Americana: Hollywood and the American Way of Life

"Junior Miss" (1947)

The Americana of Hollywood as depicted in motion picture publicity stills -- though often viewed through rose -colored glasses -- evoke Norman Rockwell’s illustrations of America to such an extent that they might appear as photographs from an old family album. Americana: Hollywood And The American Way Of Life features 150 images from the vast collection of publicity stills conserved at George Eastman House, from films such as On the Town, It’s a Wonderful Life, Father’s Little Dividend, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, and Junior Miss. Together they create a montage of familiar faces and scenes that reflect the unacknowledged importance of life’s swiftly passing moments. This exhibition is a companion exhibition to Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera.