The Chicopee Historical Society wishes you a very Merry Christmas with a bit of movie trivia that hits close to home. Many of us are familiar with the Hollywood classic, It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), starring James Stewart and Donna Reed, especially through annual showing on TV every Christmas. It’s recently come to our attention (by a person attending our presentation on the Fisk in November) that a poster for Fisk tires pops up in one scene. Even those of us who are old movie buffs and fans of this particular film never noticed.
Maybe you did. If you didn’t, take a look at the scene where James Stewart, who has just been married to Donna Reed, returns from a frantic day managing the run on his father’s building and loan company. He arrives, for what is left of his honeymoon, at a dilapidated Victorian house that will become their home. His bride has prepared a meal, prepared the bridal chamber, and has covered the holes in the walls — or tried to — with romantic travel posters.
Maybe she didn’t have enough of those to go around, because as the camera pans from the rain pouring in from the leaky roof, down the broken-down stairs, and just before the long shot of the bedroom, we see a poster with the famous Fisk Tires, “Time to Retire” boy.
Not exactly a dreamy, far-away image like the South Seas posters, but it hits close to home for us. Jimmy Stewart’s Bedford Falls of the movie isn’t exactly Chicopee Falls, but as he learns, and as we know…home is where the heart is.
Our very best wishes for a wonderful holiday in your wonderful life, and a very Happy New Year!
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