Smithsonian honors Eastwood, opens theater on mall

[February 01, 2012]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Smithsonian Institution is honoring Clint Eastwood for his six decades of work in American film, and the actor and director is cutting the ribbon to open a new theater to showcase film at the National Museum of American History.

On Wednesday, Eastwood will visit the museum to help dedicate the new Warner Bros. Theater as a new space to present the history of Hollywood. Warner Bros. Entertainment donated $5 million in 2010 to renovate the old Carmichael Auditorium into a modern theater with 3-D projection capability.

On Friday, the museum will open a three-day film festival to highlight the work of Humphrey Bogart with free screenings of "Casablanca," "The Maltese Falcon" and other films.

The 81-year-old Eastwood will be awarded the James Smithson Bicentennial Medal for his distinguished contributions.

[Associated Press; By BRETT ZONGKER]

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