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!".

More costume delights from Disney's D23 Expo 2019 on display...

Disney's 2019 D23 Expo may seem like a distant memory now, but with the pandemic still raging it's been nice to reminisce about the costumes and props that were on display at the biennial fan convention. Here's five more film and stage costumes that were photographed as part of the Walt Disney Archives Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume exhibition on August 23, 2019, in Anaheim, California.

Letha Wedge costume worn by Bette Davis

in Return from Witch Mountain

First up is a costume from one of my childhood favourite films, Return from Witch Mountain, which saw the psychically-powered alien twins, 'Tony' (Ike Esienmann) and 'Tia Malone' (Kim Richards) face off against the schemes of Christopher Lee's 'Dr. Victor Gannon' and Bette Davis 'Letha Wedge'.

Bill Thomas was the Costume Designer on the Disney movie sequel, which was a follow-up to 1975 Escape to Witch Mountain based on Alexander H. Key's 1968 sci-fi novel.

Return from Witch Mountain movie poster

Fans of iconic Bette Davis can also enjoy these Emmy-nominated costumes from Feud: Bette and Joan on display.

Dr. Hans Reinhart costume worn by Maximillian Schell

in The Black Hole

Another sci-fi favourite from my youth was the futuristic film, The Black Hole, from 1979. In the movie Maximillian Schell played the deranged and brilliant scientist 'Dr. Hans Reinhardt' aboard the long thought lost USS Cygnus spacecraft.

The Black Hole movie poster

Chuck Keehne and Bill Thomas were responsible for Costume Design on the outer space movie directed by Gary Nelson.

Dorothy Gale costume worn by Fairuza Balk

in Return to Oz

The expo also had Fairuza Balk's 'Dorothy Gale' costume from 1985's Return to Oz fantasy film on display.

Based on L. Frank Baum's Oz novels, this sequel saw the 10-year-old actress discover fantastical new friend and enemies in this outfit designed by Raymond Hughes.

Return to Oz movie poster

Fans of this movie sequel can also enjoy these other screen-used costumes and props from Return to Oz on display.

Ben Gates costume worn by Nicolas Cage

in National Treasure

In 2004's National Treasure, Nicolas Cage played treasure hunter 'Benjamin Franklin Gates' and Judianna Makovsky was Costume Designer on the historical mystery adventure movie.

You can also take another look at this costume and props from National Treasure at previous Disney exhibits.

National Treasure movie poster

Plus this particular D23 Expo also showcased Nicolas Cage's Balthazar Blake costume from The Sorcerer's Apprentice on display.

Elsa stage costume from Broadway's Frozen musical

Christopher Oram was Costume Designer for Frozen: The Broadway Musical, based on Disney's animated 2013 box office smash, and actresses like Caissie Levy, Ciara Renée and Caroline Bowman have donned the princess of Arendelle's dress to tread the boards on Broadway and on tour.

And sadly that's the final installment of the costumes and props I saw in person at last year's D23 Expo.

Make sure you also check out all the other costumes and props at the Walt Disney Archives Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume exhibition, plus enjoy a look at these Hulu show costumes and props, Marvel Studios costumes and Star Wars universe costumes that were on display for attendees to see.

Here's hoping we'll be able to attend conventions, exhibitions, museums and cinemas again in the near future when this pandemic is under control.

Frozen musical billboard

Magical Return to Oz movie costumes and wardrobe props on display...

One of the real highlights of Disney's D23 Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center on August 9 this year for me was getting to see this fantastic collection of original Return to Oz costumes up close in the Treasures of The Walt Disney Archives exhibit.

Original costumes and wardrobe props from Return to Oz

Although not as a huge box office hit as 1939's iconic The Wizard of Oz musical fantasy, the 1985 non-musical film received positive reception by fans as a faithful adaptation of L. Frank Baum's original Oz book series.

I really have fond memories of this fantastical movie from my youth, so to see these wonderful costumes so close and not hidden away behind a display cabinet or protective screen was a real treat.

Original Tik-Tok costume from Return to Oz

My favourite character from Walter Murch's film was the clockwork one-man-army 'Tik-Tok' and it was a real thrill to see this gleaming wind-up robot in person. This version of the 'Royal Army of Oz' features the cleaned up golden sheen given to the automaton after the defeat of the evil 'Nome King', rather than the rusty version that features in the rest of the film.

This suit was actually worn by two performers, Tim Rose and Michael Sundin (who I remember being a presenter on the BBC children's TV show Blue Peter, with there being a whole behind-the-scenes report on how he fit inside and moved in the suit, which he apparently wasn't allowed to be inside for more than ten minutes at a time).

Emerald City policeman and Woot costumes from Return to Oz

Also in display were these very green costumes worn by the Emerald City inhabitants, including a policeman outfit and the costume worn by the Gillikin character named 'Woot' (played by Nicholas Pandolfi). 

Jack Pumpkinhead prop head from Return to Oz

In the movie, one of the characters that Dorothy meets on her return visit to Oz is 'Jack Pumpkinhead', who was created out of wooden limbs and a pumpkin head to scare the witch 'Mombi' by the 'Princess Ozma', the real ruler of Oz.

Return to Oz movie poster

In this sequel to The Wizard of Oz, Fairuza Balk played the heroine 'Dorothy Gale', but unlike Judy Garland in the original, she didn't wear a technicolor blue gingham dress, but instead a rather drab 1900's dustbowl farm girl pinstripe dress.

Dorothy Gale dress worn by Fairuza Balk in Return to Oz

Raymond Hughes was Costume Designer on Return to Oz and if you like these original costumes, be sure to also check out the ruby slippers worn by Fairuza Balk in Return to Oz.

Apparently Disney paid a huge fee to MGM use the ruby slippers in this sequel, as Dorothy wore silver shoes in L. Frank Baum's original novel.

Scarecrow costume worn by Justin Case from Return to Oz

In this 1985 version, the infamous 'Scarecrow' received an updated look and a crown as the king of the Emerald City. The Scarecrow is imprisoned and turned into a giant emerald ornament by the Nome King, that is, until Dorothy frees her friend.

Dorothy is also reunited with another of her friends, the tin woodsman after he has been turned to stone by the Nome King, along with the 'Cowardly Lion' and the other citizens of the devastated Emerald City.

Return to Oz Tin Man character prop

This version of the Tin Man without a heart, is less a man in a costume, but more a film prop.

If you're a fan of the Land of Oz, be sure to also check out these original costumes and props from 2013's Oz The Great and Powerful.