10 screen-worn masks from the movies and TV on display...

With lots of free time on my hands with no movies to watch at the cinema and not madly rushing around store to find Christmas presents this year, I've been scouring my photo archives to see what delights I could unearth from years gone by to entertain myself. With masks in the news so much in the last ten months of the pandemic, enjoy this collection of ten screen-worn masks from the big and small screen on display at cinemas, theme parks and museums in years past.

Minotaur mask from Immortals

First up is this amazing barbed wire bull mask mask from the 2011 fantasy film, Immortals, which saw Henry Cavill's mortal champion 'Thesesus' chosen by the Greek Gods to battle Mickey Rourke's 'King Hyperion' and his 'Minotaur' henchman (played by Robert Maillet).

Eiko Ishioka was Costume Designer on the Immortals and this fierce mask was photographed on display at ArcLight Hollywood cinema in October 2017.

Lion mask from The Masked Singer

From bulls to lions, and this golden mask was worn by Rumer Willis in the first season of the U.S. version of The Masked Singer.

Marina Toybina was the Emmy-nominated Costume Designer on the costumed celebrity singing competition and this creation was photographed on display at Downtown L.A.'s FIDM Museum & Galleries in August 2019.

Blue Spirit mask from The Last Airbender

Back in 2010, M. Night Shyamalan tried to bring a live-action version of Avatar: The Last Airbender to the big screen. Noah Ringer was cast as the elemental master 'Aang' and Dev Patel played 'Prince Zuko' of the Fire Nation (and wore this 'Blue Spirit' mask) trying to enslave the Water Tribes and Earth Kingdom.

Judianna Makovsky was Costume Designer on this film adapted from the first season of Nickelodeon's animated series and this mask was captured on display at ArcLight Hollywood alongside other costumes and props from The Last Airbender in July 2010.

Erik Killmonger tribal mask from Black Panther

In 2018's cultural phenomenon, Black Panther, Michael B. Jordan's villainous 'Erik Killmonger' steals this African tribal mask during a heist on a London museum.

Ruth E. Carter was the Oscar-winning Costume Designer on the Marvel Studios superhero film shining a spotlight on Chadwick Boseman's king of Wakanda, and this outfit and more Black Panther movie costumes were photographed on display at Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre in February 2018.

Dark Elf mask from Thor: The Dark World

Keeping to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and this Dark Elf mask and dagger were featured in 2013's Thor: The Dark World, in which Chris Hemsworth's God of Thunder faced off against Christopher Eccleston's Dark Elf, 'Malekith', ruler of Svartalfheim.

Wendy Partridge was Costume Designer on Thor's movie sequel in which the Dark Elves wore these sinister masks. This example was photographed on display at Marvel's Treasures of Asgard temporary exhibit at Disneyland in November 2013.

Catwoman mask from The Dark Knight Rises

It's no surprise that masks feature heavily in comic book adaptations and in 2012's The Dark Knight Rises, Anne Hathaway sported this high-tech mask as the cat burglar, 'Catwoman'.

Lindy Hemming was Costume Designer on all three installments of Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy and this mask and accompanying cat-suit was snapped exhibited at ArcLight Hollywood in July 2012.

Bane mask from Batman & Robin

Keeping to Batman foes, and 1997's Batman & Robin featured a very different 'Bane' to Tom Hardy's incarnation featured in The Dark Knight Rises.

Pro-wrestler Jeep Swenson played the henchman of Uma Thurman's 'Poison Ivy' in Joel Schumacher's movie sequel and wore this more comic book-inspired mask, which was on display at Warner Bros. Studios VIP Tour Museum in July 2014.

Deadshot mask from Suicide Squad

A few years later and Will Smith's 'Deadshot' mask with monocle was on display at the same museum location from the 2016 movie, Suicide Squad.

Kate Hawley was Costume Designer on the DC Comics movie about a group of assassins, mercenaries and supervillains working for a shadowy government agency in exchange for a reduction in their prison sentences.

Enik the Altrusian mask from Land of the Lost

In 2009 Will Ferrell starred in a big screen remake of Sid and Marty Krofft's 1974 television series, Land of the Lost.

This prosthetic head from the movie was worn by John Boylan as 'Erik the Altrusian', leader of the 'Sleestak' lizard humanoids and photographed on display at Universal Studios Hollywood theme park in April 2011.

