January 3rd, 2012
With the evenings still being a bit chilly, the cinema is a popular night out in these dreary months. So why not host your own cinema inspired party to get the best of both worlds?
A cinema style Hollywood party is great for all ages, your kids will love their cool mum and dad for this fab theme, and adults love the chance to have a good knees-up too, whatever the occasion!
Decorate your cinema party room with Concessions themed banners and cut-outs to give your room a movie-theatre look. Adding some Hollywood Star Cutouts will also give your party an edge. Don’t forget to grab your movie soundtrack albums and set the sound system pumping to get your guests in the party mood. Dirty Dancing, Pulp Fiction and Grease are bound to be popular with everybody.
Serve your cinema party food in Popcorn style bowls and bags, and use lidded paper cups with straws for extra authenticity. Hot Dogs, warm nachos with cheese and jalapeno peppers, followed by freshly popped popcorn, ice-cream and pick and mix style sweets are all perfect for such a party.
You can either screen your favourite film, or alternatively, a cinema party allows for fantastic adaptations of traditional party games such as Charades and Who Am I?
As host, dress as an usher or usherette, and show your viewers to their seats for a night to remember. To add some extra fun into your home-movie night, your guests could wear fancy dress costumes of their favourite Hollywood movie stars, or dress to match the chosen genre of your film screening.
2011 saw some fantastic films released already, such as ‘Black Swan’, ‘The King’s Speech’, ‘Gnomeo and Juliet’ and ‘Social Network’. There are Hollywood stars aplenty in this year’s upcoming releases – ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ (Jonny Depp); ‘The Debt’ (Helen Mirren); ‘Limitless’ (Mickey Rourke); ‘Transformers 3’ (Shia LaBeouf); ‘Jane Eyre’ (Dame Judi Dench); ‘Scream 4’ (Courtney Cox-Arquette); ‘One Day’ (Anne Hathaway) and the much awaited ‘The Twilight Sagas: Breaking Dawn’ (Robert Pattinson). With such amazing movies around, you won’t be short of inspiration.
Tags: Hollywood Theme Parties, Movie Party, Saturday Night at the Movies
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December 29th, 2011
No Hollywood party is complete without the sound of Champagne corks popping. Whether you love Champagne cocktails like the Bellini and Pretty Woman, or prefer a pure unadulterated flute of Cristal or Moet, make sure you have the right drinks accessories and vessels for your Hollywood Party bar.
Essential bar items include champagne glasses, a cocktail shaker, drinks stirrers, martini glasses, paper umbrellas, straws, picks and cocktail napkins. Decorate your party room with Champagne themed items including helium balloons, bubbles and inflatables. If you’re feeling particularly flamboyant and want to make like the Hollywood stars, then why not impress your guests with a champagne fountain, a supply of champagne truffles maybe a party bag with their own mini-bottle of champers. Go on…be decadent!
Tags: Champagne, Hollywood Champers, Hollywood events
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November 16th, 2011
The phrase ‘Hollywood’ was first coined in 1887 by Mrs Wilcox – wife of the town’s founder – who used it to describe her beautiful summer home. Before the bright lights and big stars of modern day Hollywood, the area was mainly undeveloped land and supported farmers, cowboys and prospectors. It soon experienced a boom in the property development market – later attracting the attentions of film-makers with it’s sunny, dry climate and rolling landscapes.
The famous white letters on the side of Mount Lee high in the Hollywood hills was first thought up as a way to promote the new suburban property development of ‘Hollywoodland’ back in 1923. Each letter was 30 feet wide and 50 feet tall and was constructed from metal plates and a scaffolding frame. This original sign was adorned with a staggering 4,000 20 watt light bulbs, providing even more spectacular sight come nightfall.
Originally meant to last for just 18 months, the sign is still standing almost 90 years later! Although today, the sign is minus the ‘land’. The sign was altered to “Hollywood” in 1949 when it was owned by the City of Los Angeles. Over the following years, the once glorious monument became weather-worn and dilapidated.
