Museum Honors Classic Film

“It’s a Wonderful Life” is not just a holiday movie, so even though the holidays are over, the movie carries a beautiful theme that should be embarrassed all year round.

When I recently visited Seneca Falls, New York, I was in the community for a different attraction: the National Women’s Hall of Fame. When speaking to the museum’s director, she mentioned that the Seneca Falls “It’s a Wonderful Life” museum was growing.

I was thrilled, and my next stop was the museum located on Fall Street.

Frank Capra’s 1946 classic film tells the story of Jimmy Stewart’s George Bailey, who encounters a crisis on Christmas Eve when his elderly uncle misplaces $8,000 from the shareholders of the family business. This leads George to believe he is a failure—worth more dead than alive.

A guardian angel, sent from heaven to protect him, gives George a glimpse of what the world would be like without him. Persuaded by his value to his community, he breaks out of his suicidal depression, returns home to his family, and realizes that the love and fellowship of others are what make one’s life truly remarkable.

According to the film’s Museum, Frank Capra visited Seneca Falls in late 1945 while working on the script with his screenwriters.

The film is set in western New York and references surrounding areas such as Buffalo, Rochester, and Elmira. Harry Bailey originally attended Cornell University, located in nearby Ithaca. However, the studio recommended not referring to the college by name, and this detail was cut from the movie.

Much of the architecture is strikingly similar, including the old Seneca Falls railroad station, local houses, and the steel truss bridges. In the past, the lower portion of the main street in Seneca Falls had a median dividing the street.

Both Seneca Falls and Bedford Falls constructed affordable housing developments.

But nothing is quite as telling as the real-life story of Seneca Falls resident Antonio Varacalli. On Thursday, April 12, 1917 Antonio Varacalli drowned while successfully rescuing Ruth Dunham from drowning.

Varacalli was a young 19-year-old when he heard a woman scream for help. He rushed into the canal and brought her close enough to shore, where another man helped pull her to the bank. Unfortunately, Varacalli drowned.

This young man’s heroism is the possible inspiration for a key scene in the movie. Before Frank Capra’s arrival as director, the George Bailey character does not jump into the water to save Clarence; instead, he is stopped by a mysterious man who says, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” in response to George contemplating suicide.

The museum started in 2010 with one display case, special items from Karolyn Grimes’s personal collection (“Zuzu Bailey”), and a wall of quotes from Frank Capra that focused on his philosophy of the value of each individual and the timeless message of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Over the years, rare items have been added to the display, including original call sheets containing the doodles of Jack Okey, Art Director, the original program from the premiere of the film at the Globe Theater in New York City, and earrings owned by Gloria Grahame which she wore as “Violet Bick” in the film.

Items from the personal collections of Carol Coombs (“Janie Bailey”), Jimmy Hawkins (“Tommy Bailey”), and “Jeanine Roose” (“Young Violet Bick”) that reflect their lives and careers are also on display. An exhibit on Virginia Patton Moss (“Ruth Dakin Bailey”), the oldest surviving cast member, includes her original contract, personal items, and an essential recollection from the film.

The handprints of Jimmy Stewart, Karolyn Grimes, Carol Coombs, Jimmy Hawkins, and Jeanine Roose are on display.

Two paintings by Todd Karns (“Harry Bailey”) and photographs from the collection of Emile Kuri, Set Director, are also on display.

The museum’s advisors are Karolyn Grimes (Zuzu Bailey) and Jimmy Hawkins (Tommy Bailey.)

The museum isn’t large, but any fan can spend hours reviewing the photographs and displays. As its collection grows, the museum continues to plan expansion.

The museum also sponsors an annual festival in December. In 2024, Karolyn Grimes (“Zuzu Bailey”), Jimmy Hawkins (“Tommy Bailey”) and Donald Collins (“Young Pete Bailey”), as well as the descendants of Donna Reed, Frank Capra, and John Kuri (Son of Set Decorator Emile Kuri) took part in the festival.

Click here for more information about the museum and festival.