Lucy Comes Home - by Christopher Olsen (Hardcover)

About the Book

Fans and admirers of superstar Lucille Ball are invited into an insider's album of a time as meaningful to the beloved actress as it was to the people of Jamestown, New York . Lucy Comes Home uncovers the local media extravaganza surrounding Lucy's homecoming celebration, her historic first return since her meteoric rise to fame, accompanied by her husband, Desi Arnaz. Giving readers a unique understanding of the person, the visit, and small-town America circa 1956, Lucy Comes Home is a must have for any I Love Lucy fan.

Book Synopsis

Author Christopher Olsen is a Jamestown native whose mother was part of the welcoming committee supporting Lucille Ball's visit to her hometown for the first time after becoming an international superstar. His insider's account--in words and pictures--documents a visit in February 1956, that was monumental in the lives of Lucy, Desi, and the residents of the small Upstate New York town of Jamestown. Organized around the premiere of their MGM movie, Forever, Darling, Lucy and Desi attended a host of media events in this whirlwind homecoming tour, and OIsen has carefully collected and curated the photographs and narrative surrounding the momentous occasion. This sensational visit of the hometown girl offers a previously unpublished view of an intimate yet very public episode of Lucy's life. Featuring more than one hundred archival photographs, including Lucy greeting hordes of fans in the old football field behind Jamestown High School; waving to a crowd of onlookers during the "Welcome Home" kickoff that brought out the entire population; a visit to Lucy's former home in Celoron; appearances at the Crystal Ballroom in the Hotel Jamestown; and the warm and enthusiastic reception the stars received from the small town that Lucy once called home. Olsen's connection to all things Lucy has its origins with his mother, the former Janice Swanson, who unbeknownst to him until he discovered a photograph, was Lucy's Homecoming Queen during the visit. The author calls the book a love letter to both his mom and to Lucy. During his research, Olsen also discovered that Lucy considered her return to Jamestown "one of the best days of her life."

Review Quotes

...the perfect addition to the library of any classic entertainment fan.--LA Explorer

Olsen's hard work turned into an opportunity, and now, through his book, the people who love Lucy and the community she once called home are the beneficiaries.--Scott Kindberg "The Post-Journal "

About the Author

Chris Olsen's work was inspired after seeing a photograph of Desi Arnaz kissing Homecoming Queen, Janice Swanson, who happens to be his mother. In addition to being a practicing attorney, Olsen is a film producer and a Jamestown history buff who lives with his wife, Tricia, and their four children in Los Angeles, CA.