Museum of the Moving Image Today the museum is dedicated to educating people about the history, technology, and art of film. The museum boasts one of the largest collections of artifacts from the film industry and holds regular screenings of everything from high art to low-budget independent classics. The educational aspects of the museum are fascinating for cinema lovers. There have been demonstrations of archaic movie equipment including the kinetiscope, which was invented at Thomas Edison’s laboratory in the late 1800s. Other fascinating demonstrations include sound and film editing demos, sure to give movie buffs a thrill as they experience ‘behind-the-scenes’ work that helps create the magic of the modern moving picture. One recent event combined nostalgia and television history--a demonstration of Gumby animation techniques.
There are also celebrity appearances; one memorable engagement featured Tommy Lee Jones and former Vice President Al Gore discussing the Jones-directed “The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada”. You can’t go wrong with a visit to this incredible repository of film! The museum is open to group tours and individual exploration. Special arrangement for groups can be made by calling (718) 784-4520. Tours are offered Tuesday through Friday from 9AM to 1PM. You can also email the museum for tour information at education@movingimage.us. The museum give special emphasis to educational group tours in the morning, so if you’re planning to bring a group of students, let a museum representative know in advance that your visit is for educational purposes. General admission hours for the permanent exhibits vary, but the museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday. The adult admission fee of ten dollars includes admission to that day’s film screenings. There are discounted rates for seniors, students and children. Galleries are free on Fridays, but there is an admission fee for Friday screenings. The gallery is located at 35th Avenue in Astoria. Those driving to the museum should know that there is no parking lot, but on-street parking is available. The Museum of the Moving Image is a fascinating look at one of America’s oldest cultural obsessions. If you are planning a trip to Long Island, you may want to surprise the movie lover in your family with a trip to this incredible place. You can check the museum’s event calendar and future screening schedule at www.ammi.org. Joe Wallace
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Long Islanders in love with the 
Screenings at the Museum of the Moving Image are also a combination of nostalgia, world cinema and a celebration of independent filmmakers. Retrospectives of Laurel and Hardy, World War II serial films and classics by luminaries such as Orson Wells are a regular feature. Modern-day filmmakers like Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amelie, A Very Long Engagement) are also on offer. 