Marty McFly Western costume and film props from the Back to the Future movies on display...

Ever since the restored original DeLorean time-machine car from Back to the Future went on display at Universal Studios Hollywood last year, there's been a constant supply of different original costumes and props from the science-fiction trilogy on display to accompany the iconic 'hero car' each time I've been back to visit.

Original costume and props from the Back to the Future Trilogy

On this occasion this cowboy poncho worn by Michael J. Fox in the film, by Costume Designer Joanna Johnston, was on display beside authentic screen-used props from Back to the Future II on April 15, 2014.

Old West poncho worn by Michael J. Fox as 

Marty McFly in Back to the Future III

In 1990's Back to the Future III 'Marty McFly' travels back in time to the Old West and meets his great-great grandparents 'Seamus' and 'Maggie', and as he can't tell them his real name, he calls himself 'Clint Eastwood', hence the poncho look.

If you like this outfit, be sure to also take a look at Marty McFly's atomic cowboy costume from the third installment in this time-traveling trilogy, plus check out Mary SteenBurgen's Clara Clayton gowns from Back to the Future III too.

Back to the Future II trashcan movie prop

It may be nostalgic to see these props on display, but it's almost laughable to see what the filmmakers envisioned the future would look like, flying high-tech trashcans, hooverboards and even Mr. Fusion home energy reactors that could turn garbage into clean energy.

Although the scary thing to think about is, in the future there won't be as many of these kinds of props anymore to exhibit, as they'll all be created by CGI special effects.

Mr. Fusion Home Energy Reactor film prop 
from Back to the Future II

In 1989's sequel Marty McFly travels with 'Doc Brown' from 1985 to the year 2015 to help save his son, so there's not much time for these inventions to become part of everyday life.

Buy the movies: Back to the Future: 25th Anniversary Trilogy

Back to the Future III Old West gown worn by Mary Steenburgen on display...

On my most recent visit to Universal Studios Hollywood's archive exhibit, not only did they have the DeLorean time machine on show, but they also had another of Mary Steenburgen's Old West gowns on display from Back to the Future III.

Western festival dance gown worn by Mary Steenburgen 

as Clara Clayton in Back to the Future III

In the third installment 'Marty McFly' travels back to 1885 to help save his scientist friend 'Doc Emmett Brown', who has fallen for Mary Steenburgen's Jules Verne-loving schoolteacher, 'Clara Clayton'.

This festival dance costume was designed by Joanna Johnston and photographed on display on January 23, 2014, and if you like this period look, be sure to also check out this colourful train rescue gown worn by Mary Steenburgen in Back to the Future III.

Back to the Future III movie poster

If you're a fan of the time-travelling trilogy, be sure to also check out this cowboy costume worn by Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, plus the original DeLorean time machine car from Back to the Future on display at Universal Studio Hollywood's NBC Universal Experience attraction.

Buy the movies: Back to the Future Trilogy [Blu-ray]

Movie and TV treasures on display at Universal Studios Hollywood in January 2014...

With it being a New Year and January quickly speeding by, I thought it was about time that I visited Universal Studio Hollywood's ever-changing costume and prop exhibit to see what delights from the big and small screen were currently on display.

Original costumes and props from TV and film on display 

at the NBC Universal Experience exhibit

I'm pleased to report that there were many new treasures to enjoy from new films and old TV favourites alike, from the world of comedy, action, sci-fi, period drama, sports and more.

Original movie costumes from Bridesmaids and 

Rock Hudson's jacket from TV's McMillan & Wife series

In addition to the 'hero' DeLorean car from the Back to the Future movies still on display, there were costumes worn by Melissa McCarthy and Maya Rudolph in the hilarious comedy Bridesmaids from 2011.

Plus a jacket worn by screen legend, Rock Hudson, as 'Police Commissioner Stewart "Mac" McMillan' in the 1970's crime television series, McMillan & Wife, with Burton Miller being the Series Costume Designer.

Heroes and House M.D. TV series props on display

More recent TV treasures came in the form of props used by Hayden Panettiere as cheerleader 'Claire Bennet' in the superhuman series, Heroes (which ran from 2006 to 2010), and a cute teddy bear prop from House M.D. (which ran from 2004 to 2012).

If you're a fan of these shows, you can also check out Hayden Panettiere's cheerleader outfit from Heroes and other original props from the series, plus costumes and props from House M.D. on display from previous visits to the NBC Universal Experience attraction.

That's just some of the original costumes and props from the film and television studios extensive archives from past and present, so be sure to come back and take a look in more detail at these other delights in the days to come:

Oscar-nominated costume worn by Amanda Seyfried as Cosette in Les Misérables
Taye Diggs costume and film props from The Best Man Holiday
Nathan Fillion's Mal Reynolds costume from Serenity
Costume robe from Syfy's Caprica
Original Bridesmaids movie costumes
Simon Pegg's police uniform from Hot Fuzz
Matthew McConaughey's costume and Enigma Machine prop from U-571
Kate Bosworth's surfing costume and surf board from Blue Crush
Lea Seydoux's period costume and models from 2010's Robin Hood
Mary Steenburgen's Old West gown from Back to the Future III
Costume and props from the Fast & Furious movies

There really is a great variety of film genres, plus lots of different types of clothing and interesting models and props on display. You can actually hear the visitors gasp as they see all the different items and make a connection with a favourite actor, movie or TV show.

As a special treat, here's another blast from the past from a previous visit to the NBC Universal Experience attraction, a model miniature from the 1981 TV mini-series, Masada, which starred Peter O'Toole and Peter Strauss. The story was inspired by the siege of the Masada citadel in Israel by Roman Empire legions in AD 73, hence the need for a siege tower.

