President's Message: Catch the Spirit

By Erik Stogo

A non-profit group, such as Hollywood Heritage, is only as good as its members and volunteers.We need your help!

I can hear you saying that we have asked for help before, and to what end. You can appreciate the tremendous effort to restore the Barn. Then we found problems not related to the fire such as rot under the front and back decks. But none of that looms larger than the task of reopening, restaffing, reinventorying the gift shop, reinstalling exhibits, planning and obtaining new exhibits, raising fundsÑand so on and so on.

This is a pivotal moment for Hollywood Heritage. We now have a great facility, but without support from our loyal membership and the selfless donation of hours of time by volunteers and docents, a great facility means nothing.

There is no shortage of volunteer positions at the Museum, and we would also like to begin our Hollywood walking tours again. We will also need volunteers to staff our bookstore at the Cinecon Film Festival.

Over the past year, there was the normal business of a nonprofit group. We had monthly meetings; published two Newsletters and held a rededication at our annual meeting at the Barn on December 10, 1997.

We are presently winding up the last construction details, including the handicap ramp, replacing rotten steps and deck boards, fencing the back deck area, erecting new signs, strengthened structural support of the second floor, installed new floorings throughout, purchased new more comfortable chairs for film presentations and reconfigured space for additional gallery space. Our new gallery area is named for our benefactor Albert Rosenfelder, who was an early Museum volunteer. He underwrote the Museum's first decade with the proceeds from his estate. We plan to have a dedication of this new gallery soon.

The Wattles Mansion has not been ignored. We have also been busy with restoration projects at the Gurdon Wattles Mansion and Gardens. Please see the article.

Page 7 is our membership information. If you last renewed your membership before July 1997, its time to show your generosity. From now on, the membership year will match our fiscal year (July to June) for easier administration.

Remember, the Hollywood Heritage Museum is the only museum that commemorates the early years of the movie industry and its pioneers. The Barn is a registered California State Landmark. Exhibits are being developed and installed. A great facility needs wonderful volunteers to bring it back to life. We can't do it without you.

To inquire about volunteering call (213) 874-4005 or email Eric Stogo.

Photo shows Robert Vaughn and Steve Sylvester, Wattles Managing Director. Steven volunteeered to assist his boyhood idol, who signed autographs at the Hollywood Collectors Show benefitting HHI.