When Lucy promises Ricky in the episode “Lucy Goes to Monte Carlo” that she and Ethel will not go to the Casino, she picks up
a Michelin PARIS guidebook to find a restaurant. Of course she picks “Le Grille” that just HAPPENS to be IN the casino.
While maybe not the exact book, these are very close:
In another famous episode, “The Young Fans” (Season 1, 2/25/52) where teenagers, Peggy and Arthur have crushes on the Ricardos, Lucy and Ricky take action and dress up as octogenarians. At one point, Lucy hands ‘old Ricky’ a toy drum to show Peggy that he is indeed Ricky Ricardo.
It appears that Lucy actually hands it to him upside down, but that’s how the prop was sitting waiting for her to use.
The toy drum was made by the Ohio Art Company (still in business) and looks to be vintage 1930’s or 1940’s by the artwork.
See Ohio Art Drums on Etsy (US)
The Ohio Art Company was founded in 1908. Based in Bryan, Ohio, the company is known for toys including the Etch A Sketch, and Nanoblock. Their Diversified Products segment makes custom metal lithography products for food containers such as food tins, enclosures, DVD cases, and nostalgic signs.
Credit: Special Thanks to Rick for this post.
In the “Breaking The Lease” episode (Season 1, 2/11/52) the Ricardos and the Mertzes have a sing-along very late at night and
toast each other to their wonderful friendship. (Of course, this is BEFORE they have their big fight.)
The glass mugs that are being used look like they might be vintage Siesta Ware. These amber colored mugs featured chunky wooden handles held on by gold tone metal bands.
They seem to be readily available on Ebay ( Click here for a selection)
and also on Etsy (US)
I also see some on Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Siesta-Ware-Wooden-Handles/dp/B007JWROBA
Credit: Special Thanks to Rick for this post.
Thanks to another Ricky for today’s post.
Rick writes: “This was an hysterical scene to say the least and Lucy & Desi played it to the hilt. If you recall, Lucy tortured Ricky with several things; one in particular was an Electric Scalp Massage Vibrator. In the scene, she even mistakenly goes too low on his face and starts massaging his eyes.
I cannot locate a similar 1950’s version that was used on the show, but it really did exist in the 1920’s and 1940’s.
Here are a few articles on these torturous devices and a few screen grabs.”
NEW SCALP EXERCISER IS DRIVEN BY ELECTRICITY
BALDNESS seems to be the fear of all men. Here is the newest remedy for that fear. The new motor-driven scalp exerciser is guaranteed to give the scalp all the exercise that it needs. Scientifically the principle that this machine exemplifies is correct. Since blood is the food on which all the tissues of the body feed, the supply must be kept fresh and plentiful. Exercise will draw the blood to that portion of the body that is being so developed. The scalp does not receive sufficient exercise to warrant the growth of hair and as a result baldness ensues. To overcome this condition, the use of hair tonics became common. The chief value of any tonic is the process of application. The rubbing that is always prescribed makes the blood circulate and thus helps the hair gain new life. It was found that the hand could not deliver as much exercise as was really necessary, so the inventor of the scalp exerciser got busy. His machine possesses four rubber pads that are comparable to the human fingers. The motor is at the top and by means of vibrating rods causes the pads to move, which action exercises the scalp. (Popular Mechanics Feb 1929)
Multiple Electric Vibrator Massages the Scalp
FOUR hundred and eighty artificial fingers give the scalp a gentle and beneficial massage, in a multiple electric vibrator just introduced. Light in weight, the appliance may easily be self-manipulated as at left, with the aid of two convenient hand grips, while four vibrating disks do their work in unison. The machine is said to stimulate the circulation of blood to scalp and brain cells and to remove all dandruff and loose hair. Source Popular Science – Oct 1940 – Page 126