I've always loved the design and feel of a good old-fashioned typewriter. When I was little, my mom had an electric typewriter and it was always a thrill for me to bang away on the keys and see the letters imprint onto the paper. That electric typewriter would also sometimes shock my fingers as I typed. That was always a surprising jolt.
In the age of increasingly advancing technology where everyone's laptop looks the same and we're all staring at our phones, I find myself missing the uniqueness of the typewriter.
The other day, I made a long overdue visit to
The Paley Center For Media here in Los Angeles. With locations in New York and Los Angeles, The Paley Center is a nonprofit agency that showcases the importance of media in society. They have unparalleled archives of television shows, advertising, and news clips that anyone from the public can access from their library. They also host exhibits and special events throughout the year.
To my sheer delight, the
Soboroff Typewriter Collection is the latest exhibit in Los Angeles.
Steve Soboroff has compiled a private
collection of 28 original vintage typewriters once owned by the likes of
Greta Garbo, Ernest Hemingway, Jack London, Truman Capote, George
Burns, Joe Dimaggio and Marilyn Monroe. As a writer and lover of classy
vintage typewriters, I was in awe...
I'll share a few highlights here, but I urge anyone with an interest to go see these in person. I was blown away by how much I enjoyed it!
Copyright © 2015 by KLiedle/@cococaffeine
[Above] Hemingway's
vintage typewriter, a 1929 Underwood Standard. He was known to write descriptive elements
longhand, but he always typed out his dialogue, often standing at the
typewriter.
Truman Capote's personal typewriter near the end of his life -- A Smith Corona Electra 110. — at The Paley Center for Media.
Orson Welles Underwood Standard Portable 4B73700 which he used to type out "Citizen Kane."
The
infamous Montgomery Ward Signature Portable F067033 used by Ted
Kaczynski (aka The Unabomber.) This is one of two typewriters the FBI
confiscated during the investigation.
Follow @PaleyCenter
www.paleycenter.org
Exhibit is FREE to the public
Available for viewing Wed-Sun from Noon-5PM
(Closed Mon and Tues)
I've always loved the design and feel of a good old-fashioned typewriter. When I was little, my mom had an electric typewriter and it was always a thrill for me to bang away on the keys and see the letters imprint onto the paper. That electric typewriter would also sometimes shock my fingers as I typed. That was always a surprising jolt. In the age of increasingly advancing technology where everyone's laptop looks the same and we're all staring at our phones, I find myself missing the uniqueness of the typewriter.
