Tag: Lucille Ball Productions

Happy Anniversary and Goodbye Yellow Wedding Gown

One of the first Lucille Ball Specials produced for TV under her production company – Lucille Ball Productions was Happy Anniversary and Goodbye which aired on November 19, 1974. Lucy starred alongside Art Carney as unhappily married couple, Norma and Malcom Michaels who are nearing their 25th anniversary.

Lucille wears this two-piece yellow gown after returning home from her daughter’s wedding. Made of a satin polyester, the custom-made ensemble features an oversized floor length dress with long sleeves, an empire waist and a slit neckline. It was oversized becuase Ball wore a bodysuit to give her the appearance of a “thicker” stature. Watch the show to find out why! The second piece is a lace-like, yellow and white floral design sleeveless duster that also matches the cuffs of the sleeves.

While arguing with Malcom in the opening scene, Art Carney talks about Norma spending $200 on a gown she’ll never wear again. In today’s money that would equate to roughly $1,200. This show is very different from the typical domestic portrayals and is far from the ‘Lucy’ character fans were use to at that time.

by Categories: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Art Carney, Lucille Ball, Personal, Shown Worn, Television, WeddingTags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Here’s Lucy & Happy Anniversary and Goodbye Butterfly Dress

Lucille Ball’s custom-made butterfly house dress worn on Here’s Lucy. Lucy can be seen wearing this one of a kind frock in the episode entitled “Lucy the Mountain Climber” from Season 4, episode #1 and originally aired on November 20, 1971. It’s then seen again later that season in the episode “Lucy’s Replacement” which aired on January 17, 1972. After Lucy broke her leg skiing later that year, she’s confined to a wheelchair wearing the dress in the episode “A Home Is Not an Office” that was part of Season 5 – episode #4 that aired October 2, 1972.

After Here’s Lucy went off the air in early 1974, Lucille starred in a handful of TV specials under her production company – Lucille Ball Productions. One of them was Happy Anniversary and Goodbye alongside Art Carney which aired on November 19,1974. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who played Rico a message therapist, had his first television appearance in a scene with Lucy wearing the butterfly dress.

This polyester garment features a long and dramatic collar, indicative of the 70’s. Faux plastic buttons are visible down the front with hidden snap buttons and full zipper closure on the inside. Also present are two side seam pockets on the hips. The oversized style of this dress allowed for comfortability and helped play into Lucy’s “thicker” stature with the use of a bodysuit in the first half of Happy Anniversary and Goodbye.

by Categories: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Art Carney, Here's Lucy, Lucille Ball, Personal, Shown Worn, TelevisionTags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Lucille Ball Productions travel footlocker trunk. LBP was established in 1968 after Ball sold Desilu to Gulf & Western. When Here’s Lucy moved from Paramount to Universal Studios in 1971, trunks like this were used for transporting costumes, props and wardrobe for off set filming locations. Each trunk was individually numbered, this being 6 with 9 as the highest known. Interior is lined with a red “wood” printed paper. Trunks have been known to come in navy blue and black.

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