Nick Stepping down from hosting Jimmy Stewart event

Very sweet story:



It's a Wonderful Life, thanks to Jimmy Stewart Museum

I may never break bread with George Clooney but I had dinner with his parents, Nick and Nina Clooney, on Saturday night. And I know I'll never have the pleasure of dining with Jimmy Stewart but I met one of his twin daughters, Kelly Stewart Harcourt (pictured), at the same event.

It's easy to see where George gets his easy charm, smarts, sense of humor and good looks and to undertand why Jimmy felt such affection for his hometown of Indiana and passed it along to his children.The occasion was the George Bailey Award Dinner, presented by the Jimmy Stewart Museum, at the Rustic Lodge in the actor's hometown of Indiana, Pa.

The spirit of Stewart — and George Bailey — was alive and well as the museum honored five people (including me) with George Bailey Awards. It's a beautiful bronze bell, to remind us "Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings." The handle is Jimmy Stewart as George in "It's a Wonderful Life," as designed by Indiana County sculptor John McCombie.

The other honorees: John Yang of NBC News, Tony Renda of Renda Broadcasting, Mike Donnelly of The Indiana Gazette and James Palmieri of Indiana County TV. The award is designed to honor "good friends of the museum, who have touched the lives of others through their actions and examples they set."

When, as I was carrying mine out to the parking lot at the end of the night and Kelly was retrieving her coat, the bell clanged and Kelly turned around. She joked that it happens automatically.


The evening included an abridged performance of "It's a Wonderful Life," with actor Christopher Collins doing the voices of George, Mr. Potter, Clarence the angel and a few other key characters. He nailed their inflection, delivery and even posture.

Dressed in a gray suit and tie with a 1940s-style hat (although doffing it and donning eyeglasses for Potter), Collins provided the essence of the Christmas classic about a man who longs to shake the dust of Bedford Falls off his feet and see the world but discovers fate has other plans. He stays in his small town, marries and starts a family, battles the conniving, heartless Potter and is given the chance to see what life would be like, if he had never been born.

It was a night both sweet and bittersweet as the Clooneys announced they'll be stepping away from official duties with the museum after 15 years of devoted service. "Your kindness will be etched in our hearts," the newsman, film historian and brother of Rosemary Clooney said in the banquet room before screens played the final scene of "It's a Wonderful Life."

After the movie chorus of "Auld Lang Syne" and a reminder that no man is a failure who has friends, Nina
was handed an armful of beautiful fresh flowers and Nick a wrapped gift.

Mr. Clooney's association with the museum dates to its earliest years. He filmed an AMC tribute to Jimmy Stewart, cut the ribbon for a new gallery and recorded a museum audio tour, and has made countless trips to host and support events big and small in Indiana and beyond, as with a National Aviation Hall of Fame ceremony a few years ago in Ohio.

Longtime museum board member Carson Greene recalled the time in 2001 when Charlton Heston was scheduled to receive the museum's Harvey Award but had to cancel three days before the sold-out event at the Indiana Country Club.

Greene called the Clooneys, who live in Kentucky, and Nick volunteered, "Nina and I are on our way right now." A letter Greene read from fellow museum booster Rich Little echoed the sadness at the passing of the baton to other supporters but also offered eternal gratitude for all they had done.

If this was Nick Clooney's last official time as host, he was funny and topical -- mentioning his arrest earlier this year at age 78 with George outside the Sudanese Embassy, cracking wise about being Clint Eastwood's speech writer at the GOP convention and consultant to President Obama for the first debate.

Neither of those gigs panned out, he quipped. "Now I'm working for cookies and bourbon," he joked, referring to the tins of homemade cookies the Clooneys and Kelly Stewart Harcourt found in their hotel rooms upon check in. The museum obviously believes in one of Jimmy's golden rules: "Be nice to people."

Kelly, who had flown to Pittsburgh from a business trip in Chicago and planned to return to California very early this morning, was gracious in thanking the Clooneys, Collins and the museum staff and its heroic volunteers. "Thank you for helping us believe Dad never left."

The museum, which opened in May 1995, highlights Mr. Stewart's accomplishments in film, radio and TV and spotlights his role as military hero, civic leader and family man. It's at the corner of 9th and Philadelphia streets in Indiana.

Below, Nina Clooney embraces Carson Greene after he recited a long list of words that apply to the Clooneys, including kind, gentle, considerate, always positive, caring, sharing, humble and a few I didn't get to jot down.

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this was Nick Clooney's last official time as host

he said
if


right?

well
they both need some rest
I guess

but I also hope for more random appearances

RIGHT?

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he seems really good
no?

Nick and Nina both look good, and I hope that they will have many more opportunities to do good in the world. The world needs more good people lilke them who can make a better difference for all.

yes, he does it's me!

I suspect that is where his son got his GREAT ATTRIBUTES!

what is so ironic is I have (3) all time favorite Holiday movies when I did celebrate them that I had to watch and "It's a Wonderful Life", White Christmas and Miracle on 34th Street. I actually even bought them in vhs...that tells you how long it's been since I celebrated a Holiday...YIKES!!!! classics....and all time favorite movie Wizard of Oz as I still have that child like belief system like Dorothy and her faithful companion had somewhere deep inside of me wanting to break out again....

I hope this doesn't sound conceited but whenever I watched "ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE" I saw myself as George Bailey, conflicted and needing a guardian angel like Clarence....but then probably everyone prays for an Angel of their own I suspect...

Do not fear Suebee we all have guardian Angels..Just believe!!!!

I believe really, but think mine must have taken a vacation lately!

thanks phys major, sometimes I forget to remember to "BELIEVE" LOL....even though I have the words on my wall, Hope, Faith, Love, Believe and Dream and see them so often at different times, I still worry when things get rough and then I "forget" to believe, that I have a purpose and a mission I must complete while I am here on Mother Earth!

theminis may I be so humble to "loan" you mine while yours enjoy their vacation? I know of (2) little girl angels who protect me that died early senseless deaths. Their names are Kayla and Christina, so it is my desire and wish and thoughtful prayer that they remain with you on "loan" until yours return from R-N-R! God Bless...

MM wrote:Nick and Nina both look good, and I hope that they will have many more opportunities to do good in the world. The world needs more good people lilke them who can make a better difference for all.

I agree.

" ... cracking wise about being Clint Eastwood's speech writer at the GOP convention and consultant to President Obama for the first debate.

Neither of those gigs panned out, he quipped. "

Is Nick reading this forum too ?

suebee wrote:theminis may I be so humble to "loan" you mine while yours enjoy their vacation? I know of (2) little girl angels who protect me that died early senseless deaths. Their names are Kayla and Christina, so it is my desire and wish and thoughtful prayer that they remain with you on "loan" until yours return from R-N-R! God Bless...

Thanks suebee!