Hollywood Heritage Museum

Alright, so in case you weren't aware, I have a big thing for the movies.  I love them.  Having grown up in Los Angeles, and in a family pretty much obsessed with film, I suppose it's no surprise that I developed an affinity for the art form. 

But in particular, I have a severe love of classic films.  The films of Frank Capra and Metro Goldwyn Mayer musicals of the 40's and 50's helped get me through the lowest points of my life.  I wanted to learn about film history when I was a young adult and so I just kept watching films and learning...When I met the boy, he took me to see screenings of silent films through the UCLA Film Archive and my passion for films of the 20's and 30's began to grow.  And still, I am always thrilled by discovering great films both new and old! 

So recently, the boy and I decided that, given our love of the movie biz, we should check out the Hollywood Heritage Museum.  And so we did, last weekend.  It's just across from the Hollywood Bowl and is inside a barn that was used as a set on the first full length motion picture, The Squaw Man, directed by Cecil B. DeMille.

The museum had some interesting items, some donated from Paramount, others from people's personal collections.  There was a muskiness inside the barn as well, with old cameras set up around the perimeter, you could almost smell the old Hollywood magic! 

My only complaint would be that I'm surprised at the lack of materials and information in the museum.  It's a little bit sad when you consider that there are hundreds of wealthy movie buffs in the area...I'm surprised the museum isn't better funded and has a better collection.  But that's life.  Er, I should say, that's Hollywood! 

Just Singing in the Rain

My favorite movie of all time, ever is Singing in the Rain.  I love it more than one really should love a movie.  It's a big reason why I wanted to become a dancer.  I adore Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor, and I just wanted to be able to do what they could do.  

Plus the story is pretty awesome.  I love being transported into a technicolor version of Hollywood in the late 1920's.  Seeing the outfits, hearing the songs and imagining what the industry was like back then.  Plus it's hilarious.  Really I think Singing in the Rain is a work of comedic genius...But clearly, you can see I'm a fan.  

So here are some Singing in the Rain inspirations to brighten, or maybe I should say rain cloudy up your day! ;)

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It doesn't rain much here in Los Angeles, but every now and then the "California dew is a little heavier than usual."  For those days, I'd like to dance down the street in this lovely raincoat - so classic! 

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And I am one of those people that inevitably gets soaked even with an umbrella; I'm thinking a bubble umbrella like this one may do the trick...

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Lastly, ya gotta wear some Wellies!