About the Event

 

Admission ticket includes both museum admission and Norma Shearer exhibit admission.  Hollywood Heritage Members get free access to the museum (excludes tea party).  Memberships will be verified ,but please still schedule an advance reservation.

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Hollywood Heritage Museum presents “Free Soul: The Unexpected Life & Legacy of Norma Shearer” (September 23 to October 16, 2023) an exhibit curated by Shearer historian Darin Barnes. On the occasion of the centennial of Norma Shearer signing her first film contract, Hollywood Heritage celebrates one of Hollywood’s greatest stars, Canadian-American actress Norma Shearer (born August 11, 1902). In the 1930s she rose to become one of the biggest stars at the studio, second only to Greta Garbo. In 1927 she even married MGM’s Golden Boy, executive Irving Thalberg. The exhibit will contain rare items from the personal collection of Darin Barnes, collected over a 30-year period.

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“I am thrilled to be able to publicly showcase exclusive items from my collection of rare and never-before-seen ephemera spanning Norma Shearer’s early life, film career, post-acting life and lasting influence on contemporary Hollywood,” says Barnes.

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An Exhibit Preview and Tea Party will launch the month-long Norma Shearer celebration on the museum’s porch on Saturday, September 23 from 11am to 3pm. Barnes will appear in the gallery to tell Norma Shearer tales, plus stories about how he came to acquire certain artifacts of her life including contracts, letters, costumes, photos and more.