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American Museum of the Moving
Image
A photo essay by Albert Fried-Cassorla
35 Avenue at 36 Street
Astoria, NY 11106 (718) 784-4520 Administrative Offices
(718) 784-0077 Program Information and Travel
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This wonderful museum offers a tribute
to cinematography, with an accent on American achievements. It's located
in Astoria, Queens, part of New York City. The museum was at one time part
of the same Kaufman-Astoria Studio complex, where many famous movies and
TV shows were made. These include Sesame Street, Cosby (TV shows), and (I
believe), such films as A Night at the Opera and a Day at the races, classic
Marx Brothers films. The main site is at http://www.ammi.org/site/site.asp
(copy and paste). This page last updated 8-18-01.
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Museum Marquee. The eye is the logo of the building, a symbol
that is used throughout. |
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Kaufman-Astoria Studio occupies a full city block and has been
the scene of many movies. |
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Feral Font. This is a kinetic sculpture that is unbelievable. It
uses strobe lights and shows a blob emerging from a faucet that passes through
a hand, which becomes a paper plain that hits and smashes a purple plate. |
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A Linda Blair model from "The Exorcist" movie. In the movie,
her head spins because she is possessed. |
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Blair closer! |
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Blair closest! |
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Mask of Dustin Hoffman as Little Big Man. This mask was used
to help age Hoffman, who played a 106 year old man in the movie. |
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Staircase in the building, showing an old-fashioned movie camera
and glass walls. |
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Latino Wedding. The little girls were flower catchers, with older
bridesmaids near them. This scene took place near the Museum. |
These photos give just a hint at the delights in the building, which
occupies three floors. Movies play year-round. I especially enjoyed a flip-book
making machine, which delivers a flip book animation toy of your own photographed
antics. You pick it up as you leave for just $2. But be sure to make the
movie while you're on the 3rd floor!