Prior to achieving television stardom in 1951 as America’s favorite redhead, Lucille Ball was a glamorous movie star, achieving a modicum of success in films throughout the 1940s. She was under contract to MGM, the most prestigious studio in Hollywood during the 1940s and it was then that a paper doll book starring her as a glamour girl was first published. It is now being reproduced by Paper Studio Press.

There was little hint of the wacky comedic genius that was to make Lucy a beloved character during her MGM days when she starred in “Thousands Cheer,” “Best Foot Forward” (playing herself as a movie star) and “Easy to Wed.” In “Ziegfeld Follies,” Lucille Ball was at her most glamorous, gowned in feathered pink and cracking a whip over chorus girls dresses as cats. In “DuBarry Was a Lady,” she looked lovely in powered wigs and fancy hoopskirts. In fact, two costumes from that 1943 hit are included inside and beautifully portrayed on the cover of the paper doll book.

Originally published in 1944, the Lucille Ball Paper Dolls book is being reprinted as an officially authorized edition. Two charming dolls capture the star’s personality (and hint at the beloved TV character that would emerge years later). Inside are eight pages of vintage 1940’s fashions of the time, an entire wardrobe of broad-shouldered and smartly tailored daytime and eveningwear.

This lavishly created paper doll book is a must for the legions of Lucy collectors and will also be treasured by movie buffs as well as those who appreciate vintage fashion history. It will be published in November and will soon be available to preorder from paperdollreview.com.