I love Lucy Props, Little Ricky, Musical Instruments, Ohio Art Company, Vintage Toys

Ricky’s Toy Drum

The toy drum Ricky plays in The Young Fans was made by the Ohio Art Company

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.

Ohio Art drum prop on i love lucy
L. Inverted view of the drum Ricky is holding –        R. Similar drum from Ohio Art Co.

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 Ohio Art Company drum
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 eBay

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.

Ricky plays a toys drum in The Young Fans

Credit: Special Thanks to Rick for this post.

I love Lucy Props, Siesta Ware

The Ricardo’s Amber Glass Mugs with Wooden Handles

Siestaware-Amber-Glass-Mugs-with-Wooden-Handles
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.)
Siestaware-Amber-Glass-Mugs-with-Wooden-Handles
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
Siestaware-Amber-Glass-Mugs-with-Wooden-Handles
Credit:  Special Thanks to Rick for this post.

Chalkware Figurines, Figurines

Lucy’s Chalkware Figurines

chalkware-victorian-couple2
Most of the bedroom figurines on the shelf over the beds in the I Love Lucy bedroom set were Made in Japan porcelain imports. This courting couple pair of figurines were chalkware and they were usually not placed side by side on the shelf which made it a bit more difficult to find them. Chalkware is more vulnerable to the passing of time being made of plaster/chalk so pieces can be scarce.
chalkware-victorian-couple
Here is a pair I found on eBay recently. The woman is holding her flounced skirts in a curtsy and the man has a dog beside him. Notice the dark gold band around the base, which helps to identify them. To find a similar pair search on eBay or Etsy or Bonanza  – search for “chalkware courting couple” or “chalkware victorian” or “chalkware colonial”

50s Retro, I love Lucy Props, Table Lighters

The Ricardo’s Zippo Table Lighter

The Zippo Lady Bradford table lighter in the '50s comedy I Love Lucy.
A Zippo Lady Bradford table lighter on the coffee table in the Ricardo’s living room on the set of I Love Lucy.

Strictly speaking a prop is only a prop if the actor holds/uses it on stage or screen, other items that appear on set are called “set dressing”. Arguably, the most used props on I Love Lucy were the cigarette lighters. The Zippo Lady Bradford table lighter is one we see a  lot of, usually it is placed on the coffee table as seen above.

The Zippo Lady Bradford table lighter proudly graced the coffee table in the Ricardo's living room in the '50s comedy I Love Lucy.
The Zippo Lady Bradford table lighter like the one in the 50’s comedy I Love Lucy. – Image  Source eBay

A quick search on eBay today produced this vintage Zippo Lady Bradford table lighter Click here to see the listing.

 

Ref: http://www.zippo.co.uk/subpages.php?mod=starRole

Charleton Mantel Lusters

Charleton Mantel Lusters

charlton-mantel-lustres
Charleton porcelain mantel lustres on eBay – click on picture to see the listing.

This is a pair of Charleton porcelain mantel lustres on eBay this week made by the same company that made the pair on I Love Lucy. The shape is identical  except for the hanging  crystals but the decoration is different. charlton-mantel-lustres-lucy
The pair on I Love Lucy had the pink roses but were painted a pea green color and the oval shapes had a mirrored finish. I found a similar white pair to the ones pictured above so I got porcelain paint and mirrored foil to repaint them in the style of the I Love Lucy pair. I have been putting off the task but one of these days I will get started and post my progress on the blog.

See previous post about the original pair of lusters on I Love Lucy

Card Games, I love Lucy Props

Wooden Poker Carousel on I Love Lucy

Wooden Poker Carousel3
Poker chip carousel in use on I Love Lucy

 

Wooden Poker Carousel
Photo from eBay listing – click on picture to view on eBay

On eBay this week there is a wooden poker chip carousel advertised as an original prop from I Love Lucy. Card games were a popular form of recreation in the 50’s and this is reflected in the series.
Click here to see the listing.

See more vintage poker chip carousels on eBay.
See more vintage poker chip carousels on Etsy
See more vintage poker chip carousels on Bonanza

Wooden Poker Carousel2

Books on I Love Lucy, I love Lucy Props, Ricardo's Bookshelf

Ricardo’s Bookshelf: Masks of West Africa

4 Comments
LUCY GOES TO THE HOSPITAL Episode#56, aired January 19, 1953
LUCY GOES TO THE HOSPITAL Season 2  Episode#56,

In the episode LUCY GOES TO THE HOSPITAL which aired January 19, 1953  the show opens with Ricky researching ideas for a mask for a “Voodoo” number for his show. The book he refers to is Masks of West Africa  – 1952 by Leon Underwood

Ricky’s facepaint inspired by African masks

http://www.amazon.com/Masks-West-Africa-Leon-Underwood/dp/B0006DCVHG
http://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/masks-of-west-africa/author/underwood-leon/
Update: Scan of the page from the book Ricky is looking at:

Detail of the page rRcky is looking at
Detail of the page Rcky is looking at
50s Clocks, Vintage Hair Care, Vintage Shaver

Ricky’s Schick Electric Razor

ricky-shaver
I Love Lucy Season 1 Episode 23, The Mustache,

In I Love Lucy Season 1, Episode 23, The Mustache, Ricky uses an electric shaver to remove the mustache. The logo on the shaver can be seen in the screen capture above and it looks like a good match for Schick 20 Electric Razor pictured below,which is a working model currently for sale on eBay.

Vintage-SCHICK-Electric-Razor
Vintage Schick 20 Electric Razor with Original Case on eBay – Click Picture to view the listing.

The Schick 20 was widely advertised in 1952 the year this episode was made.
See all Schick 20 Shavers on eBay
Incidentally, Ricky is shaving while looking into the Bacchus Mirror we identified in a previous post. Continue reading Ricky’s Schick Electric Razor →

50's Lucy Fan