50s Retro, Lucille Ball, Recipes, Stork Club

Inspiration: Lucy and Desi at The Stork Club


Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz liked to visit The Stork Club in Manhattan, New York City, which was a celebrity hotspot during its heyday from 1929 to 1965.

Here are some interesting original Stork Club collectibles you can use to recreate your own Stork Club themed table for a special evening.

      1. The Stork Club Pitcher
        This original black tilt water pitcher matches the one seen on Lucy and Desi’s table in the above photo. Marked Shenango New Castle China  on the base.  One sold  recently for $275 on eBay.  Hall China also made their version of the same pitcher for the Stork Club.  Shenango tilt pitchers were sold in a variety of colors for the general market and the Hall China  ball pitcher came a range of colours as well.
      2. The Stork Club Stork Centerpiece
        The Stork Club figural bud vase can be seen on  Lucy and Desi’s  table and this iconic piece is frequently seen on the table  in old photos of celebrities at the famous club.  I see two of them on eBay this week .
      3. The Stork Club AshtrayThis Stork Club Ashtray is more easly found.  The example above is made by Hall China. I see one or two offered on eBay this week.
      4. The Stork Club cookbook and Bar book
        The Stork Club Bar Book Lucius Beebe 1946 First Edition

        The STORK CLUB cookbook  by Sherman Billingsley (Signed) Seen on eBay
      5. The Stork Club Perfume

        The owner of The Stork Club, Sherman Billingsley, liked to give extravagant gifts to the famous patrons. In front of Lucille Ball on her table is a box of Sortilège perfume by Le Galion, which became known as the “fragrance of the Stork Club”. The box may contain a stork figure holding a vial of the perfume as pictured below.
      6. The Stork Club Table Ware
        Following are  examples of the table setting used at The Stork Club – and a recipe for the popular Stork Club Coconut Snowball dessert:

        For dessert serve The Stork Club Snowball. Pour chocolate sauce over a large ball of vanilla ice cream and sprinkle with shredded coconut.

        An example of  dinnerware used in The Stork Club is seen in the ad above.  The black banded plates look like Shenango New Castle China restaurant ware. One of Shenango’s  main lines was Incaware restaurant china. The floral banded dinner plate is in a similar style to dinner plates made by Shenango China.

        The Stork Club Table Setting

        The Stork Club Place setting with banded Reataurant ware.

        Shenango also produced dinnerware for presidents and serving dishes for the White House.

      7. The Stork Club Cocktail

    Complete your meal with a Stork Club Cocktail

  2. Stork Club Suspenders
    Desi Arnaz and his gift of Stork Club red suspenders

    Lucille Ball holds her souvenir perfume gift while admiring Desi’s Stork Club souvenir red suspenders.
    Get yours at http://storkclub.com/product/stork-club-red-suspenders/

Reference:

 

Cruet, Kitchen, Olde Thompson

Oil & Vinegar Cruet similar to Lucy’s

Olde Thompson Cruet – in a dfferent patten but same make as Lucy’s

This is a rare Olde Thompson cruet. It is the same make and shape as the one in Lucy Ricardo’s kitchen but it is painted differently.  Lucy’s had an ivy motif. This one has vegetables but is otherwise a good match for the one on the show.

See it at http://www.ebay.com/itm/double-neck-split-Cruet-Oil-Vinegar-Pasadena-California-Olde-Thompson-pottery-/252909693725

50s Clocks, Lucille Ball, Lucy Style

Ansonia Clock Like Lucy’s

Lucille Ball at home – her antique clock on the mantel.

I see a similar model  to Lucille Ball’s antique clock on eBay this week:

Lucy had a clock just like this one – click the picture above to go to the ebay listing.
The Ansonia “Rainbow” ceramic clock by Royal Bonn was produced in several colors. The photos showing Lucy’s clock are B/W so we can only guess at the color.

