Lucy-Desi News

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WILMER VALDERRAMA TO PAY TRIBUTE TO DESI ARNAZ
Saturday, May 10, 2008

Wilmer Valderrama, star of That ‘70s Show and Fast Food Nation and creator and host of MTV’s Yo Momma, will headline Lucy-Desi Days Memorial Day Weekend Festival, May 23-25 in Lucille Ball’s hometown, Jamestown, New York!

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“I LOVE LUCY” LEGEND EVENT TO FEATURE ORIGINAL CAST MEMBER:
Thursday, May 8, 2008

Child actor Steven Kay played Little Ricky’s pal Little Stevie Appleby in the “I Love Lucy” episode, “Lucy and Superman.” Kay will be in Lucille Ball’s hometown, Jamestown, New York, during Lucy-Desi Days, May 23-25, to share his memories of working with The First Couple of Comedy.

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JAMESTOWN’S LUCY-DESI DAYS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR COLLECTORS:
Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Lot 32 of the upcoming Lucy-Desi Memorabilia Auction features two candid photos of Lucy at a backyard Beverly Hills party with the Gabor sisters. The auction is one of the highlights of Lucy-Desi Days Memorial Day Weekend Festival, May 23-25, in Lucille Ball’s hometown, Jamestown, New York!s in Lucille Ball’s hometown, Jamestown, New York.

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“I LOVE LUCY” FILM EDITOR IN JAMESTOWN TO CELEBRATE
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF DESILU PLAYHOUSE TV SERIES:
Monday, May 5, 2008

Pictured here with Lucille Ball, film editor Dann Cahn will be the special guest for the 50th anniversary celebration of The Desilu Playhouse on Friday evening, May 23, during Lucy-Desi Days in Lucille Ball’s hometown, Jamestown, New York.

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DESILU PRODUCTIONS RESIDENT COUNSEL TO HOST JAMESTOWN EVENT:
Thursday, May 1, 2008

As Lucille Ball’s professional attorney and her personal secretary, Howard Rayfiel and Wanda Clark both played unique roles in the life of The Queen of Comedy. They will share their experiences and their stories during Lucy-Desi Days Memorial Day Weekend Festival in Jamestown, New York, May 23-25.

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LUCY-DESI CENTER REESTABLISHES
JAMESTOWN COMMUNITY COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP
Wednesday, April 30, 2008

When Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz visited Jamestown, New York, in 1956, they announced the creation of a scholarship at Jamestown Community College (JCC). Through the generosity of individuals from across the country, the Lucy-Desi Center has reestablished the Lucille Ball Scholarship at JCC. It will be administered through the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

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LUCY HISTORIAN TO BE HONORED AT JAMESTOWN’S LUCY-DESI FAN REUNION
Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Lucille Ball author and historian Tom Watson will be honored during Lucy-Desi Days Memorial Day Weekend Festival. Watson will be the special guest at the Lucy-Desi Fan Reunion & Picnic on Sunday afternoon, May 25, in the village of Celoron, New York, where a young Lucille Ball spent so many happy years!

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“I LOVE LUCY” COSTUME PARTY TO CAP FESTIVAL WEEKEND
Monday, April 21, 2008

Melody Thomas Scott, founding board member of the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center, will host the Talent Show & Costume Contest during Lucy-Desi Days in Jamestown, New York. The star of The Young and The Restless will be part of the fun in Lucille Ball’s hometown during the May 23-25 festivities!

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LUCILLE BALL’S FAMILY TO HOST BOAT CRUISE ON CHAUTAUQUA LAKE
Friday, April 18, 2008

Zo Ball, Lucille Ball’s sister-in-law, and her children and grandchildren will host a cruise on Lake Chautauqua during Lucy-Desi Days Memorial Day Weekend Festival, May 23-25, in Lucy’s hometown, Jamestown, New York.

