10 of my favourite screen-used costumes and props on display to bid a fond farewell...

After much soul-searching over the past few months during this pandemic I've decided to shutter my costumes and props blog and this will be my final post. Over the years I've really enjoyed sharing the screen-used costumes, props and vehicles I've discovered on my travels to cinemas, museums, expos and theme parks with you all. Sadly it's become financially unviable to sustain this blog, so enjoy this last collection of screen treasures that have special meaning to me before this blog is archived away.

Catwoman costume worn by Michelle Pfeiffer

in Batman Returns

Michelle Pfeiffer and her sewn-together, skin-tight catsuit and whip stole the show for me in 1992's Batman Returns, so I was thrilled to see one of her original latex costumes on display at Warner Bros. Studios VIP Museum in Burbank in July 2014.

If you're a cat lover and DC Comics fan, make sure you take a closer look at her Catwoman catsuit on display.

Wonder Woman costume worn by Lynda Carter

Also on display at the museum tour was this fabulous costume worn by Lynda Carter in the 1970s Wonder Woman TV show.

As a young gay boy growing up in the 70s I loved watching this superheroine twirl and twirl her way to victory and dispense justice every episode.

Silk Spectre II costume worn by Malin Akerman

and Nite Owl costume worn by Patrick Wilson

in Watchmen

Speaking of superheroes, these screen-worn movie costumes from Zack Snyder's 2009 movie adaptation of Watchmen were some of the first I saw in person after I'd moved to L.A. from the U.K. in March 2009.

Even more importantly, these cinematic treasures were exhibited at ArcLight Hollywood cinema out of reflective display cases and you could see them up close in glorious in 360° detail.

Captain America costumes worn by Chris Evans

in Avengers: Endgame

Meanwhile this trio of 'Captain America' uniforms featured in Avengers: Endgame were photographed at Downtown L.A.'s FIDM Museum in February 2020.

I've always loved Chris Evans (and his ass) wrapped in red, white and blue Stars and Stripes in the Avengers movies and his own solo outings, it's a hard costume to translate from comic book page to big screen.

Sucker Punch movie costumes

Zack Snyder's 2011 action fantasy Sucker Punch set in a lunatic asylum may not have been the biggest success at the box office, but I did get to see these cool costumes worn by the cast on display at ArcLight Pasadena cinema before they were put behind reflective cases for the film's theatrical release.

These costumes designed by Michael Wilkinson were worn by Abbie Cornish as 'Sweet Pea', Vanessa Hudgens as 'Blondie', Emily Browning as 'Babydoll', Jena Malone as 'Rocket' and Jamie Chung as 'Amber'.

Mad Max: Fury Road movie costumes

To my surprise I loved the non-stop action of 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road, especially Charlize Theron as the War Rig-driving 'Furiosa'.

Jenny Beavan won the Best Costume Design Oscar for her futuristic wasteland costumes and this duo of looks were display at L.A.'s FIDM Museum in February 2017.

Cruella de Vil flame dress worn by Glenn Close

in 102 Dalmatians

Speaking of Academy Award winners, and Anthony Powell scored the Oscar for Best Costume Design for his flamboyant 'Cruella de Vil' designs worn by Glenn Close in Disney's 2000 sequel, 102 Dalmatians.

I first saw this elaborate 'flame dress' on display at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley in July 2012 and then five years later at Disney's D23 Expo in Anaheim in July 2017.

Alice in Wonderland costumes

worn by Mia Wasikowska

2010's live-action Alice in Wonderland also scored the Best Costume Design Oscar for Colleen Atwood and these gorgeous dresses worn by Mia Wasikowska as the titular Lewis Carroll heroine were photographed on display at ArcLight Hollywood in October 2010 during awards season.

Grease Lightning 1946 Ford custom convertible from Grease

One of my favourite movies growing up was 1978's romantic musical Grease and so it was so cool to see the Grease Lightning dream car from the film on display at Hollywood's Madame Tussauds, courtesy of the Petersen Automotive Museum, in December 2012.

Tik-Tok clockwork robot costume

from Return to Oz

And finally, before the TikTok social media app craze, there was the wind-up clockwork robot, the 'Royal Army of Oz', in 1985's Return to Oz.

L. Frank Baum's 'Tik-Tok' character was brought to life by acrobat Michael Sundin squeezed inside the suit, voiced by Sean Barrett, with Tim Rose remotely-operating the head.

I loved this darker Oz fantasy sequel when I was a kid and so was excited to see this shiny suit of burnished copper on display at Disney's D23 Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center in August 2013.

Fans of the film can check out more costumes and props from Return to Oz on display.

As you can see I've come across some real wonders living in Hollywoodland and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

So here's to new adventures to come and in the immortal words of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial - "Be good!".

10 picture cars from the big screen on display...

With museums, cinemas, exhibitions and conventions shut down for the past eight months and likely for the foreseeable future, I thought it would be fun to revisit some of my previous finds from the big and small screen. Today I thought we could enjoy ten famous picture cars from the movie world of road trips, musicals, sci-fi, crime, comedy, action and super-heroics.

