Scanning the Internet for Lucy items since 1996

Being a collector is serious business. Lucille Ball collectors are a serious bunch. And they're serious about memorabilia associated with Lucille Ball, her various TV series (I Love Lucy, The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy, Life With Lucy); her costars, especially Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley, but literally anyone who ever made an appearance on any Lucy-related program; her TV specials; her movies; her personal life; her children; and so on. Lucy's never been hotter.

Check out eBay on any given day and you're likely to find over 2,500 items when you do a search for Lucille Ball. A Web search brings up hundreds of Lucy-centric sites. But I don't have to tell you that. If you're here, it's likely you're already part of the Lucille Ball extended family, one that includes people of all ages, races, creeds, and colors. Enjoy, and if you have a question, click on the "Ask the Lucy Collector" logo at top left. Return here periodically for an inside look at lotsa Lucy memorabilia on our expanded collectibles pages.

Spotlight Collectible This month's collectible is one of my favorites: TV Guide covers that feature Lucy and/or her co-stars. I'm talking about the much-lamented, older digest-size TV Guide, the last of which was published in October 2005. Not-so-coincidentally, the magazine published nine collectible covers (for its October 9-16 2005 issue), based on older covers and recreated with current stars, one of which was Reba McEntire filling in for Lucy stomping grapes — which in turn was one of the magazine's eight tribute covers to Lucy celebrating the 50th anniversary of I Love Lucy, in October 2001.

All of which points to the fact that Lucy is the celebrity most often on the cover of TV Guide throughout its 50-plus year history. Its first national issue was published in early 1953 and featured ... DUH! ... Lucy on the cover with Desi Arnaz Jr., who'd just been born. The headline was "Lucy's $50 Million Baby." She's appeared (by my count) more than 50 times on the digest covers, but hasn't been on the magazine's front page since it went standard size, in 2005. 2005. Are you listening, TV Guide??!! Those pictured at the top (clockwise from left) are: William Frawley and Vivian Vance in their only appearance on the cover together, in the last pre-national issue; Lucy in the late fifties drawn by the incomparable Al Hirschfeld; Lucy and Desi on another pre-national cover; Lucy and the gang on a special gatefold cover available online only, published for I Love Lucy's 50th anniversary; and Lucy looking sultry in the mid-fifties. Any of the older TV Guides are collectible, but the ones that fetch the most cash are... of course, the ones featuring Lucy.

And now, without further ado ... click on the categories below to find out more about your favorite Lucy Collectibles.

 Ask the Lucy Collector!
Books » Magazines » Comic Books » Dolls » Movies » Trading Cards
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