Venetian masquerade masks from Eyes Wide Shut

And finally for this assortment of screen-worn masks, this quintet of Venetian masquerade ball masks were featured in 1999's erotic psychological mystery drama from director Stanley Kubrik, Eyes Wide Shut.

Marit Allen was Costume Designer on this film starring Nicole Kidman (who wears the feathered mask) and Tom Cruise, and these masks were photographed at Stanley Kubrick's exhibit at L.A.'s County Museum of Art in January 2013.

I hope you've enjoyed these cinematic and TV treasures. Stay safe this festive season and make sure you wear an appropriate mask to protect yourself and others.

TV and movie costumes, props and models on display at Universal Studios Hollywood in November 2011...

At the end of November I embarked on one of my regular pilgrimages to Universal Studios Hollywood to discover what eclectic delights they had on offer from their television and film archives.

NBC Universal Experience movie costume

and prop exhibit in November 2011

After finally making it down the Desperate Housewives Wisteria Lane on the backlot Studio Tour I perused the latest selection of memorabilia from Universal's movies and NBC's TV shows, which included original outfits from the Fast and Furious film franchise, the latest Robin Hood movie and cult classics like The Blues Brothers.

Actual movie props from Paul and Your Highness on display

Included in this batch of movie props were items from the 2011 sci-fi comedy, Paul, and the flute used by Natalie Portman as 'Isabel' in the Medieval stoner comedy, Your Highness, from the same year.

Crystal Cave model from the Land of the Lost movie

Also on display was this art department model from 2009's Land of the Lost movie remake, starring Will Ferrell. I always think it's so cool to see these behind-the-scenes production models which help give you a better insight into how these movies are made.

TV costumes, memorabilia and props from NBC television shows

From the world of television there were costumes and props from the worlds of House M.D., Law & Order, Friday Night Lights and even these rather macabre paintings from Rob Serling's Night Gallery from the late 60's to early 70's.

Paintings from Rod Serling's Night Gallery

In the host's follow up to The Twilight Zone, these creepy canvases were used as ways to introduce the eerie tales of fantasy, horror and sci-fi on the show. The painting in the background is by Tom Wright for 1973's 'Something in the woodwork' episode.

The painted canvas in the foreground is by artist Jerry Gebr, for The Sixth Sense TV series episode 'Dear Joan, we're going to scare you to death', which was edited and included in Rob Serling's Night Gallery for syndication.

On a lighter note here's an ice hockey costume featured in an episode of the U.S. remake of The Office TV show.

Costume worn by Steve Carell as Michael Scott in The Office

Come back in the next few days for even more fantastic costumes and props on display, including:

Cate Blanchett's Marion Loxley gown, plus sword and stone props from Robin Hood

Costumes and props from The Fast and The Furious movies

Draco maquette from Dragonheart

Original film props used in action-thriller Hanna

Art department models from Cowboys & Aliens

Steve Martin's costume from It's Complicated

John Candy's costume from The Blues Brothers

Costumes and props from TV's House M.D.

Concept sketches and storyboards from 1982's The Thing

Sci-fi outfits and props from Buck Rogers

Cool props from TV's Heroes

The NBC Universal Experience in the Lower Lot

at Universal Studios Hollywood

If you like these, be sure to also check out the Universal costume exhibits from February 2010, June 2010, January 2011 and March 2011.

Enik the Altrusian prosthetic head from Land of the Lost...

In 2009's movie remake of the 70's children's TV show, Land of the Lost, there is a race of antagonistic reptilian humanoids called 'Sleestaks'. In the film there is an intelligent, English-speaking, troublemaking Sleestak called 'Enik the Altrusian', who is the only Sleestak of his race who wears clothes.

Original Enik the Altrusian prosthetic head from Land of the Lost

This fantastic prosthetic head on display at Universal Studios Hollywood on March 28, 2011, was created by Spectral Motion artists based on the original television series designs.

This Enik animatronic mask was worn by Canadian actor John Boylan.

Land of the Lost movie poster

As Enik is a more evolved creature than the rest of his species, his head is filled with animatronic motors to help express more emotion, like a furrowing brow, the ability to squint and intricately moving lips.

