SF diner honors the 100th birthday of TV's First Lady of Comedy, Lucille Ball

The legendary comedienne Lucille Ball will be honored on Saturday, August 6,th 2011 at 2 PM when Lori's Diner, 500 Sutter Street, will unveil one of Miss Ball's costumes once worn in a television special with Art Carney. A large grouping of photographs and ephemera will also be exhibited highlighting her TV and film career.

The exhibition will mark what would have been Lucille Ball's 100th birthday. Miss Ball was born Lucille Desiree Ball on August 6, 1911, in Celeron/Jamestown, New York. A century has passed since her birth and Lucy remains a household word and the undisputable Queen of TV Comedy. Lori's Diner is planning an all-day salute to the famous redhead which will include a free hamburger for all people named Lucy (with proof of picture I.D.) and free Cokes and coffee all day long at the Sutter Street Lori's Diner! Whoever dresses like Lucille Ball or Desi Arnaz on August 6th and comes to the diner on Sutter Street will receive a free hamburger, fries and Coke for an entire week! There will be a prize for the best-dressed Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

There will also be a special screening of original 16mm film I Love Lucy TV shows in the back room of the diner in honor of the star beginning at 4PM. Lori's Director of Marketing Barry Barsamian is well-known for his collection of Hollywood memorabilia and celebrity wardrobe items. He worked with the unforgettable redhead back in 1986 when he acquired numerous items from her fan club. Back in the late 1970's Lucy had an auction of her wardrobe that benefitted a children's charity and that's how Barsamian got the gown. Never did he dream that by 1986, he would be working with Lucy on a retrospective of her life and career, called The I Love Lucy Birthday Special, produced at KTVU-TV by now-KGO eyes-in-the-sky Stan Burford with Barry as Associate Producer. This program received the highest ratings for the time zone and beat out the then popular show, Dynasty.

President/CEO of Lori's Diner, Mr. Man J. Kim, who is known for his love of nostalgia, film and TV, said "we are thrilled to honor the great Lucille Ball...one of television's pioneers and an unforgettable talent. We ALL Love Lucy."

The exhibit will run through mid-November 2011. This presentation will replace the Elizabeth Taylor display which has garnered much attention since its installation in April shortly after the she passed away.

Lucille Ball Turns 100; Which Post-Lucy Actress Is The Funniest?

When it comes down to 'the best,' it's hard to agree on just one.

But when it comes to the queen of comedy there is a clear, ubiquitous winner; to quote Mila Kunis, "Lucille Ball is perfection."

Saturday marks what would have been Lucy's 100th birthday, so in honor of the woman who's made 'Vetavitavegamin' a part of the vernacular, we've put together some of the funny ladies who owe their own brand of side-splitting success to the ever-lovable Lucy.

She may still reign supreme, but at least we can put this whole women-aren't-funny-thing to bed.

View 42 of the post-lucy actress' - http://huff.to/q0m266

What does Hollywood have planned for Lucille Ball's 100th?

She might have passed more than two decades ago, but Hollywood is still preparing itself to celebrate the centennial birthday of one of its’ favorite darlings, Lucille Ball.

After capturing our hearts and feathering our funny bones in her portrayal of Lucy Ricardo, a sizzling redhead with a ditzy best friend and schemes that always backfired on them, Lucy and her husband on the sitcom and in real-life, Desi Arnaz, became comedic royalty.

Now, 60 years after the release of I Love Lucy, the original queen of comedy is being celebrated on what would have been her 100th birthday, August 6th.

What does Hollywood have up its’ magical sleeves?

According to the Los Angeles Times CBS Video released 14 classic episodes of I Love Lucy in June to begin the celebration. You can order those online or purchase them in local retailers. In the coming week, Warner Archive is releasing some of her funny films including Miss Grant Takes Richard and Turner Classic Movies will have a screening of our favorite Lucy films on her birthday.

Then, there’s the America Cinematheque’s Egyptian Theatre. They will present The Long, Long Trailer and The Dark Corner on Thursday night for her dear fans to reminisce.

The Hollywood Museum puts the cherry on the birthday sundae with the opening of “"Lucille Ball at 100 & 'I Love Lucy' at 60" exhibition. It will be a real treat for fans since they will be privy to costumes, scripts, and even original sheet music! That exhibition continues through November 30th.

Lucy’s daughter, Lucie Arnaz couldn’t be happier at this celebration of her late mother’s life. "It's a nice thing to do to look back and remember when somebody really changed the way we think about things, whether it be Thomas Edison or Lucille Ball," Arnaz told the Los Angeles Times. "I think she would, of course, be extremely honored and proud."

Joan Rivers kicks off Lucy's 100th birthday celebration

JAMESTOWN, NY (WBFO) - This Saturday is Lucille Ball's 100th birthday and the Lucy Desi Center in Jamestown is celebrating the landmark in a big, new way. The center will hold its first annual Lucille Ball Festival of Comedy.



But this isn't just a party. The mission of the five-day event is to continue Lucy's "legacy of laughter."

It will feature a comedy college, a comedy showcase and, of course, a line-up of special comedy guest stars. Joan Rivers, a comedy legend in her own right, headlines the event.

WBFO's Joyce Kryszak talked with Rivers by phone for a candid conversation about the state of comedy. Rivers said comedy doesn't need to be revived.

Rivers performs for the the Lucille Ball Festival of Comedy in Jamestown at 8:00 P.M. on Thursday, August 4 in the Reg Lenna Civic Center.

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.