After five-time Emmy Award-winning costume designer Ret Turner visited Jamestown in August, he wanted to do something special for the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center.
Earlier this year, the Lucy-Desi Center contacted Turner for some ideas on how to brighten up the center staff’s all-black attire. He not only designed ties and scarves featuring the center’s logo but also had them created and donated them to the center.
‘‘I was happy when Ric Wyman asked me if I could come up with something to enhance the Lucy-Desi Center staff’s attire,’’ Turner said from his home in Los Angeles. ‘‘I’m even more thrilled to know how pleased everyone is with the outcome.’’
Throughout his career, Turner has designed such shows and specials as Mama’s Family, The Carol Burnett Show: A Reunion, Dolly, Donny & Marie, and The Sonny & Cher Show, his work was also a part of the groundbreaking pilot for Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In. Later, Turner created for the Kennedy Center’s 25th Anniversary and the 51st Emmy Awards in 1999. In 2002 the Costume Designer Guild made a special award to him for Career Achievement in Television.
Lucille Ball asked Turner to create a gown for her appearance with Bob Hope at the 1989 Academy Awards. From six sketches he presented, Lucy selected a high-necked, long-sleeved black dress covered with bugle beads, gold sequins and imitation diamonds. Turner was present at the Oscars that evening and, just before going on stage, Lucille handed him her purse. Lucy walked on stage to a standing ovation so heartfelt and prolonged that she was stunned and teary. It was to be her last public appearance. She died a few weeks later.
‘‘What an honor it is,’’ said Ric Wyman, a center official, ‘‘that a designer of Ret’s stature and fame would share his talents with us. We are very grateful for his tremendous show of support!’’
