Activity 2 by Patricia Fraser. As a getting to know you exercise in class we had to talk to someone from a different borough than the one we lived in and tell each other about a place we enjoy visiting. I was told about the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens. I grew up in Queens, but like most New York residents who've never visited their own landmarks, museums, etc, I had never been there. So one afternoon, I set out with my partner to explore this new place.

The museum is located on a quiet, unassuming street in Astoria, Queens, although it is surrounded by movie studios and a Starbuck's (where CAN'T you find a Starbuck's these days?). Anyway, I digress...The museum is undergoing a major renovation to be completed this fall, so the wheelchair accessible entrance was the active construction area. We got a behind-the-scenes tour of the behind-the-scenes themed museum.

I had a blast! The tour begins on the third floor and moves to the second floor exhibits. Walking in you're greeted by movie props from "The Exorcist", "Starman" and other movies. A life sized doll that looked like Linda Blair was glass enclosed but as I passed it, I could swear it was looking at me! The exhibit also included real models of the oldest television cameras, sets, recording devices and radios. It was awesome! There were old black and white cartoons from the early 1900's explaining the technology that was so innovative at the time.

On the second floor, the majority of the exhibit was costumes, pictures, makeup, accessories and props from many television shows and movies. Stars, movie houses, production companies and make up artists donated everything from Mork's spacesuit in "Mork and Mindy" to the sweaters worn by Bill Cosby in "The Cosby Show"; pictures and props from Bela Lagosi movies to Chewbacca's head in "Star Wars"; and my favorite - toys and games from the 50's through the 80's, including a "Star Trek" Happy Meal box from McDonad's and lunch boxes featuring Charlie's Angels, E.T., Pac Man and Fat Albert.

I can understand why my classmate likes this place. There is something for everyone. Regardless of age, it's like a trip down memory lane. Go check it out!