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..
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TV reality drama SENECA FALLS joins I ONCE WAS LOST and PIE IN THE SKY as marquee properties in launch of film production company, Saved Films Productions, on Thursday, February 19 at a noon press conference at Fellowship Bible Church in Bainbridge, Ohio. Watch the recording of the press conference on Thursday, February 19, 2009:
Has the movie, "It's a Wonderful Life," changed your life and how. Send us your inspirational stories to be used for a new TV show as possible script. The submissions will be reviewed by the show's staff and will contact you only if they choose to utilize your inspirational story. Submit your story today
TV reality drama SENECA FALLS joins I ONCE WAS LOST and PIE IN THE SKY as marquee properties in launch of film production company, Saved Films Productions, on Thursday, February 19 at a noon press conference at Fellowship Bible Church in Bainbridge, Ohio. Karolyn Grimes, "ZuZu Bailey" from the movie, It's A Wonderful LIfe will announce signing with Saved Films Productions to return to Hollywood in a lead role in Seneca Falls, a weekly television reality-drama and in a cameo role in the original screenplay Pie in the Sky. "I've waited many years to find the right project to return to acting," says Karolyn, whose sixteen movies includeThe Bishop's Wife with Cary Grant and Loretta Young, and Rio Grande with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. "It's amazing that I've found two projects that are a fit from the same production company."Each weekly episode of Seneca Falls will weave in real life inspiration stories of how It's A Wonderful Life (recently named the most inspirational movie in cinema history) has touched and changed the lives of average Americans - empowering them to press on in life as they embrace the movie's message that "life is worth living and no man is a failure who has friends." Seneca Falls, NY is the town Frank Capra patterned It's A Wonderful Life's fictional town of Bedford Falls after. Seneca Falls has taken on the persona of Bedford Falls and carried the message of hope from the movie throughout the decades. People can access the SENECA FALLS blog and share their stories at: www.senecafalls.com, www.zuzu.net or www.therealbedfordfalls.com
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 11th – Sunday, December 13th 2009
Thanks to all who attended our 2008 events.
Adriene Emmo, Interim Director
Seneca Falls Heritage Area
It’s A Wonderful Life Committee Member
