Hollywood Then and Now - March 2026

 

There is nothing more regal and stately than an old department store.   We're not talking Walmart here, folks.   This is the famed May Company store that sits at the intersection of Fairfax and Wilshire.  It is the place where...allegedly...Jack Benny first met his wife Mary Livingstone as she worked behind one of the counters.

Well, the building is still there.   And it has a bit of a show biz motif.   The place was converted to house the Motion Picture Academy's museum and headquarters. 

 So, a nice transition, right?

WRONG!

In its new iteration, the new tenant of the building has created a badly designed mess.  Oh, sure, the motion picture history is here.  And there are some marvelous theaters for screenings.   That is, if you want to see "diverse" movies.  Seemingly, that's all they show there.

What's worse is the ADA access for those museum goers with mobility issues.  The ADA parking is either non-existent or a long crawl away.  And the bathroom access for those going to see a movie.   Another ten minute walk.   

I've seen other articles talking about how the Academy botched this golden opportunity.   Good luck if you want to head out there.

It was better off as a department store.

Dinner last night:  Leftover Korean Chicken.