It’s A Wonderful Life In Seneca Falls… Celebrating the 62nd Anniversary

Produced & directed
by Frank Capra
and based on Philip Van Doren Stern’s story, “The Greatest Gift,” the film It’s A Wonderful Life is an essential, heartwarming, sentimental holiday classic. The film’s story centers on George Bailey, general manager of Bailey Building and Loan Company in the make-believe community of Bedford Falls. Film lovers have often contemplated where the “real” Bedford Falls might be located. The movie hints its location is somewhere in upstate New York. However, the physical similarities between Seneca Falls and Bedford Falls are striking..

Seneca Falls has a traditional New England main street, a steel truss bridge, and many Second Empire Victorian homes (like the large, old Granville house in the movie). Both towns have a canal; both main streets are 300 yards long; and in 1945, when the move was shot, Seneca Falls was a mill town, just like Bedford Falls. Seneca Falls also had the globe street lamps seen in the movie and even had a median on a portion of its main street.

The community of Seneca Falls is so sure it served as Capra’s inspiration that they have created an It’s A Wonderful Life weekend. This year, Seneca Falls will be celebrating the 62nd anniversary of the film December 12th through 14th, 2008. Events include screening of It’s A Wonderful Life narrated by Karolyn Grimes, who played ZuZu in the film, holiday pictorial postal cancellation, pictures with Santa, train and horse-drawn wagon rides, dinner with Zuzu, and much, much more! The Seneca Falls downtown is decorated with replicas of the Christmas lights of Bedford Falls, and the shops and restaurants serve up It’s A Wonderful Life fare.

Seneca Falls invites you to come visit and take part in the fun and festive activities planned all weekend long. There truly is something for all ages. For more information contact the Seneca Falls Heritage Area Visitor Center at 315-568-2703 or sfheritagearea@rochester.rr.com.

Hope to see you soon!

Friday, December 12th – Sunday, December 14th 2008

Thanks to all who attended our 2007 events.