August 2006 -- Day 1 – Cruisin’ with Frank and Elisabeth
We got to Jamestown around 2:15, so my first stop was to head to the Reg Lenna Civic centre to pick up the tickets. With that done, maiter went to check into the hotel while I walked back to check out the Collector’s show. I also caught up with this great couple who always have a table at the show. They work in Budapest but come back to run their table for the festivals. They’re great to talk to. When I got back to the hotel, I realised I hadn’t bought my ticket to the Fan Reunion. Well, we went to get the tickets, left for the boat and arrived with only 2 minutes to spare!!!
When we went to the lower level of the boat (below deck? lol ) because the top half was full, Mary and Bill Rapaport spotted us so we sat with them near the front. Frank Gorey and Elisabeth Edwards started their presentation of bringing item out of a “treasure chest” and telling anecdotes that go along with them on the top level. So the rest of us in steerage had time to enjoy the lake outside from the uncovered parts of the bow and the stern. I never realised Lake Chautauqua was so big! It’s not too wide but it’s very long. Unfortunately, it looks a bit shallow because it is full of seaweed.
It was really sunny and not too warm – so unlike earlier in the week – and tons of people were out on the lake in speed and pontoon boats, jet skis, kayaks, and canoes. But suddenly the water got a bit “stong and rauw” (I think it was just a lot of wake) but everyone outside was starting to get wet, Frank and Elisabeth finished their presentations above and they came downstairs for their second act.
The items they brought out of the trunk were so neat. The first item was a menu from the restaurant in Indian Wells. Along with the menu, Frank told a hilarious story of Lucy’s nephew Jeff who got a motorcycle as a birthday present from Fred Ball. Jeff was in a slight accident in Palm Springs but, Frank says, Lucy blew it all out of proportion. He says Lucy said “The bike was over here! Jeff was over there! His leg was over there! We had to fly in a team of doctors from the UCLA Medical Center that sewed his leg back on and they had no idea he would be able to walk again. But, he later joined his school’s track team and won five medals.”
Although I butchered that story because nobody can retell a story properly once it has been told by Frank, it was hilarious! Frank added that Jeff’s accident was only a little one with no harm, and he never won five medals on his track team in reality. LOL
The next item was one of Lucy’s purses which was given by Lucie to one of her friends who died recently. When they died, the purse was left to Elisabeth and it still contains a lot of Lucy’s stuff including one band-aid, one aspirin, a little spyglass shaped magnifying glass, a toothpick, a cigarette pack, and a tortoise shell cigarette case.
After that, Frank showed off a photo that hanged in the Roxbury guesthouse of Lucy and Gary on the set of Mame. He talked about being on the set of Mame, especially on the set of the Burnside Plantation, which was nothing more than a façade. Frank also diplomatically touched upon the Gary issue saying that he has heard everything out there in the public domain about him. He said a lot of it was true and a lot of it was untrue. He said Gary wasn’t the best person in the world but he wasn’t the worst either.
Next, Elisabeth read a letter written by Lucy to Marion Van Vlack which mentions the kids growing up, the lake, etc. Frank then showed off a framed TV Guide which Lucy displayed. Elisabeth was up next with one of Lucy’s diamond rings which she received from Lucie on the 10th anniversary of Elisabeth’s working for the Arnaz-Luckinbill crew. Lucy’s copy of Samuel Pepys Diaries was up next and he showed how the inside was written with “Property of Lucille Ball. PLEASE!” written in her own handwriting. Apparently someone on the studio lot kept lifting her books. LOL Frank then showed a menu from the Desilu Cahuenga commissary, and Elisabeth finished off with presenting a pair of Lucy’s shoes and a beaded purse.
The cruise was great, very relaxing. And Frank was in top form! He’s a wonderful storyteller and a lot of fun! Elisabeth was great too! When we went onto shore, the Lucy-Desi volunteers gave each of one of the “Lucy’s Hawaiian Vacation Christmas ornaments.
After that, it was an hour of downtime before the Fan Reunion.
When we went to the lower level of the boat (below deck? lol ) because the top half was full, Mary and Bill Rapaport spotted us so we sat with them near the front. Frank Gorey and Elisabeth Edwards started their presentation of bringing item out of a “treasure chest” and telling anecdotes that go along with them on the top level. So the rest of us in steerage had time to enjoy the lake outside from the uncovered parts of the bow and the stern. I never realised Lake Chautauqua was so big! It’s not too wide but it’s very long. Unfortunately, it looks a bit shallow because it is full of seaweed.
It was really sunny and not too warm – so unlike earlier in the week – and tons of people were out on the lake in speed and pontoon boats, jet skis, kayaks, and canoes. But suddenly the water got a bit “stong and rauw” (I think it was just a lot of wake) but everyone outside was starting to get wet, Frank and Elisabeth finished their presentations above and they came downstairs for their second act.
The items they brought out of the trunk were so neat. The first item was a menu from the restaurant in Indian Wells. Along with the menu, Frank told a hilarious story of Lucy’s nephew Jeff who got a motorcycle as a birthday present from Fred Ball. Jeff was in a slight accident in Palm Springs but, Frank says, Lucy blew it all out of proportion. He says Lucy said “The bike was over here! Jeff was over there! His leg was over there! We had to fly in a team of doctors from the UCLA Medical Center that sewed his leg back on and they had no idea he would be able to walk again. But, he later joined his school’s track team and won five medals.”
Although I butchered that story because nobody can retell a story properly once it has been told by Frank, it was hilarious! Frank added that Jeff’s accident was only a little one with no harm, and he never won five medals on his track team in reality. LOL
The next item was one of Lucy’s purses which was given by Lucie to one of her friends who died recently. When they died, the purse was left to Elisabeth and it still contains a lot of Lucy’s stuff including one band-aid, one aspirin, a little spyglass shaped magnifying glass, a toothpick, a cigarette pack, and a tortoise shell cigarette case.
After that, Frank showed off a photo that hanged in the Roxbury guesthouse of Lucy and Gary on the set of Mame. He talked about being on the set of Mame, especially on the set of the Burnside Plantation, which was nothing more than a façade. Frank also diplomatically touched upon the Gary issue saying that he has heard everything out there in the public domain about him. He said a lot of it was true and a lot of it was untrue. He said Gary wasn’t the best person in the world but he wasn’t the worst either.
Next, Elisabeth read a letter written by Lucy to Marion Van Vlack which mentions the kids growing up, the lake, etc. Frank then showed off a framed TV Guide which Lucy displayed. Elisabeth was up next with one of Lucy’s diamond rings which she received from Lucie on the 10th anniversary of Elisabeth’s working for the Arnaz-Luckinbill crew. Lucy’s copy of Samuel Pepys Diaries was up next and he showed how the inside was written with “Property of Lucille Ball. PLEASE!” written in her own handwriting. Apparently someone on the studio lot kept lifting her books. LOL Frank then showed a menu from the Desilu Cahuenga commissary, and Elisabeth finished off with presenting a pair of Lucy’s shoes and a beaded purse.
The cruise was great, very relaxing. And Frank was in top form! He’s a wonderful storyteller and a lot of fun! Elisabeth was great too! When we went onto shore, the Lucy-Desi volunteers gave each of one of the “Lucy’s Hawaiian Vacation Christmas ornaments.
After that, it was an hour of downtime before the Fan Reunion.
posted by Brock at 12:45 AM
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