THE HEART OF HOLLYWOOD TOUR IS AT LONDON'S O2 ARENA

From the 21st of June to the 17th of July, 2018, ‘The Heart of Hollywood Tour’ will be setting up shop at the prestigious O2 Arena, London, accompanied by a plethora of iconic memorabilia and artwork from the golden age of cinema. This includes the original letter ‘H’ from the Hollywood sign, plus a live musical theatre experience, aptly titled, ‘The Hollywood Nights show’.





At a rough estimate, over 75,000 people are expected to attend this 26-day event, before it quickly embarks on a 5-year worldwide tour of 60-cities. So, if like me, you’re a big fan of history, glamour, and the golden age of cinema, then what are you waiting for? Come on, check it out today...

So What Does It Have In Store?

Hollywood Memorabilia Exhibition:   This impressive exhibition features a number of items belonging to both the Hollywood Museum as well as a handful of private collectors, such as: Elvis Presley’s black stage suit and gold ring; a fedora hat that was once signed and worn by Michael Jackson himself; dresses and jewellery previously draped around Marilyn Monroe; costume memorabilia used in the 1939 classic, ‘The Wizard of Oz’; Clarke Gable’s suit from another 1939 classic, ‘Gone with the Wind’; plus Alfred Hitchcock’s sketches; Christopher Reeve’s Superman costume, plus much much more. 

Hollywood Art Gallery:   The well-known artist, Bill Mack, will be exhibiting some of his artwork exclusively at this event, including original paintings of Hollywood legends (such as Audrey Hepburn, Marlon Brando, Grace Kelly, and Frank Sinatra), plus original pictures accompanied by the personal effects of their owners (ranging from Marilyn Monroe’s hair to Steve McQueen’s t-shirt, all the way to The Beatle’s original drum kit). 

The ‘H’ From The Hollywood Sign:   For the first time in over 40 years the original letter ‘H’ from the iconic Hollywood sign will be on display for those in attendance. So, if you want to follow in the footsteps of such Hollywood greats as Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne, and Charlie Chaplin, you too can touch the sign for good luck. It stands at 45 feet tall and weighs 95 tons, which, at a rough guess, makes the ‘H’ slightly taller than four London double-decker buses that you can see from space! 

The Hollywood Nights Show:   At 7:30pm, most days, between the 22nd of June and the 14th of July, there will be a two-hour show that aims to pay tribute to some of the best-loved musicals in Hollywood’s history from the past 100 years. Fortunately, it’s been directed by Nathan Clarke, the Internationally acclaimed Creative Director and Choreographer.

What I Thought Of It:

Over the last few years, I’ve often wondered if celebrities from the Golden Age of Cinema would ever consider tweeting. After all, the simple act of composing a tweet has become fairly common among the celebrity elite, all because it allows them to keep current, keep active, and keep relevant within their chosen domain. So, to tweet, or not to tweet, that is the celebrity question. A question, I hasten to add, I will now attempt to answer by saying, coff-coff, Marilyn Monroe might, John Wayne won’t, and as for Clark Gable, well, quite frankly, my dear, he doesn’t give a Facebook. Which, in a funny way, brings me quite nicely onto The Heart of Hollywood Tour, now open at London’s O2 Arena.

You see, last Thursday, the 21st of June, 2018, I attended a press junket in order to see what the fuss was all about. While there, I was able to look at many of the items, pictures, and exhibits on display, up close and personal, including some truly amazing full-size paintings created by Bill Mack himself. I also noticed a number of small, little, details, I never quite noticed before, in regards to an item of clothing or a prop or a piece of furniture. Sometimes my observations focused upon the size of an object, whereas at other times texture and tone became a more recognizable factor.

Case in point, halfway through the exhibit I found myself standing in front of the Christopher Reeve's Superman costume from the first film, circa 1978, and nigh on straight away I noticed how flat it looked, texturally, not physically, and obviously, this took me by surprise. To some extent, the same thing can also be said about Clark Gable’s tuxedo from the 1939 classic, ‘Gone with the Wind’, except in this instance how small it was in comparison to what I saw on the big screen. Then there was the Big H, which trust me, is big, is an ‘H’, and is truly a sight for sore eyes! How so? Well, go along to The Heart of Hollywood Tour and see for yourself. Seriously, if you’re a fan of the Golden Age of Cinema, I’m sure you’d kick yourself silly if you missed out on this. More or less the overall experience is as old and as new as a celebrity tweet coming from a Hollywood great. Top class!

More Information:

What: The Heart of Hollywood Tour.
When: It starts on the 21st of June and ends on the 17th of July, 2018. The doors will be open from 10am to 5pm seven days a week.

Where: The O2 Arena, London, next to North Greenwich Underground Station.
How Much: Tickets can be purchased from either the O2.co.uk or the main website at the following prices: £23.25 for Adults; £17.75 for Concessions; and £12.75 for Children. Each ticket will allow you to spend up to one-hour in the exhibition plus an additional sum is required for VIP entry and the Hollywood Nights show.

Now for more information please visit www.heartofhollywoodtour.com, or alternatively, subscribe to their facebook or twitter pages.  The iconic 'Heart of Hollywood Tour' is being launched in association with the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, and the Savoy Hotel.