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written & Photographed By Theresa St. John | day trippin' with Just2FeetandaCamera.com

[From the 2025 Holiday Magazine]

Friends are always surprised to hear I was in my 60s before I first saw this classic film. I know, say what? I’m not really sure why I waited that long, and I can’t remember the reason I finally decided to sit down with a glass of wine and a bowl of buttered popcorn to finally take it all in. I will tell you this—from the opening scene to the credits rolling at the end, it wrecked me.

I think the universal appeal is how authentic the film and its actors are because we can all relate to them. The moments of joy, humor, angst, depression, hope, and hopelessness in their on-screen lives are just a few of the up and down emotions that touch us as we watch the January 7th, 1947, release. Did you know it premiered at the Globe Theater in NYC on December 20th, 1946, and had received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture but was not critically acclaimed? 

Today, it doesn’t seem to matter if it’s the first or the hundredth time; our raw reactions are the same.

Seneca Falls is just under three hours by car from Saratoga Springs. This small town is widely believed to be the inspiration for Frank Capra’s holiday classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” set in the fictional town of Bedford Falls. First, Mr. Capra visited the hamlet many times in the early 1900s, and the true account of a tragedy he heard about -one day in a local barbershop- makes many people believe his story is based on Seneca Falls and its tight-knit community.

I was introduced to Seneca Falls this past March while covering National Women’s History Month and various events honoring some of the brave women who lived or traveled to the area and made a mark on American history in many different ways.

It was the first time I learned of the possible connection between “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Hollywood, and this charming little place in the Finger Lakes Region. In addition to Capra’s visits to the area, there are references to surrounding towns and cities such as Buffalo, Rochester, and Elmira, making folks wonder if Bedford Falls and Seneca Falls are one and the same.

Remember one of the pivotal scenes in the movie where George is standing on the edge of a bridge, contemplating suicide during a bitter winter storm? And remember how, at that exact moment, his guardian angel, Clarence, steps in and gives George the gift of perspective? Clarence is aware George has fallen into the depths of despair and allows him to see what the world would have been like if he had never been born. In this script, Clarence Oddbody jumps off the bridge not to commit suicide but to give George someone to save. Finally, George grasps the wonder of it all – how every single detail in his life came together in a beautiful…wonderful life!

On April 12th, 1917, a young woman stood on the steel truss bridge in Seneca Falls. No one really knows why she was determined to jump into the freezing waters below, but 19-year-old Ruth Dunham changed her mind, screaming for help the moment she’d submerged, and then fought to reach the surface again.

A young man had come to America with his father in 1907, planning to find work, save money, and bring the rest of the family to the United States shortly after. Antonio Varacalli, a 22-year-old Italian immigrant working on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal, heard her cries from the water. He wasn’t a swimmer. He was a hero. Not thinking of any danger he might be in, Antonio jumped into the canal and pushed Ruth to the safety of a man swimming out to her with a rope. Others standing on the banks of the canal watched as Antonio was tragically swept away in the current,

drowning himself. I had no idea this had happened and was quite moved when I learned of the incident.

That was the true account Frank Capra heard when he wandered into a barbershop during one of his scouting visits. Tom Bellissima answered Frank's questions about the town, the factories, and the people who lived there, unaware he was a screenwriter working on a movie. When Frank mentions the bridge, the barbershop owner tells the tale, explaining that Antonio has since been regarded as a hometown hero and sharing how the community honors his sacrifice yearly. In fact, the townspeople raised money to bring his mother and sisters to the States. He was also awarded the Carnegie Hero’s Medal. Today, visitors can see the plaque commemorating his life and death as it’s attached to the bridge.

Imagine my delight when I realized Seneca Falls boasts a museum dedicated to the movie, which I happily experienced on my trip to the Finger Lakes. The museum resides in a temporary space until sometime in 2026, while the original museum undergoes significant construction and expansion. Regardless, it was attractively arranged so I could wander through aisles and rooms and see the expansive collection.

Get up close and personal with items from private collections of cast members, such as original scripts, paintings, autographed photos, handprints, costumes, the angel wings pin worn at the movie’s premier, and even a set of earrings worn by Gloria Grahame, who played Violet Beck in the beloved film. There are many objects that visitors have gifted to the museum after they’ve walked through and enjoyed the walk down memory lane. I was attracted to the cash register – it was sitting on a stool in a corner of one room. The soda shop scene was one of my favorites, so I couldn’t help but grin when I saw it.

There are also glass cases filled with various memorabilia showcasing the actors -once the legendary movie was over- and they had moved on with their lives. It was great to see pieces of who they became afterward, even though I’m sure the movie defined them all in some emotional way.

∅Seneca Falls is transported back to another time on one Friday, Saturday, and Sunday each December for a magical three-day affair. This December 12th-14th will be the 79th year the town, its residents, and visitors celebrate “It’s a Wonderful Life,” with many scheduled events, such as Frank Capra’s Preview Dinner at the Del Lago Resort, photo opportunities at the Bedford Falls wall located in the gift shop next door, autograph signings, a quilt raffle, “A Toast to Karolyn” 22nd Anniversary Celebration Breakfast, ringing of the bells ceremony, and “For Auld Lang Syne – The Final Scene dinner,” at the Seneca Falls Country Club, to name a few. Some events (like the dinners and breakfast) require advanced tickets. You can find all the information about the “It’s a Wonderful Life.” celebration HERE.

“Yes, let others make films about the grand sweeps of history. I’d make mine about the bloke that pushes the broom.” - Frank Capra

And that sentence says it all – everyone matters – whether or not we lasso the moon. 

Check in often, as plans are still being finalized.