Jim Elyea tosses a juggling club to his wife Pam while gathering props for the film “Water for Elephants” at their store, History for Hire, in North Hollywood. The company has been in business for 25 years, renting out historically accurate props. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
Papier-mache heads wait for their next assignment at History for Hire, which rents props for commercials, music videos and magazine shoots as well as movies. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
A reel-to-reel tape deck and vintage video monitor at History for Hire, which has about 1 million props. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
You name the war, they have the uniform at History for Hire. Among the company’s employees is a former U.S. Navy petty officer who is an expert on weaponry. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
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Vintage baseball equipment is categorized by team and year at the History for Hire prop shop. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
A replica of the bass drum from the cover of the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album is ready for a cinematic Fab Four reunion. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
History for Hire’s strategy for survival includes specializing in hard-to-find historical props, such as movie cameras from the dawn of Hollywood. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
