A Work of Art…..

And so much more.

In the mid 1930s a group of citizens headed by Don Hartman, a producer and screenwriter, embarked on an auspicious project. Create a set of miniatures celebrating the highlights of Hollywood. Inspired by Colleen Moore’s handcrafted dollhouse, which toured the country in the 20s, the thought was the miniatures would be a way to share the magic of Hollywood with the greater public of the United States.

Over the course of 10 years a team of 50 artisans worked on the series, creating 6 models: The City of Hollywood, The Brown Derby, The Hollywood Bowl, The Beach Community of Malibu, a typical Hollywood Studio Lot and the Chinese Theatre - at a cost of $250,000.

In 1946 the pieces began a tour throughout the country, featured in department stores and parking lots over the next two years. Many flocked to see the wonder of the West Coast, a place where dreams came true for those brave enough to venture there.

Crafted by Hand

What is striking about these particular miniatures is that much of it is carved out of solid pieces of wood, so each building has a weight and solidity to it. There is a level of detail and care in every piece, with a commitment to accurately depict the iconic neighborhoods and buildings of the time. As a result we have a unique view into the city as it looked in the 1930s and 40s - a snapshot of the times that can aid in tracking changes in the area.

A Life In Storage

In 1948 the miniatures disappeared, reappearing in 1986. Joe Pellkofer, one of the main artists on the project, had kept the miniatures in his garage in La Habra Heights since 1948. In an article in the LA Times, he talked about his concern for the wellbeing of the touring models and brought them back to Los Angeles, spending almost 20 years looking for a home for them.

Pellkofer’s grandson, John Accornero, contacted Marion Gibbons of Hollywood Heritage about finding a way to preserve these works. Once she saw them she motivated a group of four other partners to purchase the miniatures. They did and they created On Location, a 1940s style lunch counter, soda fountain, retail shop that featured the miniatures. It was housed on the ground floor of the El Capitan Building near Hollywood and Highland.

After On Location closed, the miniatures once again found themselves in storage until finally they made their way to the PRC, where they are in the process of restoration.

Adventures in Restoration

With the renovation of the miniature in the 80s, and the adding of things like fiber optic cable and new paint, we discovered an interesting challenge. As we work to restore the miniature, we wonder to what era should we restore it to? During cleaning our restoration expert Donna Williams noticed some of the original paint and signage from the 1930s original was painted over in the 1980s renovation. Both are time periods worth preserving, and so it leads to a dialogue about what steps to take next.

Slow Process

The process of restoring is painstaking, especially when the item you are working on spent years collecting dust. Inch by inch, Donna works with a brush and small vacuum designed for such work, as well as cotton swaps to meticulously clean each layer revealing the intricate painted layers underneath. Despite the slow pace, she has made distinct progress.