6067 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036 | map |
More Museum pages: lobby areas | geffen theatre | mann theatre
Opening: September 26, 2021 was the first film screening, a 70mm members-only showing of "Malcolm X." September 30 was the official public opening. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Academy Museum is in the former May Co. department store building. It's on the northeast corner of Wilshire and Fairfax, just west of LACMA. This January 2021 photo appears courtesy of AMPAS.
Website: www.academymuseum.org
The original building and the surrounding property the Museum is using
are owned by Los Angeles County. It's on 110 year lease to
the Academy for a cost of $36 million. The budget as of mid-2017 was
reported to be $388 million. And it went up substantially before completion. David Geffen donated $25 million to the project, Haim Saban and his
wife reportedly donated $50 million.
Bill Kramer is the museum's director. Jacqueline Stewart is the artistic,
programming and diversity officer. Ethan Caldwell is manager of cinema
operations for the Museum.
Original building opening: 1939
Architects: The original building was a design of Albert C.
Martin & Samuel A. Marx. The architects for the
museum are Renzo Piano and the L.A. office of Gensler. Jonathan Jones
was the project architect for the Renzo Piano Building Workshop along
with his partners Mark Carroll and Luigi Priano. Engineering was by KPFF
Consulting Engineers. Jaffe Holden designed the projection and sound
systems in both theatres.
Architect
Renzo Piano on his red carpet bridge. It's a photo by Myung J. Chung that appears
with Carolina A. Miranda's September 29, 2021 L.A. Times article "The architect behind the Academy Museum says his design is no 'Death Star.'"
The complex includes the spherical 1,000 seat Geffen Theatre behind the original building, now called the Saban Building. The Academy commented:
"The 1,000-seat theater located in the spherical building will not only be an unforgettable part of each visitor’s experience, but will also become a hub for major film events including premieres, openings and special presentations with the world’s leading filmmakers."
The auditorium of the David Geffen Theatre. Have you guessed that red is Renzo Piano's favorite color? Photo: Bill Counter - September 2021. See the separate Geffen Theatre page for many more photos.
The basement level includes the 288 seat Ted Mann Theatre. The Academy has noted that this smaller house
"...will be the museum’s 'cinematheque,' offering screenings ranging from Saturday morning matinees for children of all ages to global cinema series...Both theaters [this house and the Geffen] will be home to an array of live performances, lectures, panels, and other events that will bring the most notable artists working in film to Los Angeles. Both theaters will be equipped to present film with multidimensional sound experiences and superior screen quality."
The Ted Mann Theatre. The seats are the color of the favorite marker Renzo Piano uses. Photo: Bill Counter - September 2021. See the separate Ted Mann Theatre page for more photos.
More exterior views:
A 1940 Dick Whittington shot looking southwest across the new May Co. building with the Carthay Circle Theatre appearing in the upper center. Thanks to Nile Hight for the post of the photo on the SoCal Historic Architecture Facebook page.
The May Co. building in 1940. It's an Ansel Adams photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection.
A view of the panels going up on the spherical addition. It's a Kevin Roderick photo from an October 9, 2017 post on LA Observed. Thanks to Rodney Hoffman for posting it on the Facebook page Photos of Los Angeles.
A look at the rising sphere from the rear. Thanks to Peter Chacona Chaconas for his photo, a September 2017 post on the non-public Facebook group Mid Century Modern Los Angeles.
A side view. Photo: Peter Chacona Chaconas - Mid Century Modern Los Angeles - September 2017
A closer look through the fence along Fairfax. Photo: Peter Chacona Chaconas - Mid Century Modern Los Angeles- September 2017. Thanks, Peter!
A 1940 Dick Whittington shot looking southwest across the new May Co. building with the Carthay Circle Theatre appearing in the upper center. Thanks to Nile Hight for the post of the photo on the SoCal Historic Architecture Facebook page.
The May Co. building in 1940. It's an Ansel Adams photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection.
The Wilshire facade c.1940. It's a Los Angeles Public Library photo.
On Fairfax c.1940 looking south toward Wilshire. In 1944 the May Co. would do an addition to the back of the building, a portion that was removed for the Academy Museum project. It's a photo by Maynard L. Parker. Thanks to James J. Chun for posting it on the SoCal Architecture Facebook page.
A view east in August 1951. It's an image from 11 minutes of wonderful Miracle Mile footage shot for process photography use that's on Internet Archive
from A/V Geeks. A delightful colorized version, "California 1950s: Driving Wilshire Blvd.," is on YouTube from Nass. Thanks to Scott Santoro for spotting it.
