Archive for the Category »Chautauqua «

Jul
16

Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center: Jamestown NY

Denise
Thanks for stopping by again!

The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center is a museum in the center of Jamestown, New York. It is also located in Chautauqua County.

Ricky Lucy Fred Ethel
Creative Commons License photo credit: Frankphotos

The museum has been dedicated to the lives and careers of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

The I Love Lucy sit-com, which aired in the 1950’s and 60’s, is fondly remembered by many generations and has left a legacy for both Desi and Lucy as excellent comedians. Re-runs of the program are aired daily in the United States and overseas.

This program used a different way of creating scripts and its influence affected the way both sit-coms and movies were made. Today this sit-com is studied in many colleges. I myself studied it in a creative behavior class.

The museum officially opened in 1996. Its purpose was to  “to preserve and celebrate the legacy of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz and enrich the world through the healing powers of love and laughter”.

The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center consists of the Lucy-Desi Museum, which houses artifacts and memorabilia of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, with a gift shop. The Rapaport Center consists of the Desilu Playhouse museum, the Tropicana Room, a gift shop, and offices, and a stand-alone gift shop.

You feel like you are stepping back in time when you view The Desilu Playhouse museum. It contains the replicas of the original “I Love Lucy” TV sets that were created for the show’s 50th Anniversary tour. There are other artifacts related to the show and its creators and co-stars, many who went on to star in other successful movies and shows.

The Tropicana Room is a recreation of Ricky Ricardo’s nightclub from the show. Ricardo’s style of music was lively and he was a success in his own right. For those who remember the I Love Lucy Show, their son also performed on the program.

In May, the museum celebrates ‘Lucy-Desi Days’. And in August, there is an annual celebration of Lucille Ball’s birthday is held in August.

The streets are shut down in Jamestown and an air of celebration fills the city streets.

The center is a prime tourist destination and Lucy fans from around the world come to celebrate the life and legacy of Lucille Ball and her acting career, which touched many people.

Lucy did not forget her home in western NY.  Chautauqua Lake is mentioned in at least one episode of I Love Lucy, in which Lucille Ball, playing the role of Lucy Ricardo.

Lucy finds a stuffed and mounted fish in a trunk in her attic and recalls that she caught it in Chautauqua Lake as a child growing up in Celoron, New York.

Lucy also performed in a play in 1930 on the grounds of the Chautauqua Institution. At this time she was relatively unknown but soon went on to make a name for herself in Hollywood.

The write-up of her performance at the Chautauqua Institution will follow in a few days.


Category: Chautauqua  Tags: , ,  2 Comments
Jul
10

Lily Dale, NY., Center for Spiritual Development

Denise

Lily Dale, a 19th century lakeside gated community, sets in what is considered an old growth forest, by Findley Lake, NY. This community is located outside of Cassadaga, NY in Chautauqua County, NY.

rose with swans
Creative Commons License photo credit: Bill Liao

Lily Dale, also known as the Lily Dale Assembly is recognized as a place where “knowledge and enlightenment converge” in ways that will deepen faith and heighten awareness.

The small town was established in 1879, and since that time, Lily Dale has been one of the largest centers for spiritual development. Smaller spiritual communities have sprung up across the United States and Canada, but Lily Dale is the hub and soul of these towns.

For 130 years Lily Dale has offered a summer program that includes workshops and lectures. Their summer schedule, which runs from Late June to the last week of August, offers speakers and leaders in academic and scientific research into psychic phenomena. Mediums, teachers and healers also hold seminars and workshops during the summer schedule.

For those who are deep into spirituality, the atmosphere and learning experiences offered at Lily Dale are an experience that will influence them when they return to their homes.

There are also opportunities offered off-season in Lily Dale through the Church of the Living Spirit and the Lily Dale Spiritualist Church, as well as through the growing network of Spiritualist churches, schools and camps throughout the United States and Canada.

And what I find most interesting about Lily Dale, NY., is that this unique town sits just outside of Cassadaga NY. In the cooler months many of the Lily Dale residents head to Cassadaga, Fla. in a town somewhat similar to Lily Dale to continue their spiritual training and teaching. And this small town is just outside of Lily Dale, Fla.

On my trip to Lily Dale, as a photographer, I was struck by the architecture and personality of buildings, gardens and the landscape. This experience has left a lasting impression.

The Definition of A Spiritualist

One who believes, as the basis of his or her religion, in the continuity of life and in individual responsibility. Some, but not all, Spiritualists are Mediums and/or Healers. Spiritualists endeavor to find the truth in all things and to live their lives in accordance therewith.


Category: Chautauqua  Tags: ,  4 Comments
Jul
06

National Geographic at Chautauqua Institution

Denise

National Geographic has opened the world to everyone through their magazine and programs that covers topics from around the world. The images have inspired people from photographers, artists and everyday people.

The Chautauqua Institution is offering a one-week morning lecture series at 10:45 am at the Amphitheater consisting of the following National Geographic photographers.

Annie Griffiths Belt begins the National Geographic lecture week. Belts photography deals with the environment and its wonder. She also is involved with fundraising events, which help communities or raise awareness for all to give back to the world.

Wade Davis is known for his strong interest in the environment. He wrote “In Search of One River” which was made into a film.  He also starred in “Grand Canyon Adventures” a movie about Davis and Robert Kennedy Jr., which follows their trip on the Colorado River.

Kobie Boykins will be discussing the challenges and triumphs of mars exploration. Many of his photographs will be displayed during the lecture.