Grease Lightning 1946 Ford custom convertible from Grease

First up is the fantasy Grease Lightning from one of my all-time favourite musicals, 1978's Grease big screen adaptation. This cool car featured in the romantic comedy-musical's Greased Lightning dream sequence and at the end when Olivia Newton-John's 'Sandy' and John Travolta's 'Danny' miraculously fly off into the sky.

I snapped this fabulous auto on display at Hollywood's Madame Tussauds on loan from L.A.'s Petersen Automotive Museum in December 2012.

Optimus Prime Peterbilt Model-375 truck

from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Next up is the leader of the Autobots, 'Optimus Prime', in truck mode from the 2009 live-action sequel, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

This big rig truck and other vehicles from the movie were photographed on display at ArcLight Hollywood cinema and beside the Cinerama Dome in June 2009, plus Optimus Prime and Bumblebee could also be spotted in a similar location in June 2011 for Transformers: Dark of the Moon.

1970 Ford Escort RS1600 from Fast & Furious 6

Back in May 2013, Universal Studios Hollywood theme park had the cars from Fast & Furious 6 on display, including this blue and white beauty driven by Paul Walker in the high-octane movie sequel.

Fans of the film franchise can also enjoy these other cars, costumes and props from the Fast & Furious movies.

Interpol Le Maximum car from Muppets Most Wanted

Next up is this fun little car prop from 2014's Muppets Most Wanted movie, driven by Ty Burrell's French Interpol agent 'Jean Pierre Napoleon'.

Make sure you check out more screen-used costumes and props from Muppets Most Wanted on display at Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre around the film's U.S. release.

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS from Jack Reacher

In December 2012 Tom Cruise starred as the titular 'Jack Reacher' in the movie adaptation of Lee Child's literary character.

He drove this 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS car in the film and it was photographed on display outside ArcLight Hollywood cinema that Christmas.

1963 VW Beetle from Herbie: Fully Loaded

In 2005 Lindsay Lohan starred in the movie Herbie: Fully Loaded, in which the Volkswagen Beetle with a  personality of its own headed to NASCAR with the actress for all-new adventures.

This 1963 VW Beetle was photographed alongside another 'Herbie' race car from 1997's made-for-TV movie, The Love Bug, at the Petersen Automotive Museum in July 2009.

1949 Jaguar from Gangster Squad

2013's period crime drama, Gangster Squad, was set in L.A. during the 1940s when mob boss Mickey Cohen caused all kinds of trouble.

This sexy 1949 Jaguar driven by Emma Stone in the film was photographed at an exhibit to promoted the movie's theatrical release at the Petersen Automotive Museum in January 2013, and if you like this sleek motor be sure to check out more cars, costumes and props from Gangster Squad on display.

DeLorean time machine from the Back to the Future Trilogy

One of the most iconic cars from the world of cinema is undoubtedly the souped-up DeLorean from the Back to the Future movies, starring Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd.

This restored 'hero car' from the trilogy which spanned theatrical releases from 1985 to 1990 was photographed on display at Universal Studios Hollywood's Lower Lot in May 2013.

1966 Ford Thunderbird from Thelma & Louise

Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon made cinema history in the 1991 female buddy road trip to end all road trip movies, Thelma & Louise, when they cruised on their misadventures in this Thunderbird convertible.

This iconic movie car was spotted at the Petersen Automotive Museum in December 2012.

Stark Formula 1 race car from Iron Man 2

And finally for this collection of movie memorabilia, this Stark F1 race car was featured in Marvel Studios Iron Man 2 racing through the streets at the Circuit de Monaco in France, where Robert Downey Jr.'s genius inventor playboy 'Tony Stark' was attacked by supervillain 'Whiplash'.

This sporty race car was part of the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibition at The Reagan Library in August 2012.

I hope car enthusiasts and movie aficionados alike have enjoyed this eclectic collection of picture cars. Stay tuned in the future for another look at more cool screen-used costumes and props that I've spied on my travels over the years.

Grease Lightning car from Grease on display...

Today it's Christmas come early as here's a very special treat for all you Grease fans out there.

"Well this car is automatic, it's systematic, it's hydromatic

Why it's greased lightnin'!"

Grease Lightning 1946 Ford custom convertible from Grease

The movie musical is one of my all-time favourite feel-good films (along with the likes of Dirty Dancing and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert), and I could watch the 50's based romantic comedy over and over (and probably have over the years) and enjoy it every time.

Grease movie poster

So you can imagine my sheer delight when I chanced upon the original 'Grease Lightning' car from the T-Birds 'Greased Lightning' fantasy sequence and the movie finale when our two young lovers fly off into the sky.

Grease Lightning movie car

And as it was on display at Madame Tussauds Hollywood they even had a waxwork of John Travolta as 'Danny Zuko' to make the exhibit complete.

Grease Lightning movie car and Danny Zuko waxwork

Photographed on December 19, 2012 in the heart of Hollywood, the car is on loan from the Petersen Automotive Museum, which is quite a canny way to promote the auto attraction to hordes of eager tourists.

Grease movie poster

This 1946 Ford Convertible was customised by George Barris for the 1978 musical, which is the highest grossing movie musical of all time. The renowned Hollywood customiser transformed a stock two-door sedan into this awesome convertible with a wild paint job, enormous fins and clear plastic hood. It's pretty amazing and I'm so glad I got to see this piece of cinematic history in person.