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The Hammer’s new Billy Wilder Theater on Wilshire Boulevard.

The UCLA Hammer Museum’s new theater will be named after Billy Wilder, as a result of a $5 million donation made by the legendary filmmaker’s wife.

The statement, issued Friday by the Hammer and the UCLA Film and Television Archive, is a major step in a project that will integrate the Archive with the Hammer and possibly help elevate Westwood’s status as a cultural center.

Wilder, who died in March 2002, is regarded as one of the premiere writer/directors in post-World War II Hollywood. The former Westwood resident’s biggest achievements include films “Double Indemnity,” “Some Like it Hot” and “The Seven Year Itch.”

The theater’s construction will begin sometime next year, with separate renovations to the Hammer likely proceeding independently based on funding. With about $8 million left to raise of the total $26.5 million needed for the entire project, the targeted end date for renovation is set tentatively for fall 2005.

“We feel we have great momentum at the moment,” Hammer Director Ann Philbin said. “We are speaking to several people who may have interest in helping us. But we’re just hoping right now that the Wilder gift does open up some doors for us.”

The most significant result of this theater will be the provision of a new base for the Film and Television Archive’s screening events, which is now at the James Bridges Theater, located between the Dickson Art Center and Freud Playhouse. Equipped with modern Kinoton film projectors and the ability to accommodate early film technology, the Billy Wilder Theater will allow for easier transition from different film media.

Simultaneous translation into multiple languages via headsets and tiered seating will also provide luxuries currently unavailable to the archive, which houses the largest collection of media materials of any university in the world.

The James Bridges Theater will still be used for classroom screenings and the additional theater will free up more time for use by on- and off-campus entities.

“The biggest complaints that our patrons have had (about the archive) is that it’s hard to get to UCLA, the people have difficulty finding their way around campus and that the parking is so expensive,” said Cheng-Sim Lim, co-head of Programming at the Film and Television Archive.

“We’re thrilled to be in Westwood because we feel the new location will make us far more accessible,” she added.

Philbin said construction of the museum was never fully completed. When Armand Hammer died in 1990, funding was frozen, leaving unfinished spaces in the building. And as the museum’s mission transitioned away from a simple showcase of Hammer’s collection, the need for renovation became more urgent.

“Before I came to the museum four and a half years ago it was always assumed that the theater needed to be finished,” Philbin said. “But I found that the program needed to be more ambitious and that there needed to be a greater overhaul of the public spaces in order for it to function properly as a public space and university museum.”

Now the Film and Television Archive will be able to boast its collection with greater exhibition space, allowing for posters, costumes, scripts and research documents to be shown under one roof with the actual films being screened. It’s a luxury never thought possible under the space restrictions at the James Bridges Theater.

The Hammer Museum will also be taking full advantage of the new facilities. Head of Public Program Sarah Stifler noted an upcoming Black Panther symposium in the fall that will include some film that must be screened on-campus. With the added theater, similar projects would be able to see all of that accommodated under one roof.

Additional renovations to the Hammer – which currently hosts lunchtime art talks and author readings, among other public events – will include an exhibition space, a reception and lecture hall, a multipurpose classroom, a restaurant, and an expanded bookstore. The Hammer’s main entrance will be relocated to face Lindbrook Drive.

Complete renovation will require the Hammer to close down for 10-14 months, though those involved say it’s a small sacrifice.

“Of course it’s not something you ever want to do, but when you think about the reward, it’s a non-decision – you have to do it,” Philbin said. “A year to 14 months is not really that long in museum time.”

“We’ve had a seven-year itch to move, and we can’t wait,” added Lim with a chuckle. “And we can’t imagine a better name for the theater to have than Billy Wilder.”