Monthly Archives: March 2016

50s Retro, Kitchen

Ricky Eats Van Camp’s Pork & Beans

Ricky-eatsVan-Camps-Pork-and-Beans
Ricky eats Stokely Van Camp’s Pork and Beans the brand name is concealed.
Van-Camps-Pork-and-Beans-Tin
Vintage Stokely Van Camp’s Pork and Beans Tin Can 31 oz.

In I Love Lucy Season 2 Episode 19 – The Club  Ricky Ricardo eats from a  large can of Van Camp’s Pork & Beans. The brand name is covered over for the screen but the tin is recognizable.

From vancampsbeans.com: “Pork & Beans
America’s #1 Pork & Beans since 1909! Van Camp’s Pork & Beans traces its roots back to 1861 when Gilbert Van Camp and his wife Hester opened a family grocery store in Indianapolis, IN where they canned fruits and vegetables. Gilbert’s son, Frank, discovered that their Pork & Beans tasted even better when served hot in tomato sauce. He began to advertise the notion, and an American favorite was born. ”

Van-Camps-Pork-and-Beans2Van-Camps-Pork-and-Beans-adReference:

Cruet, I love Lucy Props, Olde Thompson, Stewart B McCulloch

Dulling of Props on I Love Lucy

Dulling substance is more obvious on the cruet on in picture on the left
Dulling substance is more obvious on the cruet on in picture on the left

Previously we looked at evidence of a dulling substance in use on on one of the mantel statues  on I Love lucy.  An anti-reflective coating is used when needed to reduce glare for the cameras. Above on the left is a instance from Little Ricky Learns to Play Drums where the cream colored Olde Thompson  ivy cruet has been darkened sufficiently to appear gray in tone.  The picture to the right is from an earlier episode where the same cruet appears lighter.
Here is an example of the same make Olde Thompson cruet in its original state.

1950s Furniture, 50s Retro, Hollywood, I Love Lucy Nursery, Mid Century Lamps, Mid-century

Lucy’s LA lamps in Sinatra Movie

table-lamps
On of a pair of table lamps on the Hollywood set of I Love Lucy

A pair of table lamps similar to Lucy’s LA  lamps appear in the moview A Hole in the Head (1959) starring Framk Sinatra and Edward G Robinson. The are seen at either ends of a green sofa. Screen captures below. The neo-classical column lamps in the hollywood regency style have gilt details.aholeinthehead-franksinatra59 aholeinthehead-59-lamps

1950s Furniture, Hollywood, I love Lucy Props, Plants

Lucy’s LA plants

plantontrellis
A trellis with plants is seen on I Love Lucy LA set. The plants appear to grow over time. Note the dates in the photos above which suggest they are real plants. An original color publicity picture of Lucy and Desi below appears to have been taken in front of the same trellis. The tall plant has red branched and small flowers/leaves with a shape similar to a type of orchid . An orchid expert at PacOrchidExpo on instagram has looked at it a said it is not an orchid.  My search fror a shrub with red branches  on google came up with Red twig Dogwood ( Cornus sericea ‘Cardinal’) or Cornus Sibericaredtwig-doogwood
On the left is a Red twig Dogwood shrub and on the right is the original color photo of Lucille and Desi taken on the I Love Lucy LA set. The red branches do look similar. Could the small flowers seen in the photo be from  another plant?lucy-plantphilodendron

The lower plants appear to include Philodendron,   Anthurium ‘Flamingo Flower’  and a Rubber Plant.rubberplant
dogwood-sibirica
This one is Dogwood Siberica ( Cornus siberica) with small leaf clusters.

lucyanddesiLAset

plantsincolor

My photoshop impression of the plants in color based on the color photo.

Thanks again to johndalessio and PacOrchidExpo on instagram for valuable input.

1950s Furniture, 50s Retro, Hollywood, Wallpaper

Lucy in LA: Striped Wallpaper

joined
The striped wallpaper on the Ricardo’s Hollywood set may have been vertical stripes that were applied horizontally. The red arrow indicates a possible join which appears on both sides of the set at the same height making a wider center band across the middle of the wall – at around shoulder height to the bell boy as he enters the door.
lucy-la-wallpaper-joinedwallpaper-joined2

Here is an alternative view – the picture is rotated 90 degrees. This is a look that is easily created using a similar vertical striped wallpaper or even fabric for a mid century themed room.

1950s Furniture, 50s Retro

Lucy in LA: Gilbert Rhode Herman Miller Cabinet

cabinet
In the Hollywood set of I Love Lucy we see a Gilbert Rhode Cabinet next to the door. The high end Art Deco Paldao cabinet/bookcase by Gilbert Rohde Herman Miller seen in pictures below is a good match.
Gilbert-Rohde-Paldao5 Gilbert-Rohde-Paldao4 1Gilbert-Rohde-Paldao Gilbert-Rohde-Paldao
The Paldao range was created by Rohde in the 1940`s and manufactured by Herman Miller Company.
Ref:

  • https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/storage-case-pieces/cabinets/art-deco-paldao-cabinet-bookcase-gilbert-rohde-herman-miller/id-f_518668/
  • http://supremegallery.com/consoles/cabinet-
    • 50s Retro, Art, Georges Rouault

    Lucy in Hollywood: Rouault Print The Old King

    oldking
    Rouault Picture “The Old King” in the the Ricardos Hollywood apartment

    Here we spot another Georges Rouault picture, “The Old King” in the the Ricardos Hollywood apartment. This is considered Rouault’s finest work.  It was painted at a time when monarchies were being overthrown. The king is holding a white flower of peace.
    rouault-oldking See more like this on eBay

    Thanks again to johndalessio for the contribution.

    Art, Georges Rouault

    I Love lucy Georges Rouault Pierrot Print

    lucy-hollywood
    In the Ricardo’s Hollywood apartment where they stay while Ricky is making a movie, we see a Georges Rouault framed print on the wall.
    pierrot See it on eBay

    Georges Rouault 1871 –1958 painted in a style associated with  Fauvism and Expressionism and was popular with mid-century collectors. His works reflect his background as a stained glass artist. Rouault  burned 300 of his pictures a while before he died because he felt he dd not have time to complete them.

    Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Rouault

    Thanks again to johndalessio for the contribution.