A new book out by Tom Goodwill that is about a history of the Celoron amusement park from the turn of the last century just came outl. This park was around when Lucille Ball lived in Celeron. Lucy spent time at the park and enjoyed the shows that played there.
The book also contains a complete chapter on Lucy. Written by Tom Goodwill, a former Jamestown resident, amateur historian, and avid postcard collector. It's a great read, and you'll learn a lot of things about Lucy's childhood hometown that you never knew!
Thanks to Abbie for this story - who has a great website on Lucy's childhood home in Celeron - http://59lucylane.com
October 28, 2010
October 15, 2010
Theater Preview: You'll love "Lucy" in Laguna
Although Lucille Ball stands at or near the top of every list of comedic actresses, and her "I Love Lucy" television shows live on forever in reruns, the last three decades of her life were marked by bitterness and failure. Fortunately, she had Lee Tannen as a buffer.
Tannen, a distant relative of her last husband, Gary Morton, was a rabid Lucy fan from childhood and, when finally accorded a chance to meet the legend, stayed at her side for the better part of those last 30 years. After her death, he compiled his reminiscences into a book entitled "I Loved Lucy."
That book is now a stage play, receiving its world premiere at the Laguna Playhouse where a pair of terrific actors bring the Lucy-Lee relationship back to life under the spirited direction of Todd Weeks. It's a box of theatrical bonbons for Lucy fans, of whom there are legion.
Taking on the tricky task of playing a still-living person while that person is in the audience (as he was opening night) is Jeffry Denman, who both performs and, alternately, narrates the story. Denman skillfully projects a gay man's adoration while gradually standing his ground against the diva's dominance — which shatters the friendship on at least two occasions.
The even trickier assignment of bringing a beloved figure, about whom most fans have decades of knowledge, to life on stage falls to Diane J. Findlay, and she is a revelation. Findlay captures the late-life Lucy as a tough, sharp-tongued, gravely voiced lady with no illusions about her status — she's the polar opposite of Norma Desmond in "Sunset Boulevard."
These two apparent opposites truly attract, building a relationship off their need for one another — he's a fervent fan; she needs companionship since Morton usually is off playing golf. Never mind that he lives in New York with a partner and she's based in Los Angeles.
Denman has the lion's share of the load in this captivating exercise, both enthusiastically playing Tannen and keeping the audience updated on Lucy's progress and various mood swings as he revels in her orbit. A novice at backgammon, Lucy's favorite pastime, he virtually wills himself to become her equal until she's finally into him for several hundred dollars.
Findlay brings the swagger of a star to the early scenes, but settles into a comfortable mood of companionship and barbed exchanges. Don't look for any Lucyesque laughs here — she reserved those for the camera — but Findlay vibrantly brings out the legend's wounded ego over the failure of such later projects as the movie "Mame" and the TV series "Life with Lucy."
The pair act out those later years against an immaculate backdrop representing Lucy's home and various other venues in her life. It's designed by Bruce Goodrich, who also created the impressive costumes. Paulie Jenkins' lighting effects and Corinne Carrillo's sound design complete the illustrious picture.
"I Loved Lucy" brings TV's queen of comedy back to life in an affectionate portrait from a devoted fan and friend. This show gets the Laguna Playhouse's 91st season started off with a bang.
IF YOU GO:
WHAT: "I Loved Lucy"
WHERE: Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California
WHEN: Tuesdays through Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8, Sundays at 2 p.m. until Oct. 31
COST: $35 to $65
CALL: (494) 497-2787
Tannen, a distant relative of her last husband, Gary Morton, was a rabid Lucy fan from childhood and, when finally accorded a chance to meet the legend, stayed at her side for the better part of those last 30 years. After her death, he compiled his reminiscences into a book entitled "I Loved Lucy."
That book is now a stage play, receiving its world premiere at the Laguna Playhouse where a pair of terrific actors bring the Lucy-Lee relationship back to life under the spirited direction of Todd Weeks. It's a box of theatrical bonbons for Lucy fans, of whom there are legion.
