Menu
‘Lights, Camera, Epic’ exhibit on ‘Ben-Hur’ opens at Crawfordsville
CRAWFORDSVILLE -- The exhibit “Lights, Camera, Epic! ‘Ben-Hur’ on Screen and Beyond” opens at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 10 in the Carriage House Interpretive Center at the Gen. Lew Wallace Study and Museum at Crawfordsville.
The exhibit discusses the four motion pictures that have interpreted Wallace’s novel as well as other adaptations and merchandising tie-ins.
Wallace’s “Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ,” published in 1880, sold more copies than any other printed work in the 19th century with the exception of the Bible. The first motion picture was released in 1907 without permission from the Wallace estate and resulted in a lawsuit. Subsequent movies were released in 1925, 1959 and 2016.
Visitors to the 2018 exhibit will be able to view costume pieces from the 1925, 1959 and 2016 versions of “Ben-Hur” and see a picture of Charlton Heston visiting the Gen. Lew Wallace Study and Museum. They can discover how “Ben-Hur” is responsible for Mickey Mouse’s continued existence, learn who almost played Judah instead of Charlton Heston, and find out whether the urban legends about people dying on set are true.
The exhibit may be viewed free of charge from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. After taking in the exhibit for free, visitors may also take a paid, guided tour through the “house that ‘Ben-Hur’ built.” Tours last approximately one hour and are $5 for adults and $1 for students.
“Lights, Camera, Epic! ‘Ben-Hur’ on Stage and Beyond” will run through Friday, Dec. 14.
Persons may contact Amanda McGuire at 765-362-5769 or amcguire@ben-hur.com
The Gen. Lew Wallace Study and Museum is committed to the preservation of Lew Wallace’s legacy now and for generations to come. The museum is located on Wallace’s home site in Crawfordsville, where he wrote “Ben-Hur.” His unique and personal Study, built in the 1890s, is a National Historic Landmark and the home of the world’s largest collection of Gen. Wallace’s personal memorabilia.