NEWS FROM THE COSTUME CHAIR . . .
by Louise Coffey-Webb, Costume Committee Chair
OUR INTERN KARLA CONTRERAS GRADUATES!
Our Woodbury University intern, Karla Contreras, graduated with a BFA in Fashion Design last month. She is hoping to find a position in the field of costume design, beginning in a costume rental shop for the industry. She is working through her final internship hours on the MGM costumes in the ARC with me, making excellent use of our vacation days!
CITY HELPS WITH ARCHIVAL MATERIALS
The City kindly provided new archival boxes and tissue to re-pack the costumes. So, along with checking for any pests or mold, writing descriptions of the costumes and their condition, Karla and I are integrating all previously gathered information of the 70-odd costumes to create the most comprehensive catalogue to date. The up-to-date records and packing methods will help insure the continued longevity of the costumes.
We are in the process of changing out the costume display cases which will be ready for our public program at the July picnic.
[Note: We have identified a wonderful “Bo Peep” costume worn by actress Jean Dean in the MGM film, The Bride Goes Wild, from 1948 which was designed by the great Helen Rose. You won’t want to miss it!]
I want to take this opportunity to thank Karla for her hard work and wish her all the very best for a successful and fulfilling future in her chosen field.
MGM CATALOGUE FROM 1970
Among our wonderful collection of memorabilia and reference materials is a rare catalogue from the 1970 auction of MGM items from its long and star-studded history. It was truly the end of an era of a film studio that was such an integral part of Culver City’s own history.
This catalogue is from the famous MGM auction, 38 years ago. This was the public auction from which the costume collection came which is now housed at the ARC.
It was also the auction that “re-discovered” Dorothy’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz, amongst other treasures, and was held over a number of days in various stages on the lot which is now the home of SONY Pictures Entertainment.
The catalog stated “The net proceeds from the sale of this catalogue with be donated to the Motion Picture and Television Relief Fund for support of its work.”