In the I Love Lucy Episode, Season 6, Little Ricky Gets Stage Fright which aired on October 22, 1956, a wind-up mechanical toy drummer bear plays a role in helping Little Ricky overcome stage fright.
A similar bear seen on eBay is made in Japan in original box, and has a similar outfit and drum.
See it on eBay HERE The bear was also made in brown fur like this one on ebay – the bear on the show may have been the brown version.
In the episode, “Tennessee Ernie Hangs On” (S3, 5/10/54) Ethel comes to visit Lucy wearing a hilarious bubble maker on her head. She claimed Little Ricky left it in her apartment.
The actual toy is from Mattel and called Bubble-O-Bill.
See it on EBay
Lucille Ball is seen in a publicity photo at home. She is in a domesticated pose wearing frilly apron, busily sewing on her chaise longue . At the left side of the picture displayed on a shelf are a pair of horse figurines and a little ram/sheep planter on the lower shelf. Pictured below are some similar items that seem to match quite well.
In the episode, “Black Wig” from S3 (4/19/54) Lucy tries on a black wig at her hairdressing appointment. In the mirror, we see an advertisement for a nylon hair net, Noble Lady.
Here is another book from the Arnaz home, possibly the Chatsworth Ranch home. This book was a bestseller in the 1940’s, Whistle Stop By Maritta M Wolff. Winner of the major prize in the Avery Hopwood Award for 1940, and written during Wolff’s final year at the University of Michigan, this novel became the basis for the film starring George Raft and Ava Gardner. It received immediate critical praise, including that of Sinclair Lewis, quoted on the rear panel: “I suspect that in Whistle Stop we may have the most important first novel of the year.”
Here is an interesting career related book from the Lucille and Desi Arnaz bookshelf at their home in the early years. How to Sing for Money: The Art and Business of Singing Popular Songs Professionally by Charles Henderson
SKU: 1452537577NAT
Title: How to Sing for Money: The Art and Business of Singing Popular Songs Professionally
Author: Henderson, Charles
Book binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Nelson-Hall company
Year of publication: 1945
In the episode “Home Movies” S3, 3/1/54 Lucy, Ethel and Fred make their own musical western in hopes of showing it to TV executive, Bennett Green.
The movie camera Lucy uses is a Bell & Howell 200 movie camera.
In the episode “Oil Wells” (S3, 2/15/54) the Ricardos and the Mertzes fight over their shares of stock when they think they’ve been swindled. Soon after, Lucy spots Ethel in the hallway and asks for a five minute truce to discuss how they can get their money back. In the hallway is a framed print of a painting by Edgar Degas, “L’école de dance” (School of Ballet). We only get to see 3/4 of it, but here is what it looks like.
Several small framed decorative prints can be seen on the living room walls of the I Love Lucy set. A set of cavalry sword men appear on the wall next to the fireplace and also on the back wall on either side of the larger Utrillo picture.
These prints framed by Borghese are not identical to those pictured in the screen grab above but they are from the same series of cavalry prints derived from an antique publication of broad sword exercises by Thomas Stephens.
In the episode “Fan Magazine Interview” S3, 2/8/54 reporter Eleanor Harris takes photos with her camera and side flash attachment.
The camera appears to be a Kodak Pony 135 with a special side flash attachment.
Vintage Kodak Pony 135 Camera offered on Etsy (US)
Kodak Pony Accessories on Etsy (US)
Accessories pictured above for the Kodak Pony 135 include a telephoto wide angle lens made by Gruenex with the leather case and a Kodak brand flash attachment with the bar attachment and a user manual.