The Overlook Hotel Commercial?

Did you see the commercial for the Overlook Hotel, the setting for Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 horror movie The Shining (based on Stephen King’s 1977 novel of the same name) where the announcer invites people to enjoy a “quiet, remote family getaway” at the “newly renovated” property, where “there’s a surprise around every corner” running during the Oscars?

Did you wonder why?

The answer is simple.  It's not an ad for the fictional hotel...it's an ad for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures' new museum that will be opened in Los Angeles in 2019.

The Academy Museum will be the world’s premier institution dedicated to the art and science of movies and moviemaking.  The premise of the museum is to "go inside the movies" with three essential goals: to convey the power of movies, to give viewers a look behind the scenes into how movies are made, and to explore movies' impact on culture and our lives.

You do know that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences runs the Oscars, right?  That's why it's called "The Academy Awards."

The Academy Museum is taking over the space on the corner of Fairfax and Wilshire that once housed the famous May Company, once the finest department store on the Miracle Mile where the movie stars of yesteryear went shopping.   The building is a celebrated example of Streamline Moderne architecture, and The Los Angeles Conservancy calls it "the grandest example of Streamline Moderne remaining in Los Angeles"

Aerial shot of the May Company, 1940

A rendering of what the building will look like when finished

Now it's called The Saban Building,  and will feature six stories of dynamic spaces, including more than 50,000 square feet of exhibition galleries, a state-of-the-art education studio, the 288-seat Ted Mann Theater, a restaurant and café, a store, and dynamic public and special event spaces.  There is also an addition...a glass-covered sphear that will house the David Geffen theater and The Dolby Family Terrace, a place where visitors can see spectacular views of the Hollywood Hills.

A rendering of the Dolby Family Terrace

The state-of-the-art 1,000-seat David Geffen Theater will host a range of performances, screenings, premieres, and events with the world’s leading filmmakers.

A rendering of the David Geffen Theater

Of course, there are exhibit rooms and special event spaces as well. The Academy Museum will draw from the unparalleled collection of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.  Highlights include the ruby slippers by Adrian from The Wizard of Oz (1939); the doors to Rick’s Café Américain from Casablanca (1942); a collection of objects from Shirley Temple,; the original production-used Steadicam created by Garrett Brown; and the only surviving full-sized shark model from the original mold used on Jaws (1975).

Does this look familiar?

The last remaining "Jaws" shark

The permanent exhibition, planned for the second and third floors of the museum will trace the evolution of moviemaking with sets, large-scale moving images, costumes, props, sound installations, and dramatic immersive environments.  This journey will evoke the power and emotion of film as visitors move through time.

The third floor will be the  Oscars experience.

Using innovative technology, The Oscar Experience will place visitors on Hollywood’s most prestigious red carpet and stage and give them the rare chance to hold a real Oscar as they accept their award.

So in the future, if you see any of these ads, you will know what they are REALLY advertising.

No, not Jaws

The Academy Museum...we look forward to ❤️you in the near future!!!