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We recently spent the day in Jamestown, NY - the hometown of Lucille Ball. Our visit happened to be on Lucy’s birthday weekend, which is also the date for the annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival.
By chance we lucked into the festivities and spent the afternoon poking around this lovely area. Jamestown is a good-sized town with a long history, and the older neighborhoods are paved with red bricks, oddly enough.
Serious Lucy aficionados had come from far and wide to attend numerous events, including Saturday’s big production with Jay Leno and daughter Lucie Arnez - a sold out show!
We toured through the extensive Lucy & Desi Museum where the film sets from the I Love Lucy show are recreated. Many of her costumes and effects are on exhibit, along with the personal histories of her and Desi. When she started to make it in show business, she sent for her Jamestown relatives, one by one, until all were relocated to California.
The museum had several sitting areas where her TV episodes were playing on continuous loop, and I knew we were encountering some serious fans when the audience could recite every line. A woman sitting next to me gave a running commentary on the wardrobes: “She wore that same dress in the episode with Harpo Marx!”
My favorite exhibit was a Vitameatavegamin display, where you could recite the famous commercial and it was broadcast live through a 1950’s television! “Are you popped at parties? Are you unpoopular?”
Early evening we enjoyed the Lucy & Ethel Comedy Dinner Show at the Willow Bay Theater. Two talented impersonators recreated famous scenes and interacted with the enthusiastic fans while a swell dinner was served.
Later that night we watched Lucy & Desi’s movie The Long Long Trailer – a DVD we just had to buy!
You can park your Long Long Trailer at one of many campgrounds along Lake Chautauqua. We chose Chautauqua Lake KOA in nearby Dewittville as our home base, and were pleased with the amenities and fine views of the lake.
Websites:
koa.com/campgrounds/chautauqua-lake/
February 19, 2023
