It Was a Wonderful Time

Seneca Falls, N.Y., is a village just west of Syracuse that every December celebrates its claim to fame, which is that it's the location that inspired the fictional Bedford Falls in the holiday classic "It's a Wonderful Life."

And seeing how the film is one of my favorites, and Seneca Falls is only about 40 miles from my door, I've been intrigued by the similarities between it and Bedford Falls.

Geographic references in the movie give no doubt that Bedford Falls is in upstate New York. And by that, I mean true upstate New York and not Westchester County (a pet peeve of mine).

The bank examiner wants to get home to Elmira in time for Christmas. Sam Wainwright's father's glass factory is in Buffalo and there are several mentions of Rochester. All are less than two hours from Seneca Falls.

And like Bedford Falls, Seneca Falls has a bridge, where, in 1917, one man gave his life trying to save a suicidal woman who had jumped into the canal.

But something made me hesitate about making the journey, and I think it was the possibility that what I would find would change my love for the movie and the idyllic Bedford Falls.

Well, I needn't have worried, because Mr. VS went to Seneca Falls on Saturday and we had, well, a wonderful time.

It was a beautiful day, and the main street (Fall Street) was filled with hundreds of friendly people.

The shops were stocked with all kinds of memorabilia. One florist handed out dozens of roses so everyone could have their own ZuZu petals.

And speaking of ZuZu, she (actress Karolyn Grimes) was there too, signing autographs and posing for pictures at the Hotel Clarence, which is named after the guardian angel in the movie.

There was even a It's a Wonderful Life parade, a rather short but sweet assembly with Mary and George Bailey among its participants. (A film crew from CBS' "Sunday Morning" was there too, filming a story on the village that will air on Christmas Day.)

So, in the end, I guess it really doesn't matter if Seneca Falls is really Bedford Falls. What I saw on Saturday was how much fun everyone had because they simply believed that it could be.

And isn't believing what Christmas is all about?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Andrea]

What a great story! My aunt and uncle lived in Seneca Falls for many decades, and I never knew that it was the inspiration for the movie location! Thank you so much for telling about it.