100 Years of Columbia Pictures

Columbia Pictures was considered one of the "Little Three" among the Hollywood film studios. Their initial releases were moderately budget films along with short subjects and cartoons. But when It Happened One Night swept the Oscars, Columbia began its rise as a major competitor. Learn about the studio's 100-year history and view clips from their more famous releases.

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1939: Hollywood's Golden Year

Film historians proclaim 1939 as the "greatest year" in Hollywood history. As America began to recover from the Great Depression, Hollywood released a record 365 feature films and moviegoers bought tickets at a rate of 80 million per week. Learn about some of the myriad of classic films released that year and see portions of those films.​

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And the Oscar Goes to….: A History of the Academy Awards

The Academy Award of Merit was first celebrated in 1929 with a 15-minute ceremony during a banquet dinner and has developed into an annual award show viewed by nearly 30 million viewers worldwide. Before you fill out your Oscar ballots, learn the history of this prestigious award, some of the more famous mishaps, and challenge yourself with some Oscar trivia.

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Before the Censors: Pre-Code Hollywood

Between the advent of sound and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorship guidelines (the Hays Code) in 1934, American films were at their most raucous and racy - illicit sex and violence were common themes. The Hays Code sought to determine what could be portrayed on screen and to promote traditional values. Learn about some of the top movies of the era and why they were considered objectionable by the censors.

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A (Brief) History of Animation

See how far animation has come in the past century. Learn about the techniques and innovations that produced some of the most iconic films of all time.

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A (Brief) History of Disney Animation

From the Alice Comedies in the 1920s to CGI animation today, Disney animation has always been at the forefront of animation innovations. Learn about the development of Disney Animation from its earliest days to the present.

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​Famous Last Words: Celebrity Funerals, Monuments, and Epitaphs

Celebrities make a big name for themselves in life but some also make a big name for themselves in death, commemorating their passing with elaborate funerals, what they chose to be buried in and with, their monuments, or even their “last words,” literally written in stone. Learn how the stars were honored and remembered after their deaths – some really knew how to go out with a bang!

 

​Five Directors Who Went to War

After Pearl Harbor, many in Hollywood answered the call to arms and made films that would aid in the war effort. Five directors, Frank Capra, John Ford, John Huston, George Stevens, and William Wyler not only joined the military but many were shooting their films during actual battles overseas. Learn about these individuals and see examples from their war films.

 

Fred Astaire: Style and Grace on Screen

“Can't sing. Can’t act. Balding. Dances a little.” – Hollywood lore says these were the notes some unnamed studio executive wrote after seeing a screen test for dancer Fred Astaire. Not only was Astaire one of the best dancers on screen, but he also changed the way dance sequences in movies were filmed. A discussion of his talent and presentation of some of his best dance numbers.

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The Girl with the Voice: Judy Garland's Life Before and Beyond the Rainbow

Judy Garland is considered one of Hollywood's greatest legends. We'll explore her extraordinary career, from her early years as a child star to her legendary concerts at Carnegie Hall, delving into the triumphs and tribulations of "the girl with the voice" and examining her iconic roles and enduring influence, while also shedding light on the personal struggles that haunted her life "beyond the rainbow."

 

Hollywood and the Homefront

​The entertainment industry changed the war effort, not only through individuals serving in the military, but also through fundraising efforts and the films themselves. Entertainment and informational programs were created for civilians and soldiers overseas and, in general boosted their morale. Learn how the studios contributed to the war effort, whether through feature films, educational and training films, or bond drives.

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The Hollywood Canteen: The Original Dancing with the Stars

The Hollywood Canteen, founded by actors John Garfield and Bette Davis, was a haven for servicemen during World War II. For nearly three years, the biggest stars in Hollywood entertained, fed, and jitterbugged their way into the hearts of over five million servicemen and women.

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Hollywood Fashion – Looking Good on Screen and Off 

The 1930s and 1940s were the peak of classical Hollywood cinema with glamorous and sophisticated costumes and costumes were more than just a character’s clothing. Costume design helped to define the characters on film as well as giving screen idols a specific public image. Even today, Hollywood design influences the fashion industry. Learn about some of the key classic Hollywood designers (Edith Head, Adrien, Orry-Kelly, Irene, Givenchy, and others) and their influence on film and, often, in everyday fashion.

 

Hollywood Ghost Stories

Hollywood stars lived the finest homes, stayed at the swankiest hotels and worked at studios called the “dream factories.” And a few have remained, long after their deaths. Hear stories of the more famous haunts and hauntings throughout the City of Angels and elsewhere.

