At the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. you can see some of the most important pieces of movie and television history. Here are five items you might see if you visit!
5. Mister Rogers’ Red Knit Cardigan
On display is one of the cardigans Mister Rogers wore on his tv show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood (PBS, 1968-2001). This cardigan is cherry red with ribbed collar and cuffs and was made by Nancy Flagg.
4. R2-D2 from Return of the Jedi
On display is one of the R2-D2 robots from the 1983 movie Return of the Jedi. R2-D2 is played by Kenny Baker, and this robot is designed by conceptual artist Ralph McQuarrie in 1975. Ralph McQuarrie also worked on the original Battlestar Galactica television series and the movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
3. Superman Costume from Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
On display is one of the costumes worn by actor Christopher Reeve as Superman in the 1987 movieSuperman IV: The Quest for Peace. This costume is five-pieces and was designed by Bermans & Nathans, which was a London based costume company that supplied clothing for film/television/theater productions.
2. A Technicolor Camera
The technicolor camera was invented in 1932, and it recorded on three separate negatives, which were red, blue and green. Then they were combined to develop a full-color positive print. On display at the museum is the most important technicolor camera in the world. Why? Because this is one of several cameras to shoot the Oz scenes in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.
1. Dorothys Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz
The slippers on display are one of several pairs worn by Judy Garland in the beloved 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. These ruby slippers are size-five and are well-worn, which suggests that they were Judy Garland’s primary pair for dance sequences. These were designed by Adrian Greenburgh, who designed hundreds of costumes for MGM films between 1928 to 1941. Even though he designed so many, Adrian was most famous for his work on The Wizard of Oz.
Which item would you like to see in person?
Gary Miceli has loved film from a very early age, from the silent masterpieces of Charlie Chaplin to recent blockbuster hits. His love for cinema from all eras of history inspired him to go to film school and graduate with his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He continues to work hard in this wonderful field and always explores new avenues of expressing his love for movie/TV history.