Hometown hopes to set Lucy-lookalike record

On August 6, on Lucille Ball’s 100th birthday, the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Center for Comedy invites everyone — 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.”

The “Be A Lucy: Guinness World Record” event is part of the Lucille Ball Festival of Comedy and 100th birthday celebration, which runs Aug. 3-7. The festival includes headliner comedians Joan Rivers (Aug. 4), Paula Poundstone (Aug. 6), kids comedy troop Story Pirates (Aug. 6), eight comedians from San Francisco-based festival co-producer Rooftop Comedy, and the world’s best Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel impersonators.

“We anticipate some very quality look-alikes to be on-hand. Our Lucy Fans come from around the world for this festival and they do not disappoint when it comes to donning a Lucy resemblance,” said Lucy Desi Center for Comedy Executive Director Journey Gunderson.

The official criteria include the signature red up-do hairstyle, red lips, and dress/attire corresponding with something Lucy Ricardo wore on an episode of "I Love Lucy."

“We’ll have Lucys from Australia, Great Britain, Japan, Canada, and of course a large contingent coming from California and a number of states in between. We expect a minimum of between 500-1000 participants on August 6.”

While the $5 registration fee includes a basic qualifying costume — the iconic blue and white polka-dot dress — participants are also encouraged to wear their own costumes. “We’ve got qualifying get-ups for everyone; all ages and all sizes,” added Gunderson.

The record registration begins at noon ET at Lucy Fest’s “Party on the Plaza” at Jamestown’s City Hall, with the officially-required photograph moment — with all Lucys in position — at 2pm. An aerial photograph and video footage are required for official Guinness sanctioning.

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.”

The mission of the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Center for Comedy, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is to preserve the legacy of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz and enrich the world through the healing powers of love and laughter through its commitment to the development of the comedic arts.

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Anniversary waltz for Lucille Ball, 'Lucy'

It's time to take a moment to remember why we love Lucy.

A number of tributes, exhibits and events are set to mark the twin milestones this year of the 100th anniversary of Lucille Ball's birth, on Aug. 6, 1911, and the 60th anniversary of "I Love Lucy's" debut, on Oct. 15, 1951.

The backstory of "Lucy" and the many achievements of Ball and Desi Arnaz have been well documented, but it's a legacy of risk-taking, innovation and unparalleled talent that has grown only more impressive with the passage of time.

Through the couple's insistence on producing a show on film from Los Angeles, rather than live in New York, "Lucy" invented the three-camera sitcom, modern editing techniques and the riches of syndication. And Lucy and Desi owned it all, through Desilu Prods., after spending their own money on a pilot to convince skeptical CBS execs that America would warm to a ditsy redheaded housewife and her Cuban bandleader husband.

Three months after the launch of Desilu in April 1950, Daily Variety reported the first rumblings that the pair were about to produce a "tele pilot film" but were keeping mum on details. The following year, the bet-the-farm gamble that Desilu was taking on "Lucy" was palpable in a full-page launch ad that ran in the Sept. 5, 1951, edition.

Variety's review of the "Lucy" bow wasn't a rave, but it hit the mark in noting that the show "should sell lots of cigarettes" for sponsor Philip Morris.

Among the upcoming tributes, the Hollywood Museum on Highland Avenue will unveil an extensive exhibit of Lucy-ana that runs Aug. 4-Nov. 30. Ball's daughter Lucie Arnaz, "Lucy" editor Dann Cahn and other notables will be on hand for the opening night.

For hardcore enthusiasts, there's Lucy Fest, which runs Aug. 3-7 in Ball's hometown of Jamestown, N.Y., which pays year-round tribute to its famous daughter with the Lucy Desi Center. This year's festivities include an attempt to set a Guinness Book record for the number of people dressed as Lucy Ricardo.

Live Lucy Radio Show Event

On August 6, at 3:30pm, two radio plays will be performed onstage before a live audience at the Reg Lenna Civic Center, for nationwide broadcast on SiriusXM Satellite Radio.

First up is I Love Lucy: The Untold Story, a new play by Gregg Oppenheimer based on his father's best-selling memoir, Laughs, Luck...and Lucy: How I Came to Create the Most Popular Sitcom of All Time. It's a fascinating and funny look behind the scenes at the many obstacles that had to be overcome in order to get I Love Lucy on the air.

