By Robert W. Nudelman
An important part of the Hollywood Heritage Museum is its growing archive of Hollywood and motion picture history. Though no concerted effort had been made in the past to build this unique collection, many artifacts were obtained, primarily though donations. Over the past two years, a more concentrated effort has been made to develop the archive and make proper use of it.
Probably the most impressive collection today is the Hollywood Postcard Collection, covering a period from 1903 to the 1970s. Over 1400 postcards are archived from this period, one of the most extensive collections in the world. These images are often the best visual record of the changes in Hollywood, whether from an entire area, or an individual building.
In the 1950s, "chrome" cards began to show actual colors. The hand-tinted hues of earlier cards can serve to identify more historic detail. The collection was used extensively to help match colors and detail, as well as to date architectural changes (done by dating film openings) for the soon-to-be-completed Grauman's Chinese Theater restoration.
Other items have included programs for theaters, special events, and the Hollywood Bowl (we have an extensive collection of Bowl items), historic photos, maps, magazines, movie and architectural technical papers on early film technology, advertising and promotional materials, tickets (radio, theater, movie and television shows), posters, handbills, and an assortment of Hollywood themed oddities. This covers the period of the past 90+ years.
Recently, the archive has supplied materials and photos for Life and Times Tonight (KCET), Huell Howser's California's Gold (KCET), New Times LA, Good Housekeeping, Preservation News, The Hollywood and Highland Project, The Charlton Heston Archives, the opening credits for the film The Majestic, The Los Angeles Conservancy's newsletter, The Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles, Esquire (Japan), Roschen Van Cleve Architects, Hollywood Book City, The Stanley Kramer Library, Bison Archives, The Los Angeles Orpheum Theater, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Mann Theaters, the Pantages Theater and others. Most of the historic photos in our newsletters are from the archive as well.
The archive, like all our projects, is volunteer operated, so we are not open to the public and haven't yet been able to fully document the collection. But when it is needed to help historic preservation projects, aid in film restoration, or assist with issues concerning Hollywood history, we have worked to make materials available. We hope to eventually be able to make the collection more accessible by obtaining funding to display more of the items in the museum, where several can be seen today, and by hiring a person to develop and maintain the archive and assist in its usage. Fees charged for use of the archive will help to offset some of the costs.
To help keep this important collection of Hollywood history growing, Hollywood Heritage is asking for items that you may have, or come across (boardmember Phil Docktor recently found a mint condition 1924 Hollywood BowlP program at a yard sale and donated it to the archive). Such donations have come from a visitor from Massachusetts, a person viewing our website from Orange County, a neighbor of the museum in Whitley Heights, a collector in Seattle, a New Jersey antiques dealer, and many others. Swap meets, paper and postcard shows, yard sales, and word-of-mouth are sources to collect items at the lowest prices.
The most important result is that there now exists a collection of historical artifacts covering the history of Hollywood. No other such collection exists in the world today (many early Hollywood documents were kept at the Hollywood Library and were lost in the 1980s fire there). Thanks to countless volunteer hours to locate and maintain these treasures and the support of our members and even total strangers, Hollywood Heritage has created an important and unifying archive of our community's history. Call the office (323) 874-4005 if you are interested in donating items (items donated are tax deductible as allowed by Federal and state tax laws).