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Lot 517

A signed Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz contract

30 November 2016, 12:00 EST
New York

US$700 - US$900

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A signed Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz contract

Minutes of Special Meeting of the Directors / of Desilu Productions Inc. Carbon copy manuscript signed ("Desi Arnaz," "Lucille Ball," "Martin N. Leeds," "Andrew G. Hickox" et al), 4to, 5 pp, Hollywood, December 19, 1955, with punched binder holes to top border. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz initially founded Desilu Productions to launch their series I Love Lucy, then built the company into an independent television empire by producing other hit series like Mission Impossible and Star Trek. When these meeting minutes were drafted, I Love Lucy had briefly slipped from number one in the Nielsen ratings to number two. These minutes describe the company's business plans for the coming year, including approving the pilot to The Whirlybirds (which ran from 1957-1960) and developing series like The Sheriff of Cochise (1958-1960), as well as other abortive pilots and series. Also discussed is purchasing several houses along Lillian Way in Hollywood to expand Desilu's offices and to develop a parking lot there; the Lillian Way homes later appeared in Desilu series like The Andy Griffith Show. With certificate of authenticity.

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