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“LUCY” & “ETHEL” TO HOST DINNER PARTIES & TRIVIA CONTEST
Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Diane Vincent (left), “Lucy Ricardo” impressionist from Universal Studios Hollywood, and her sidekick “Ethel Mertz”, actress Rhonda Medina, will host Tropicana Dinner Parties and join the “I Love Lucy” Trivia Contest during Lucy-Desi Days Memorial Day Weekend Festival in Jamestown, New York, May 23-25.

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LUCY-DESI & ARTS COUNCIL COLLABORATE ON LATE NIGHT LAUGHS!
Friday, April 11, 2008

Named the funniest person in Buffalo in 2005 and 2007, Matt Rohr is one of many comedians who will have folks laughing out loud during Lucy-Desi Days Memorial Day Weekend Festival, May 23-25 in Jamestown, New York!

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MELODY THOMAS SCOTT PLANS JAMESTOWN VISIT
Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Melody Thomas Scott, “Nikki Newman” in The Young and The Restless, is returning to the hometown of her idol, Lucille Ball, to host three events during Lucy-Desi Days Memorial Day Weekend Festival, May 23-25. Melody is a founding board member of the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center in Jamestown, New York.

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LUCY-DESI CENTER RECEIVES SPECIAL SHIPMENT
Wednesday, April 2, 2008

This swag lamp that once hung in Lucille Ball’s home was among the treasures delivered to Jamestown, New York, from Universal Studios: Hollywood. Formerly on display at Universal’s Tribute to Lucille Ball, it was loaned by her family to the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center for exhibit in the Lucy-Desi Museum in Lucy’s hometown.

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WILMER VALDERRAMA HEADLINES LUCY-DESI DAYS 2008 THIS MAY
Thursday, March 13, 2008

LUCY-DESI QUADRUPLES ITS EFFORTS IN FULFILLING OUTREACH MISSION
Thursday, March 13, 2008

Lucille Ball is shown here visiting a young patient in the hospital. The lives and contributions of The First Couple of Comedy are serving as continuing inspiration for expanding the outreach programs of the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center initially in Lucy’s hometown, Jamestown, New York, and then regionally and beyond, where the Center is quadrupling its outreach efforts to enrich the world through the healing power of laughter.

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CLOWNS CELEBRATE GLOBAL BELLY LAUGH DAY IN LUCY’S HOMETOWN
Thursday, January 24, 2008

Snow flurries didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the clowns who greeted passers-by in Lucille Ball’s hometown on Global Belly Laugh Day!

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Lucy-Desi Center Board Looks Forward To The Future
Thursday, January 10, 2008

Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center collections manager Phoebe Forbes is shown among the artifacts – including one of Lucy’s Emmy Award -- in the Center’s archives in Lucy’s hometown, Jamestown, New York. Matching funds from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation are being used to preserve the Lucy-Desi Center collection.

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Lucy-Desi Center Adds New Board Members
Wednesday, December 5, 2007

At a meeting of the board of the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center earlier this week additional directors were elected.

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Lucy-Desi Center Scavenger Hunt Winners Announced
Tuesday, November 6, 2007

This 1946 issue of the French magazine Cinevogue is one of 25 foreign magazine covers that were stowed in shops and restaurants for the Downtown Jamestown (New York) Loves Lucy Scavenger Hunt. Contest winners came from across the United States and Canada!

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Jamestown's 4th Lucy-Desi Mural Completed!
Friday, October 26, 2007

Artists Gary Peters, Jr., and Gary Peters, Sr., stand in front of their most recent Lucy-Desi mural in downtown Jamestown, New York, Lucille Ball’s hometown.

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Carol Burnett Donates Special TV Episodes to Lucille Ball's Hometown Museum
Tuesday, October 9, 2007

The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center was honored when Carol Burnett donated copies of every installment of The Carol Burnett Show in which Lucille Ball appeared. The two iconic comediennes are shown here in one of these shows.

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Sale of Lucille Ball's Jewelry to Benefit Lucy-Desi Center
Tuesday, August 18, 2007

In this picture with now California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lucille Ball wears the diamond and gold pendant necklace that will be sold by Christie’s next month.

