Carolyn Palmer prepares to apply a cold patina to her bronze statue of Lucille Ball.
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The town of Celoron, New York is waking up this morning and looking out at a brand new statue of the town’s favorite daughter Lucille Ball.
Celoron, New York, previously tried to honor Ball with a statue in 2009, and it went over about as well as Lucy’s stint in the candy factory. In addition to using the models as a creative tool, Palmer stood in front of the mirror and practiced different stances she thought the Ball sculpture could emulate.
Despair no more, fans of Lucille Ball.
In her own words: “She was a stunning woman”.
The Hudson Valley, NY-based Palmer was chosen from a pool of more than 65 competing sculptors.
Almost everyone assembled in the park on Saturday, from politicians and officials to fans in “I Love Lucy” shirts and one young girl in a Lucy costume, seemed to revel in the occasion.
The town first erected a life-size bronze tribute by sculptor Dave Poulin in 2009, but it was soon dubbed “Scary Lucy” by townsfolk for its disgusting, toothy grin and vacant eyes. He did offer to do another statue gratis, but the town selection committee declined his proposal. Poulin offered to redo the sculpture for free, however the city made a decision to select another artist instead.
While some hurt feelings linger in Celoron and Jamestown about the “Scary Lucy” controversy, the outcome is inarguably positive. It would have been Ball’s 105th birthday. Ball played the wife of bandleader Ricky Ricardo, who was portrayed by her real-life husband at the time, Desi Arnaz.
“Lucy was a handsome, she was a shiner”.
“I put on mud packs and scream and run around and fall into pools”. I said I’d love to do the scene with the crocodile. I didn’t mind getting messed up. “That’s how I got into physical comedy”.
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“I don’t think you should write a book until you tell the absolute truth”, Lucille said. “I’ve always prided myself on knowing when to get off and I hope it works out that way”.
