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Hollywood Heritage Museum Opens The Heart of Hollywood Exhibition Honoring 100-Year Legacy of the Motion Picture & Television Fund
The Hollywood Heritage Museum has unveiled a new show, “The Heart of Hollywood,” on June 20. The exhibition will run through August 2 in the Victoria Horne Oakie and Jack Oakie Gallery, and is the product of a partnership between the museum, the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF) and the Mary Pickford Foundation.
At its core, the show chronicles the MPTF’s journey from a silent‑era relief organization to the modern lifeline it is today for actors, writers, directors, crew and other behind‑the‑scenes professionals. Visitors walk through a curated sequence of photographs, archival documents and videos that trace more than a century of care, community and compassion. Highlights include Mary Pickford’s personal mementos, scripts and astrology reports that once belonged to Steve McQueen, and a painting of Paramount legend Charlton Heston by African‑American artist and former football player Ernie Barnes.
Barnes, who shared the screen with Heston in the 1969 Paramount football drama “Number One,” later gained international acclaim for his paintings. McQueen’s collection features a personal gym at the Lasky‑DeMille Barn—a site frequented by many Hollywood figures. The display also opens a window onto rarely seen crew jackets, gifts, movie posters and awards that are normally kept out of public view.
The Mary Pickford Foundation continues Pickford’s legacy by donating her personal items to help fund the MPTF. Other industry members have followed suit, contributing memorabilia that supports the Fund’s services. A selection of items on display will be available for purchase through the MPTF, with all proceeds directed to its ongoing mission.
Founded in 1921 as the Motion Picture Relief Fund by Mary Pickford, Joseph M. Schenck and Reverend Neal Dodd, the organization was created to aid members of the motion‑picture community who faced illness, financial hardship or personal crisis. Over the decades the MPTF has evolved into a respected charitable institution that offers temporary financial assistance, case management, healthcare services, residential living and social support programs to thousands of industry professionals and their families. The Fund remains the only organization to receive the Academy’s Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, presented at the 93rd Oscars ceremony in 2021.
Admission to the exhibition is $15. The museum is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a scheduled closure on July 4. Tickets and additional information can be found at hollywoodheritage.org. The Hollywood Heritage Museum is located at 2100 N. Highland Ave.
The show offers a rare glimpse into the personal artifacts that have supported Hollywood’s workforce for a century, underscoring the Fund’s role as a safety net for working and retired members. By providing health and social services, the MPTF helps industry professionals navigate illness, hardship and retirement.
As the exhibition continues through early August, visitors can explore the MPTF’s legacy and the individuals who have benefited from its services. The partnership with the Mary Pickford Foundation highlights Hollywood’s ongoing commitment to mutual support, and the show stands as a testament to the enduring mission of the Fund and its impact on the entertainment industry.
The exhibition’s closing date on August 2 marks the end of a month‑long showcase that has already attracted film historians, industry professionals and the general public. The Hollywood Heritage Museum’s focus on preserving and presenting these artifacts provides a tangible connection to Hollywood’s history and the people who have sustained it.
The MPTF’s continued work, backed by donations and the sale of memorabilia, ensures that the Fund can maintain its services for future generations of entertainment professionals. By highlighting the Fund’s history and ongoing mission, the exhibition reinforces the importance of community support within the industry.
The Hollywood Heritage Museum’s “The Heart of Hollywood” exhibition remains open through early August, offering visitors a comprehensive view of the MPTF’s century‑long legacy and its role in sustaining the Hollywood workforce.
At its core, the show chronicles the MPTF’s journey from a silent‑era relief organization to the modern lifeline it is today for actors, writers, directors, crew and other behind‑the‑scenes professionals. Visitors walk through a curated sequence of photographs, archival documents and videos that trace more than a century of care, community and compassion. Highlights include Mary Pickford’s personal mementos, scripts and astrology reports that once belonged to Steve McQueen, and a painting of Paramount legend Charlton Heston by African‑American artist and former football player Ernie Barnes.
Barnes, who shared the screen with Heston in the 1969 Paramount football drama “Number One,” later gained international acclaim for his paintings. McQueen’s collection features a personal gym at the Lasky‑DeMille Barn—a site frequented by many Hollywood figures. The display also opens a window onto rarely seen crew jackets, gifts, movie posters and awards that are normally kept out of public view.
The Mary Pickford Foundation continues Pickford’s legacy by donating her personal items to help fund the MPTF. Other industry members have followed suit, contributing memorabilia that supports the Fund’s services. A selection of items on display will be available for purchase through the MPTF, with all proceeds directed to its ongoing mission.
Founded in 1921 as the Motion Picture Relief Fund by Mary Pickford, Joseph M. Schenck and Reverend Neal Dodd, the organization was created to aid members of the motion‑picture community who faced illness, financial hardship or personal crisis. Over the decades the MPTF has evolved into a respected charitable institution that offers temporary financial assistance, case management, healthcare services, residential living and social support programs to thousands of industry professionals and their families. The Fund remains the only organization to receive the Academy’s Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, presented at the 93rd Oscars ceremony in 2021.
Admission to the exhibition is $15. The museum is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a scheduled closure on July 4. Tickets and additional information can be found at hollywoodheritage.org. The Hollywood Heritage Museum is located at 2100 N. Highland Ave.
The show offers a rare glimpse into the personal artifacts that have supported Hollywood’s workforce for a century, underscoring the Fund’s role as a safety net for working and retired members. By providing health and social services, the MPTF helps industry professionals navigate illness, hardship and retirement.
As the exhibition continues through early August, visitors can explore the MPTF’s legacy and the individuals who have benefited from its services. The partnership with the Mary Pickford Foundation highlights Hollywood’s ongoing commitment to mutual support, and the show stands as a testament to the enduring mission of the Fund and its impact on the entertainment industry.
The exhibition’s closing date on August 2 marks the end of a month‑long showcase that has already attracted film historians, industry professionals and the general public. The Hollywood Heritage Museum’s focus on preserving and presenting these artifacts provides a tangible connection to Hollywood’s history and the people who have sustained it.
The MPTF’s continued work, backed by donations and the sale of memorabilia, ensures that the Fund can maintain its services for future generations of entertainment professionals. By highlighting the Fund’s history and ongoing mission, the exhibition reinforces the importance of community support within the industry.
The Hollywood Heritage Museum’s “The Heart of Hollywood” exhibition remains open through early August, offering visitors a comprehensive view of the MPTF’s century‑long legacy and its role in sustaining the Hollywood workforce.
