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When The Children's Museum of Indianapolis rented a traveling museum exhibit on costumes, we wanted to supplement it with additional outfits from film and TV. As Curator on this project, I identified 1970s- present movies and TV shows with distinctive costumes, then emailed and phoned costume departments in Hollywood for possible loans.
After some back and forth with contacts, loan contracts were approved between the museum and the studios, shipping was arranged and the costumes finally arrived here to great excitement! This process took several months.
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"40319","attributes":{"class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"300","height":"225","title":"Loaned costumes in the Collections Department entry room","alt":"Loaned costumes in the Collections Department entry room"}}]]Paramount Pictures was a great resource for us: We borrowed Beyonce's ("Denna Jones") screen-worn sequined blue gown from Dreamgirls (2006). Costume designer Sharen Davis was nominated for a Best Costumes Oscar for this movie.
Another Paramount costume is Whoopi Goldberg's "Oda Mae Brown" bright fuschia outfit--including her hat--from the bank scene in Ghost (1990). Whoopi won a "Best Supporting Actress" Oscar for this role.
We wanted a loan of kid-friendly superhero costumes that would encourage family learning--especially story sharing between adults and kids. I learned through an LA auction house contact about an East Coast collector with an outstanding collection of 1960s-'70s TV memorabilia. The hunt was on!
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"40320","attributes":{"class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"250","height":"333","title":"Loaned costumes from The Azarian Collection","alt":"Loaned costumes from The Azarian Collection"}}]]I contacted the owner of The Azarian Collection to borrow Lynda Carter's Wonder Woman outfit from the 1975-79 TV show. Not only did we get the form-fitting costume, but also her Lasso of Truth, bullet-deflecting bracelets and tiara!
[And who doesn't remember the Wonder Woman theme song?!]
We were lucky that The Azarian Collection included Helen Slater's 1984 screen-worn Supergirl movie costume along with Barbara Eden's 1960s TV I Dream of Jeannie outfit-- PLUS her genie bottle! We were able to add both of these iconic pieces to our loan contract.
These costumes and about 50 others can be experienced in The Children's Museum's new exhibit Incredible Costumes from Film and TV, opening March 12th.
If you're looking for fun things to do in Indianapolis over Spring Break--or ANYTIME--you should head our way!
After some back and forth with contacts, loan contracts were approved between the museum and the studios, shipping was arranged and the costumes finally arrived here to great excitement! This process took several months.
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"40319","attributes":{"class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"300","height":"225","title":"Loaned costumes in the Collections Department entry room","alt":"Loaned costumes in the Collections Department entry room"}}]]Paramount Pictures was a great resource for us: We borrowed Beyonce's ("Denna Jones") screen-worn sequined blue gown from Dreamgirls (2006). Costume designer Sharen Davis was nominated for a Best Costumes Oscar for this movie.
Another Paramount costume is Whoopi Goldberg's "Oda Mae Brown" bright fuschia outfit--including her hat--from the bank scene in Ghost (1990). Whoopi won a "Best Supporting Actress" Oscar for this role.
We wanted a loan of kid-friendly superhero costumes that would encourage family learning--especially story sharing between adults and kids. I learned through an LA auction house contact about an East Coast collector with an outstanding collection of 1960s-'70s TV memorabilia. The hunt was on!
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"40320","attributes":{"class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"250","height":"333","title":"Loaned costumes from The Azarian Collection","alt":"Loaned costumes from The Azarian Collection"}}]]I contacted the owner of The Azarian Collection to borrow Lynda Carter's Wonder Woman outfit from the 1975-79 TV show. Not only did we get the form-fitting costume, but also her Lasso of Truth, bullet-deflecting bracelets and tiara!
[And who doesn't remember the Wonder Woman theme song?!]
We were lucky that The Azarian Collection included Helen Slater's 1984 screen-worn Supergirl movie costume along with Barbara Eden's 1960s TV I Dream of Jeannie outfit-- PLUS her genie bottle! We were able to add both of these iconic pieces to our loan contract.
These costumes and about 50 others can be experienced in The Children's Museum's new exhibit Incredible Costumes from Film and TV, opening March 12th.
If you're looking for fun things to do in Indianapolis over Spring Break--or ANYTIME--you should head our way!
