Chauncey K. Robinson

Ah, Hollywood. Never change. Or, yes, change for the good, but keep the things that inspire dreams and storytelling.

One of the reasons I even got my degree in Drama at San Francisco State University, was because I’ve always had a love for storytelling and the magic of good culture. The kind of stuff that inspires us all to live our own life “movie” of sorts. And being the history lover that I am, I’m surprised it took me this long to FINALLY visit The Hollywood Musuem in Los Angeles, California.

The Hollywood Museum, the self-proclaimed official museum of Hollywood, has a super impressive (and massive) collection of Hollywood memorabilia. Four floors of more than 10,000 authentic show biz treasures truly does transport you into the wonderland that is Hollywood in all its glory and chaos.

Unlike the carefully curated (and somewhat sanitized) Academy Museum, there’s a bit of EVERYTHING at The Hollywood Museum. It doesn’t shy away from delving into the counterculture and controversies that paint a vivid picture of Tinseltown. There are times where the museum feels a bit all over the place, like you’ve stumbled into one person’s massive collection of all things Hollywood, but that also adds to the museum’s unassuming charm.

And perhaps what makes it even more unique is that the museum resides in the historic Max Factor Building. This is where Max Factor, Hollywood’s Makeup King, created the looks of Hollywood’s Golden Era stars including Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn, Judy Garland, Mae West, Jean Harlow, Marilyn Monroe and more from the Silent movies through the 1970’s. What that means is that visitors get an extensive crash course into what makeup and beauty was like in the early days of Hollywood. It’s fascinating and eye-opening.

You get to see that the glamour wasn’t always…pretty.

For all its faults, there is something truly wondrous about Hollywood and the history of it all. It is a huge part of the culture that shapes the way people think and feel about themselves and each other. The Hollywood Museum allows you to see a good chunk of it in all its unfiltered glory.

I’ve never been one to condemn Hollywood outright, even when pointing out the things it could do better. I feel like, if I ever reach a point where all I see is the bad, then it would be time to bow out of being a culture journalist. Unfortunately, not all my colleagues follow that same sentiment, so sometimes all you end up reading about is the negative and the damning… I believe we need a more nuanced approach when tackling culture and stories.

The Hollywood Museum almost feels like the physical embodiment of exploring the topic. You’ll see pieces that will evoke thoughts of “well, that was horrible” along with sentiments of “what a time to be alive.” Those aren’t really contradictions, but rather the complexity of it all.

I definitely recommend giving this museum a visit. It’s a bit easier on the wallet than the Academy Museum, with just as much (if not more) history to show for it.

All pictures by Chauncey K. Robinson.