This fall, beheaded beasts, blood-gushing villains, 14-foot aliens, and the world’s most beloved blockbuster heroes will converge on Los Angeles for an immersive entertainment experience. Icons of Darkness (IOD) will premiere at The Montalbán in partnership with TV actor, writer, producer, and director Richard “Rich” Correll. One of the most extensive, privately owned collections of its kind, IOD will offer cinematic buffs, sci-fi fans, cosplay enthusiasts, and horror aficionados a walking tour of props, artifacts, and memorabilia from movies spanning almost 100 years of Hollywood history. Hundreds of films will be represented, including Frankenstein,The Exorcist, Star Wars, Iron Man, Jurassic Park, Spider-Man, Joker, and Harry Potter.

In the past few months during the Coronavirus pandemic, The Montalbán has undertaken a massive pivot by transforming the lower level of its interior space from traditional theatre seating to an open floor plan. The new configuration allows for plenty of social distancing and is perfectly suited for IOD’s stunning exhibition.

Contingent on public health updates, the exhibit will be open five days a week, starting on Friday, September 24, 2020, with Coronavirus safety measures in place. Ticket are priced at $20 for ages 8 to 17, and $29 for adults (total prices, no ticket fees). Reservations are required in order to limit the number of guests allowed in at one time. For tickets, please visit https://www.themontalban.com/icons-of-darkness. Located at 1615 Vine Street, Hollywood, CA 90028, the classic venue now accommodates new forms of entertainment.

A raptor from Jurassic Park, original pieces from Alien, Aliens, and Margaret Hamilton as The Wicked Witch of the West in 1939’s The Wizard of Oz.. All from Rich Correll’s private collection, coming to The Montalbán.

A Fright to See

Valued at over $13 million, Correll’s entire collection of more than 3,000 timeless pieces hail from a gamut of film productions. From classic black-and-white films to movies with computer-generated imagery (CGI), and all eras in between, the exhibition is designed to entertain and educate film lovers of all ages. Icons of Darkness comprises 65 percent of Correll’s full collection—of which the public has seen only 25 percent to date.

“My ambition is to preserve the history of the sci-fi, fantasy, and horror genres because I believe they make people happy, and I want to bring that magic to the public,” said Correll. “Teaming up with The Montalbán was a natural fit because we have a common goal of preserving the culture of Hollywood. It’s a family-run operation rooted in showbiz that focuses on putting on a good show that leaves a lasting impression.”

Almost all of the TV legend’s items featured in IOD were used on-screen. After their time on film, Correll carefully rehabilitates and restores them to their original condition for the public to enjoy.

“Rich is not only a film buff but a film historian, making Icons of Darkness a celebration of preservation,” said Montalbán President Gilbert “Gil”Smith.

A sample of what patrons will be able to see include:

  • The original Xenomorph costume from Alien (1979), which features the designs of the (then-unknown and now influential) designer, H.R. Giger.
  • The full-sized Queen Alien from Aliens (1986), which solidified the sci-fi career of one of Hollywood’s most notable film directors, James Cameron.
  • Michael Keaton’s original Batsuit from the Tim Burton classic,Batman (1989), which led to the birth of the modern-day superhero film.
  • Original items from Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991) and Steven Spielberg’s dinosaur classic Jurassic Park (1993), which employed early CGI.
  • Work from famous horror authors, Stephen King’s It (1990), Clive Barker’s Hellraiser (1987), and William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist(1973).
  • Hugh Jackman’s battle arena Wolverine suit from X-men (2000).
  • Work from the seven-time Academy Award-winning makeup artist Rick Baker, from films How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), Planet of the Apes (1997), and An American Werewolf in London (1982).
  • A stable of props, figures, and costumes including life casts of Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney, Jr., and Boris Karloff representing “Dracula” (1931), The Wolfman (1941), and Frankenstein (1931).

The exhibition will also feature an interactive area, Monster Midway. Guests can play a selection of carnival-style games such as “Zombie Brain Smash,” “Mausoleum Ring Toss,” and “Skeleball” for prizes. Correll and special guests will make appearances and guide tours at IOD.

“What we’ve created is a multi-sensory experience where guests will learn, laugh, scream, shriek, and hopefully come back for more,” Correll said. “These characters represent the spirit of showbiz and evoke so many emotions, and I think we could all use a little of that nostalgia right now.”

Rich Correll with Batman & Robin from his private collection, coming to The Montalbán.