 

Hollywood Love Stories

Celebrate Valentines Fay by looking at love in Hollywood. On the silver screen, we are often entertained by the parts they play, but sometimes it's their real life role as a couple that capture our hearts. Learn about famous Hollywood couplings from Hollywood's Golden Age - the long-term, the short-term, and even the "what were they thinking?"

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HUAC and the Hollywood 10

The "Hollywood Ten" were the screenwriters, producers, and directors  who were subpoenaed but refused to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), thus beginning the first systematic Hollywood blacklist which lasted until 1960. Learn about the key Hollywood figures of this era and how the blacklist impacted their careers.

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I Recognize the Face … : Great Characters Actors of Hollywood’s Golden Era

When you watch classic films, you may be very familiar with the stars that made those films great. But behind each leading actor/actress is a character actor/actress whose name is often way down the list of credits, but plays a wide range of characters that are unique, offbeat and colorful. See some of these veteran characters and watch scenes from their films so you can finally attach a name to the face. This program can be repeated with different actors.

 

Iroquois Theatre Fire

When the Iroquois Theatre opened in November 1903, it was claimed to be “the most beautiful” theatre in Chicago, with seating capacity of 1,602. But a little over a month later, a deadly fire broke out during the afternoon performance of the musical Mr. Bluebeard. It is considered one of the deadliest single-building fires in America and resulted in over 600 deaths, including many women and children. The Iroquois fire prompted new laws for theatre design as well as other safety features and procedures.

 

M-G-M: Over 100 Years at the Movies

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s slogan boasted the studio had “"more stars than there are in heaven." Begun in 1919 as Metro Pictures, it developed into one of the most prestigious movie studios in Hollywood, their films glamorous and sophisticated. Learn about their humble beginnings, their dominance of the film industry, and their more challenging years.

 

Musicals of the Depression

Despite the Depression, the movie industry boomed and the Hollywood musical played a key role in distracting Americans from the horrors of the economic downfall. Learn about some of the most popular films of the era and watch scenes from these films.

 

Stars on the Sidewalk –Hollywood’s Walk of Fame

Envisioned in 1958 as a lasting tribute to those who helped make Hollywood the most famous community in the world, the Hollywood Walk of Fame continues to perpetuate the aura that makes the name “Hollywood” synonymous with glamour. Learn the history and interesting facts that make this one of filmdom’s must-see tourist attractions – over 2,600 stars spanning over 18 blocks – where people lay down on a dirty sidewalk just to take a selfie with their favorite star.

 

Stars Who Served in World War II

​The entertainment industry changed the war effort, not only through individuals serving in the military, but also through fundraising efforts and the films themselves. Entertainment and informational programs were created for civilians and soldiers overseas and, in general boosted their morale. A large number of stars put their careers on hold to serve their country. Whether they entertained the troops or served in battle, these stars deserve to be honored.

 

Unsolved Hollywood Murders

Celebrities are always in the spotlight but, in these unsolved murders, their fame wasn’t enough to save them... or find their killer. These cases were stalled after years of searching fruitlessly for suspects or when the evidence and leads came to a dead end. Some of these cases remain open, however and, even decades after the murders, authorities are still attempting to determine whodunnit. Although programs can be scheduled as listed below, they can also be mixed up or new cases added.

Program 1: William Desmond Taylor, George Reeves, Natalie Wood

Program 2: Thelma Todd, Bob Crane, Bonny Lee Bakley/Robert Blake (some cases contain graphic content)

Program 3: Elizabeth Short, aka “The Black Dahlia” (contains graphic content)

Who else would you like to see profiled?

 

The War of the Worlds – The Night that Terrified America

On October 30, 1938, Orson Welles, director/star of the anthology series Mercury Theatre on the Air, presented a production of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds. Learn about the production, the audience reaction, and the program’s aftermath. Portions of the program will also be played for the audience.

 

The Warner Brothers and the Building of Their Empire

The three elder Warner brother siblings began in the movie industry by purchasing a movie projector and traveling to small towns to exhibit movies produced by others. Within a few years, and joined by another brother, they were producing their own films and became major players among Hollywood’s “Big Five” studios. Learn about their humble beginnings, and their influences on the film industry, including ground-breaking and classic films such as The Jazz Singer, Little Caesar, Casablanca, as well as current hits like the Harry Potter series.

 

Where No TV Show Has Gone Before: The Making of Star Trek

Star Trek premiered on September 8, 1966. Cancelled after three seasons, it might have been forgotten, but Star Trek has gone where no TV show has gone before, spinning off 11 different series, a film franchise, and becoming a cult phenomenon. Learn how the series was created as well as the show’s cultural significance.