Largest ‘I Love Lucy’ mural officially completed on show’s anniversary
JAMESTOWN, NY – October 15th, 2012 – Community members and a group of 50 museum visitors gathered to be a part of Jamestown history on Monday morning as Gary Peters Jr. and Gary Peters Sr. put their finishing touches on the largest ‘I Love Lucy’ mural in the world.
A portion (a heart-shaped coat button) of the mural had been previously left unfinished so it could be completed on October 15th, the 61st anniversary of the first airdate of ‘I Love Lucy’. The image of Lucy, Ricky, Ethel and Fred on the mural is from the iconic ‘I Love Lucy’ episode, ‘California, Here We Come!’
Over 500 man hours were put in by both Gary Peters Jr. and Gary Peters Sr. to paint the 1,800 square foot portrait over Brooklyn Square in downtown Jamestown. Almost 30 gallons of paint were required (some of which were donated by the local Sherwin Williams store) and there are various hidden ‘I Love Lucy’ messages in the mural, including the mural scene’s episode number, 110.
This was the fifth ‘Lucy’-related mural completed by Gary Peters Sr. and Gary Peters Jr. in Ball’s hometown of Jamestown, New York. The first ‘Lucy’ mural in Jamestown was completed 12 years ago, and this most recent mural is being completed on the heels of ‘I Love Lucy’ being voted as Greatest TV Show and Greatest TV Comedy of all-time in the nationally-televised Barbara Walters’ special, ‘The Best in TV – The Greatest Shows of Our Time.’
Lucy fans can also help make the lighting of the first colorized ‘I Love Lucy’ mural possible by becoming a ‘Mural Luminary’. By donating towards the illumination project, fans will directly support the lighting of the mural. The names of these ‘Mural Luminaries’ will be listed at www.lucy-desi.com. To make a donation, contact 716.484.0800 during normal business hours or e-mail info@lucy-desi.com.
To view photos of the event online, visit the Lucy Desi Center’s Facebook page.
The Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum and Desilu Studios
The Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum and Desilu Studios are a year-round museum attraction in Lucille Ball’s hometown of Jamestown, New York, and feature replica show sets, a behind-the-scenes look at the “I Love Lucy” show, an audio tour of Ball and Arnaz’s incredible careers narrated by the voice of daughter Lucie Arnaz, and much more.
The dual attraction is open 7 days a week, Monday – Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 11am-4pm. The Lucy Desi Center for Comedy is located at 2 W. 3rd Street in Jamestown, NY.
The Lucille Ball Comedy Festival
The Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, or “Lucy Fest,” embodies Ball’s vision for her hometown legacy: a celebration of the comedic arts held annually on the weekend closest to her birth date, August 6th. This year’s festival ran from August 1st-5th and featured performances by Paula Poundstone, Lucie Arnaz, Tammy Pescatelli, Story Pirates, Billy Gardell from CBS’s Mike & Molly, the best “Lucy, Ricky, Fred & Ethel” impersonators in the world and much more. This year’s festival was brought to you in part by YNN, the TV media sponsor of Lucy Fest 2012. Lucy Fest 2013 will be August 1-4. Additional information on the festival can be found at www.LucyComedyFest.com.
According to an economic impact study conducted by Buffalo firm Paradigm Economics and commissioned by the Lucy Desi Center for Comedy and the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, the 2011 five-day festival saw 13,000 in attendance and had a direct impact of $3.6 million on Chautauqua County.
The Lucille Ball Comedy Festival is the first pillar in a four-pillar Legacy of Laughter vision for the organization, including a comedic arts education program, comedy film festival and the establishment of the first national comedy center and hall of fame.
The mission of the Lucy Desi 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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I always loved Lucy. I even named my one cat, “Lucy”. She even comes to the festivals. Yesterday I went to the presentation about the new mirual. This was so interesting. The pictures are nonething until you see it up close. The mirual is just beauiful. There are no words to discribe it. You have to go and see this you will be amazed. Kathy M.
… Looked-GOOD-on WKBW TV-7′s 6 p.m. newscast Mon.! As a former “West Coast Editor of Radio/TV” for Billboard Magazine in L.A., I always enjoyed reporting on Lucy’s hometown connections to WNY. Wish I could have met her while working-in-Hollywood as well as Vegas. She was “One of a Kind!”