TODD R. McADAM
Cortland Standard
Nearly 75 years on, the movie is hauntingly familiar. Weâve run with George Bailey down Main Street, wishing the world a âMerry Christmas.â
Weâve gone sledding near an ice-covered river, driven past a cluster of tidy little houses built in the 20s, 30s and 40s not far from the painted ladies and architectural legacies of a bygone era. Weâve gone into the churches, stared down at the rivers from the iron-truss bridges.
We know a Burt and Ernie, a Mr. Martini. A Violet Bick and old man Potter.
We know how easy it can be, like George Bailey, to descend into cynicism and despair, making the climax of âItâs a Wonderful Lifeâ so easy to covet: a chance to see how we made Bedford Falls better.
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By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism. 2020 WILL ALWAYS BE A BROKEN MICROWAVE A quick warm-up of advice to those on the left, the right, & elsewhere Don “Deacon” Little and Lloyd Barbasol, also known as Santa, hamming it up during a past Christmas when we had never heard of COVID-19.
In like a lion, out like a lamb? Or is it out like a lion, in like a lamb? Whatever animal 2020 is, somebody please put it down. With impunity.
Never to be spoken of again. It didn t exist. The proverbial 13th floor. The last few seasons of MASH. Crystal Pepsi. MC Hammer pants. The idea of ownership at The Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley encouraging and allowing new business. My linguica debt to Lancer Eric Wohle.
A year ago this week, Chris and I took a trip up to the It s a Wonderful Life Festival. The festival takes place every year in Seneca Falls New York which is about an hour and 45 minutes Northwest of Binghamton. It s a Wonderful Life is my favorite movie of all-time. For years I ve been wanting to go to the festival and we finally made it last year.
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We took a tour of the museum that is full of pictures and props from the Christmas classic. While we were there, four of the child actors that played in the movie were there for a meet and greet. We got to meet Karolyn Grimes who played Zuzu, Jeanine Roose who played the young Violet Bick in Gower’s Drugstore, Carol Coombs who played Janie Bailey, and Jimmy Hawkins the actor who played the youngest boy Tommy Bailey. We had our pictures taken with a few of them, see them below.