August 04, 2011

Be A Lucy On Saturday Afternoon

On Saturday, Aug. 6, the Lucy-Desi Center is hoping to get Jamestown into the record books.
As part of the Lucille Ball Festival of Comedy - a celebration of Ball's 100th birthday - the center for comedy is inviting men, women and children to participate in the setting of a new world record for ''most people dressed as Lucy Ricardo in one place, at one time.''
''We need everyone's help to make this record an impressive success,'' said Journey Gunderson, executive director of the center, adding how much fun the event will be for all in attendance. ''Why wouldn't you come downtown to throw on a $5 getup and be a part of something that will officially be recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records?''

Registration for the record will begin at noon at Lucy Fest's ''Party on the Plaza'' on Tracy Plaza, with the officially required photograph moment - with all Lucys in position - taking place at 2 p.m.

An aerial photograph and video footage of the event are required by Guinness and are being planned.
All participants must pay a $5 registration fee and will be officially recorded by name in the record. A qualifying mask will satisfy the lips and hair criteria for anyone not wearing red lipstick and a red up-do hairstyle. A large quantity of Lucy-red lipstick has been donated by Benefit Cosmetics, a sponsor of the ''Be a Lucy'' world record.

''This will be high-quality lipstick in the right Lucy shade, so we're very appreciative of Benefit's support,'' Ms. Gunderson said.

The qualifying costume was specially screenprinted by Al-Ross Custom Printing in West Seneca, an official event sponsor. While the $5 registration fee includes the basic qualifying costume, participants are also encouraged to wear their own costumes.

''We anticipate some very quality look-alikes to be on-hand,'' Ms. Gunderson said. ''Our Lucy fans come from around the world for this festival and they do not disappoint when it comes to donning a Lucy resemblance.''

Dress and attire must correspond with an episode of ''I Love Lucy,'' so pre-registration online at www.lucycomedyfest.com is encouraged. There will be staff to judge on-site as well, so bringing an image from the corresponding episode will help guarantee inclusion.

Ms. Gunderson said the idea for the event came from an online contact form in March, and that the center is attempting to track down the woman who submitted the idea.

''The idea came in, we did some research, and couldn't find any other existing record of its kind,'' she said. ''Sharon Bergstrom on our staff submitted a proposal to Guinness, and we had to wait five weeks for the response from the British headquarters. When it arrived and was an official approval, we were ecstatic and laughing, but also scratching our heads and looking at each other saying, So how are we going to do this?'''
After more than four months of planning, the center is prepared to set the record during the festival.

''You can enjoy a cold beer and live music on the plaza, register for the record, throw on your get-up, and then take your place in the history books, right at City Hall in downtown Jamestown,'' Ms. Gunderson said. ''It's going to be a hoot, (and) totally hysterical.''

The record-breaking event will take place in Tracy Plaza on Saturday. Qualifying outfits are available for all ages, shapes and sizes. For more information about the event and the entire Lucille Ball Festival of Comedy, scheduled for today through Sunday, visit www.lucycomedyfest.com.

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