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

Ricardo’s Bookshelf: Out of the Frying Pan

November 10, 2014 Patricia

From Abe Books “OUT OF THE FRYING PAN, By Winston and Marian Moore/ DeVorss, Los Angeles, 1939. Terrific vintage political griping from the depression. Dedicate to the Liberals, whom the truth will never hurt. Discusses the Ham and Eggs philosophy, hardtime etc. Bookseller Inventory # 1147″ Journalistic treatment of the “Thirty Dollars Every Thursday” pension scheme which appeared on the California ballot in 1939. According to the dust wrapper blurb, this book contains “amazing revelations about California’s most sensational political movement, ‘Ham & Eggs.'”

Click here to find it on Amazon Continue reading Ricardo’s Bookshelf: Out of the Frying Pan →

Art, Framed Prints, Grandma Moses, I love Lucy Props, Mid-century

Lucy’s Grandma Moses Prints

November 9, 2014 Patricia 2 Comments

grandmamosessoling — Grandma Moses “So Long” – depicts villagers going on a sleigh ride

grandmamosesprint
The framed print is of a Grandma Moses original painting entitled “So Long”. It is on of two prints seen near the entrance door of the Ricardo’s living room set.

Thanks to the generous commenter below we have an ID for the second Grandma Moses print which appears to be “The Old Snow Roller” 1948

The Old Now Roller 1948 Grandma Moses signed MOSES — The Old Snow Roller 1948 Grandma Moses (copyright reserved to Grandma Moses Properties, New York)

gramdnamosos-snowroller Anna Mary Robertson Moses (September 7, 1860 – December 13, 1961), better known by her nickname of “Grandma Moses,” was a renowned American folk artist who only began painting earnestly at the age of 78. Grandma Moses was a celebrity at the height of her popularity when the I Love Lucy show began in October 15, 1951 so this print would likely have been recognized by many of the I Love Lucy viewers.

To give you an idea how famous she was at the time:

In 1949 President Harry S. Truman presented her with the Women’s National Press Club trophy Award for outstanding accomplishment in art.
In 1950 a documentary of her life, directed by Jerome Hill was nominated for an Academy Award.
In 1950, the National Press Club cited her as one of the five most newsworthy women .
In 1951 the National Association of House Dress Manufacturers honored her as their Woman of the Year.
In 1948 at age 88, Mademoiselle magazine named Grandma Moses “Young Woman of the Year”.
She was awarded two honorary doctoral degrees. The first in 1949 from Russell Sage College and the second two years later in 1951 from the Moore College of Art and Design.

Find Grandma Moses prints on eBay
Continue reading Lucy’s Grandma Moses Prints →

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

Ricardo’s Bookshelf: Storm House by Kathleen Norris

November 9, 2014 Patricia

Storm house Hardcover – January 1, 1943 by Kathleen Norris — Storm house Hardcover – January 1, 1943
by Kathleen Norris

This romance novel has to be Lucy’s. This book is seen on the book shelf behind Lucy’s twin bed on I Love Lucy.
Storm House by Kathleen Norris. Pub 1943

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Kathleen Thompson Norris, an American author who lived from 1880 – 1966. She was a prolific writer, churning out 87 novels, two omnibuses, four collections of short stories, one play and ten non-fiction works

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Ref:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathleen_Norris
http://kathleenthompsonnorris.org/pages/bio.html

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

Ricardo’s Bookshelf: Dave Dawson with the Flying Tigers

November 9, 2014 Patricia

This one had to be Ricky’s book, Dave Dawson with the Flying Tigers was one of a war adventure series by Robert Sidney Bowen known for his boys’ series books written during World War II, the Dave Dawson War Adventure Series and the Red Randall Series. It is missing its dust cover on the shelf.
Find it on eBay

The book on the show is this verion with the graphic on cover — The book on the show is the edition with the graphic on cover

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Ref:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Sidney_Bowen

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

The Ricardo’s Bookshelf: TRY AND STOP ME by Bennett Cerf

November 9, 2014 Patricia

Lucy's Bedside Reading — Lucy’s Bedside Reading

A copy of this book can be seen on the bed headboard bookshelf on the Ricardo’s bedroom set, its easy to spot behind Lucy in the I Love Lucy episode where she has pregnancy cravings and eats pistachio ice cream with hot fudge and sardines – which in reality was substituted mash potatoes and gravy instead of the ice cream and fudge to make it easier for Lucille Ball.
Click Here to find it on eBay
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From Wikipedia:
Try and Stop Me (1944) was a best-selling book written by American publisher and writer Bennett Cerf and illustrated by artist Carl Rose. The first of a series of joke books compiled by Cerf, the founder of Random House publishers, Try and Stop Me sold over one million copies in the first two years of publication.

