Screen Hero
Mention the man who starred in “Harvey” and “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and most kids will ask, “Who was Jimmy Stewart?”
The Jimmy Stewart Museum in the actor’s hometown of Indiana, Pennsylvania, provides delightful answers, giving the younger generation a chance to learn about this beloved icon. Located across the street from the site of the hardware store that Stewart’s father and grandfather owned, the museum is divided into several sections.
Start at the film theater, where daily screenings will acquaint the kids with Stewart’s films — be they whimsical (“Harvey”), moving (“It’s a Wonderful Life”) or inspiring and patriotic (“Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”). Then visit the galleries, which basically follow a chronological order. First comes the Indiana gallery, which recalls Stewart’s youth with tales of boy scouts, family pets and artifacts from the hardware store. Next is the Hollywood Gallery, which houses a trove of film memorabilia drawn from Stewart’s 81 films. There’s a dummy of Stewart costumed for the western “Night Passage,” a propeller blade from “The Flight of the Phoenix” and Stewart’s sketch of Harvey, a giant rabbit that audiences are left to decide is either real or imaginary.
“It’s a Wonderful Life,” arguably Stewart’s most revered film, gets its own gallery, replete with stills, posters and a model of the Victorian house where Stewart’s character, George Bailey, lived.
The Military Gallery documents Stewart’s decorated Air Force career during World War II, which included flying 20 dangerous combat missions. Finish your visit by turning a corner and shopping for souvenirs at the shop named for Stewart’s endearing romantic comedy, “The Shop Around the Corner.”
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