Broadcast from Hollywood: When Movie Stars Met Television

As television began to compete for the public’s attention in the early 1950s, a new generation of movie stars rivaled those who had ruled Hollywood on the big screen in the first half of the 20th century. Just as stage actors had been wary of the legitimacy of movies, big screen actors didn’t immediately embrace television. When everyone from Tallulah Bankhead to Harpo Marx guest starred on “I Love Lucy,” worlds collided and many actors gave the small screen a go, enjoying extended careers thanks to television.

Our exhibit explores the intersection of movies and television through the talent that transitioned from one to the other. Screen worn costumes and memorabilia related to the careers of actors Lucille Ball, Shirley Jones, Lana Turner, Luise Rainer and others will be on display alongside costumes, set designs, scripts, technical equipment such as cameras and an RCA iconoscope, plus materials used in live…