The book is mainly a compilation of anecdotes, urban legends, jokes, ghost stories, what Cerf calls “shaggy dog stories”, and profiles of news makers. Celebrities profiled by Cerf include Alexander Woollcott, Gertrude Stein, Robert Emmet Sherwood, Albert Einstein, Herbert Bayard Swope, Dorothy Thompson, Monty Woolley, George Gershwin, and Lucius Beebe.
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Ref:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Try_and_Stop_Me_(book)

Cruet, I love lucy, I love Lucy Props, Kitchen, Olde Thompson

Lucy’s Kitchen Cruet Set

November 8, 2014 Patricia

cruetset
Another consistent element of the I Love Lucy kitchen decor is a wall mounted cruet set in a wooden stand. Many sets of this type were imported from Japan in the post WW2 years, examples of which can frequently be seen on eBay.

The complete cruet set seen at an early date in the I love Lucy kitchen

The Cruet set on the show consists of a hand painted ceramic double neck oil and vinegar bottle with a matching ceramic handled wooden salad serving fork and spoon plus a funnel to decant the oil and vinegar into the separate compartments of the decorative bottle, all of which fit on a wall mounted wooden stand.

Thompson Pottery Ivy Cruet in the same design as seen on I Love Lucy with label ‘OLDE THOMPSON South Pasadena California’

The set on I love Lucy has a hand painted Ivy design. An identical cruet was sold by George S. Thompson of Pasadena with a label with label ‘OLDE THOMPSON South Pasadena California’. Their hand painted ivy range named “Imperial Ivy” used on salt and pepper sets , salad sets and dining accessories, was marketed to co-ordinate with popular ivy patterned dinnerware from other manufacturers such as the Metlox California Ivy range.

cruetsetonwall — In a later episode you can see that the original funnel is missing and the ceramic handled wooden serving fork and spoon have been replaced with metal ones.

As time went on we see the cruet set on the I Love Lucy has signs that pieces of the salad set went missing, the funnel was lost and the wood serving fork and spoon were replaced by metal ones.

Seen above is a similar salad cruet set that was listed on ebay recently although with a difference painted design.

Here is another set – missing the funnel- currently listed on eBay as I write this.

George C. Thompson Co Imperial Ivy Design — Other items from George S. Thompson Co in the Imperial Ivy Design

"Olde Thompson" Imperial Ivy Pepper Mill and Salt Shaker set promotional photo with Mexlox Califormia Ivy dishes. — “Olde Thompson” Imperial Ivy Pepper Mill and Salt Shaker set – 1949 promotional photo with Mexlox Califormia Ivy dishes.

I love lucy, I love Lucy Props, Kitchen, Mid Century Lamps, Vintage Electrical Appliances

Lucy’s Nautical Wheel Wall Lamp

November 8, 2014 Patricia

Ships Pilot Wheel Wooden Wall Lamp on I Love Lucy Kitchen Set

After the Ricardo’s move to the bigger apartment we can see a wooden nautical style ships pilot wheel lamp in the kitchen next to the door. I saw a very similar one on eBay and discovered that the arm of the lamp rotates so it can also stand independently as a table lamp with the wheel at it’s base.

The lamp pictured below is marked “Leviton”on the metal section

Ships Pilot Wheel Wooden Wall Lamp on I Love Lucy — Similar Ships Pilot Wheel Wooden Wall Lamp – swivels to convert to a desk lamp

To see more pictures on the listing on eBay click here

Example of the lamp adjusted to stand as a table lamp – seen on eBay recently

More details here on the eBay listing

CLICK HERE to Find more like this on eBay

I have not seen examples of the lamp shade paired with it on the show. If you have information to share regarding the lampshade please comment below.

Charleton Mantel Lusters, I love lucy, I love Lucy Props, Piano

We Love Lucy’s Charleton Mantel Lusters

November 6, 2014 Patricia 2 Comments

I love Lucy props: Charleton Mantel Lustres on the Piano

Peter writes :

The pair of mantle lusters or lustres are found on top of the piano. As you know they are seen practically from the beginning and up until the Ricardos move to the country. I actually was able to purchase a set identical to the ones used on the show, so I’m selling the other set I have. The only difference is the color. Here’s the listing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/161471370240

lucys mantel lusters The ones on the show were a green color with silver painted ovals on the crown and base. Attached is a photo of what the real ones looked like. Also, one of them has a sticker on the inside that says Charleton.

