Tag: Gifts
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.
Lucille Ball & Gary Morton Gifted Pewter Plate
Each year Lucille Ball and Gary Morton commissioned unique items that were given as Christmas presents to colleagues and friends. This custom-made pewter plate was one such present. Made by Wilton Columbia of Pennsylvania, it measures 9 1/2 inches in diameter and is stamped with RWP on the back which stands for Red Wing Pottery. The rim is engraved in large black letters with “Love, Lucy & Gary.”
Lucille Ball Gifted Rocks Glass Set
For Christmas during the Here’s Lucy years, Lucille Ball gave this set of eight rocks glasses to the cast and crew of her third hit series. One side features a large caricature of Lucy by Al Hirschfeld in black while the reverse has “Love, Lucy” mimicking her actual signature. Each glass measures 4 1/4 inches tall and has a heavy, solid base. These rocks glasses were made to accompany the black vinyl ice bucket featured in a previous post. Cheers to Lucy!
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.
Gold ‘Love, Lucy’ Wristwatch from Lucille Ball
For Christmas in 1986 Lucille Ball gave these gold wristwatches to close family and friends as well as those who worked on her last series Life With Lucy. The face of the watch features the Al Hirschfeld caricature above her ‘Love Lucy’ signature. Each watch had a black leather band and came in a hard shell case. Time pieces were a favorite gift of Lucille’s and would often be accompanied by messages reading – “I will always have time for you.”
Two styles were made – ones with large faces and etched lines on the edge were considered the men’s, while a slightly smaller face and smooth edge were for the ladies. The leather bands were also different with the men’s having textured leather (as seen in these photos) and the women’s being smooth. Less than 100 of these watches are said to have been made making them a special keepsake among fans.
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.
Lucille Ball Gifted Black Vinyl Ice Bucket
During the Here’s Lucy years, Lucille Ball gave this black vinyl ice bucket to the cast and crew of her third hit series. The front features a large caricature of Lucy by Al Hirschfeld in gold. The reverse has “Love, Lucy” mimicking her actual signature. The ice bucket stands 11 inches tall and measures roughly 8 inches in diameter. This particular bucket includes the original thongs just as it was given to a crew member of the show.
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.
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.
Lucille Ball and Gary Morton Gifted Coffee Mug
A gift from the Morton’s sometime in the 1960’s was this off-white ceramic mug with gold rim. One side features a stick figure of Lucy which was the same image and signature used for the Desilu Sales items a few years earlier. The opposite side however has a rare stick figure and signature of Gary Morton swinging a golf club yelling “Fore!” This item may be the last time the stick figures were used because after forming Lucille Ball Productions, her Al Hirschfeld caricature would become the ‘standard’ for promotional products and gifts.
Valentine’s Day card from Lucille Ball to Gary Morton
A Valentine’s Day card filled with love from Lucille Ball to husband Gary Morton. The scalloped edge card features rose, bleeding heart and forget-me-not flowers with lace along with a note For you, Honey on the cover. The inside has a preprinted poem of which Lucy has underlined certain words. She also hand wrote “Gary Darling” and signed it “Your Wife.”