A Thrilling Passion. Correll (72) was engrossed in show business from the time he was a child, appearing in over 100 TV shows as a featured actor by the age of eight. He is known for his recurring role as Richard Rickover on the iconic American TV sitcom Leave It to Beaver, filmed on the Universal Pictures lot. He and his friends were fans of the first horror films made by Universal Pictures, including Frankenstein and Dracula. When he wasn’t busy on set, he would visit makeup labs on the lot, where he discovered that scores of film props and costumes were being thrown away in trash bins. He asked to keep the discarded items, slowly building his signature collection of Hollywood memorabilia (and lifelong hobby). Correll went on to teach vintage comedy at University of Southern California, where he received a bachelor’s degree in cinema arts. He then led a successful career as producer and director of some of the most popular multi-camera sitcoms, including Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Full House, Family Matters, Perfect Strangers, Married with Children, and Reba. In the 2000s, Correll became the Disney Channel’s most prolific director, helming multiple episodes of 13 different series, including That’s So Raven, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Jessie, and the show he co-created for Disney, Hannah Montana, one of Hollywood’s most successful merchandising franchises.

While building accolades in the comedy world, Correll’s fascination with the sci-fi, horror, and fantasy genres continued to grow. Calling himself “the oldest little kid you’re ever going to meet,” he sought and purchased items that represented his favorite characters. His curated items, coupled with the vintage items he collected as a boy, grew into one of the most comprehensive private collections of memorabilia from these genres. More than fifty years later and he’s still collecting.

Today, Correll is one of the foremost experts in horror film history. His friendships with legends such as Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre, Basil Rathbone, Vincent Price, Alfred Hitchcock, John Landis, Rick Baker, John Carpenter, Joe Dante, Peter Jackson, and Rob Zombie have fueled his passion.

“Some of my antique items are just not made anymore, and I want to show the younger generation what characters looked like back in the day,” Correll said. Since 1993, he and his wife have opened their Hancock Park home to the public for a Halloween-themed display that draws upwards of ten thousand loyal visitors. In the late ‘90s, Correll began producing the annual Playboy Halloween Party, where, using items in his collection, he haunted over 5 acres of the Mansion for Hugh Hefner.

Read more about Rich Correll’s 60+ year Hollywood career:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_Correll

Haunting Home Improvements

Soon after theatres were shuttered in mid-March due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Gil Smith and his team at The Montalbán knew it would take drastic measures to open sooner rather than later. In reimagining its classic 1,000 seat theatre, they moved quickly to remove all 520 seats from the venue’s orchestra level and installed flooring that extends from the entrance to the stage (see time lapse video of The Montalbán’s transformation). The opportunity to host Rich Correll’s priceless collection helped to expedite the process.

“Bringing Icons of Darkness to our home felt right for so many reasons, so we transformed our space to make accommodations where necessary,” said Smith. “What we have now is a beautiful, open floor plan that will display Rich’s jaw-dropping, museum-like exhibit and bring patrons a one-of-a-kind experience.”

Attendees are in store for an immersive experience that will include all three entertainment levels at The Montalbán, utilizing the entire 18,000 square-feet of the 93-year old venue.

Safety First
Adhering to local public health guidelines, The Montalbán will ensure that Icons of Darkness is a safe space for patrons by:
  • mandating face coverings for all staff, security, and guests.
  • requiring reservations in order to limit the number of guests allowed in at one time.
  • providing a time limit for each group.
  • prohibiting anyone from touching the exhibit items.
  • requiring guests to maintain a 6-foot distance from non-household members in their group.
  • providing a one-way entry and one-way exit at the venue.

Heath Ledger’s full-sized figure made from his life cast featuring parts of the original costume (The Dark Knight, 2008), George Clooney’s Hero Ice Suit (Batman and Robin, 1997) and Michelle Pfeiffer’s Full Hero Catwoman Costume (Batman Returns, 1992). All from Rich Correll’s private collection, coming to The Montalbán.

About The Montalbán

The Montalbán, Hollywood’s classic theatre reborn for a new era of screened entertainment and performing arts, is located at 1615 Vine Street just south of the world-famous Hollywood & Vine intersection. It is one of the few remaining mid-sized and fully equipped proscenium theaters in Los Angeles. Designed by Myron Hunt (whose work includes Rose Bowl, Cal Tech, and Ambassador Hotel), it opened in 1927 as the Wilkes Brothers Vine Street Theatre. The gorgeous Beaux-Arts building was the first legitimate live Broadway-style theater in Hollywood. For the next 70 years, it was bought and sold several times by notables such as Howard Hughes, CBS Radio, Huntington Hartford, and James Doolittle (who outbid Cary Grant). In the 1980s, University of California, Los Angeles took over until the Ricardo Montalbán Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, bought the building in 1999. View this slideshow to see how famous proprietors transformed the venue over the years.

Humanitarian and Emmy Award-winning actor Ricardo Montalbán’s vision was to create a presence in Hollywood that provided inspiration and employment for young Latinos as well as other underrepresented people throughout the community.

The Montalbán

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