Ronald Johanson has a background in fossil exploration, which included the famous “Lucy” skeleton fossil”. Lucy, the 3.2 million year old skeleton is now being displayed throughout museums in United States

Mattias Klum has dedicated 20years to flora and fauna of Borneo, He is a highly regarded natural history photographer with his work dealing with nature, culture and history.

If you are unable to catch the lectures tapes are available on their lectures at the Chautauqua Institution Kiosk or through the Chautauqua Institution.


Category: Chautauqua  Tags: ,  2 Comments
Jul
01

The Story of Chautauqua: Free PDF Book

Denise

The Chautauqua Institution In Chautauqua NY opened its 136th season on June 27th, 2009. For nine weeks every summer the Chautauqua Institution provides a daily program of religion, arts, education and lectures on current topics. Bestor Plaza Panorama
Creative Commons License photo credit: rick020200

Off-season there are several business and lodging establishments that stay open all and the staff at Chautauqua is busy finalizing the event program for the following year.

The beautiful gardens, narrow winding streets and a wide variety of architecture designs all tucked behind gates give Chautauqua an atmosphere of stepping back in time. Many refer to it as Shangri La.

One of Chautauqua’s well known residents, Jesse Lyman Hurlbut, wrote The Story of Chautauqua.  It was published in 1921. You may download a copy of the pdf  book here “The Story of Chautauqua.” Just remember it is a book and its copyright should be honored.

Chautauqua may be best known for their morning lectures. The following list is the Chautauqua Institutions weekly lecture program. Many of the other lectures and events are designed around the theme of the week.

2009 Chautauqua Weekly Themes

Week One • Morning Lecture Theme: Kids! • Afternoon Theme: The Gnostic Gospels–A Different View of Christianity

Week Two • Morning Lecture Theme: Explore our World with National Geographic • Afternoon Theme: The Jewish Way of Being (Mon.-Thurs.)

Week Three • Morning Lecture Theme: State of Mind • Afternoon Theme: Faith, Belief and State of Mind

Week Four • Lecture Theme: The Ethics of Capitalism

Week Five • Lecture Theme: What Makes Us Moral? An Abrahamic Perspective

Week Six • Morning Lecture Theme: On Cinema • Afternoon Theme: The Influence of Religion and Culture on Contemporary Diplomacy

Week Seven • Morning Lecture Theme: Imagine … • Afternoon Theme: Imagine a World at Peace through Compassion

Week Eight • Lecture Theme: Cuba: Enigma and Neighbor

Week Nine • Morning Lecture Theme: The History of Liberty • Afternoon Theme: Religious Liberty and the Faith of the Founders

The entire family will be able to find activities on the grounds of Chautauqua or in the surounding towns.


Category: Chautauqua  Tags: , ,  One Comment
Jun
30

Chautauqua

Denise

Learn everything you need to know

about Chautauqua

Chautauqua, NY, is a small town located in Chautauqua County in Northwest NY. Chautauqua, which means “tied in the middle” is located near Chautauqua Lake. The word Chautauqua also stands for an adult education movement in the United States that was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
John G White, Medium
Creative Commons License photo credit: grilled cheese

Chautauqua is most well known for Chautauqua Lake and the Chautauqua Institution, a learning and cultural center. As the area grew in population Chautauqua County was formed and named after the largest lake in the area.

History of Chautauqua

The first Chautauqua was called the New York Chautauqua Assembly. John Heyl Vincent, a Methodist minister and editor of the Sunday School Journal, organized it in 1874. His friend Lewis Miller, a businessman, also helped plan the concept of “Chautauqua” also know as adult learning centers. Their campsite was located at Chautauqua Lake in New York State. This location was chosen for its isolation, beauty and for the lake.

Two years earlier, Vincent had begun to train Sunday school teachers in an outdoor summer school format. He felt that the informal outdoor atmosphere would create harmony and be ideal for religion and learning. The organization founded by Vincent and Miller later became known as the Chautauqua Institution and is still active today.

Adult learning assemblies expanded rapidly in the late 1800’s and were popular throughout rural America until the mid-1920s. The assemblies brought traveling entertainment, learning and culture for the whole community.

With the introduction of radio, competition for lining up the best performers and lecturers, movies, and the introduction of television and modern day information, Chautauqua’s began to close. Today there are only a few of the educational programs left, with the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua NY being the largest and offering the most diverse program format.

it was early, but...
Creative Commons License photo credit: sugarcoma

Chautauqua Institution

The Chautauqua Institution is a gated community that is open for a 9-week season offering a full program of lectures, religion and wide variety of activities. During the season automobiles are not permitted on grounds except for deliveries. Add to this, the small winding streets, small gardens and Victorian style homes and you have a unique village setting.

Off season the community is very small but the Smith Memorial library, lodging accommodations including the Athenaeum Hotel and several small shops stay open. And behind the scenes planning for the following Chautauqua season is in full gear.

Chautauqua County encompasses 1065 square, has 6 lakes and approximately 50 miles of Lake Erie shoreline. Jamestown and Dunkirk are the two major cities with another twenty-seven towns and fifteen villages nestled in woodlands and along lakes. Chautauqua Gorge, Lucy-Desi Museum and Roger Tory Peterson Nature Center are only a few places to visit while touring Chautauqua.

In the summer months the lakes, rivers and forests are a popular draw for people. In the winter months skiing and other outdoor activities bring visitors to the area.

There is always an activity or place to visit in Chautauqua, NY.


Category: Chautauqua  Tags: ,  3 Comments
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