National Comedy Center Opens in Lucille Ball's Hometown
by The Associated Press
August 1, 2018


The National Comedy Center is open for laughs in "I Love Lucy" comedian Lucille Ball's hometown.

The $50 million cultural institution is in the western New York city of Jamestown and tells the story of comedy from its origins to the present with a mix of interactive exhibits, a hologram theater and comedy artifacts such as the late George Carlin's archives.




Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday helped cut the ribbon on the nonprofit center, which received $9 million in state funding.

Amy Schumer, Lewis Black and Dan Aykroyd are among comedians set to appear during this week's grand opening celebration.




The center was inspired by Ball, who starred as accident-prone Lucy Ricardo on the 1950s sitcom. Jamestown has a museum dedicated to Ball, who said she wanted to see all comedy celebrated as an art form.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/national-comedy-center-opens-lucille-balls-hometown-jamestown-1131385

Lucille Ball Notes and Photos to be Preserved by National Comedy Center
by Bruce Haring
April 27, 2019


The archives of the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum, including Ball’s handwritten notes and family photographs, will be digitally preserved by the National Comedy Center.

Located in Ball’s Jamestown, NY hometown, the Center is undertaking the project to mark the 30th anniversary of her death. Most of the material has not been exhibited before, and the trove of production papers and telegrams will be gradually added to the exhibit.




The National Comedy Center opened last summer near the existing Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum. It celebrates all comedy as an art form and stages grand exhibitions of famous comedians and their material.

It is the first state-of-the-art museum dedicated to telling the story of comedy in America. It celebrates comedy’s great minds and unique voices, from Ernie Kovacs to Charlie Chaplin to Dave Chappelle.

Exclusive collections and exhibits give fans a look behind-the-scenes look at the creative processes of comedy.

https://deadline.com/2019/04/lucille-ball-desi-arnaz-national-comedy-center-jamestown-ny-1202603292/