Closed since an arson fire in September of 1996, the Hollywood Heritage Museum, in the 1895 Lasky-DeMille Barn, reopened on July 10. The museum will be open weekends only as exhibit work continues to be refined, with expanded hours anticipated. Hours are from 11:00 am until 3:45 pm, so as to clear the parking lot for Hollywood Bowl events. Special events and tours can be scheduled during the week. Admission is free for current Hollywood Heritage, Inc. members.
Many thanks are
owed for the support of our insurance provide, The Hartford, which responded
not just to fire, water, and smoke damage, but to other issues to upgrade the
"Barn" so as to make it safer and able to conform to modern city building codes.
Volunteers, contractors, and the Hollywood Bowl, our landlord and neighbor, have generously contributed their time and given discounted or free service to restore the Barn and develop all new exhibits. New museum grade display cases and wall exhibit sytems have grealyimproved the presentation of our collections. Code compliance includes new electrical, heating, lighitn, disabled access, and structural reinforcement.
The lawn sprinkler
system is fully operational for the first time in many years. A new security
fences was erected to secure the porch area (where the fire started), the benches
in the front were rebuilt, termites have been exterminated, new signage, and
exterior lighting have been added, among other improvements.
At press time Hollywood Heritage, Inc. is working to finally air condition the building so as to provide patron comfort and maintain temperature control for exhibits. Other exhibit plans will be implemented as fundraising proceeds.
Please stop by and see the new exhibits and the restored landmark Barn. Also be sure to ask about our rebuilding of the volunteer docent team who will be providing tours and participating in other activities. Your help on weekends or weekdays can help expand hours and days of operation. Learn about Hollywood history and the early days of the cinema, and meet visitors from all over the world who come to see Hollywood’s first film studio.
Call Robert Nudelman at (323) 463-6418 for further information or visit us, or call (323) 874-BARN (2276) during our weekend operating hours.
