LA’S ACADEMY MUSEUM

If you’re visiting Hollywood, chances are you are a fan of the movies. Now you can breath in the history of the motion picture capital of the world with a visit to the Academy Museum.

Opening in 2021, the museum brings together the incredible history of the Oscars and moviemaking in general. It is the largest museum of its type in the United States.

Its holdings number approximately 8,000 items representing motion picture technology, costume design, production design, makeup and hairstyling, promotional materials and memorabilia, and of course awards. 

The facility itself is huge, with endless rooms full of iconic sights…

Dorothy’s ruby slippers and a munchkin soldier jacket from The Wizard Of Oz

Jiminy Cricket animator’s maquette from Pinocchio (1940)

The only surviving full-size shark model from Jaws, a gorilla soldier head from Planet of the Apes (1968), creature headpiece from Alien (1979) and T-Rex Dinosaur input device from Jurassic Park (1993)

Spacesuit from 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Storm ensemble worn by Halle Berry in X-men (2000)

Life masks of Mel Brooks, Don Cheadle, Clark Gable, and Grace Kelly and the Penguin facial appliance for Danny DeVito in Batman Returns (1992)

Costumes worn by Diana Ross as Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues (1972), Sammy Davis, Jr’s suit from Porgy and Bess (1959) gown worn by Claudette Colbert as Cleopatra (1934)

Career collections of incredible luminaries like Katharine Hepburn and Alfred Hitchcock

We especially loved seeing Cher’s Bob Mackie-designed red carpet outfit, Prince’s guitar, the Evillene costume from The Wiz, the Nicholas Brothers tap shoes… .. the list is endless!

The museum holds an impressive collection of Oscar statuettes that have been donated back to the Academy by winners and their heirs. These statuettes represent all nine decades of Academy Awards history. There is even a bonus experience where you can be filmed winning an Oscar.

The museum regularly hosts multiple specifically-themed exhibitions. During our visit we got to see an incredible history of Black Cinema, a career retrospective from Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar, a celebration of Boyz N The Hood… all incredible. Whether you’re a movie buff or a casual cinema-goer, the Academy Museum is a magical experience with something for everyone.

For more info or to book your visit, log on to www.academymuseum.org

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