Happy Holidays: Lucy and Desi Color Photo Restoration

I found an original color publicity photo from “I Love Lucy Christmas Show” episode (1956 ) of Lucy and Desi at buzzfeed.com and corrected the contrast, saturation and background lighting in Photoshop and below is the result. The blue of the walls and woodwork came up when l lifted the brightness  of the background  and it corresponds to the blue in another original color photo – seen below . The beige color walls often seen in colorized pictures of the set may have been picked up from color photos of the Ricardo’s first apartment in the early episodes.

The color used for the Ricardo’s second apartment appears to have been blue at the time these photo were taken. It makes sense that there would be a color scheme change when moving to the bigger apartment and getting the new furniture.

Color and Background Adjusted
After Contrast, Saturation and Background Brightness Adjustment
i-love-lucy-christmas-original
Before Adjustment in Photoshop Source: Buzzfeed

 

Rare color photo
Rare color photo showing blue walls and woodwork of the Ricardo’s second apartment .

I believe this photo has colors that are close to the original set colors because the Bolstad picture on the wall is correct and the rare seated chinese man statue to the right of Lucy has colors that are similar to an original one from the same factory.
Happy Holidays!

Lucy’s Automatic Coffee Percolator

i love lucy  coffee percolator
Lucy pours Ricky’s morning coffee from her Automatic Percolator

Here is a typical breakfast set with Lucy in her apron pouring coffee for Ricky in a scene that is representative of the typical 50’s housewife, although Lucille Ball with her heavy work schedule had little time for domesticity in her personal life. She is holding an electric coffee percolator, an affordable aluminum model that could be found in an average American home, at a time when the percolator was ubiquitous, well before dip coffee makers came along to dominate the home market. Continue reading Lucy’s Automatic Coffee Percolator

The Ricky Jr Doll

rickjrad2If you are looking for a good version of the Ricky Jr doll, or the earlier “I Love Lucy Baby”  the run up to the holidays is probably the best time of the year because collectors often save their best dolls to sell during  the holiday buying season.  A nice example of one of the current offers is this one in the yellow outfit.

Rick Jr Doll on eBay this week
Rick Jr Doll on eBay this week – click picture for listing details

When Lucy and Ricky Ricardo of the very popular I Love Lucy television show  produced  “most famous baby in the world”  the perfect tie in was a baby doll. Continue reading The Ricky Jr Doll

I Love Lucy’s Fashion Lady Prints

vintagefashionladyprints
On eBay this week I see a set of vintage framed fashion prints similar to those seen on I Love Lucy, from a very knowledgeable ebay seller and collector. The exact frames like these dont show up very often.  The oval gilt framed fashion prints were seen on the mantelpiece on either side of the toleware clock in the early episodes.  Following the Ricardo’s move to the bigger apartment they could be seen  in the window alcove above the piano.

Click here to see the listing

I also see a pair of unframed paper prints for sale by another seller chatsworthranch who may also have other Lucy items for sale Click HERE to see them

Both sellers mentioned above are knowledgeable collectors so check their other items as well.

Lucy’s Margo Alexander Schoolhouse Print

framedprint
Here is a mid century print by folk artist Margo Alexander of a little red schoolhouse that I have only seen on the show from the point of view of the screen capture above where Lucy is on a ledge outside the window of the Ricardo’s apartment. Continue reading Lucy’s Margo Alexander Schoolhouse Print

RESTORATION PROJECT: LUCY RICARDO’S BREADBOX PART 3

Nesco Breadbox and Canister Set Restored
Nesco Breadbox and Canister Set Restored

This is a follow up to my previous post about restoring a Nesco bread box to share with you a very fine restoration by a visitor to this blog , pictured above , of a vintage set of Nesco  Breadbox and canisters Continue reading RESTORATION PROJECT: LUCY RICARDO’S BREADBOX PART 3

I Love Lucy Blooper

Screen Capture of I Love Lucy blooper - Camera Operator on Right of Screen
Screen Capture of I Love Lucy blooper – Camera Operator on Right of Screen

I found this Blooper shot when making a screen capture at the beginning of the I Love Lucy episode “The Business Manager”. To the right of the shot we can see a member of the production crew, possibly a camera operator. To see this you have to pause the action  at the very beginning of the first scene.

Ref: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ECHWAAU/ref=dv_dp_ep13

50's Lucy Fan