Hollywood Heritage

What Hollywood Heritage does

Hollywood Heritage is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1980 that operates the Hollywood Heritage Museum out of the historic Lasky-DeMille Barn in Los Angeles — the oldest surviving motion picture production building in Hollywood and the birthplace of Paramount Pictures. The organization is an all-volunteer membership entity with no paid staff, dedicated to preserving Hollywood's architectural heritage, film artifacts, and cinematic history through the museum, archives, preservation advocacy, and the Silent Society programming committee.

The organization's core offerings include museum admission ($15 for adults, free for members), an eight-tier membership program ranging from $30 to $2,400 annually, a museum store selling officially licensed merchandise (Breakfast at Dominique's coffee blends, note cards, tote bags, anniversary collectibles), and ticketed special exhibitions and screenings. The Silent Society, founded April 1, 1986, has presented nearly 400 silent film programs with live musical accompaniment since 1989 and has helped preserve more than 20 silent-era works in partnership with UCLA Film & Television Archive. The museum operates Saturday-Sunday 11am-3pm and the first Thursday of the month, with a secondary venue — the Preservation Resource Center at 6411 Hollywood Blvd — hosting the Hollywood in Miniature diorama and conservation programming.

The business model is a traditional museum/nonprofit hybrid: revenue derives from admissions, memberships, store sales, donations, and ticketed events, supplemented by in-kind contributions of memorabilia. Distribution is primarily through the physical museum, an online store, social media (Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube, Vimeo), and event-driven partner venues including American Legion Post 43 and the Hollywood Roosevelt Cinegrill. The organization collaborates strategically with the Motion Picture & Television Fund, Mary Pickford Foundation, Cecil B. DeMille Foundation, UCLA Film & Television Archive, Paramount Studios, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and maintains an active preservation advocacy role including the 2025 Historic Cultural Monument pursuit for the Hollywood Center Motel.

Name

Hollywood Heritage

Legal name

Hollywood Heritage Inc.

Website

https://hollywoodheritage.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hollywood Heritage is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the Hollywood Heritage Museum in the historic Lasky-DeMille Barn, preserving Hollywood's architectural, cinematic, and artifact heritage for tourists, film enthusiasts, members, and preservation advocates through admissions, memberships, and special programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film History Museum

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Historical Sites (71212), Museums (71211), Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Screening Rooms & Cinematheques (Nonprofit/Institutional) (MPADAKAF)

Keywords

• Film history preservation
• Heritage museum operations
• Silent film programming
• Cultural archive management
• Historic preservation advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Museum Admissions: Visitors pay admission fees to access the museum and its collections. Adults $15, with free admission for members and children under 12.
2. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees at multiple tiers ($30-$2,400) providing free general admission, store discounts, and early access to events.
3. Museum Store Sales: Sale of officially licensed merchandise including coffee products, note cards, tote bags, mugs, magnets, and commemorative items celebrating Hollywood history and the Barn's anniversaries.
4. Donations and In-Kind Contributions: The 501(c)(3) nonprofit accepts monetary donations and in-kind donations of film-related memorabilia, photographs, and documents. Proceeds support preservation efforts, programming, and education.
5. Event Ticket Sales: Special programs, screenings, and exhibitions generate ticket revenue. Events like The Heart of Hollywood exhibition and Silent Society screenings at Paramount Ranch are ticketed separately from general admission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Hollywood Heritage operates a film history museum housed in the historic Lasky-DeMille Barn (c. 1895), the oldest surviving motion picture studio in Hollywood, where Cecil B. DeMille and Jesse L. Lasky produced the first feature-length film in 1913. The organization preserves Hollywood's cinematic heritage through curated exhibits, the Silent Society silent film program, the Hollywood Heritage Archives, and preservation advocacy with city, state, and federal agencies.