Lusters

What little research I’ve done on these is that they were often found in homes of high society. Almost like a status symbol, which is interesting because they made it appear as though the Ricardo’s were just average Joes. Of course some lusters are way more extravagant, whereas these are fairly plain. They are often referred to as “mantle lusters” because they can usually be found on top of the fireplace mantle to reflect the light from the hanging crystals.”

Thanks again to Peter for sharing a great find with us.

The Charleton line of decorated ceramics was produced by Abels, Wasserberg & Co. (AWCO) from the 1940’s. They
purchased undecorated items (blanks), from various glass and ceramic manufacturers and employed a team of decorators who hand decorated the pieces with designs of flowers, fruit,
landscapes, and other patterns and also decorated china and glass items for Fenton and other lines. To identify the Charleton range, an embossed label when present indicates “Charleton Hand Decorated” plus a hand written serial/stock number, and in print the letters AWCO as seen in the example pictured above.

A photo from an exhibit you can see to the right a glimpse of a mantel luster prop like the one on “I Love Lucy” but with shorter crystals.

Update: The luster in the picture from Flickr is an actual original prop from “I Love Lucy” per comment below.

Click Here for Mantel Lusters currently available on eBay

Reference:

http://www.glasshousenc.com/ Charleton line from Abels, Wasserberg & Co. (AWCO)
Peter’s eBay listing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/161471370240

Brock of California, California Pottery, I love Lucy Props, Kitchen, Recipes

Lucy and Ricky’s Brock Coddled Egg Cups

November 5, 2014 Patricia

In an early I Love Lucy episode entitled ‘Be a Pal’ Lucy and Ricky are having coddled eggs for breakfast. The egg cup is double sided and large enough to make coddled eggs on the top side and to hold a standard boiled egg on the smaller side. The maker is Brock of California and the design seen on the show is called Harvest with a yellow top edge. They are also seen on the kitchen shelves in several episodes.

Brock of California Egg Cup Coddlers seen on eBay

Brock of California was founded in 1947 by Bert J Brock and closed down in 1980. The company designed a limited number of dinnerware patterns in the 40’s and 50’s that are popular with collectors today. Brock of California were known for their charming country style designs and the Harvest design can be still be found on eBay and Etsy with either brown or yellow edges. Search for “Brock California” for a current selection.

Recipe: Coddled Eggs

Coddled eggs are made by Continue reading Lucy and Ricky’s Brock Coddled Egg Cups →

I love Lucy Props, Kitchen, Mid-century

Ricardo’s Mid Century Aluminum Tumblers

November 2, 2014 Patricia

Aluminum tumblers were popular in the 1950’s. They were available in plain or anodized aluminum in a range of colors and were an alternative to glass for home entertaining , and stylish and practical for use on the patio.

We see what seems to be a plain set in use in an early episode of I Love Lucy when Lucy thinks Ricky is trying to poison her.

Kromex set of colored anodized aluminum tumblers

Aluminum tumblers stay cool to the touch even on hot days and are still a popular choice today. In the 1950’s they were made by several manufacturers. Above you can see two versions of the Kromex set of aluminum tumblers with caddy. A chrome caddy like the Kromex one was seen in the I Love Lucy kitchen, holding a set of patterned glass tumblers , in the Season 2 show Lucy Hires a Maid. This may have been the Kromex caddy from the set we saw above. Continue reading Ricardo’s Mid Century Aluminum Tumblers →

50slucy.com

Ricardo’s Bookshelf: Out of the Frying Pan

Lucy’s Grandma Moses Prints

Ricardo’s Bookshelf: Storm House by Kathleen Norris

Ricardo’s Bookshelf: Dave Dawson with the Flying Tigers

The Ricardo’s Bookshelf: TRY AND STOP ME by Bennett Cerf

Lucy’s Kitchen Cruet Set

Lucy’s Nautical Wheel Wall Lamp

We Love Lucy’s Charleton Mantel Lusters

Lucy and Ricky’s Brock Coddled Egg Cups

Recipe: Coddled Eggs

Ricardo’s Mid Century Aluminum Tumblers

50's Lucy Fan