lucy and the Beauty Doctor.” It is most likely around this time Lucille gifted the coat to close friend and actress Carole Cook who often guest starred in the series and lent her voice as ‘Lady Cynthia’ for this particular episode. Carole would wear and retain the coat for over the next 50 years.

February 14, 2024February 15, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Al Hirschfeld, Carole Cook, CBS, Costume, Desilu, Fur Coat, Gary Morton, Gifts, Lucille Ball, Personal, Shown Worn, Television, The Lucy Show, Vivian Vance, WeddingTags: Al Hirschfeld, Carole Cook, Desilu, Fur, Fur Coat, Gary Morton, Gifts, Idlewild Airport, Lucille Ball Owned, Lucille Ball Worn, New York City, NYC, Personal, Screen Worn, Show Worn, Silver Fox, Television, The Lucy Show, Vivian Vance, Wool Leave a comment

Forever Darling Jamestown Premiere Poster & Newspaper

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz traveled across the country in early 1956 to promote their second film for MGM, “Forever Darling.” The premiere was held on February 6th at the Palace Theater in Lucy’s hometown of Jamestown, NY. Both Desi and Lucy were awe struck by the amount of love and support the people of Jamestown showed them during their whirlwind two-day visit.

Shown here is an original poster which most likely hung in many stores and businesses throught the city along with a February 7, 1956 second edition of the Jamestown Post-Journal. The Arnaz’s covered the headlines with photos and articles throughout the paper documenting their journey.

February 7, 2024February 7, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Forever Darling, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, MGM, Movie, PersonalTags: Desi Arnaz, Desilu, February, Film, Forever Darling, I Love Lucy, Jamestown, Lucille Ball, Movie, Newspaper, Personal, Poster, Premiere Leave a comment

My Favorite Husband 1950 Audience Ticket

Lucille Ball ventured into a regular radio show in 1948 with CBS’s My Favorite Husband. Ball starred in the program as “Liz Cooper”, a slightly zany housewife, alongside her husband “George”, a business man, played by Richard Denning. The show was based on the book by Isabel Scott Rorick called Mr. & Mrs. Cugat.

It was very popular with high ratings and CBS decided to turn the radio show into a television series by 1950, keeping Lucy as the main character with Denning recurring his role as well. She refused wanting her real husband, Desi Arnaz to be her TV husband. Writers for the show were Bob Carroll, Jr. Madelyn Pugh Davis and Jess Oppenheimer who also all moved to the TV version. They were the brillant minds that turned Lucille into the LUCY we all know and love.

This is an original audience ticket for the May 10, 1950 recording, admitting entrance into the Columbia Square Playhouse on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood.

January 31, 2024August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Babalu, CBS, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Ethel Mertz, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Lucy Ricardo, Ricky Ricardo, Television, Ticket, Vivian Vance, William FrawleyTags: CBS, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Ethel Mertz, Fred Mertz, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Lucy Ricardo, My Favorite Husband, Radio, Ricky Ricardo, Ticket, Vivian Vance, WIlliam Frawley Leave a comment