All posts by Patricia

1950s Furniture, 50s Retro, Hollywood, Wallpaper

Lucy in LA: Striped Wallpaper

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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.
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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.
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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

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    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

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    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.

    50s Retro, I love Lucy Props, Little Ricky, Vintage Toys

    Little Ricky’s Fisher-Price Buzzy Bee Pull-Toy

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    Ethel finds Little Ricky’s Buzzy Bee Toy

    In the I Love Lucy Episode Ricardos Change Apartments Ethel discovers Little Ricky’s wooden Buzzy Bee pull-toy under the sofa cushion when she sits on Lucy’s sofa. The Fisher-Price Buzzy Bee is a classic that began in 1950 and is now a collectors item. Below is a 1950’s version seen on eBay this week.

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    1950’s Fisher-Price Buzzy Bee on eBay
    Art, I love Lucy Props, Margo Alexander, The Andy Griffith Show

    Another I Love Lucy framed picture shows up on Andy Griffith


    Here is a framed  Margo Alexander Studio print we looked at  in a previous post , seen above in  the Ricardo’s apartment on I Love Lucy . This another Desilu studio prop that shows up  several years later on the Andy Griffith Show, below it is seem over a fireplace in two different episodes


    Andy Griffith, Season 6, scene showing the Margo Alexander print in color  over 10 years later in 1964.
    margoalex1
    And the same picture on Andy Griffith, Season 5, Episide 7. Man In The Middle

    Margo Alexander Studio Print

    Here it is seen in another I Love lucy location over the fireplace.
    Thanks again to johndalessio for the contribution.

    50s Retro, Bedroom Furniture, Bonanza, I love Lucy Props, Mid Century Lamps, Morgan Jones Bedspread, Other Productions, The Andy Griffith Show

    What was I Love Lucy’s Bedspread Color?

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    My photoshop rendering with known colors of the Desilu prop bedspreads .

    Above is my impression of a couple of contenders for the color of the hobnail chenile bedspreads on I Love Lucy. Previously we identified the make as Morgan Jones “Minuet”. Ads from the 1950’s era give us an idea of the color range but now thanks to an instagram comment from johndalessio we have more clues. Desiu props were re-used over the years and some identical bedspreads have turned up in Bonanza and on The Andy Griffith Show in color. There is a brown color that we saw on Andy Griffith that corresponds to “Sandalwood” in a contemporary ad. And a light green color version of the same bedspread as seen on the screen capture from Bonanza, S2 E33 “Elizabeth, My Love”,  near the end of the episode.  Either of the bedspreads could have originated in the I Love Lucy series.  Those series were made on Desilu sets and used Desilu props. The green version would have been a good choice to set off Lucy’s red hair, dont you think?

    Bonanza-S2-E33-Elizabeth,-My-Love2
    The Green version of the same bedspread on Bonanza

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    The brown color version on Andy Griffith


    Many thanks to johndalessio for providing the research through my my Instagram page

    Framed Prints, I love Lucy Props, Margo Alexander, The Andy Griffith Show

    Desilu Andy Griffith Show: Margo Alexander Print

    Margo Alexander Print on Andy Griffith Show
    Margo Alexander Print on Andy Griffith Show

    Thanks to comments by johndalessio on my Instagram who recognized re-use of Desilu props on The Andy Griffith Show, filmed at Desilu Studios, we have sightings of probable I Love Lucy items on some color episodes. Above from Season 6 is a Margo Alexander print we looked at on I Love Lucy in an earlier post.
    Margo Alexander Studio Print

    Also seen on I Love Lucy
    Also seen on I Love Lucy

    And a vintage print of the same picture on eBay HERE

    50s Retro, I love Lucy Props, Mid-century, Mirror

    Lucy’s Gilt Vanity Mirror


    An ornate gilt standing mirror is often seen on the mantel in the I Love Lucy living room. The easel mirror has a gilt finished scrolled style similar to the one below. The mirror is occasionally used as a prop when Lucy checks her out her new hat etc. In an early episode a different  mirror was used when Lucy tried ro read  the imprint of  note  Ricky had written.

    This mirror is larger than the one on the show but in a similar style.

    lucysmantel

    Also seen in the photo is the Bolstad print and mid-century statue we looked at previously  –  picture from my instagram page.

    Look for gilt easel mirrors on eBay

    Coffee Pot, Orson Welles, Vintage Electrical Appliances

    Ricky Ricardo’s Sunbeam Automatic Coffeemaster

    2 Comments
    Sunbeam-Automatic-Coffeemaster-ilovelucy2
    Ricky serves coffee to Orspn Welles at his club.

    Ricky Ricardo and Orson Welles meet at Ricky’s Babalu Club for rehersals on the I Love Lucy episode Lucy Meets Orson Welles. Ricky serves the coffee in a Sunbeam Automatic Coffeemaster.

    Sunbeam Automatic Coffeemaster
    Sunbeam Automatic Coffeemaster on eBay
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    Sunbeam Automatic Coffeemaster Manual

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