At the turn of the 20th century despite its bustling downtown core Los Angeles still had many agricultural elements and in 1901 Jacob Stern built a little barn on the corner of Selma and Vine, just one block south of what would become the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Over the next century the little barn would witness motion picture history, before being relocated to the site of a police stand off that would eventually result in a little museum that packs a punch, the Hollywood Heritage Museum.

A little over ten years after the barn was built, it served a new purpose. Two men, Harry Revier and L.L. Burns rented the barn from Stern to use it has a film lab, and later added an outdoor stage. The following year, soon-to-be Hollywood legends Cecil B. DeMille, Samuel Goldwyn, and his brother-in-law, Jesse Lasky created the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company, and they would go on to sublet the barn while working on their film The Squaw Man* the first motion picture made in Hollywood, and DeMille’s directorial debut. DeMille also used a portion of the barn as his office. Eventually Lasky would purchase the barn and in 1927 it would be moved for the first of many times, when it was relocated to Paramount Studios, the new name for their company.

At Paramount, the barn was used as a gym and rehearsal space. Many stars walked the boards preparing for roles. Famed actor Buster Keaton trained Donald O’Conner to emulate Keaton for the biopic The Buster Keaton Story in 1957. The year prior the barn was declared a California Historic Landmark, the first movie related building to receive the designation.

Meanwhile, just a short distance away, a quaint little neighborhood rose near the Hollywood Bowl. There Steven Anthony, a Marine veteran, raised his family. Little did he know Hollywood was about to gang up on him. As Hollywood boomed in the 1950s, a group of stars, the likes of which included Walt Disney, Gregory Peck, and Mary Pickford, realized Hollywood was worth preserving, worth sharing its history, and they decided to create a museum dedicate to Tinseltown – The Hollywood Museum. The museum needed to be close to Hollywood’s core, and they thought the little neighborhood near the Hollywood Bowl would be perfect, so in the 1960s residents received news their homes were to be the location of the museum, thanks to eminent domain. The home owners accepted the cash and moved, except for one, Steven Anthony. Armed with his own weapons and 300 rounds of ammo, Anthony refused to leave, resulting in a stand off with police. On April 13, 1964 deputies posing as supportive fellow Marines were able to talk their way into Anthony’s home, where they arrested him, and he was jailed. Anthony posted bail only to return to see his home demolished.

The Hollywood Museum faced more issues, aside from the publicized “Siege of Fort Anthony,” including financial struggles and big egos. As a result, the museum was abandoned before it was built, and the location became a parking lot, one of many for the Hollywood Bowl.

While Anthony faced off with LA cops, the old barn continued to serve as the studio gym until 1974. Just a few years later it was donated to the Hollywood Historic Trust and again in 1982 to Hollywood Heritage Inc. and it was moved to the parking lot where Anthony and others once lived. It finally opened as the Hollywood Studio Museum in 1985, but suffered a fire in 1996. After restoration it became the Hollywood Heritage Museum in 1999. Today a wooden chest once owned by Anthony is the singular reminder Anthony’s presence. It is joined by ephemera relating to the ill fated Hollywood Museum.

While the museum features many permanent exhibits, last week the Hollywood Heritage Museum unveiled its latest temporary exhibit, Meet the Stars, celebrating MGM’s 100th anniversary, pulling together dozens of items from the personal collections of starry eyed collectors. It was a delight to make it to this museum and see how Hollywood grew and continues to be loved.

Technicolor camera used in the filming of Gone with the Wind.

Scarf belonging to Jean Harlow.

Suit belonging to Greta Garbo.

Top worn by Judy Garland in the 1944 film Meet Me In St. Louis, designed by Irene Scharaff.

Outfit worn by Shirley Temple in the 1940 film The Blue Bird, designed by Gwen Wakeling.

Turban worn by Carmen Miranda for the 1943 film The Gang’s All Here, designed by Yvonne Wood.

Gown worn by Hedy Lamarr in the 1948 film Let’s Live a Little, designed by Elois Jenssen.

Ice skating costume worn by Sonja Henie in the 1940s.

Chest used in the 1956 film The Ten Commandments.

Jackal statue from the 1963 version of Cleopatra.

Painting of Jean Harlow by Tino Costa in 1937 titled “Farewell to Earth” along with a dress that features original rabbit fur sleeves of a gown worn by Harlow in 1933.

Lucille Ball’s wig from the 1943 film DuBarry was a Lady. Ball dyed her hair red for the role, and loved it so much she decided to stay red, becoming her trademark.

Items relating to Tyrone Power, including the waistcoat he wore in the 1942 film Son of Fury.

Brendan Fraser’s leopard print loin cloth from the 1997 film George of the Jungle.

Furniture from the Egyptian Theatre.

Learn about the early days of Hollywood at the Hollywood Heritage Museum located at 2100 Highland Avenue in Los Angeles. Meet the Stars lasts through June 9. Learn more, including hours, on Hollywood Heritage Museum’s website.

What’s Nearby?

Crossroads of the World

Gower Gulch

Griffith Park Attractions

Various Hollywood Boulevard Attractions

*I recognize that “squaw” is a slur, and that it is unfortunate that the name of the film is such.

Sources
Horowitz, Wendy. “Here Lies Liberty: Steven Anthony and his fight against eminent domain.” Los Angeles Public Library, 2 April 2014.
Miller, Daniel. “Standoff With Shotgun Marked an Early Misfire.” The Hollywood Reporter, 16 August 2011.
Plaques on site.
Wakim, Marielle. “DispL.A. Case #70: Steve Anthony Trunk.” Los Angeles Magazine, 16 May 2013.