The UCLA Hammer Museum’s new theater will be named after
Billy Wilder, as a result of a $5 million donation made by the
legendary filmmaker’s wife.
The statement, issued Friday by the Hammer and the UCLA Film and
Television Archive, is a major step in a project that will
integrate the Archive with the Hammer and possibly help elevate
Westwood’s status as a cultural center.
Wilder, who died in March 2002, is regarded as one of the
premiere writer/directors in post-World War II Hollywood. The
former Westwood resident’s biggest achievements include films
“Double Indemnity,” “Some Like it Hot” and
“The Seven Year Itch.”
The theater’s construction will begin sometime next year,
with separate renovations to the Hammer likely proceeding
independently based on funding. With about $8 million left to raise
of the total $26.5 million needed for the entire project, the
targeted end date for renovation is set tentatively for fall
2005.
“We feel we have great momentum at the moment,”
Hammer Director Ann Philbin said. “We are speaking to several
people who may have interest in helping us. But we’re just
hoping right now that the Wilder gift does open up some doors for
us.”
The most significant result of this theater will be the
provision of a new base for the Film and Television Archive’s
screening events, which is now at the James Bridges Theater,
located between the Dickson Art Center and Freud Playhouse.
Equipped with modern Kinoton film projectors and the ability to
accommodate early film technology, the Billy Wilder Theater will
allow for easier transition from different film media.
Simultaneous translation into multiple languages via headsets
and tiered seating will also provide luxuries currently unavailable
to the archive, which houses the largest collection of media
materials of any university in the world.
The James Bridges Theater will still be used for classroom
screenings and the additional theater will free up more time for
use by on- and off-campus entities.
“The biggest complaints that our patrons have had (about
the archive) is that it’s hard to get to UCLA, the people
have difficulty finding their way around campus and that the
parking is so expensive,” said Cheng-Sim Lim, co-head of
Programming at the Film and Television Archive.
“We’re thrilled to be in Westwood because we feel
the new location will make us far more accessible,” she
added.
Philbin said construction of the museum was never fully
completed. When Armand Hammer died in 1990, funding was frozen,
leaving unfinished spaces in the building. And as the
museum’s mission transitioned away from a simple showcase of
Hammer’s collection, the need for renovation became more
urgent.
“Before I came to the museum four and a half years ago it
was always assumed that the theater needed to be finished,”
Philbin said. “But I found that the program needed to be more
ambitious and that there needed to be a greater overhaul of the
public spaces in order for it to function properly as a public
space and university museum.”
Now the Film and Television Archive will be able to boast its
collection with greater exhibition space, allowing for posters,
costumes, scripts and research documents to be shown under one roof
with the actual films being screened. It’s a luxury never
thought possible under the space restrictions at the James Bridges
Theater.
The Hammer Museum will also be taking full advantage of the new
facilities. Head of Public Program Sarah Stifler noted an upcoming
Black Panther symposium in the fall that will include some film
that must be screened on-campus. With the added theater, similar
projects would be able to see all of that accommodated under one
roof.
Additional renovations to the Hammer ““ which currently
hosts lunchtime art talks and author readings, among other public
events ““ will include an exhibition space, a reception and
lecture hall, a multipurpose classroom, a restaurant, and an
expanded bookstore. The Hammer’s main entrance will be
relocated to face Lindbrook Drive.
Complete renovation will require the Hammer to close down for
10-14 months, though those involved say it’s a small
sacrifice.
“Of course it’s not something you ever want to do,
but when you think about the reward, it’s a non-decision
““ you have to do it,” Philbin said. “A year to 14
months is not really that long in museum time.”
“We’ve had a seven-year itch to move, and we
can’t wait,” added Lim with a chuckle. “And we
can’t imagine a better name for the theater to have than
Billy Wilder.”