Product overview

Hollywood Heritage operates a unified museum and preservation organization centered on the Hollywood Heritage Museum, housed in the historic Lasky-DeMille Barn. The core offering consists of museum admission and docent tours of galleries including Mr. DeMille's Office and the Jack & Victoria Horne Oakie Gallery. Supporting programs include The Silent Society (a film programming committee founded in 1986 presenting silent cinema with live accompaniment), the Hollywood Heritage Archives (preserving documents, photographs, and artifacts from Hollywood's film history), and Preservation Advocacy (working with government agencies on historic protection). The museum offers a membership program with eight tiers from $30 to $2,400 annually, and operates a Museum Store selling licensed merchandise and coffee products. Special exhibitions like 'The Heart of Hollywood' (partnering with MPTF and Mary Pickford Foundation) and the Hollywood in Miniature diorama viewing sessions at the Preservation Resource Center provide rotating programming. The organization functions as a 501(c)(3) non-profit supported primarily by admissions, memberships, donations, and volunteer efforts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Silent Society: A program established in 1986 dedicated to preserving, presenting, and celebrating silent cinema. Has presented nearly 400 silent film programs since its founding.
• Preservation Resource Center

Products and services

• Hollywood Heritage Museum The primary museum operated by the organization, housed in the historic Lasky-DeMille Barn (built c. 1895), the oldest surviving motion picture studio in Hollywood. Open Saturdays & Sundays 11am-3pm and 1st Thursday of the month. Admission $15 for adults; members free. Features archival photographs, movie props, historic documents, and memorabilia from the silent film era, serving tourists, film enthusiasts, and preservation advocates.
• Museum Membership Program Annual membership program offering free museum admission, 10% museum store discount, early access to announcements, and discounted admission to paid programs. Eight tiers from $30 (Senior/Selig) to $2,400 (Majestic), with the Triangle tier ($120) and above receiving a complimentary collectible reproduction poster. For individuals, households, and preservation supporters.
• The Jack & Victoria Horne Oakie Gallery Gallery within the museum dedicated to Jack and Victoria Horne Oakie. Houses the Hollywood in Miniature exhibit featuring a hand-built diorama of 1930s Hollywood with 450 structures, created by Joe Pelkofer in the late 1930s. Also displays a Joe Pelkofer studio miniature model on loan from Surfing Cowboys.
• Mr. DeMille's Office Recreation A detailed recreation of Cecil B. DeMille's office using his autobiography description and the only known photograph. Features furniture donated by Paramount Studios and items on loan from the Cecil B. DeMille Foundation including DeMille's hat, leggings, and Stella Stray's typewriter. The office structure was constructed in May 1912 by Jacob Stern for the Burns & Revier Film Company.
• The Silent Society A committee of Hollywood Heritage founded April 1, 1986, dedicated to preserving, presenting, and celebrating silent cinema. Presents silent film programs with live musical accompaniment, featuring filmmakers, historians, and family members. Known for the 'Silent Under the Stars' series at Paramount Ranch. Has presented nearly 400 silent film programs and helped preserve more than 20 silent-era works in partnership with UCLA Film & Television Archive.
• Hollywood Heritage Archives Extensive archive preserving Hollywood and film industry history through documents, photographs, and paper memorabilia. Includes costumes, props, and film production equipment. Features building survey records since the 1980s, Hollywoodland housing development collection, and entertainment industry archives dating to early cinema. Materials have traveled to exhibitions at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Autry Museum, the Jewish Museum in Vienna, and the Victoria & Albert Museum.
• Docent Tours and Group Programs Guided tours of galleries and exhibitions led by trained docents for diverse audiences. Training includes in-person orientation, tour script and techniques, shadowing experienced docents, and ongoing support. Group tours for 10+ people available by appointment. Volunteer opportunities include greeting visitors, helping with programs, and event assistance.
• Museum Store Gift shop offering exclusive and officially licensed merchandise including Breakfast at Dominique's Coffee organic blends (featuring Ava Gardner, Boris Karloff, Mary Pickford, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford), exclusive note cards with film icon artwork, and Barn 125th anniversary merchandise (tote bags, mugs, magnets, stickers).
• Preservation Resource Center Facility at 6411 Hollywood Blvd hosting the Hollywood in Miniature exhibit and preservation programs. Site of special viewing sessions with art conservator Donna Williams discussing restoration of the vintage miniature model, and an additional facility for archival materials and preservation programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Listed on National Register of Historic Places (2014)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Hollywood Heritage Museum partnered with MPTF and the Mary Pickford Foundation to present 'The Heart of Hollywood' exhibition (June 20 - August 2, 2026), honoring the history and mission of MPTF through photographs, archival materials, and videos.
• Mary Pickford FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Mary Pickford Foundation for 'The Heart of Hollywood' exhibition showcasing MPTF's history. The Foundation also contributed historical images including Mary Pickford at the 17th Annual LA Auto Show charity raffle in 1923.
• Cecil B. DeMille FoundationcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides artifacts on loan for the recreated DeMille office including DeMille's hat, leggings, typewriter belonging to secretary Stella Stray, royalty checks, and Mrs. DeMille materials. Foundation gifted items support the museum's core exhibits.
• The Jack and Victoria Horne Oakie FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Foundation sponsored the Jack and Victoria Horne Oakie Gallery at the museum, dedicated May 30th. The Foundation's trustee David Sonne shared rare footage of the Oakies at their estate 'Oakridge' at the dedication.
• History For Hire, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerProp house loaned props from movies about movies for display during the 58th Annual Cinecon Classic Film Festival, including props from 'Chaplin,' 'The Artist,' 'The Aviator,' 'Mank,' and 'Blonde.'
• Surfing CowboysminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonna Gunther of Surfing Cowboys provided photographs of a generic Hollywood studio diorama from the original Pelkofer miniature set, leading to Hollywood Heritage acquiring the rare surviving model.
• Robertson-PacificminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvided former retail space on Hollywood Boulevard for the Hollywood in Miniature restoration project, enabling the restoration work to take place.
• UCLA Film & Television ArchivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner of the Silent Society committee, collaborating on fundraising efforts that have helped preserve more than 20 silent-era works including rare and previously lost films.
• Paramount StudioscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated office furniture for the DeMille office recreation. The company originated from Jesse L. Lasky's company which operated in the Barn, ultimately becoming Paramount Pictures.
• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and SciencesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArchive materials from Hollywood Heritage's collection have traveled the world, appearing in exhibitions at the Academy, Autry Museum of the American West, Jewish Museum Vienna, Victoria & Albert Museum London, and House of History Museum Württemberg.
• Pordenone Silent Film Festival (Italy)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Silent Society has presented programs internationally, including appearances at the renowned Pordenone Silent Film Festival in Italy.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Academy Museum of Motion Pictures: Los Angeles-based museum operated by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, focused on the history of cinema. Closest direct peer to Hollywood Heritage given shared film-history mission, LA location, and overlapping archival collections and visitor base.
• The Hollywood Museum: Located in the historic Max Factor Building on Hollywood Boulevard, this museum showcases Hollywood memorabilia across eras. Direct peer as a Hollywood-focused museum within walking distance, competing for similar tourist and member audiences.
• Autry Museum of the American West: Griffith Park-based museum dedicated to the American West with deep holdings on Hollywood, including materials that have appeared in joint Hollywood Heritage exhibitions. Closely comparable as a Los Angeles heritage institution with overlapping donor and partnership networks.
• Museum of the Moving Image: Astoria, New York-based museum dedicated to the art, history, and technology of film, television, and digital media. Direct peer sharing mission focus on film-history preservation, exhibition, and public programming.