Restoration and rescue of the famous landmark came in the form of a charity auction at the Playboy Mansion, hosted by Hugh Heffner. Auctioning of each letter raised an amazing $27,700 per letter! Those buying letters included legendary rocker Alice Cooper, singing cowboy Gene Aultry and crooner Andy Williams.
Today, the pristine letters of the Hollywood sign are protected and are a symbol of dreams and aspirations for the world.
Tags: hollywood history, Hollywood party theme, Hollywood sign
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September 21st, 2011
One of the strangest Hollywood stories of recent years was that concerning Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger – who ran for, and successfully won the title of 38th Governor of California in 2003 – holding office until 2011.
Best known for his muscle-rippling movie-roles such as in the’ Terminator’ series, Conan The Barbarian and Predator, it still seems hard to believe that the Austrian-born human hulk would preside over California – the home of Tinseltown which made him famous. Other Hollywood credits include ‘Total Recall’; ‘Last Action Hero’; ‘Twins’; ‘Kindergarten Cop’; ‘True Lies’ and ‘Jingle All The Way’.
There is good news for all of you Arnie fans – the former actor, bodybuilder, State governor and director announced his planned return to the Hollywood film industry shortly after his political career ended. Watch this space for news on his future projects – said to include ‘the Last Stand’ and ‘The Expendables 2’.
So why not make the comeback king the theme for your Hollywood party this autumn? We hope you enjoy your night and manage’ Total Recall’ the morning after!
Tags: Arnie, arnold Schwarzenegger, Hollywood stars, hollywood stories
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August 28th, 2011
Although Danny DeVito has starred in many Hollywood blockbusters such as ‘Taxi’ and ‘Twins’, he has, surprisingly, only just made it onto Hollywood’s famous Walk of Fame. His star – situated at 6906 Hollywood Boulevard – was unveiled on Thursday 18th August 2011.
Being used to red carpet appearances and being the centre of attention, the legendary pint-sized star of ‘Batman Returns’ put his own twist on the tradition of the honouree being the first person to stand on the star – he promptly removed his shoe and sock before standing on his star barefoot – typical of his unique sense of humour.
Born in 1944 in Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA, Danny fell in love with acting after leaving high school and soon headed to the bright lights of Hollywood to pursue his chosen career. He starred in iconic films such as ‘Romancing the Stone’, ‘Terms of Endearment’ and ‘Matilda’. He later moved into movie production – directing gems such as ‘Throw Momma from the Train’ and ‘The War of the Roses’. His accolades as a producer include a Best Picture nomination for ‘Erin Brockovich’. He also produced the box-office hit ‘Pulp Fiction’.
Tags: danny devito, hollywood blockbuster, Hollywood party theme, hollywood walk of fame
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July 12th, 2011
A Gun Moll is the wife or girlfriend of a gangster, known to handle a gun herself. Adding a touch of glamour to the arm of their gun-toting men, molls were unafraid of the law and seemingly loved their dangerous lifestyle. Often chain-smoking cigarettes and frequenting the illicit liquor-houses they would always be dressed in fine clothes and jewellery.
If you’re looking for some inspiration to get into character at the Speakeasy, then look no further than our list of some famous Gangster’s Molls.
• Mae Capone – raven-haired wife of notorious gangster Al Capone.
• Evelyn “Billie” Frechette – a singer and waitress, imprisoned for 2 years for harbouring a criminal – her husband, outlaw John Dillinger.
• Virginia Hill – Chicago Outfit courier and girlfriend of Bugsy Siegel.
• Bonnie Parker – perhaps the most famous of molls – the blonde-haired young crime partner of Clyde Barrow. A couple made famous by their string of bank robberies, police shootings and eventual ambush and shooting by the authorities. There have been many books and films made about the glamorous couple.
Tags: gangster costume, gangsters moll, gun moll, Hollywood, speakeasy
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June 4th, 2011
Are you holding a Summer BBQ party, but want to inject some extra fun into proceedings? Then why not hold a’ Summer Nights Movie’ Themed Fancy Dress Night? Get your guests to dress up as characters from the movies of the summer. You don’t have to dig deep into the film archives to re-discover some classics set in the sizzling season or filmed on tropical sandy beaches. Here we take a look at some of the best.
