A new statue of Lucille Ball, the comedian who starred in “I Love Lucy”, will be unveiled Saturday in her hometown of Celoron, N.Y. on Ball’s 105th birthday, replacing the current statue that has received national attention for its unpleasant portrayal of the actress.
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As competitors in the village’s annual dragon boat races paddled against a strong breeze on Chautauqua Lake, a crowd of several hundred nervous onlookers gathered beside the shrouded sculpture in Lucille Ball Memorial Park.
Eventually, the city hired sculptor Carolyn Palmer to give Lucy new life. Palmer’s statue is replacing a previous statue, which was nicknamed “Scary Lucy” and frightened residents so much they petitioned to get it removed. The new statue is being shown as part of this year’s “Lucille Ball Comedy Festival”.
“We can put this behind us now, we can have new history”, said Celeron Mayor Scott Schrecengost.
A new Lucille Ball statue was unveiled in the late actress’ NY hometown on Saturday, officially replacing the one dubbed “Scary Lucy” that went viral a year ago after locals claimed it didn’t quite look like her. She used models that were Lucille Ball’s height wearing vintage clothing to create the new more glamorous version of Lucille Ball.
Despair no more, fans of Lucille Ball.
This is the park’s second attempt at a Lucy likeness, following sculptor Dave Poulin’s 2009 massive fail.
Lucille Ball was born in Jamestown in 1911, and grew up in the adjacent village of Celoron. Critics panned the sculpture, saying it looked nothing like the iconic redhead, and it eventually became known as “Scary Lucy”.
Palmer’s past projects include sculptures of Pope Francis, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, Orville and Wilbur Wright, and Thomas Jefferson.
“I think it’s a nice story”, she said. The statue is adorned in a polka dot dress and string of pearls with heels and a pocketbook reminiscent of the 1950s when the early sitcom “I Love Lucy” was a massive hit with American TV audiences.
You feel for Ms. Palmer, because she’s bumping up against the ugly reality of trying to depict Lucille Ball.
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Palmer thanked the “salt-of-the-earth” people of Celoron. I didn’t mind getting messed up.