Broad incumbents

• Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood: Burbank-based commercial studio tour offering behind-the-scenes access and Hollywood history exhibits. Comparable as a paid tourist attraction teaching Hollywood heritage, though much larger and operated by the major studio itself.
• Paramount Pictures Studio Tour: Working-studio tour at the lot founded from Jesse L. Lasky's original operations that started in the Lasky-DeMille Barn. Strong thematic ties to Hollywood Heritage given shared origin story and Paramount's donation of furniture to the DeMille office recreation.
• Grammy Museum: LA Live-based music history museum operated by the Recording Academy, offering rotating exhibits in an entertainment-industry vertical. Comparable as a paid-entertainment museum reliant on industry partnerships, membership tiers, and rotating programming.
• Skirball Cultural Center: Los Angeles cultural institution with permanent and traveling exhibits on Jewish heritage and American values. Comparable operating model as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit museum offering membership tiers, docent tours, and rotating exhibitions in the LA market.

Emerging players

• UCLA Film & Television Archive: University-affiliated archive that partners with the Silent Society on preservation work and is a peer in the silent-film archival ecosystem. Comparable mission around film preservation though operates as a broader academic archive rather than a public museum.

Regional players

• Hollywood Forever Cemetery: Adjacent Hollywood historic landmark hosting cultural events, screenings, and tours tied to Hollywood's entertainment heritage. Comparable as a paid Hollywood heritage destination and event venue competing for similar tourist attention.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hwdheritage
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@hollywoodheritagemuseum3555
• Facebookfacebook.com/HollywoodHeritage
• Instagraminstagram.com/hollywood_heritage
• TikToktiktok.com/hollywoodheritag
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hollywood-heritage

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hollywood Heritage