Taking on the tricky task of playing a still-living person while that person is in the audience (as he was opening night) is Jeffry Denman, who both performs and, alternately, narrates the story. Denman skillfully projects a gay man's adoration while gradually standing his ground against the diva's dominance — which shatters the friendship on at least two occasions.
The even trickier assignment of bringing a beloved figure, about whom most fans have decades of knowledge, to life on stage falls to Diane J. Findlay, and she is a revelation. Findlay captures the late-life Lucy as a tough, sharp-tongued, gravely voiced lady with no illusions about her status — she's the polar opposite of Norma Desmond in "Sunset Boulevard."
These two apparent opposites truly attract, building a relationship off their need for one another — he's a fervent fan; she needs companionship since Morton usually is off playing golf. Never mind that he lives in New York with a partner and she's based in Los Angeles.
Denman has the lion's share of the load in this captivating exercise, both enthusiastically playing Tannen and keeping the audience updated on Lucy's progress and various mood swings as he revels in her orbit. A novice at backgammon, Lucy's favorite pastime, he virtually wills himself to become her equal until she's finally into him for several hundred dollars.
Findlay brings the swagger of a star to the early scenes, but settles into a comfortable mood of companionship and barbed exchanges. Don't look for any Lucyesque laughs here — she reserved those for the camera — but Findlay vibrantly brings out the legend's wounded ego over the failure of such later projects as the movie "Mame" and the TV series "Life with Lucy."
The pair act out those later years against an immaculate backdrop representing Lucy's home and various other venues in her life. It's designed by Bruce Goodrich, who also created the impressive costumes. Paulie Jenkins' lighting effects and Corinne Carrillo's sound design complete the illustrious picture.
"I Loved Lucy" brings TV's queen of comedy back to life in an affectionate portrait from a devoted fan and friend. This show gets the Laguna Playhouse's 91st season started off with a bang.
IF YOU GO:
WHAT: "I Loved Lucy"
WHERE: Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California
WHEN: Tuesdays through Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8, Sundays at 2 p.m. until Oct. 31
COST: $35 to $65
CALL: (494) 497-2787
August 06, 2010
Lucy would have been 99 today!
Just a quick "Happy Birthday" to our leading lady of comedy, Lucille Ball. She would have been 99 today, born August 6th, 1911 in Jamestown, NY.
A few years before she died in 1989, she was honored by The Kennedy Center on December 7, 1986, here are video clips from that Honors ceremony:
Walter Matthau gives a presentation on Lucy's career with some great video clips:
Desi Arnaz, who had just died five days earlier following a long bout with cancer, had written a touching statement for this event, which is read here by Robert Stack. (Lucy had to fly almost immediately to Washington following Desi’s funeral in order to attend this event.) Lucy struggles to keep her composure, but the mood quickly changes when Bea Arthur, Valerie Harper and Pam Dawber come out for a musical tribute to Lucille Ball — a musical medley of WILDCAT, MAME and I LOVE LUCY, set to special new lyrics. “I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t had this thing to keep me occupied. Desi died and my show got canceled. If I hadn’t had this, if I hadn’t this reassurance that I was still wanted, I don’t think that I could have gone on.” — Lucille Ball
Lucy - Happy Birthday - We still Love Lucy!
A few years before she died in 1989, she was honored by The Kennedy Center on December 7, 1986, here are video clips from that Honors ceremony:
Walter Matthau gives a presentation on Lucy's career with some great video clips:
Desi Arnaz, who had just died five days earlier following a long bout with cancer, had written a touching statement for this event, which is read here by Robert Stack. (Lucy had to fly almost immediately to Washington following Desi’s funeral in order to attend this event.) Lucy struggles to keep her composure, but the mood quickly changes when Bea Arthur, Valerie Harper and Pam Dawber come out for a musical tribute to Lucille Ball — a musical medley of WILDCAT, MAME and I LOVE LUCY, set to special new lyrics. “I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t had this thing to keep me occupied. Desi died and my show got canceled. If I hadn’t had this, if I hadn’t this reassurance that I was still wanted, I don’t think that I could have gone on.” — Lucille Ball
Lucy - Happy Birthday - We still Love Lucy!
