Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opens Sept. 30, 2021

With the rising numbers of inoculations, and currently less coronavirus case rates, there is no better time to launch the world’s premier institution devoted to the art and science of movies and moviemaking.

And what am I referring to? It is the opening of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on September 30 in the movie capital of the world, Los Angeles. The museum will be housed in the former May Company, now the Saban building on Wilshire. The 300,000-square-foot museum will feature more than 50,000 square feet of gallery space for both permanent and temporary exhibitions, two film and performance theaters, a state-of-the-art education studio, and deluxe spaces for special events.

The museum will also draw from the exceptional collection of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which contains a plethora of motion picture production and history-related props and technology, and memorabilia enveloping the history of motion pictures in the US and the world.

Some of the memorabilia that will be showcased:

• The headdress worn by Greta Garbo in Mata Hari (1931)
• Dorothy’s ruby slippers in The Wizard of Oz (1939)
• Shirley Temple’s gown, cape, crown, and scepter from The Little Princess (1939)
• Gone with the Wind embroidery kit (1939)
• Stone tablet props from The Ten Commandments (1956)
• Black wig with gold trim worn by Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra (1963)
• Gorilla soldier head from Planet of the Apes (1968)
• and many more

Angelenos are very fortunate to have a world-class museum dedicated to the movie industry. And what better spot to put this institution but in the cultural hub of miracle mile neighborhood which consists of LACMA, the La Brea Tar Pits, Petersen Automotive Museum, Korean American Museum, and Craft Contemporary Museum.

Bill Kramer, Director and President of Academy Museum of Motion Pictures remarks, “The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has long been a dream of the Academy, the city of Los Angeles and the film industry.”

The museum is under the leadership of:

• Bill Kramer, Director, and President, Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
• Legendary Disney CEO, Bob Iger (Chair: Campaign Committee)
• Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos (Chair: Board of Trustees)
• Award-winning actors Annette Bening (Co-Chair: Campaign Committee ) Tom Hanks (Co-Chair: Campaign Committee)