You’ll spot the Lucille Ball Little Theatre right in front of you by its bright blue sign with Lucille Ball’s signature in a pink heart, set against a white-tiled wall and a row of tall, arched windows above-just look for that pop of color and whimsical lettering!
Welcome to the Lucille Ball Little Theatre-where the spirit of comedy floats through the air and every seat has seen a little laughter and perhaps a few dramatic tears. Imagine standing here in the late 1800s, when horse-drawn carriages splashed through muddy streets and folks in their Sunday best made their way to Allen’s Opera House, this very building. The theatre changed hands and names over the decades-becoming Samuels Opera House, then the Shea Theatre, and always buzzing with excitement, first with vaudeville acts and, later, flickering silent films lighting up the dark.
By the 1960s, though, things got a bit gloomy. The building was quiet, its velvet curtains lonely, and dust motes danced in the empty sunlight. Enter the true stars-Jamestown’s local performers! In 1968, they swept in with big dreams and bigger hearts, determined to bring the magic back. They transformed this sleeping giant into a brand-new space, cracking jokes as they hammered nails, no doubt, and finally flinging open the doors in 1969.
But where does Lucille Ball, the queen of comedy, fit in? Well, Lucille basically grew up around here and first stepped onto the stage with this very company’s precursor, The Players Club. Even after heading off to conquer Hollywood, she never forgot her roots-sending back donations, sparkling costumes, and little reminders that even stars start small. In 1991, the community named the theatre in her honor, a nod to the redhead who made the world laugh. Fancy a little piece of “Gone With the Wind”? One of Lucille’s costumes is still in use onstage!
So, as you stand on this sidewalk, take a deep breath. Maybe you’ll catch a whisper of old vaudeville jokes in the wind, or even a burst of laughter straight from the days when Lucille herself stole the show. This little theatre is Jamestown’s sparkly love letter to its most famous daughter-and to every star who ever took a bow on its stage.