The movements were controlled by a dedicated puppeteer and the head itself weighed more than thirteen pounds.

Enik the Altrusian animatronic mask

Enik the Altrusian's large four-inch diameter dome eyes are also coated with a special holographic reflective film to create a more membranous look.

If you're a fan, be sure to also check out another prosthetic Sleestak head from the Land of the Lost movie remake.

Land of the Lost movie poster

New costume and prop exhibits at Universal Studios Hollywood...

This week I took my regular pilgrimage to Universal Studios Hollywood to check out their latest costume and prop exhibits.

Original movie costumes and props on display

at Universal Studios Hollywood in March 2011

The archivists who maintain the permanent exhibit change the outfits, models and memorabilia around three times a year to keep it looking fresh and to help showcase more recent movies, like Hop, Scott Pilgrim vs The World, Jane Eyre and The Eagle.

Concept drawings from Hop on display

In addition to the fantastic movie costumes and props, there was also a great selection of memorabilia from NBC television shows from past and present, like The Munsters and Heroes, along with more from the world of comedy, sci-fi, crime, sports and drama.

Original NBC TV show costumes and props on display

Over the coming days Hollywood Movie Costumes and Props will be showcasing each of these fantastic items from behind-the-scenes of Hollywood, including:

Russell Crowe's Crusader Knight costume from Robin Hood

Ramona Flowers outfit from Scott Pilgrim vs The World

Original costumes and props from The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

James Brown's Preacher's robes from The Blues Brothers

Hayden Panettiere's cheerleading outfit and props from TV's Heroes

Max dog animatronic from The Grinch, plus other models and props

Enik the Altrusian prosthetic head from 2009's Land of the Lost movie remake

Lily Munster's vampire cloak from classic TV show The Munsters

Wheel of Pain miniature model from Conan the Barbarian

Helicopter miniature and helmet from TV's Airwolf

Original costumes worn on Will & Grace sitcom

Forensic kit and mummified remains from Law & Order TV series

An American Football uniform worn by Taylor Kitsch in TV's Friday Night Lights

Plus much more to intrigue casual observers and delight fans of the shows and movies.

Original TV and movie props on display

There were original props on display from the small screen, like Heroes, and from movies like Little Fockers, The Grinch, Jane Eyre and The Eagle.

Mini Cooper movie car from The Bourne Identity

On this occasion they also had this Austin Mini Cooper from the infamous car chase scenes in 2002's The Bourne Identity included in the exhibit. Be sure to also check out more photos of this picture car and the Honda motorcycle from The Bourne Ultimatum when they were displayed outside in the Upper Lot of the theme park.

Universal Studios Hollywood

These costumes and props were photographed on display on March 28, 2011 at Universal Studios Hollywood, but be sure to also check out exhibits from January 2011, June 2010, and February 2010.

Prosthetic Sleestak head from Land of the Lost...

In the 2009 big screen adaptation of the 70's children's television series of the same name, Land of the Lost, the race of lizard men called the 'Sleestaks' return to cause trouble for paleontologist Rick Marshall (played by Will Ferrell).

Prosthetic Sleestak head on display

This prosthetic Sleestak head used in the big budget film was photographed on display at Universal Studios Hollywood on January 7, 2011.

Land of the Lost movie poster

Dozens of Sleestak heads were created for the movie and this particular mask was worn by actor Todd Christian Hunter. To add to the individuality of the reptilian collective, each Sleestak head was made from a custom cast of the performer's head.

Sleestak mask from the Land of the Lost movie

Creature and special effects company, Spectral Motion, were responsible for updating the look of the horn-headed, bulging eyed reptilian humanoids and creating thirty scaly Sleestak suits to be used in the movie.

Spectral Motion were also responsible for providing the distinctive creature effects in Hellboy II.

Be sure to also check out the vehicle used in Land of the Lost.

Original movie vehicle from Land of the Lost...

Will Ferrell stars in this 2009 movie remake of the original 1970's children's Land of the Lost TV series.

Actual Land of the Lost movie vehicle

His character, 'Dr. Rick Marshall' uses this vehicle for his unorthodox scientific expeditions.

Land of the Lost movie poster

This car was on display at Universal Studios Hollywood as part of the behind-the-scenes Studio Backlot Tour on August 27, 2009.