Tag Archives: Hollywood History

Beyond Prissy: The Literary Ambitions of Butterfly McQueen

Posted on January 27, 2025 by ahcadmin

In a small collection at the American Heritage Center – apparently the only archival collection of her papers anywhere – actress Butterfly McQueen preserved a series of typescript works that made me wonder: of all her experiences, why did she … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Women's History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

American Heritage Center Exhibit Celebrates Buddy Ebsen, 1908-2003

Posted on August 29, 2022 by ahcadmin

Do you remember the TV comedy series The Beverly Hillbillies? How about the mystery series Barnaby Jones? More recently the series King of the Hill? No doubt you’ve seen the classic films The Wizard of Oz or Breakfast at Tiffany’s. … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies and Profiles, Entertainment, Exhibits | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Jean Howard and Charles Feldman: From Ziegfeld Follies to Movie Moguls

Posted on December 31, 2018 by ahcadmin

What do you get when you combine a stunning starlet, a savvy talent broker, and a bunch of famous friends? The answer is Jean Howard and Charles Feldman, the ultimate party planners of old Hollywood. The story of Jean Howard … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Women's History | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Brassy Barbara Stanwyck and Pre-Code Hollywood

Posted on December 17, 2017 by ahcadmin

In 1934, the Hays Code began to be strictly enforced in Hollywood to clean up alleged indecency in movies. All evil-doers had to meet their just rewards. What spurred the prudish policing? Hardboiled flicks like Baby Face. This 1933 film had … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Women's History | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Jean Howard, Photographer for the Glamorous Hollywood Set

Posted on November 1, 2017 by ahcadmin

Jean Howard parlayed her extraordinary beauty, ethereal glamour and light-hearted intelligence to become a Ziegfeld girl, a Hollywood starlet, a legendary hostess and the “house photographer” of the film colony. Her circle included Tyrone Power, Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, Humphrey … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographies and Profiles, Entertainment, Women's History | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Documenting Women’s Roles in Hollywood

Posted on September 25, 2017 by ahcadmin

Film and television entertains us all and are significant to American culture.  Whether through comedy, drama, or music, perspectives of our culture can be studied by observing what entertained us in the past.  The American Heritage Center’s vast entertainment collections … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jacques Kapralik and the Art of Film Promotion

Posted on April 25, 2014 by stowam

The American Heritage Center is fortunate to hold the papers and artwork of Jacques Kapralik. Kapralik was a commercial artist and caricaturist whose art was used in the promotion of motion pictures throughout Hollywood’s Golden Era of the 1930s-1950s. Born … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Red Carpet Collection

Posted on March 1, 2012 by ahcadmin

Those of you who watch the Oscars  might have found yourselves wondering what it is like to hold the most coveted award in Hollywood. Well readers, question no longer! The AHC is pleased to count, among the many informative and … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Art of Silent Film: Al Christie’s Contribution to Early Hollywood

Posted on December 8, 2011 by ahcadmin

Long before modern blockbusters filled theater screens with explosive sound and color, silent films captivated audiences through pure visual storytelling. This lost art form, which flourished from 1894-1929, experienced a revival when The Artist won major awards in 2011 for … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments