New York City – The Lucy Room

Large 1957 Hawaiian Postcard from Lucille Ball to Journalist Radie Harris

In May of 1957, during the hiatus of filming I Love Lucy, the Arnaz family vacationed on the Big Island of Hawaii. The last photo shown of Lucy, Desi, Lucie and Desi Jr. is believed to have been taken on this trip in the eastern city of Hilo. While on the island, Lucille Ball sent this oversized postcard of an erupting Mauna Loa to journalist Radie Harris with the quirky message:

“Dear Radie – I took 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of flour, just a pinch of baking soda – and look what happened – but everything is so different and gigantic over here I should have known – Love Lucy Arnaz”

Radie was best known for her work for The Hollywood Reporter, writing columns from the 1940s until 1989. She then had her own radio show interviewing celebrities, befriending many of them, on CBS. Harris also was a contributing writer to Photoplay magazine, Variety, and other movie magazines throughout her career. In 1982, Radie was honored by the Publicists Guild of America and lived to be ninety six passing away in 2001 at the Actors Fund Nursing Home in Englewood, New Jersey.

May 21, 2025May 21, 2025 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Broadway, Card, CBS, Desi Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr, Desilu, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Personal, RadioTags: Broadway, Desi Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr., Desilu, Friendship, Handwritten, Hawaii, Hawaiian, Hollywood, I Love Lucy, Journalist, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, New York City, Note, Personal, Postcard, Radie Harris, Signed, Vacation Leave a comment

Wildcat Broadway Playbill Signed by Lucille Ball

The musical comedy “Wildcat” debuted in Philadelphia on October 29, 1960. However, 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. Finally on December 16th it opened at the Alvin Theatre in Midtown Manhattan.

This an original playbill from one of the performances on West 52nd Street that has been signed “Love Lucy” by the headliner herself, Lucille Ball. Three other signatures also adorn the cover who are believed to be dancers or other actors in the show.

May 8, 2025 by The Lucy Room Categories: Desilu, Lucille Ball, Television, WildcatTags: 1960, Alvin Theatre, Autograph, Broadway, Desilu, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Musical, New York City, NYC, Playbill, Program, Promotion, Signed, Wildcat Leave a comment

Lucille Ball’s Tan Mink Car Coat

Lucille Ball kept warm in the winter months for over three decades wearing this tank mink car coat. Her husband Gary Morton gave her the fur in the mid 1960’s, wearing it on camera for their mid-January appearance of the gameshow Password.

The coat features a gold silk lining, two side pockets, a large lapel and collar that can be stood up or laid down and a rear belt. While on Password she says, “I like furs better than I do jewelry,” this fur being one of her favorites.

While in New York Lucy had a series of publicity shots taken in the coat high above the NYC skyline. She took it with her on overseas trips to Europe and into the 1980’s wore the coat to a “Little Shop of Horrors” show.

January 15, 2025January 15, 2025 by The Lucy Room Categories: Fur Coat, Gary Morton, Gifts, Lucille Ball, Personal, Shown Worn, TelevisionTags: Car Coat, Europe, Fur, Fur Coat, Gary Morton, Gifts, Ginger Rogers, Lucille Ball Owned, Lucille Ball Worn, MInk, New York City, NYC, Password, Personal, Screen Worn, Show Worn, Television Leave a comment

Elizabeth Patterson Christmas Card

Elizabeth Patterson was a veteran character actress before she famously became known as Matilda Trumbull, neighbor to Lucy and Ricky Ricardo on I Love Lucy. Like most actors from the golden era of Hollywood, Patterson began her career in the theatre with her first Broadway appearance in 1913’s Everyman. Her first movie was a silent film made in 1926 called The Boy Friend.

Elizabeth’s introductory appearance on television was in fact I Love Lucy for the 1952 episode “The Marriage License.” She portrayed Mrs. Willoughby who marries the Ricardos for a second time in Greenwich, Connecticut (honoring where Lucy and Desi were wed in real life). She was then cast as Mrs. Trumbull after Little Ricky was born.

