Show Worn – The Lucy Room

Finger Cots Worn by Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy “The Audition” Episode

“The Audition” was filmed on October 12, 1951, a mere three days before the official television premiere of I Love Lucy. This was the sixth episode of the show where Lucy Ricardo replaces a clown named Buffo for an act at Ricky’s club. Lucy is referred to as “the professor” and is dressed in an oversized blue suit who plays the cello.

This act was initially conceived by the Arnazes along with Pepito & Joanne Perez as part of a vaudeville style act Lucy and Desi used, touring the country proving to CBS audiences across America would accept them. They also used the skit for the I Love Lucy pilot.

Part of Lucy’s costume were these cotton finger cots. Each used to cover the fingers of her left hand as she takes them off in dramatic fashion to the beat of the drum. The entire costume was originally on display at Universal Studios Hollywood ‘Lucy A Tribute’ exhibit for over 20 years. The rest of the outfit is now displayed alongside the prop cello in Lucy’s hometown of Jamestown, NY at the Lucy-Desi Museum.

February 6, 2025February 6, 2025 by The Lucy Room Categories: Babalu, CBS, Costume, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Ethel Mertz, I Love Lucy, Jamestown, Lucille Ball, Lucy Ricardo, Pepito the Spanish Clown, Prop, Ricky Ricardo, Shown Worn, Television, Vivian Vance, William FrawleyTags: CBS, Cello, Costume, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Ethel Mertz, Fred Mertz, Hollywood, I Love Lucy, Jamestown, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Worn, Lucy Ricardo, Pilot, Prop, Ricky Ricardo, Screen Used, Screen Worn, Show Worn, Universal Studios, Vaudeville, Vivian Vance, WIlliam Frawley 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

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

Lucille Ball’s Yellow Paisley Blouse Worn on Dinah!

This yellow paisley blouse was custom-made for Lucille Ball in the early 1970’s and is constructed of a sheer silk chiffon. It features a deep V, ruffled neckline and balloon sleeves with snap closure ruffled cuffs, all in a yellow and green print. The inside is lined with champagne silk and has a built-in adjustable waistband with snap buttons.

The blouse was first worn on screen by Lucie Arnaz in an episode of Here’s Lucy “Lucy and the Mountain Climber” which aired on September 20, 1971. In June of 1976 Lucille was a guest on Dinah Shore’s show DINAH! wearing the top with guests Carol Burnett, Valerie Harper and a surprise appearance by Gale Gordon. Later that same year Lucy is seen in it again, guest starring on Danny Thomas’ show The Practice playing an eccentric patient named Matilda Morrison. This blouse is an example where if Ms. Ball liked a particular style of clothing she often had similar ones made. We have a nearly identical top but with pink polka-dot fabric so please check out our past post!

October 11, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Dinah Shore, Gale Gordon, Here's Lucy, Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Personal, TelevisionTags: Broadway, Carol Burnett, Chiffon, Danny Thomas, Dinah Shore, Dinah!, Gale Gordon, Lucille Ball Owned, Lucille Ball Worn, Personal, Screen Worn, Show Worn, Television, Valerie Harper, Wildcat Leave a comment

Vivian Vance Feather Headpiece from The Lucy Show

Vivian Vance returned to TV after I Love Lucy in 1962 for Lucille Ball’s second hit series, The Lucy Show. Airing on the last day of the year the episode entitled “Chris’ New Years Eve Party,” Lucy Carmichael and Vivian Bagley perform a silent movie sketch to help save Chris’ dull party.

In full costume, Lucy brilliantly portrays Charlie Chaplin while Viv is a flirtatious 1920’s flapper wearing this black feather headpiece. One end has an attached comb to secure the feather to her hair and a black velvet bow to hide it. This may have been added later for use in another production as the bow does not appear visible in the sketch.

August 1, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: CBS, Costume, Desilu, Feathers, Lucille Ball, Shown Worn, Television, The Lucy Show, Vivian VanceTags: Charlie Chaplin, Costume, Desilu, Feather, Flapper, Head Piece, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Personal, Screen Worn, Show Worn, The Lucy Show, Vivian Vance Leave a comment

Elois Jenssen Lucy Ricardo fashion sketch for Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy

A fashion sketch by designer, Elois Jenssen for Lucille Ball’s character Lucy Ricardo on I Love Lucy. This particular illustration was recreated by Elois reportedly in the 1970’s. The original sketches Elois drew in the 1950’s are distinguished by darker vellum paper, tanned presumably from age.

The dress and can be seen in four classic I Love Lucy episodes – “Lucy Has Her Eyes Examined”, “Million Dollar Idea”, “Oil Wells”, and “The Black Wig” spanning 1953 to 1954.

Thankfully, many of Elois’ sketches like this exist as it has aided to accurately colorize garments when CBS began doing to a handful of I Love Lucy shows. This dress and other memorable looks were beautifully recreated in 2004 for the official I Love Lucy Paper Dolls book.

April 4, 2023August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Autograph, Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Elois Jenssen, Ethel Mertz, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Lucy Ricardo, Ricky Ricardo, Shown Worn, TelevisionTags: Desi Arnaz, Desilu, Elois Jenssen, Ethel Mertz, Fred Mertz, I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Worn, Screen Worn, Show Worn 2 Comments

Lucille Ball’s pink Reebok sneakers worn on “Life With Lucy”

LIFE WITH LUCY – “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do” – Shoot Date: October 23, 1986. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)LUCILLE BALL

Pink 1980’s Reebok sneakers worn by Lucille Ball in the Life With Lucy episode, “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do.” In this eleventh and unaired episode, Lucy Barker comes up with a unique gimmick in hopes of bringing more customers to the hardware store.

The sneakers were altered by the prop department, placing a grommet in the heel to run a rope through, which makes the mallet hit the drum whenever she lifts and puts down her foot.

September 7, 2022August 29, 2024 by The Lucy Room Categories: Life With Lucy, Lucille Ball, Shown Worn, TelevisionTags: Life With Lucy, Lucille Ball, Lucille Ball Owned, Lucille Ball Owned & Worn, Lucille Ball Worn, Prop, Show Worn Leave a comment