The Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, NY, for movie lovers

Contact Info for The Museum of the Moving Image

The Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, NY, you can enjoy lots of activities including playing director. You can even see the original mask of Chewbacca!

About five years ago I went to the Museu del Cinema in Girona. It was an interesting museum, and I enjoyed looking at all the old camera equipment and photos from years gone by. So, when we went to the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens, I expected a similar experience with more “American” artifacts. I couldn’t have been more mistaken. The Museum of the Moving Image is one of the coolest museums I’ve visited ranking closely with the interactive science museum in Granada.

The Museum of the Moving Image is located just down the block from the Kauffman Astoria Studios where TV shows including Sesame Street, Law and Order, and The Cosby Show were filmed, in addition to movies including the first two Marx Brother’s films. The Museum admission is very reasonable (when compared to MoMA or some of the other Manhattan attractions, at just $12 for adult admission.)

As we entered the lobby, there was a huge wall of televisions with an exhibit about gifs where the most trendy gif images of the moment were shown. Everyone who was waiting in line for tickets got to enjoy the gifs and got a taste for the things we would be seeing at the museum. So, after we checked our coats, we made our way up to the 3rd floor.

When we visited there was an exhibit of the work of Jim Campbell and his innovative way to play with light and dark in the moving image. The exhibit was really interesting in that it really made you look at the different things an artist can do in playing only with light on camera.

As we continued our visit, we thoroughly enjoyed exploring the permanent collection, complete with interactive exhibits. We were able to make a short stop motion film (with Rusko as the star!). There was actually a station with various computer screens and a camera positioned on the ceiling so that you just moved the cardboard images or even your own hand, and slowly recorded a movie. I had always enjoyed stop motion animation as a child, and it was such fun to be able to make one with Rusko!

We also got the chance to record our voice in a “dubbing” station. I read the part of “Babe” in a scene where he is missing his mom. There were several different options, and you could use as silly or as serious a voice as you wanted. Once recorded, the “new version” was played back so you could see how you fared.

In addition to these interactive exhibits, the museum has tons of movie artifacts, including the mask for Chewbacca, the suit Robin Williams wore as Mork on the 70s TV show “Mork and Mindy.” There is even a section with old video arcade games. We felt like kids again playing Pac-Man for the first time in a very long time! This is a great museum for the whole family, as it provides lots of hands on activities and visual exhibits.

An absolute must for any film or TV buff, this museum even offers daily screenings with tickets available on a first come, first serve basis. There are also film series and live events, so make sure to check the Museum’s website before you visit so you can take advantage of some of these great programs. We ruskommend a trip to the Museum of the Moving Image with 5 boquerones. Lights, Camera…ACTION!

Information about The Museum of the Moving Image

Ruskommendation for The Museum of the Moving Image: 5 boquerones

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• Address: 36-01 35th Ave, New York, NY 11106‎
• Telephone: (718) 777-6800
• Price per person: $12 (Friday free from 4:00pm-8:00pm)
• Hours: (Wed-Thu) 10:30am-5:00pm; Fri 10:30am-8:00pm; (Sat-Sun) 11:30am-7:00pm; Monday and Tuesday closed
• Official website of The Museum of the Moving Image
• The Museum of the Moving Image, reviewed by Abby Ramirez on Sep 16, with a rating of 5.0 boquerones