JAMESTOWN – Officials with the Lucy-Desi Center in Jamestown say the 2012 Lucille Ball Comedy Festival was another huge success for the region. Now, they’re hoping the city of Jamestown will help them continue to build on the momentum they’ve created.
During Monday night’s Jamestown City Council work session, Lucy-Desi Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson and Board President Tom Benson gave the city council an update on the success of the 2012 Comedy Festival, along with how the organization would like to proceed with future events and the creation of a comedy hall of fame in Jamestown.
Benson said right now, the organization is looking into possibly establishing the Hall of Fame in the renovated Erie-Lackawanna Train Station and is getting local support, including interest from two area foundations. In addition, Benson said the organization has also received the support of Luci Arnaz and other potential stakeholders in creating the Comedy Hall of Fame. Benson added, though, that the organization would like to see further support from the city, including financial support to help keep the event and hall of fame project moving forward. He said while he didn’t want to get into specific details, he was hoping the presentation would initiate further discussion between the Lucy-Desi center and the city.
According to a recent study, the Lucille Ball Festival of Comedy had a $3.6 million dollar impact on the local economy in 201l and officials believe the event had a similar impact this year.
WRFA will present the full presentation from both Gunderson and Benson this Thursday night at 6 p.m. during our Community Matters program.
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