Related Post: http://www.50slucy.com/lucys-ansonia-royal-bonn-clock.html

I love Lucy Props

A Caution about buying “Props” claimed to be from I Love Lucy

The focus of this blog is on items that match screen used props and set decorations on I Love lucy.  Authentic original props that were screen used on I Love lucy rarely come to auction and when they do I expect to see convincing evidence and documented providence tracing the item to the show. It is disheartening to see an item claimed to be an original prop used on I Love Lucy only to discover  after viewing countless screen captures that it fails to match any of the items used on the show.

From time to time such items turn up at auction.  See the following link for an example of fraudulent I Love Lucy “props” that were offered for sale in the past:  http://www.originalprop.com/blog/2008/04/30/i-love-lucy-global-antiques-and-auction-depot-la-metal-tea-pot/

Because several  fradulent items were sold in the past  it is reasonable to assume there are collectors out there who mistakenly believe they have an original prop and may offer it for sale as such. The onus is on the buyer to do their own due dilligence.

Recently I noticed a collection of figurines offered for sale described as I Love Lucy props. An experienced collector would observe in the wording of the description that the seller did not explicitly state that the items were used on screen, and note the lack of convincing providence.  A novice buyer, on the other hand,  may fail in their due dilligence or buy on impulse.

Caveat Emptor – the buyer is responsible for checking the quality and suitability of goods before a purchase is made.

1950s Furniture, 50s Retro, Mid Century Lamps, Mid-century

Feud, Bette and Joan: Oriental Figural Lamp


While watching an episode of Feud: Bette and Joan an Oriental Figural lamp in Miss Crawford’s bedroom caught my eye. Where had I seen one before?

In the LA episodes of I Love Lucy we can spot a similar lamp in their LA apartment.

I can just imagine an episode where Lucy brings back this “souvenir” from the movie star’s home.

More details of the lamp in previous post : http://www.50slucy.com/la-at-last-table-lamp.html

I love Lucy Props, Mirror

Lucy’s Mantel Mirror

Gilt Mirror on the Mantel – I Love Lucy

This week on eBay there is a gilt frame that reminds me of the mirror that can be seen on the mantelpiece in numerous episodes of I Love Lucy. It is a Rococo style gilt metal frame that is about the right size and the scroll detail is quite similar. Click on the picture below for details on eBay. I have seen similar frames in gilt wood but they generally seem to be very expensive. The metal frames tend to be more affordable.
Rococo Gilt Metal Oval Frame on eBay

I love Lucy Props, Salt & Pepper Shakers

Plas-tex Shakers as seen in Lucy’s kitchen

Plastic Salt and Pepper Shakers in Lucy Ricardo’s kitchen

Recently seen on eBay are these Plas-tex red shakers like the pair seen in the screen shot above from the I Love Lucy kitchen. Lucy’s are salt and pepper shakers. The pair seen below are labeled Flour and Sugar but the are otherwise similar. Click picture below for further details on eBay.

I love Lucy Props, Magazines, Ricardo's Bookshelf

Lucy’s Holiday Magazine


THE SAXOPHONE, Episode 40, S2, 9.22.52
While Lucy wants to make Ricky jealous (so he will not go on a road trip with his band) she plants Fred’s derby and gloves on the
coffee table. Next to it, is a copy of Holiday magazine. She later picks it up and waits for Ricky to rush around the apartment looking
for an alleged man hiding in the hall closet. The magazine is the February 1952 issue.

1950s Furniture, Framed Prints

Fred and Ethel’s Painting Print

 REDECORATING THE MERTZESAPARTMENT, Episode 74, S3, 11.23.53
When the Ricardos offer to redecorate the Mertzes’ apartment, Fred insists they are not to touch his favorite chair, and the famous rickety lamp behind it. The painting on the wall is entitled “Roses with a Blue Tit by a Stream” by artist, Jean Baptiste Claude Robie

Here is an Ebay link:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Jean-Baptiste-Robie-Bouquet-Of-Roses-Print-Bird-Bee-Floral-Delight-/322361747845

50's Lucy Fan