Comedy Culture
A Jokers' Guide to Jamestown & Beyond
Chautauqua County’s urban center of Jamestown is where the story of comedy lives, at the new National Comedy Center, the first national-scale attraction dedicated to the art form of comedy. This distinction is bestowed upon the city because it is the birthplace of comedy great, Lucille Ball, who was born on August 6, 1911. Her life from childhood on was fascinating, put largely into motion with her father Henry’s sudden death in 1915, which forced her expecting mother, Desiree, to move back to Jamestown. They settled in with Desiree’s parents in the village of Celoron at what is today known as 59 Lucy Lane.
Lucille was very sentimental and many of her treasures are on display at the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Museum in Jamestown. The museum has proudly honored the First Lady of Comedy’s legacy since 1996. Decades worth of glamorous costumes, screen-used memorabilia, awards and photographs of both the personal and TV lives of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz are fun to look at. Both played vital roles in television and on the big screen, not just as actors but as creators, producers, and innovators.
The impact of both Lucille and Desi’s careers are far-reaching. We have them to thank for not only I Love Lucy, but television re-runs, the linked multifilm camera set-up and Star Trek. Lucille was very adamant that the greatest tribute her hometown could bestow would be to celebrate more than just her, but the art of comedy as a whole. It was this sentiment that led to the creation of the Lucille Ball Festival of Comedy and the National Comedy Center.
National Comedy Center, one of the “World’s Greatest Places”- The National Comedy Center tells the story of comedy in America through interactive exhibits that learn your unique sense of humor via your humor profile. Your interest will be captivated for hours, so leave plenty of time to explore the more than 50 exhibits and exclusive collections. Draw a cartoon, perform Comedy Karaoke, or challenge friends to a Laugh Battle, and so much more. The National Comedy Center is full of kid-friendly laughs, but the 18+ crowd will find the Blue Room’s deep dive into censorship, the Art of the Roast, Carlin’s Seven Dirty Words, and more moments from comedy’s edgy past and present, enthralling.
Realizing the vision of comedy legend, television pioneer, and hometown hero, Lucille Ball, the National Comedy Center has been recognized as not just an amazing new attraction, but a benchmark for modern museums, and one of the “World’s Greatest Places” by TIME Magazine and the "Best New Museum" in the United States by USA Today.
Laugh Out Loud at the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival - Plan your visit during the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival. The festival, which occurs annually in early August in celebration of Ball's birthday, embodies Lucille Ball’s vision for her hometown — Jamestown, New York, to be a destination for the celebration of the comedic arts and to showcase new comedic talent from around the country. The festival attracts more than 15,000 attendees annually from nearly every state in the country, who come together to share laughter while honoring the craft and contributors on stage at dozens of venues throughout Jamestown, including the National Comedy Center and the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Museum.
The festival has featured comedy’s greatest stars and rising young comedians, including Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, Trevor Noah, Lily Tomlin, Jay Leno, Amy Schumer, Brian Regan, Lewis Black, W. Kamau Bell, Jim Gaffigan, Paula Poundstone, Dan Aykroyd, Joan Rivers, Bob Newhart, the Smothers Brothers, and more than one hundred other comedic artists.
Tickets are on sale now, visit comedycenter.org to purchase yours.
Other Ways to as Jerry Seinfeld put it, “live a funny lifestyle,” in Jamestown and beyond include:
- Locate each of artist Gary Peters Jr.’s Lucille Ball murals scattered around Jamestown. Pick up a free map at the National Comedy Center or Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Museum.
- Pay your respects at the Ball family grave in Jamestown’s Lakeview Cemetery. Lucille’s remains were moved here from Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood. Enter via the gate at Prendergast and Buffalo Street then simply follow the red hearts.
- Take a selfie with both Lucille Ball statues located at Celoron’s Lucille Ball Memorial Park. “Scary Lucy” caught national media attention when the locals petitioned for a statue that better represented Lucille’s likeness. That led to the creation of “Lovely Lucy,” which was unveiled in August 2016. During the process, many people grew fond of the original and both reside in the park today.
- While at Lucille Ball Memorial Park, look for the Desi Arnaz Bandshell.
- The lobby of the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel has an entire room devoted to the National Comedy Center. They also have a Hilarious Getaway package that includes a pair of “Groucho Glasses.” Wear them to dinner at their Lakehouse Tap & Grille and get a free dessert, no joke!
- Brad Anderson, the creator of Marmaduke, was also born in Chautauqua County. Not only is he recognized at the National Comedy Center, but a beautiful statue dedicated to the artist and his canine friend can be found in his first childhood hometown of Portland, NY.
Where to watch a live comedy show (or participate):
