History of Hollywood Entertainment Museum

The journey began in 1984, when David Roberti, then president pro tempore of the California State Senate, reignited the concept of an entertainment museum in Hollywood. Initial planning funds were secured through the California Department of Commerce and Phyllis Caskey, administrative assistant in Senator Roberti's office, led the project feasibility and site selection committees. Incorporated as a non-profit public benefit corporation in 1986, the concept officially became known as "Hollywood Entertainment Museum" in 1989.

In 1994, Hollywood Entertainment Museum became a signature project for the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles. In 1992, Proctor & Gamble donated the Max Factor Collection, including the famous "Beauty Calibrator," and made a significant financial contribution. The same year, actress Edie Adams donated the Ernie Kovacs Collection and before there was a physical space, the Museum unveiled its first exhibition entitled "Hollywood Windows," displayed in windows along Hollywood Boulevard. That was followed in 1994 with the arrival of the Hollywood Miniatures - a series of six sets designed in the 1940s - which were added to its archives.

Hollywood Entertainment Museum officially opened its doors on October 5, 1996, with support from the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles, on Hollywood Boulevard in the heart of Hollywood - the first significant evidence of the area's emerging renaissance.

Hollywood Entertainment Museum celebrated Hollywood the place and the entertainment arts of film, television, radio, sound recording and new media. The 33,000 square foot Museum featured technologically advanced, interactive exhibits, memorabilia, special exhibitions, a six-minute multi-screen video presentation and a studio backlot tour. Since then the Museum evolved into a multifaceted experience, successfully presenting a panorama of exhibits and programming to celebrate significant achievements in the entertainment arts and the history of Hollywood.

Its behind-the-cameras tour highlighted visits to the actual sets from three of TV's most popular series - "Star Trek: The Next Generation," "Cheers" and "The X-Files." Its universe of Hollywood memorabilia featured an in-depth historical time line of Hollywood from 1887; a multi-screen presentation of classic, iconic movie and television moments; an innovative gallery exploring technological "firsts" in the entertainment industry; and a science-fiction gallery.

In 1997, the Museum opened its pioneering Education Center for the Entertainment Arts, a model collaboration with the Los Angeles County Office of Education's Division of Juvenile Court Community Schools and the Los Angeles County Probation Department. It offered a full curriculum to youth offenders on probation and other at-risk teenagers, enabling them to earn a high school diploma or equivalency. The Center was extended in 2002 to at-risk community students who were not on probation, the same year the Museum introduced a curriculum guide and resource center to help teachers integrate the entertainment arts into their core subject areas.

The Museum was the set for many galas, corporate, community, family and education events including the Museum’s annual Hollywood Legacy Awards for Family and Community. The Museum celebrated 10 years of educating and entertaining visitors about Hollywood from around the world, as well as locals. The Museum looks forward to continuing its legacy in the next phase.