Since 1996, Lucy’s hometown has welcomed visitors from all over the world to the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum in the heart of downtown Jamestown, New York. Inside its doors you’ll find a warm salute to the First Couple of Comedy! Here you’ll see priceless costumes, awards, photographs, and other vintage memorabilia on display from the estates of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
With a push of a button you can hear audio clips from Desi’s autobiography as well as stories of their youthful antics told by Lucy’s childhood pals. A unique radio plays clips both from Lucy’s 1940′s radio series, My Favorite Husband, and some of Desi’s famous Latin songs.
The Ball-Arnaz family portrait, above the display cases by the front door, once hung in Lucy and Desi’s home in Beverly Hills.
Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz Permanent Exhibits
The panels on the left of the Museum (as you look toward the back) describe Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz’s personal histories. You can push buttons to hear stories from some of Lucy’s childhood friends or hear readings from Desi’ autobiography, A Book. As you proceed down the panels, you will learn about Lucy and Desi’s early careers, how they met, and their creation of the most famous comedy series of all time.
The panels on the right, beginning at the back, show Lucy and Desi’s amazing contributions to early television, which became standards in the industry. There is also additional information about the history of comedy.
Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz Video Screening
The Lucy Desi Museum features its own screening room where you can enjoy Lucy and Desi on the big screen. Included are clips from “I Love Lucy” where Lucy refers to Jamestown, Lake Chautauqua, and characters in the show that are named after her hometown friends. Then, watch interviews with the real friends! There are also segments from Lucie Arnaz’s Emmy award-winning documentary Lucy & Desi: A Home Movie, which is available for purchase in the gift shop.
