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Conversation with a Curator

Monthly
The Paley Archive at the Beverly Hills Public Library
444 N. Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Paley is bringing its renown Conversation with a Curator to the West Coast! Throughout the year, every month at the Paley Archive, visitors and Paley Members can attend these special discussions with the well-respected Paley’s curators, who will lead lively, insightful conversations about significant media topics and momentous anniversaries, drawing from historical programs found in the renowned Paley Archive. The Conversation with a Curator will be exclusive opportunities to explore the powerful intersection of media and history while learning directly from Paley’s in-house experts and special guests. 

Free Parking: The first two hours of parking are free!
Park at 450 N Rexford Drive (next door to the library).

All visitors are welcome to attend a Conversation with a Curator, only Paley Members can reserve seats in advance.

MEMBER RESERVATION  BECOME A PALEY MEMBER

August

It’s a Bird...It’s a Plane...It’s SUPERMAN!

Thursday, August 14 at 4:00 pm
Allison Kraft, Paley Curator

In 1952, actor George Reeves first soared onto television screens as Superman, bringing the beloved comic book hero to life for a whole new audience. Since then, the Man of Steel’s story has been reimagined across nearly a dozen television adaptations—from live-action portrayals by Dean Cain and Tom Welling to animated favorites like Super Friends and Superman: The Animated Series. Join Paley curator Allison Kraft for a special look at over seventy years of Superman on television, featuring rare and memorable clips from the Paley Archive. It’s the perfect way to revisit the legacy of a true American icon—just as the newest Superman film soars in theaters.

September

TV Goes to College

Thursday, September 18 at 4:00 pm
Jason Lynch, Paley Curator

While television has always featured an abundance of shows set in high school, for decades it largely steered clear of spotlighting the college experience. As a result, the few college-centric series that did air have had an outsized role in shaping our view of higher education via popular culture. As more than 15 million undergraduates prepare for their fall semesters, curator Jason Lynch examines how TV has—and hasn’t—depicted higher education over the years. The conversation will feature seminal college series from the Paley Archive like A Different World, Felicity, and Community; more recent efforts like Grown-ish and The Sex Lives of College Girls; and beloved-but-short-lived programs including Undeclared and Sweet/Vicious.