Siege Tower miniature from TV's Masada

You know every time I visit I always think it's a real shame more film and television studios don't have exhibits from their vaults that are open to the public in this way, and that allow photography, as I'm sure there's more than a market for it judging by visitors to my blog alone.

Mary Steenburgen's Western gown from Back to the Future Part III...

In the third installment of the Back to the Future time-travel adventure trilogy, Michael J. Fox's 'Marty McFly' ventures into the Old West to rescue his mad professor friend, 'Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown' who is trapped in 1885 and working as a local blacksmith.

Original Western gown worn by Mary Steenburgen 

as Clara Clayton in Back to the Future Part III

This vibrant purple Western gown worn by Mary Steenburgen in the movie as Hill Valley school teacher 'Clara Clayton' was photographed on display, alongside some original props from the movie trilogy, at Universal Studios Hollywood on July 30, 2013.

Clara falls in love with 'Doc' when when he and Marty rescue her from an out-of-control horse-drawn wagon and stops her falling into a ravine.

Back to the Future Part III movie poster

The actress wears this colourful costume designed by Joanna Johnston when she's hanging from a locomotive train towards the end of the movie, when she's once again saved by Doc, this time on a futuristic hoverboard.

Clara Clayton Western train dress detail

If you like this Old West dress, be sure to also check Helena Bonham Carter's gown from Disney's The Lone Ranger movie remake.

Plus if you're a fan of the Back to the Future movies, take a look at Marty McFly's atomic cowboy costume from Part III.

Stick around in the days to come for even more classic costumes, props and models on display at the NBC Universal Experience exhibit.

Buy the movies: Back to the Future: 25th Anniversary Trilogy

Watch the movie now: Back to the Future Part III

TV and movie treasures on display at Universal Studios Hollywood in July 2013...

This week I ventured to Universal Studios Hollywood once more to see what new screen-used delights they had on display from their extensive TV and movie archives. Once again I wasn't disappointed as there were costumes, props and models from the worlds of sci-fi, fantasy, sports, period drama, comedy, crime, horror, musicals and more besides.

Original costumes, props and models from NBC Universal's vaults on display

Included in the NBC Universal Exhibit in the amusement park's Lower Lot (next to the new Transformers 3D ride in case you want to visit) on July 30, 2013, was one of the signature suits worn by Telly Savalas as the New York City Police Department 'Detective Lieutenant Theo Kojak' in the 1970's television crime series, Kojak. The dapper detective was famous for his bald head and love of lollipops.

Original suit worn by Telly Savalas as Kojak

On display beside his outfit were some film props (including some grisly teeth forensic evidence) from the 2002 crime thriller, Red Dragon.

Original movie props from Red Dragon

It's no surprise that NBC Universal would want to remind their visitors about 'Dr. Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter' as they currently have a TV spin-off based on the characters in Thomas Harris' Red Dragon novel, simply called Hannibal, which has been renewed for a second season.

I'm very fortunate to live in West Hollywood and have an annual pass to the theme park, so I stop by on a regular basis to check out the ever-changing exhibits.

Jaws movie exhibit

On my most recent visit in May 2013 they had Roy Scheider's Amity Police Chief uniform from Jaws on display, plus a variety of concept sketches and schematics, but this time they also had this fantastic miniature shark cage used in the production of the underwater scenes of the 1975 horror movie.

Donna's guitar prop from Mamma Mia: The Movie

On a lighter note, this time they also had this cool sticker-laden guitar prop from Mamma Mia: The Movie, which belonged to Meryl Streep's 'Donna' and was bought for her by Colin Firth's 'Harry' (which cost him £10 and his Johnny Rotten T-shirt).

If you're a fan of the big-screen 2008 musical, be sure to also check out these original costumes and props from Mamma Mia: The Movie on display.

Props from TV's Eureka

In amongst this eclectic mix of TV and movie memorabilia, they also had these scientific looking props (a memory lattice, plus data disc reader and analyzer) from SyFy's Eureka television series, which was a show about a small town with a big secret, and ran for five seasons from 2006 to 2012.

If you're a fan of the sci-fi series, be sure to check out these other costumes and props from Eureka on display from my previous visits.

TV costumes from Friday Night Lights and Crossing Jordan

Also on display were the signature outfit worn by Michael B. Jordan as 'Vince Howard' in American Football TV drama Friday Night Lights (more on that at a later date), plus this purple dress worn by Jill Hennessey as crime-solving forensic pathologist 'Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh' in Crossing Jordan. 

Debra McGuire was series costume designer on the crime drama that aired from 2001 to 2007, and if you're a fan of the show, you can also check out more props from Crossing Jordan here at Hollywood Movie Costumes and Props.

Kenneth Ellen Parcel tombstone prop from 30 Rock

Finally, there was this slightly macabre grave headstone from the 100th episode of sitcom, 30 Rock, for character 'Kenneth Parcel', played by Jack McBrayer.

If you like this collection of screen-used costumes and props, be sure to stick around in the days to come for more original items including:

Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway's Oscar-nominated costumes from Les Misérables
Tom Cruise's futuristic costume and bomb prop from Oblivion
Original costumes from the Fast & Furious movies
Mary Steenburgen's Western costume from Back to the Future Part III
Actual nurse costume and props from Atonement
Elizabeth Taylor's costume from The Flintstones movie
Tobey Maguire's costume from horse-racing movie Seabiscuit
Siege tower miniature model from Masada
Maureen O'Hara's classic costume from 1955's Lady Godiva of Coventry 
Rachael Leigh Cook's Josie and the Pussycats film costume
An actual picture car from 2007's Transformers movie

I hope you'll enjoy this new assortment of goodies from Universal Studios Hollywood, and Whovians don't despair, I've also still got loads of Doctor Who costumes and props to share with you all in the future too.