Film Worn – The Lucy Room

Joseff of Hollywood Earrings worn by Lucille Ball in MGM’s “Meet the People”

Lucille Ball’s fourth film with MGM was 1944’s “Meet the People.“ She stars alongside Dick Powell, featuring Virginia O’Brien, Bert Lahr, Rags Ragland and June Allyson in the World War II era musical. Lucy plays Julie Hampton, a Broadway star who leaves the stage to join Rosie the Riveters, becoming a welder and falling in love with her coworker “Swanee” played by Powell.

Lucille wears this pair of simulated diamond and pearl earrings in the movie. Made by Joseff of Hollywood each clip back earring is designed as a cluster of three pear-shaped simulated diamonds, centered upon a simulated pearl.

Eugene Joseff was the premier costume jeweler during Hollywood’s golden age. He developed a matte metal finish for his jewelry which minimized the glare from lighting. Their custom jewels were designed, manufactured, and rented to movie studios and can be seen in nearly every production from the 1930’s to the 1950’s.

December 5, 2024December 5, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Costume, Earrings, Film, Film Worn, Jewelry, Joseff of Hollywood, Lucille Ball, Meet the People, MGMTags: Bert Lahr, Broadway, Cowardly Lion, Diamond, DIck Powell, Earrings, Film Worn, Hollywood, Jewelry, Joseff of Hollywood, June Allyson, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Worn, Meet the People, MGM, Movie, Musical, Pearl, Rags Ragland, Screen Worn, Virginia O'Brien, Wizard of Oz, World War II Leave a comment

Lucille Ball ‘Sally Elliot’ Skirt from “The Fuller Brush Girl”

In 1950 while under contract with Columbia Pictures, Lucille Ball starred in the slapstick comedy The Fuller Brush Girl. Lucy plays Sally Elliot opposite Eddie Albert’s Humphrey Briggs who both work for a steamship company. After getting fired, Lucy’s character tries to sell Fuller Brush cosmetics.

Created by Academy Award winning French-American costume designer Jean Louis, Lucille wears this plaid pleated skirt throughout the last half of the film as she and Humphrey out run a criminal gang. The interior retains the original Columbia studio label with “L. Ball” written in pen.

August 16, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Columbia Pictures, Costume, Film Worn, Lucille Ball, Movie, Personal, Shown Worn, The Fuller Brush GirlTags: Columbia Pictures, Eddie Albert, Film Worn, Fuller Brush Girl, Jean Louis, Lucille Ball Owned, Lucille Ball Worn, Personal, Plaid, Screen Worn, Skirt Leave a comment

Lucille Ball’s Bardot Blouse from ‘The Fuller Brush Girl’

In a disguise at a burlesque show, Lucille wears this champagne-colored off the shoulder silk bardot blouse. Created by Academy Award winning French-American costume designer Jean Louis, the blouse features a ruched bodice and waistband, elastic neckline and cuffs with zipper and hook-and-eye closures in the back. The interior retains the original Columbia studio label with “L. Ball” written in pen.

June 6, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Columbia Pictures, Costume, Film Worn, Lucille Ball, Movie, Personal, Shown Worn, The Fuller Brush GirlTags: Champagne, Columbia Pictures, Eddie Albert, Film Worn, Fuller Brush Girl, Jean Louis, Lucille Ball Owned, Lucille Ball Worn, Personal, Screen Worn 2 Comments

Lucille Ball’s MAME Costume by Theadora Van Runkle

On March 7, 1974 Lucille Ball brought “Mame Dennis” to the big screen for her final feature film, MAME. She wore an unprecedented number of costumes in the movie, all of which were designed by Theodora Van Runkle.

One of the gowns was this three piece ensemble consisting of a silver lamè sleeveless, floor length gown with high collar, silver lamè turban with black lace lining, and a black wool and satin jacket with silver lamè lapels and cuffs with large covered buttons. The labels have large ornate deco-style diamond pins attached.

Lucy wears the costume for roughly ten seconds in the film during Robert Preston’s serenade of “Loving You” but dawns it more often for the press luncheon at the start of filming, publicity photoshoots as well as other events.

March 14, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Film Worn, Lucille Ball, MAME, Movie, Shown Worn, Warner BrothersTags: Film Worn, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Worn, MAME, Movie, Personal, Screen Worn, Warner Brothers Leave a comment

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