The London Film museum which was once known as the Movieum of London is situated in the County hall building on Westminster Bridge Road in the City of London. The museum is a must for film fanatics as it offers an incredible amount of things to do and see. Movie going enthusiasts will be in their element. As well as great fun it is also educational, you can learn about the history of film and famous directors.
The museum is one of its own kind in Great Britain. It was founded and created in February 2008 by Jonathan Sands following the signing of a 25 year lease at the County Hall London. Jonathan started his career as a commercial and advertising photographer and opened his first own studio at the young age of 17. He then went on and moved to the Elstree Film Studios and became resident photographer in 1997. At the studios he met Nick Harrison who owned a prop and events company called 'Weird and Wonderful'. He worked with Nick on many special projects which included The Aliens Resurrection party at BAFTA.
When Nick Harrison's life was cut short aged 37, Jonathan when on to buy the company and collection and built it up into a full production company. He created many attractions including 'The Seven Deadly Sins' at Thorpe Park and the Chelsea Football Club Centenary Museum at Stamford Bridge. In 2006 Lucasfilm requested that the 30th Anniversary Exhibition be hosted in London and Jonathan was asked by a promoter to host the event. He did just this and negotiated a short term license to present it at County Hall. 'Star Wars The Exhibition' opened on May 4th 2007 and was a great success. It got Jonathan thinking and when that exhibition was closed, Jonathan went about looking into signing a 25 year lease at the County Hall so he could move his entire collection in. He did just this in Feb of 2008. Over the next couple of years he was introduced to Rick Senat who was an ex-senior executive at Warner Bros. and well known within the British film industry. In the following year Rick Senat became Chairman with
Jonathan as Chief Executive, and opened the London Film Museum in January of 2010.
Today the Museum has partnerships with the Lucasfilm, Paramount, Pinewood Studios, Warner Bros, Twentieth Century Fox, British Film Institute and Film London to name just a few. On show are many great collections of iconic costumes, film props, photographs, some of which dates back to the 1930's. If you're a fan of the original superman films from the late seventies and eighties you will enjoy seeing the real tunic worn by the late Christopher Reeves.
One of the new exhibitions goes back to the early 1900's covering Charlie Chaplin, the English comic actor's early life. You can see his famous hat and cane at the exhibition titled 'Charlie Chaplin the great Londoner'. Another exhibition titled 'Ray Harryhausen - Myths and Legends' which focuses on the work of the American film producer Ray Harryhausen. It shows the techniques he used over the years to bring his many Dynamation creatures to life.
Film fans can just go along for a visit or you can go on a London museum tour with a London tour company which might offer even more inside information on the history of film.
For more information on going on a London Film Museum why not check out Brit Movie Tours who are a London based tour company offering many other London Movie Locations tours.
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