The Museum of the Moving Image's newest exhibition "Matthew Weiner's Mad Men," on view through June 14, is a Sterling Cooper superfan's dream. Featuring 33 of the series' most iconic costumes, hundreds of key props, and creator Weiner's handwritten notes on the series' origins, the exhibit is the largest collection of Mad Men memorabilia ever put on display. Pictured here is the installation's "Creating Character" section, with costumes and props for Don Draper, Peggy Olson, Joan Harris, Roger Sterling, and Pete Campbell.
Thanassi Karageorgiou / Museum of the Moving Image.
The set for Betty and Don Draper's kitchen in their suburban Ossining home, which museum visitors can walk into and ogle. Once upon a time, Don and a very young Sally Draper ate corned beef hash together on the stovetop counter late at night. On a wall to the left (not pictured), hang two ceramic wreaths bearing uncharacteristically funny messages: “Behind every successful man stands a woman telling him that he’s WRONG!” shouts one. Right below it, another reads, “The opinions expressed by the husband in this house are not necessarily those of the management.” Never say Betty Draper had no sense of humor!
Thanassi Karageorgiou / Museum of the Moving Image.
In this alternate view of the exhibit's "Creating Character" section, we see costumes and props for Betty Francis, Sally Draper, and Megan Draper—including that infamous Zou Bisou Bisou dress. We doubt Betty would approve of having that oversized pink nightgown on display, though. Those were dark times.
Thanassi Karageorgiou / Museum of the Moving Image.
The exhibit's centerpiece display, the real live set for Don Draper's plush corner office at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce (later Sterling Cooper & Partners). Photos of Megan in a bikini, Sally laughing on Don's shoulders, a school portrait of Bobby, and a snap of baby Eugene playing with a balloon adorn Draper's desk. And of course, there's the alcohol cart, fully stocked with gin, vodka, and whiskey.
Thanassi Karageorgiou / Museum of the Moving Image.
Spoiler-hunters eager for hints about Don Draper's fate can pore over Weiner's chicken-scratch handwriting, scrawled across dozens of memo pads, hotel stationery, and sheets of paper marked with Sopranos letterhead (Weiner was a writer for the seminal HBO series when he began sketching out his own show), dating from as far back as 2006.
Thanassi Karageorgiou
This section of the exhibit is called "Two Parties, 1969" and features costumes for Henry Francis, Betty's second husband, and a party guest from the episode "The Runaways." (Season 7, episode 5.)
Thanassi Karageorgiou / Museum of the Moving Image
A replica of the Mad Men writers' room, including artifacts from the production offices at Los Angeles Center Studios where the series was shot. The arrangement suggests that this how the room looked as Weiner's creative team worked on the last episode of the first half of Season 7, "Waterloo"—an episode memorable for the magical song and dance Don thought he saw a recently deceased Bert Cooper perform down the stairs of the office.
Thanassi Karageorgiou / Museum of the Moving Image.
Another view of the section titled "Two Parties, 1969," featuring costumes for Megan Draper (right) and her friend Amy (left). Also pictured are props from Megan's swanky party from the Season 7 episode "The Runaways."
Thanassi Karageorgiou / Museum of the Moving Image.
Don Draper's box of secrets revealed! Pictured is Dick Whitman's dogtag from his time serving in the Korean War, letters, and family photos.
Thanassi Karageorgiou / Museum of the Moving Image
