Frederick J. Fisher Lecture | Goddesses in the Machine: Fashion in American Silent Film
Frederick J. Fisher Lecture | Goddesses in the Machine: Fashion in American Silent Film is a fourteenth-annual lecture honoring former Hillwood executive director Frederick J. Fisher, featuring fashion curator and historian Michelle Tolini Finamore. She will discuss rare surviving objects from early cinema, including two garments from Hillwood’s collection—a blue dress by Madame Frances and a tiered day dress by Lucile—and draw from her exhibition at the Bard Graduate Center Gallery, which explores how silent film transformed fashion into storytelling and laid the groundwork for Hollywood glamour. The lecture is offered as a hybrid program: in-person in the Visitor Center Theater or livestreamed via Zoom. The evening also includes time to explore the mansion, gardens, and a textile exhibition, a reception, and a book signing with the author.
When: Tuesday, 3 November 2026, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Showtimes: 5:30–6:30 p.m. – explore Hillwood (mansion, gardens, greenhouse, and the exhibition “Interwoven: A Tradition of Textiles”) and visit the museum shop; 6:00 p.m. – reception for all attendees honoring Frederick J. Fisher; 6:30–7:30 p.m. – lecture in the Visitor Center Theater; 7:30 p.m. – book signing (Michelle Finamore’s book *Goddesses in the Machine: Fashion in American Silent Film* will be available for purchase in the museum store).
Tickets: In-person: $22 general, $12 for Hillwood members, $10 for students. Livestream: $10 general, free for members, free for students. Tickets are not yet available for purchase.
Lineup: Michelle Tolini Finamore, Ph.D. – fashion and design historian, curator, and author. She has curated exhibitions including “Fashioning America: Grit to Glamour,” “Gender Bending Fashion,” “Hollywood Glamour: Fashion and Jewelry from the Silver Screen,” “Shoe Stories,” and the current “Goddesses in the Machine” at Bard Graduate Center Gallery. She wrote *Hollywood Before Glamour: Fashion in American Silent Film* (2014) and will sign copies of her new companion book after the lecture.
Run time: Approximately 2.5 hours total (including exploration time, reception, lecture, and book signing). The lecture itself runs from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Ages: Not specified; likely suitable for adult audiences interested in fashion, film history, and costume.
Venue: Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, Ellen MacNeille Charles Visitor Center (theater). The lecture is also livestreamed via Zoom.
Note: This is a hybrid program; remote attendees can submit questions during the lecture. Attendees are encouraged to explore the grounds and the concurrent exhibition “Interwoven: A Tradition of Textiles.” The event includes a free reception with refreshments. No food or drink restrictions mentioned.