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'Breathtaking' movie history unearthed
A minitiature model was used to film the giant King Kong |
By the BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Los Angeles
A treasure trove of early movie memorabilia has been unearthed in the unlikely setting of a natural history museum in California.
The items, most dating from the early days of silent films, include clothes worn by Charlie Chaplin, a pair of tap shoes from Fred Astaire and locks of hair from Mary Pickford.
The Los Angeles Natural History Museum says for film buffs the collection is breathtaking.
Buster Keaton: suit rediscovered |
Among the items uncovered so far is a script from film pioneer D W Griffith. He has added his own notes to it, showing his concerns about paying actors five to eight dollars a day.
In another storage box are the glasses worn by silent screen star Harold Lloyd and a suit worn by Buster Keaton.
Charlie Chaplin's overalls from the classic film Modern Times have also been found and there are the original miniature models used in the films King Kong and The Lost World.
Lots of items, too little room
A total of about 15,000 artifacts are thought to be in the collection, but a lack of space and money has kept it in storage for the last 70 years.
In most cases the objects were donated by the stars or the studios, but the museum has also asked for material, including drawings from WKL Dickson, the man who developed the first film camera.
A museum spokeswoman described the artifacts as where the heart of the motion picture industry began.
So far only 5% of the total number of items have been catalogued, many of which are spread out in warehouses in Los Angeles.
The museum is now trying to find display space so the public can view this unique insight into early cinema - and to make today's studios more aware of their role as caretakers of Hollywood's history.
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22 Mar 99 | The Oscars 1999 |
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Hollywood's annual fashion show |
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31 May 99 | Tom Brook |
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Hollywood's controversial list |
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13 Jun 99 | Americas |
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Oscar's million-dollar sale |
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