This is a holiday card sent by the actress. The single sided piece of red cardstock with a metallic gold border, measures roughly 8 inches by 3 inches and features Patterson’s writing and signature printed in white that reads:

“Christmas Greetings from Elizabeth Patterson”

November 21, 2024November 21, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Card, CBS, Christmas, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Personal, Vivian Vance, William FrawleyTags: Card, Christmas, Christmas Card, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Elizabeth Patterson, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, MGM, Mrs. Trumbull, New York City, Note, Personal, RKO, Vivian Vance, WIlliam Frawley 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

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

William Frawley Handwritten Letter on I Love Lucy Stationery

William Frawley writes to a friend by the name of Roger in this personal letter dated April 10, 1953. Bill thanks him for his visit in Hollywood and also lets him know he is scheduled to be in New York City early June to appear on Milton Berle’s show.

Handwritten notes and letters from Frawley are quite rare and what is even more interesting is that this was done on his own personalized I Love Lucy stationery. It is unknown if the other principle actors from the show had similar letterhead of their own or something Bill made for himself.

January 3, 2024October 9, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, CBS, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Letter, Lucille Ball, Personal, Vivian Vance, William FrawleyTags: Desi Arnaz, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Letter, Lucille Ball, Milton Berle, New York City, Note, Personal, Vivian Vance, WIlliam Frawley Leave a comment

Lucille Ball’s Glass Coaster from NYC Apartment

Lucille Ball returned to New York City in the early 1980’s when she and Gary moved into an apartment on the East side of Manhattan so she could be closer to her grandkids and daughter Lucie. Paula Stewart, close friend and co-star of the Broadway musical Wildcat, was tasked to be the interior decorator. Lucy wanted a “clean, uncomplicated space that was cheerful and child-proof.” This glass coaster with silver trim was part of that decor and adorned her dining room table as featured in the May 1984 issue of Architectural Digest.

November 8, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Gary Morton, I Love Lucy, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Personal, TelevisionTags: Broadway, Coaster, Gary Morton, Glass, I Love Lucy, Lucille Bal Owned, Lucille Ball, Manhattan, New York City, Paula Stewart, Personal, Silver, Wildcat Leave a comment

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.

October 3, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Ashtray, Cigarettes, Desi Arnaz Jr, Desilu, Fred Ball, I Love Lucy, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Personal, TelevisionTags: Ashtray, Beverly Hills, Broadway, Desilu, I Love Lucy, Lucille Bal Owned, Lucille Ball, Manhattan, New York City, Personal, Wildcat Leave a comment

Lucille Ball Autographed ‘Stone Pillow’ Poster

Lucille Ball stepped out of her “Lucy” comfort zone in 1985 to portray a homeless woman living on the streets of New York City. In the TV film Stone Pillow, Lucille plays ‘Florabelle’ (named after her grandmother) an eccentric bag lady who prides herself on being an independant loner toting all her worldly possessions in cart.

This window card sized poster was made to promote the movie however a selection of 100 were autographed ‘Love Lucy’ for a charity event. Production took place during an unusal warm spell in the Big Apple and wearing layers of winter clothing for her costume, Lucy at age 73, endured extreme temperatues well into the triple digits. Reviews are mixed but she should be commended for completing the project all while giving a superb performance.

September 27, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Card, Handwritten, Lucille Ball, Movie, Personal, Stone Pillow, TelevisionTags: Charity, Film, Handwritten, I Love Lucy, Love, Lucille Ball, Movie, New York City, Personal, Stone Pillow, Television 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.

August 8, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Cigarettes, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, I Love Lucy, Lighter, Lucille Ball, Personal, TelevisionTags: Beverly Hills, Brass, Broadway, Crystal, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Desilu Studios, I Love Lucy, Lighter, Lucille Ball, New York City, Personal, Wildcat Leave a comment