August 02, 2010
Results of Recent Lucille Ball Auctioned Items
As previously reported, Heritage Auction Galleries held an auction that contained a number of Lucille Ball's personal items that had passed to her husband, Gary Morton upon her death. These items were then put up for auction by Susie McAllister Morton, who married Gary Morton in 1996, after the death of Lucille Ball in 1989.
Lucie Arnaz, daughter of Lucille Ball tried to block the items from going up for auction by court order. Although she won, she lost in technicality as she could not come up with the imposed $250,000 bond in order to stop the auction. The auction house then agreed to return some items to Lucie. They gave her Lucille Ball's lifetime achievement awards but the other items remained up for auction.
So what happened to those items that went up on the auction block? A trove of more than 120 lots from the Estate of Gary Morton and his wife, Lucille Ball, brought $230,780 on Saturday, July 17, as part of a $1.3 million+ Music & Entertainment auction at Heritage Auctions Beverly Hills. Lucille Ball’s 1984 Rolls Royce Silver Spur was the highest priced item from that consignment at $29,875. All prices include 19.5% Buyer’s Premium.
"What we saw here today was an amazing outpouring of love and respect from Lucy’s fans," said Doug Norwine, Director of Entertainment Auctions at Heritage. "Collectors paid top prices to obtain a cherished piece of Lucy’s personal legacy – far beyond our expectations – and they came out in droves, not only in the auction room, but by the hundreds online."
Other top lots of the Lucille Ball consignment was $7,768 for the painting L’Opera, Paris, by Regis (Count) de Cachard, from Morton and Ball’s collection, and $8,963 for her personal address book, containing the names, phone numbers and addresses of many of the top stars of the 1950s and 1960s.
Lucie Arnaz, daughter of Lucille Ball tried to block the items from going up for auction by court order. Although she won, she lost in technicality as she could not come up with the imposed $250,000 bond in order to stop the auction. The auction house then agreed to return some items to Lucie. They gave her Lucille Ball's lifetime achievement awards but the other items remained up for auction.
So what happened to those items that went up on the auction block? A trove of more than 120 lots from the Estate of Gary Morton and his wife, Lucille Ball, brought $230,780 on Saturday, July 17, as part of a $1.3 million+ Music & Entertainment auction at Heritage Auctions Beverly Hills. Lucille Ball’s 1984 Rolls Royce Silver Spur was the highest priced item from that consignment at $29,875. All prices include 19.5% Buyer’s Premium.
"What we saw here today was an amazing outpouring of love and respect from Lucy’s fans," said Doug Norwine, Director of Entertainment Auctions at Heritage. "Collectors paid top prices to obtain a cherished piece of Lucy’s personal legacy – far beyond our expectations – and they came out in droves, not only in the auction room, but by the hundreds online."
Other top lots of the Lucille Ball consignment was $7,768 for the painting L’Opera, Paris, by Regis (Count) de Cachard, from Morton and Ball’s collection, and $8,963 for her personal address book, containing the names, phone numbers and addresses of many of the top stars of the 1950s and 1960s.
July 25, 2010
Lucy’s 99th birthday celebration in August
The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center of Jamestown is proud to announce activities for the Lucille Ball New Comedy Celebration, commemorating what would have been Lucy's 99th birthday. It is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 6 and Saturday, Aug. 7.
A special discounted admission will be offered during the festival weekend only. A $15 dual admission will be reduced to $10 per person for both museums, $5 per person for either one separately. Special merchandise sales and promotions will also be in effect.