Wilshire and Fairfax in 1951. Image: A/V Geeks / Internet Archive
The east corner of the main building in 1951 with the May Co. Home Appliances building beyond. Image: A/V Geeks / Internet Archive
Approaching from the west in 1964. It's a photo by James Caldwell in the USC Digital Library collection.
Thanks to Martin for this c.2000 view that once appeared on his vanished site YouAreHere.com.
A Carol Highsmith photo in the Library of Congress collection - c.2006
Steel rising to support the concrete panels of the sphere. Photo: Danny Schwartz - Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page - August 2017. Thanks, Danny!
A view of the panels going up on the spherical addition. It's a Kevin Roderick photo from an October 9, 2017 post on LA Observed. Thanks to Rodney Hoffman for posting it on the Facebook page Photos of Los Angeles.
A look at the rising sphere from the rear. Thanks to Peter Chacona Chaconas for his photo, a September 2017 post on the non-public Facebook group Mid Century Modern Los Angeles.
A side view. Photo: Peter Chacona Chaconas - Mid Century Modern Los Angeles - September 2017
A closer look through the fence along Fairfax. Photo: Peter Chacona Chaconas - Mid Century Modern Los Angeles- September 2017. Thanks, Peter!
A photo by Joshua White looking out from the existing May Co. building toward what will be the level of the Dolby Terrace on top of the new sphere. The photo from AMPAS appeared with a September 2017 Curbed L.A. article on the project.
A construction photo appearing with an April 2017 Variety article "Academy Scrambles to Avert Museum Distaster." We're looking at the north side of the building where the new theatre will go. The Variety caption: "The building process has been plagued with setbacks, including the discovery of a buried mastadon."
The May Co. building. Photo: Bill Counter - March 2018
The project from Fairfax. Photo: Bill Counter - March 2018
The view from 6th and Fairfax. Photo: Bill Counter - March 2018
The 6th St. side of the sphere. Photo: Bill Counter - March 2018
A view from 6th and Fairfax. Photo: Bill Counter - October 2018
A view from 6th and Fairfax. Photo: Bill Counter - October 2018
Construction of the canopy continues on top. It's a view from LACMA. Photo: Steve Milner - SoCal Historic Architecture on Facebook - November 2018
A view from above. Thanks to Hunter Kerhart for the November 2018 photo. It's a post on the GrowLA Facebook page where you can spin the photo around 360 degrees if you desire as well as pan to the horizon in all directions. That's Fairfax at the bottom of the image.
A view from above. Thanks to Hunter Kerhart for the November 2018 photo. It's a post on the GrowLA Facebook page where you can spin the photo around 360 degrees if you desire as well as pan to the horizon in all directions. That's Fairfax at the bottom of the image.
Looking east. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - GrowLA on Facebook - November 2018
Looking west from the Broad building at LACMA. Photo: Brian Burchfield - Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page - January 2019
Under the bridge connecting the main building to the sphere of the 1,000 seat Geffen Theatre. That's LACMA's Resnick Pavilion on the right, slated for demolition under their new expansion plan. Photo: Bill Counter - February 2019
Looking off northwest toward Fairfax Ave. Photo: Mike Hume - February 2019. Visit Mike's Historic Theatre Photography site for thousands of great photos of the many theatres he's explored along with tech data and other historical information.
Under the sphere looking north toward 6th St. Photo: Bill Counter - February 2019
At the left, part of the north side of the main building. The facade on this side is all new construction as the building once had an annex attached, now removed. Photo: Bill Counter - February 2019
The complex as viewed from between the Broad and Resnick buildings at LACMA. Photo: Mike Hume - February 2019
The back of the sphere. The protrusion is the projection booth. Photo: Dennis Bkorkland - Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page - March 2019
The view south toward Wilshire. Photo: Dennis Bkorkland - Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page - March 2019
A look across at the progress on the canopy over the sphere. Photo: Dennis Bkorkland - Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page - March 2019. Thanks, Dennis!
The back of the sphere. The protrusion is the projection booth. Photo: Dennis Bkorkland - Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page - March 2019
The view south toward Wilshire. Photo: Dennis Bkorkland - Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page - March 2019
A look across at the progress on the canopy over the sphere. Photo: Dennis Bkorkland - Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page - March 2019. Thanks, Dennis!
The canopy getting closer to completion. Photo: Bill Counter - May 2019
A July 2019 view from Fairfax. Thanks to Ruth Aulker for her photo, a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page.
Looking south on Fairfax. Photo: Bill Counter - September 2019
The back of the ball as seen from 6th St. Photo: Bill Counter - September 2019
A closer look at the protruding projection booth. Photo: Bill Counter - September 2019
A view from 6th. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2020
A view from 6th. Photo: Bill Counter - January 2020
Checking out the view on top of the Geffen in early 2020. Thanks to Topey Schwarzenbach for the photo, added as a comment to a post on the SoCal Architecture Facebook page.
