Exhibitions

Hollywood: Legend and Reality

September 5, 1986 – October 12, 1986

Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
2 East 91st Street
New York, NY

1st & 2nd Floors

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The exhibition explores the development of the motion picture industry in Hollywood and the impact of movies on American culture. Props, costumes, and other highlights (alphabetized by name of film) include:

  • Casablanca—Piano and other props from Rick's Cafe
  • Citizen Kane—The sled Rosebud
  • E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial—E.T. wax model
  • ExorcistRegan demon life-size figure
  • Gone with the Wind—Sketch of Rhett Butler, cameo worn by Scarlett O'Hara; Oscar for Best Picture
  • High Noon—Gary Cooper's hat, boots, and gun belt
  • King Kong—King Kong stop-motion puppet
  • Mutiny on the Bounty—Miniature sailing ship
  • Star Wars—Empire Strikes Back—Return of the Jedi—Yoda and Rancor puppets; Darth Vader's helmet; Ewok mask, hands, and feet; miniature models of Milennium Falcon and All Terrian Armored Transport (AT-AT).
  • Wizard of Oz—Scarecrow costume
  • Costumes worn by (alphabetized by actor) include: Fred Astaire ( dance shoes from Top Hat), Charlie Chaplin (Modern Times), Audrey Hepburn (My Fair Lady), Marilyn Monroe (President Kennedy's 1962 birthday party), Rudolph Valentino (Blood and Sand), and Mae West (I'm No Angel).
  • Artists and photographers represented include: Thomas Hart Benton, Miguel Covarrubias, Salvador Dali, Eliot Elisofan, Edward Hopper, George Hurrell, Marisol, Claes Oldenburg, Robert Rauschenberg, and Andy Warhol.
  • Red Groom's Way Down East sculpture is on view outside in the garden.

Catalogue

Posters; some related merchandise available

Video monitor shows film clips continuously