The Downtown Jamestown Development Corporation will host its annual Taste of Jamestown on Third Street between Pine and Cherry streets on both days. The center will host a birthday party at the its 300 N. Main Street location from noon-3 p.m. on Aug. 6, in conjunction with the Taste. The party will include cakes donated from local bakeries, caterers and stores; as well as a wine tasting of Willow Creek Winery's signature chocolate wine.
The center will also present a silent auction in the same location featuring memorabilia and collectibles. This will take place both days.
The celebration will continue as the Lucy-Desi Center, in association with the Reg Lenna Civic Center, presents the comedic talents of Chris (Crazy Legs) Fonseca Friday, Aug. 6 at 7:30 p.m. Chris has been dubbed America's original sit down comic, having been born with cerebral palsy. His media appearances include The Howard Stern Show, Late Night with David Letterman, The American Comedy Awards, Entertainment Tonight, Baywatch and many others. Tickets, just $20, are general admission seating and may be purchased online at www.lucy-desi.com, at either of the Center's museum gift shops, or at the Reg Lenna box office.
A special Lifetime Membership campaign for the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center will be brought back during the month of August in honor of Lucy's Birthday. The cost is $1000 and this membership offer includes many special benefits.
The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center gratefully acknowledges the support of their sponsors which includes: Advertising Advantage, Coach USA, Community Bank, Desilu, Too, LLC, Down Jamestown Development Corporation, Garden of Eden, Hanson Signs, Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce, Jamestown Mattress Company, Jon Elder Productions, Lake County Chrysler, Kia and Dodge, Nord Tech, Rhoe B. Henderson Agency, Roberto's, Star Media Group, Betty Schults, Summer Wind, and Talking Phone Book.
For more information about the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center, call 484-0800 or visit www.lucy-desi.com. Hours for the Lucy-Desi Museum (10 West Third St.) and the Desilu Playhouse Museum (2 West Third St.) are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
A special discounted admission will be offered during the festival weekend only. A $15 dual admission will be reduced to $10 per person for both museums, $5 per person for either one separately. Special merchandise sales and promotions will also be in effect.
The Downtown Jamestown Development Corporation will host its annual Taste of Jamestown on Third Street between Pine and Cherry streets on both days. The center will host a birthday party at the its 300 N. Main Street location from noon-3 p.m. on Aug. 6, in conjunction with the Taste. The party will include cakes donated from local bakeries, caterers and stores; as well as a wine tasting of Willow Creek Winery's signature chocolate wine.
The center will also present a silent auction in the same location featuring memorabilia and collectibles. This will take place both days.
The celebration will continue as the Lucy-Desi Center, in association with the Reg Lenna Civic Center, presents the comedic talents of Chris (Crazy Legs) Fonseca Friday, Aug. 6 at 7:30 p.m. Chris has been dubbed America's original sit down comic, having been born with cerebral palsy. His media appearances include The Howard Stern Show, Late Night with David Letterman, The American Comedy Awards, Entertainment Tonight, Baywatch and many others. Tickets, just $20, are general admission seating and may be purchased online at www.lucy-desi.com, at either of the Center's museum gift shops, or at the Reg Lenna box office.
A special Lifetime Membership campaign for the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center will be brought back during the month of August in honor of Lucy's Birthday. The cost is $1000 and this membership offer includes many special benefits.
The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center gratefully acknowledges the support of their sponsors which includes: Advertising Advantage, Coach USA, Community Bank, Desilu, Too, LLC, Down Jamestown Development Corporation, Garden of Eden, Hanson Signs, Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce, Jamestown Mattress Company, Jon Elder Productions, Lake County Chrysler, Kia and Dodge, Nord Tech, Rhoe B. Henderson Agency, Roberto's, Star Media Group, Betty Schults, Summer Wind, and Talking Phone Book.
For more information about the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center, call 484-0800 or visit www.lucy-desi.com. Hours for the Lucy-Desi Museum (10 West Third St.) and the Desilu Playhouse Museum (2 West Third St.) are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
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