I came across a post on NitrateVille.com asking about The Harry Crocker Museum – described as “The First Museum Dedicated To Famous Movie Props” – and I’d never heard of it. Other than an issue of Photoplay dated December 1928, I could have no record of its very existence. I would be curious if anyone has any additional information about this museum, or if any of the material on display or referenced in the article still exists.
Click below for a high resolution scan of the 1928 article about The Harry Crocker Museum:
An interesting excerpt from the article:
General view of Mr. Crocker’s new Heave for Movie-mad Tourists in Hollywood. Here are assembled some relics that will recall your favorite moments in the theater. Nearly all the great pictures and stars are represented by some memento. In the glass case are Chaplin’s original derby and Keaton’s pan-cake hat. The articles themselves are of small value, but many of them have been the means of building up large fortunes. And all of them are known wherever movies are shown
Harry Crocker was an actor in the 1920s, and was for a time Charlie Chaplin’s personal assistant and friend. The Crocker family founded the Croker Art Museum in Sacramento, California – this museum is local to me and I’ve visited it many times, and there are no classic Hollywood movie props in the collection that are on display.
Jason DeBord