Lucille Ball exhibit in Hollywood opens Aug. 4

The Hollywood Museum and CBS DVD, Paramount Home Entertainment pay tribute to Lucy in a gala reception to celebrate two milestones in the life of America’s Queen of Comedy: Lucille Ball’s 100th birthday and the 60th anniversary of “I Love Lucy,” on Thursday, August 4, 2011 6:00 -9:00 p.m., with a special guest appearance by Lucie Arnaz, daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.. Other honored guests in the “I Love Lucy” reunion and tribute include Dann Cahn, original editor with Desi Arnaz: Tom Watson, Lucy’s Publicist for over 20 years; Bernie Weitzman, Sr Exec of Desilu Productions; and Arthur Hamilton, Music Composer for “I Love Lucy” Show.

The gala reception launches a new exhibition at the Hollywood Museum, “Lucille Ball at 100 & ‘I Love Lucy’ at 60,” will be on display from Aug. 3 to Nov 30, showcasing memorabilia saluting the careers and romance of Hollywood’s most famous lovebirds.

“The Hollywood Museum in the Historic Max Factor Building is the perfect venue for this exhibit because it’s where Max Factor gave Lucille Ball her famous red hair,” says Museum President Donelle Dadigan. “The ‘RED HEADS ONLY’ Room has been carefully preserved in her memory today. The museum’s historic connection to Lucy is the reason the U.S. Postal Service chose to unveil its official Lucille Ball commemorative stamp here in 2001.” The Hollywood Museum is located 1660 N. Highland Ave, Hollywood, Ca

The exhibit is presented in partnership with CBS DVD and Paramount Home Video, which just released a new DVD set “The Best of ‘I Love Lucy’” featuring 14 classic episodes that have been digitally restored. CBS describes the set, “Television's all-time queen of comedy is at her candy-wrapping, grape-stomping, Vitameatavegamin-pushing best in this timeless collection of I Love Lucy episodes. From Hollywood to Europe, from ballet to burlesque to the birth of Little Ricky... it’s all here in this hilarious 2-disc set.” The 14 episodes: “The Ballet,” “The Freezer,” “Lucy Does a TV Commercial” (Vitameatavegamin), “Job Switching” (The Chocolate Factory), “Lucy Is Enceinte” (Lucy reveals pregnancy), “Lucy Goes to the Hospital,” “L.A. at Last,” “Lucy Gets in Pictures,” “Harpo Marx,” “The Great Train Robbery,” “Bon Voyage,” “Paris at Last,” “Lucy Gets a Paris Gown,” “Lucy’s Italian Movie” (Grape Stomping).

“Lucille Ball at 100 & ‘I Love Lucy’ at 60” Exhibit includes:

• “Redheads Only Room" where Max Factor worked on Lucy’s famous look, featuring their original signed contract.

• Awards, Certificates, Statuettes/Trophies, Plaques - including the special tribute to Lucy at the 33rd Annual Emmys (1981) and a congratulatory letter from President Ronald Reagan

• Original Costume sketches - Halston, Elois Jennsen, Bob Mackie

• The famous first national TV Guide (April 3, 1953) featuring Desi, Jr. on the cover as the $50 million baby

• Items showcasing the genius of Desi – including original editing equipment which allowed for the technical advancement of TV production (3 cameras, live audience, on film)

• A huge photography collection spanning Lucy’s life including her childhood, modelling career, films, radio and TV with some never-before-seen candid personal shots

• Lucy's autographed leg cast from her 1972 ski accident at Snowmass, CO

• Personal annotated copies of Lucy’s scripts from TV shows and films

• Desi's original recordings + sheet music

• Montage of original photos from Lucy and Desi’s homes and apartments including Palm Springs, NYC and Beverly Hills

Costumes Include:

• Elizabethan gown worn by Lucy opposite guest Tallulah Bankhead (“The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour,” 1957).

• Artist smock worn by Lucy opposite guest Danny Thomas ("The Lucy Show," 1965)

• Flapper dance costume worn by Lucie Arnaz in duet with Lucy ("Here's Lucy," 1972)

• Overalls worn by Lucy in co-star Gale Gordon’s hardware store ("Life with Lucy," 1986).

• Bold hound’s-tooth wool pant suit worn by Lucy in her last film “Mame” (1974)

• Ivory and lavender beaded gown worn by Lucy in her first MGM film "Dubarry Was a Lady" (1943) opposite co-stars Red Skelton and Gene Kelly

• Iconic trench coat worn by Lucy and featured in ads for the classic film noir “Lured” (1947)

• Other personal outfits from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.

Lucy's Scripts Include:

• “I Love Lucy” – Season 6, Episode 6: “Off to Florida” (Nov. 12, 1956)

• “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” – Episode 2: “The Celebrity Next Door” (Dec. 3, 1957)

• “The Lucy Show” – Season 1, Episode 1: “Lucy Waits Up for Chris” (Oct. 1, 1962); Season 1, Episode 5: “Lucy Buys a Sheep” (Oct. 29, 1962)

• “Here's Lucy” – Season 2, Episode 10: “Lucy the Cement Worker” (Nov. 24, 1969); Season 3, Episode 1: “Lucy Meets the Burtons” (Sept. 14,1970); Season 5, Episode 16: “Lucy Goes on Her Last Blind Date” (Jan. 8, 1973)

• “Life with Lucy” – Season 1, Episode 1: “One Good Grandparent Deserves Another” (Sept. 20, 1986)

WHERE: The Hollywood Museum, 1660 N. Highland Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90028

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday

EXHIBIT INFO: Aug. 4, 2011 to Dec. 31, 2011

PRICE: $15 for adults; $12 for seniors and children under 12.

INFO: (323) 464-7776 www.thehollywoodmuseum.com