• Cocktail – re-create the bar-room theatrics of Tom Cruise as the schmoozing Brian Flanagan on the shores of idyllic Jamaica
• Grease – who can’t remember all the lyrics of ‘Summer Lovin’ as a backdrop to the romance of love’s young dream – Sandy and Danny (played by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta)?
• The Long, Hot Summer – a 1958 classic starring Paul Newman as Ben Quick Angela Lansbury as Minnie Littlejohn and Orson Welles as Will Varner.
• Jaws – head to Amity Island for the summer and bathe in the beautiful summer sun – just don’t venture into the shark-infested waters. Starred Richard Dreyfuss as Hooper.
• Stand By Me – the 1986 film telling of boyhood adventures and friendship starring Corey Feldman, the late River Phoenix, Richard Dreyfuss and Kiefer Sutherland.
So get popping the corn and sizzling the bangers on the barbie for a movie-night to remember!
Tags: Hollywood, Hollywood party, Hollywood party supplies
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May 16th, 2011
George Timothy Clooney was born in Lexington, Kentucky on May 6th 1961. The son of a TV presenter, he studied at the Northern Kentucky University and had failed try-outs with the Cincinnati Reds Baseball team before turning his talents to acting.
The draw of the Hollywood scene led George to L.A. in 1982. However, he didn’t hit the big time until 1994 when he was propelled to fame in the phenomenally successful American TV series ‘ER’ – playing the dashing Dr Douglas “Doug” Ross’.
One of Hollywood’s finest actors, George’s movie credits include ‘O Brother Where Art Thou?’; ‘From Dusk Til Dawn’; ‘Ocean’s Eleven’; ‘Syriana’, ‘Batman & Robin’ ‘the Peacemaker’ and ‘Three Kings’.
A self-confessed party-lover, George Clooney is a regular on the Hollywood Party and Awards circuit – and he is never short of a beautiful woman to accompany him down the red carpets.
Tags: Academy Awards, George Clooney, Hollywood, Hollywood stars
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April 21st, 2011
Boy, did Marilyn Monroe conquer the world! Born Norma Jeanne Mortenson (but Baptised Baker) on 1st June, 1952 in Los Angeles, USA, she went on to become the world’s most famous and loved screen star of all time. After a childhood of instability – her mother was mentally frail and put her into foster care – Norma dreamed of a life in on screen, encouraged by her guardian, Grace McKee. A dream which would allow her to escape the reality of violence she experienced as a young girl. At the age of sweet sixteen, Norma married her first boyfriend, James Dougherty, in 1942.
Norma fell into the world of modelling by accident after a photo of her at work in the munitions factory was featured in a magazine called Yank. She was encouraged by the photographer to sign up with a modelling agency, and a star was born. Unfortunately, her modelling work was cause of her marriage breakdown, ending in divorce in 1946.
Norma caught the attention of 20th Century Fox and was given a screen test. She was persuaded to change her name to Marilyn, and took on her mother’s maiden name – Monroe too. Marilyn’s first screen role was in The Shocking Miss Pilgrim as a telephonist in 1947. Her talents were recognised early on, and her parts became larger and larger, eventually starring in Movie greats including Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Seven Year Itch, The Prince and the Showgirl and Some Like It Hot – for which she won a Golden Globe Award.
Famously saying that “Diamond’s are a girl’s best friend!” Marilyn married twice more. To Baseball legend Joe DiMaggio in 1954 (lasting just 274 days); and finally; to playwright Arthur Millar in 1956, and divorcing in 1961. Marilyn’s illustrious career seemed perfect to outsiders, by the actress suffered from poor self-esteem and addictions to alcohol and drugs. Marilyn Monroe was found dead on 5th August 1962, after an apparent drug’s overdose. She was just 36 years old.
Elton John was so inspired by the life and demise of Marilyn Monroe that he wrote and recorded his hit ‘Candle in the Wind’ in her memory in 1974.
Tags: marilyn costumes, marilyn monroe, seven year itch
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