The Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (IAMLA) has unveiled the newest addition to its permanent Hollywood exhibition earlier this month: an Infinity Gauntlet from the movie Avengers: Infinity War. The glove was modeled for actor Josh Brolin who played supervillain Thanos in the film.
It is part of an exhibition highlighting the achievements of record directors Joe and Anthony Russo, best known for their films Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity Warand The Gray man. The museum previously featured a Captain America shield used by actor Chris Evans in Captain America: Civil War — a favorite among museum visitors.
Born a year apart in Cleveland, Ohio, the Russo brothers are life members of the Italian Sons and Daughters of America. They cite the values they learned growing up in their Italian-American family as essential to their success.
October is Italian American Heritage Month. Learn more about our history here.
After winning Emmys for their work on the television series Development stopped, Communityand happy endingsAnthony and Joe Russo have been selected by Marvel Studios to direct the winter soldier slice of the Captain America film franchise, which won critical acclaim in 2014 and grossed $715 million. Marvel then tapped the brothers to helm the sequel, Captain America: Civil War. The sequel grossed $1.1 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of 2016 and the 15th highest in history.
The brothers continued to lead Avengers: Infinity War (2018), which became the first film to earn over $2 billion, and Avengers: Endgame (2019), which also grossed over $2 billion. Since then, AGBO, the independent production company founded by the brothers, has produced film and television projects, including the award-winning film Everything everywhere all at once (2021) and the Netflix record Extraction (2021) starring Chris Hemsworth. The Russo Brothers also earned director and producer credits in films such as Cherry (2021) and The gray man (2022).
“We are thrilled to once again have the opportunity to share an iconic piece from the Marvel Universe with the museum,” said Anthony Russo. “Like the Italian family we grew up in, the MCU allowed us to work with a different type of family. Although the gauntlet was used for destruction, it was the symbol that motivated a family to protect and preserve In front of and behind the camera, we have worked for nearly a decade with professionals who have truly become part of our family.
Joe Russo echoed that sentiment: “Our Italian parents instilled in us a sense of hard work, dedication to our heritage, and incredible respect and love for one another. This makes this dedication even more special for us. We are honored to be able to present this glove to the museum for visitors to enjoy.
Hollywood is one of seven exhibits that make up IAMLA’s permanent exhibit. It explores the contributions of Italians and Italian Americans in the entertainment industry, which date back to the early days of Hollywood. Hollywood showcases the legacy of luminaries such as Rudolph Valentino, Frank Capra, Annette Funicello, Francis Ford Coppola and Lady Gaga, while exploring the complex relationship between Italians and the media.
“Whether on screen or behind the camera, Italian Americans have played a vital role in the entertainment industry since its inception,” said Marianna Gatto, Executive Director and Co-Founder of IAMLA. “Anthony and Joe Russo exemplify this legacy, and the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles is honored to feature the Russo Brothers’ accomplishments in its permanent exhibit.”
Located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, in one of the oldest remaining structures in the city’s historic Little Italy, the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles invites visitors to travel through the history and experiences of Italian Americans using advanced technologies. technology, artifacts and hundreds of rare and never-before-seen historical images and documents. Thanks to a partnership with Google Cultural Institute, IAMLA’s permanent exhibition is also accessible online. IAMLA is open to the public free of charge, although donations are encouraged. For more information, please visit www.iamla.org.
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