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Lucy's Birthday Cake Bake-Off Winners Announced
Friday, August 10, 2007

One of the prize-winning cakes at Lucy’s Birthday Cake Bake-Off last weekend in Jamestown, New York, featured a picture of The Queen of Comedy.

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Senator Cathy Young Makes Major Lucy-Desi Announcement
Friday, August 3, 2007

At the opening ceremonies for Lucy’s Birthday Celebration Friday afternoon (August 3), New York State Senator Cathy Young presented a check for $100,000 to Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center Executive Director for the expanded and relocated Lucy-Desi Museum.

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Lucille Ball's Costume Designer, Ret Turner, Plans Visit to Her Hometown
Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Direct from Hollywood, four-time Emmy Award-winning costume designer Ret Turner will be part of two exciting events during Lucille Ball’s Birthday Celebration in Jamestown, New York, in early August!

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Lucille Ball's Granddaughter Inspires Children's Book!
Friday, June 29, 2007

Lucille Ball’s granddaughter, Haley Arnaz, was the inspiration for The Magic Tutu, a beautiful children’s book written by her mother, Amy Arnaz.

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Rapaport's Add Another Treasure to Lucy-Desi Archives
Wednesday, June 13, 2007

“Pepito the Spanish Clown”, a close personal friend of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, is pictured with the world’s smallest bicycle that he rode in an “I Love Lucy” episode. This unique prop was donated to the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center in Jamestown, New York – Lucy’s hometown – by Mary and Bill Rapaport of East Amherst, New York.

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Lucy-Desi Center Acquires Desi Arnaz's Office Chair
Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Gregg Oppenheimer poses with a picture of his father, Jess, the creator of “I Love Lucy” and Desi Arnaz’s chair that his family recently donated to the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center in Jamestown, New York.

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Lucy-Desi Center Acquires Historic "I Love Lucy" Costume

Friday, December 15, 2006

Fifty years ago this Sunday -- December 17, 1956 -- was the debut of “Little Ricky’s School Pageant”, episode 163 of “I Love Lucy”, the most popular show on television. The giant frog costume that William Frawley wore in this episode has been donated to the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center in Jamestown, New York, by Bill and Mary Rapaport of East Amherst, New York.

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Lucy-Desi Center Receives Historic Images

Monday, September 18, 2006

In February, 1956, Look magazine photographed Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz sharing the stage of the Palace Theatre in downtown Jamestown, New York, now the Reg Lenna Civic Center. This image and many others were recently donated to the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center by Los Angeles resident Chris Olsen.

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Lucy-Desi Center Receives Oppenheimer Donations

Monday, June 19, 2006

“I Love Lucy” creator Jess Oppenheimer’s personal movie projector was a significant prop in episode 86, “Home Movies”. His widow, Estelle, recently donated this historic artifact to the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center in Lucy’s hometown, Jamestown, New York. Oppenheimer, pictured here, had special “Oppy Awards” created when he said farewell to the show in 1956. His son, Gregg, has donated one of these unique and historic figures to the Lucy-Desi Center, where it is seen by visitors daily in the Desilu Playhouse.

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“I Love Lucy” Costumes Are Rapaports’ Latest Donation to Lucy-Desi Center

Monday, March 13, 2006

Two costumes worn in the classic “I Love Lucy” television series have been donated to the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center in Lucille Ball’s hometown, Jamestown, NY.

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Lucy-Desi Center Welcomes "Unexpected Guests"

The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center is pleased to announce a newly expanded partnership with The Unexpected Guests, Jamestown’s improv comedy troupe. All regular performances of The Unexpected Guests will be held at The Tropicana Room in the Rapaport Center at 2 West Third Street in Jamestown. Performances will be the second Saturday of each month, beginning on February 11, and will include a 7:30 PG-rated show and an R-rated show at 10 pm.

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Lucy-Desi Center Acquires Famous Cello

The possibility of acquiring a significant artifact in the history of the creation of “I Love Lucy” inspired supporters of The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center to step forward as founding members of the Center’s Acquisition Society.

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