That show will be followed immediately by an episode of My Favorite Husband, Lucille Ball's CBS radio sitcom that inspired I Love Lucy. The episode is "Trying to Marry Off Peggy Martin." Originally broadcast on December 2, 1950 on CBS Radio, it was written by I Love Lucy writers Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh and Bob Carroll Jr., who later turned it into the classic episode of I Love Lucy entitled "Lucy Is Matchmaker."

Gregg Oppenheimer, son of I Love Lucy creator Jess Oppenheimer, will direct both productions, to be performed in the style of old-time radio programs, with actors standing at microphones on the stage, plus sound effects and music. The total running time for the two plays is approximately ninety minutes.

The productions will feature Desi Arnaz impersonator Adrian Israel, as well as Rooftop Comedy's Costaki Economopoulos, Christina Pazsitsky, Jamie Ward and Nate Bargatze, plus Margo Davis, Len Tobin, Rick Hennigan, Mark Ozog, Gary Yoggy, Barb Pickelhaupt, and Jamestown's own Lee John, Dana Block, Vince Joy Jr., and Daniel Pierce.

And joining the cast for this World Premiere Event will be two Special Guest Stars: Stuffy Singer, a veteran of many classic radio shows including The Jack Benny Program and Our Miss Brooks and such TV series as Leave It to Beaver, My Three Sons, and The Bill Cosby Show; and Michael C. Gwynne, whose many TV credits include Kojack, Dallas, Hill Street Blues, Cagney and Lacey, Knight Rider, plus featured roles in such movies as The Terminal Man and Howard Stern's Private Parts.

Tickets are you still available for our Live Lucy Radio Show Event.
Purchase your tickets at the Reg Lenna Box Office - 716-664-2465

Anniversary edition of 'Desilu' book honors Lucille Ball's 100th birthday

It's been 60 years, and we still love Lucy.

Desilu: The Story of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz (It Books), will release a special anniversary edition on Aug. 2 to honor Lucille Ball's 100th birthday and the 60th anniversary of the first episode of I Love Lucy. Ball died in 1989 when she was 77. Coyne S. Sanders and Tom Gilbert tell the behind-the-scenes story of the Hollywood couple's very different public and personal personas.

The anniversary edition's new material includes a forward by TV critic Tom Shales, a preface from the authors and more photos of the Golden Age of Television's "it" couple. The book takes exclusive interviews with family members and co-workers to expose the tumultuous relationship (that ultimately led to divorce) behind Ball and Arnaz's storybook on-camera romance.

To get in the mood to delve into Lucille and Desi's relationship, check out these iconic Lucille Ball quotes from the "Everything Lucy" blog. Or just reminisce a classic Lucy moment.

Lucille Ball Contest winners spending honeymoon in Niagara

NIAGARA FALLS — One lucky Ohio couple is spending their honeymoon in Niagara Falls after winning the national MediaOneBridal.com, Lucille Ball Hometown Wedding Competition.

The Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp. (NTCC) welcomed Troy Litwiler and Tricia Kren of Poland, Ohio, on Sunday, for a seven-day, six-night honeymoon. The couple won their wedding and honeymoon in a national contest to honor the 100th birthday of Lucille Ball, the star of the television program “I Love Lucy.”

As self-described “huge fans” of the popular television program, Tricia and Troy submitted a video and 20-page application detailing why they’d like to have a 1950’s “I Love Lucy” inspired wedding and honeymoon. Following this past Saturday’s wedding at the Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz Center in Jamestown, the couple traveled to Niagara Falls.

“Our agency is keenly aware of the value of participating in national contests and events such as this which will place Niagara USA in the spotlight as a premier wedding and honeymoon destination,” said John Percy, president and CEO of the NTCC.

As part of the honeymoon package, the NTCC has worked with local tourism partners to provide the couple with the following:

Discovery Passes (Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds, etc.), accommodations at the Barton Hill Hotel and Spa, All-American Tour provided by Grayline Tours, Vino Visa Passports, passes to Old Fort Niagara, Whirlpool Jet Boat, Niagara Falls Wax Museum, Lockport Locks and Herschell Carrousel Museum, a horse-drawn carriage by International Weddings & Carriage Rides, dinner at Casa Antiqa, The Bakery and Top of the Falls Restaurant, a gift certificate to Angel-to-Apple Clothing Boutique and a Fashion Outlets gift card.