Getting the letters on the sign after restoration work on the marble and the gold mosaic. Thanks to Arturo Auna-Villa for his December 2020 photo on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page.
The LEDs around each letter weren't on but Peter Chacona Chaconas caught this flood-lit view December 30, 2020. It was a post on the non-public Facebook group Mid Century Modern. Also see some photos he took earlier that day as the last letter was going up. They're on the Photos of Los Angeles page. Thanks, Peter!
A March 2021 view from 6th St. Thanks to Luis Herrera for sharing his shot on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page.
A photo by Myung J. Chun that appears with "Renzo's Revenge: The new Academy Museum has landed -- and it's out of this world," Carolina A. Miranda's September 20, 2021 review of the building for the L.A. Times.
A view west by Ivan Baan that appears with Carolina A. Miranda's September 29, 2021 L.A. Times article "The architect behind the Academy Museum says his design is no 'Death Star.'"
The Wilshire Blvd. entrance on September 26, 2021, the day of member previews and the first screening in the Geffen Theatre. At this point they weren't using these doors and patrons were entering from the back of the building via Fairfax. Thanks to Mike Hume for his photo. It's one of 28 (plus a video clip) that he posted on Facebook.
The entrance doors on the north side of the building. The red-framed path seen at the far left leads to LACMA. Photo: Bill Counter - September 30, 2021
A look under the Geffen. The platform was set up for the day's ribbon cutting. Photo: Bill Counter - September 30, 2021
Early renderings of the project:
A rendering of the bottom of the sphere from AMPAS that appeared with the September 2017 Curbed L.A.
article. It's an entrance at the bottom, the Geffen Theatre in
the middle and an observation deck, the Dolby Terrace, on the top. The strange protrusion at the top of the image is the theatre's projection booth.
A rendering of the Dolby Terrace from AMPAS.
A drawing of the Geffen from AMPAS / Reno Piano that appeared with "Film Academy releases new renderings...," a September 2017 Curbed L.A. article by Jenna Chandler.
A rendering of the basement level Ted Mann Theater that was on display at the site during construction. Photo: Bill Counter - February 2019
This rendering from AMPAS looking south toward Wilshire appeared with many articles including a March 2017 Curbed L.A. piece "Academy Museum's giant glass sphere..."
A rendering of the Geffen that appeared on the Academy Museum website.
Another drawing of the Geffen Theatre from AMPAS / Renzo Piano.We're looking toward Wilshire Blvd.
A drawing of the Geffen from AMPAS / Reno Piano that appeared with "Film Academy releases new renderings...," a September 2017 Curbed L.A. article by Jenna Chandler.
A rendering of the basement level Ted Mann Theater that was on display at the site during construction. Photo: Bill Counter - February 2019
More information:
The April 2017 Variety article "Academy Scrambles to Avert Museum Distaster" discussed schedule problems and cost overruns. The illustration is by Alexei Vella for Variety.
Director Kerry Brougher left the project in August 2019. Deadline's Patrick Hipes had the story in his article "Academy Museum Director Kerry Brougher Exiting Post." Bill Kramer was appointed director in October 2019.
Director Kerry Brougher left the project in August 2019. Deadline's Patrick Hipes had the story in his article "Academy Museum Director Kerry Brougher Exiting Post." Bill Kramer was appointed director in October 2019.
Curbed L.A. has run a number of articles on the project. Wikipedia has articles on the Academy Museum, Miracle Mile and the May Company.
See "Movie Magic: Dynaelctric Electrifies the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures,"
a February 2020 article from the magazine Electrical Contracting, that
discusses a wide array of issues regarding the building's construction.
TimeOut's July 2021 story "The Academy Museum is opening soon: Here's what to expect floor-by-floor" included a number of pre-opening photos.
See "The ultimate film-lovers' guide to the new Academy Museum," a special section of the September 8, 2021 issue of the L.A. Times. Also see "Renzo's Revenge: The new Academy Museum has landed -- and it's out of this world," Carolina A. Miranda's September 20 review of the building. And there's also her September 29 article "The architect behind the Academy Museum says his design is no 'Death Star.'"
Mike Hume has 28 photos (plus a video clip) that he posted on Facebook that were taken during a September 26, 2021 visit. Visit his Historic Theatre Photography site for a page about the Museum's two theatres. Sandi Hemmerlein's October 2021 Avoiding Regret article "I'd Like to Thank the Academy For Finally Opening Its Long-Awaited Museum on L.A.'s Miracle Mile" has many fine photos of various items in the exhibits.
The Museum pages: history + exterior views - back to top | lobby areas | geffen theatre | mann theatre
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