`Marilyn Monroe: The Ultimate Hollywood Icon,' `Bob Hope: Thanks for the Memories,' and `The Ultimate Autograph Collection' Exhibits Extended Through September 26, 2004 by Popular Demand.

HOLLYWOOD -- The popular three exhibits that began this summer at The Hollywood Museum - "Marilyn Monroe: The Ultimate Hollywood Icon," "Bob Hope: Thanks for the Memories," and "The Ultimate Autograph Collection" -- have been extended by popular demand and will be on display at The Hollywood Museum in the historic Max Factor Building through September 26, it was announced today by Donelle Dadigan, President and Founder of The Hollywood Museum.

"These three exhibits in tandem with The Hollywood Museum's permanent collection enabled the Museum to shatter all previous attendance records this summer and are receiving enormous acclaim from visitors," said Donelle Dadigan, President and Founder of The Hollywood Museum. "We are delighted to extend the opportunity of viewing these outstanding exhibits to Southern Californians and visitors to Hollywood."

The unprecedented exhibit "Marilyn Monroe: The Ultimate Hollywood Icon," features the most extensive collection of priceless Marilyn Monroe memorabilia ever assembled including hundreds of extraordinary items including original costumes and wardrobe from "Some Like It Hot," "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and "Let's Make Love" as well as dresses used for publicity and public appearances. Other displays include numerous vintage magazines and posters, Marilyn's makeup case, sofa, and director's chair. Among the hundreds of photos in the collection are many never before seen and Tom Kelly's nudes, one of which appeared as the centerfold in the first issue of Playboy Magazine.

"Bob Hope: Thanks for the Memories" is a one-of-a-kind exhibit of Bob Hope costumes, awards, posters, lobby cards, personal possessions, makeup case, photography and assorted memorabilia spanning the century (vaudeville, radio, motion pictures and television). Awards in the exhibit include his honorary 1953 Oscar, 1959 Emmy, 1977 People's Choice Award, 1965 Screen Actors Guild Award, and USO Spirit of Hope Award.

"The Ultimate Autograph Collection" was donated by the late Joe Ackerman, who spent seven decades in Hollywood amassing the largest collection of celebrity autographs ever assembled. Ackerman, who collected over 6,000 signatures from movie stars and celebrities, also has an impressive collection of more than 1,000 candid photographs of celebrities that he began snapping when he arrived in Hollywood in the early 1940s.

Among the thousands of autographs on display in the exhibit are movie posters signed by castmembers including "The Wizard of Oz," "Casablanca," "Gone With the Wind," "Citizen Kane," "Sunset Boulevard," and "Intolerance." Admittance to all three exhibits is included in The Hollywood Museum's general admission fees.

The ultimate destination for movie fans, The Hollywood Museum includes miracles of motion picture magic past and present on four floors and in 5,000 eye-popping displays. An entire day is not too long to savor such astounding exhibits as the spine-tingling cell of Hannibal Lecter as seen in "The Silence of the Lambs" and "Red Dragon," the landmark sets and costumes of "Moulin Rouge," Mae West's boudoir, the masthead of H.M.S. Surprise and Russell Crowe's costumes from "Master and Commander," the burning plane from "Jurassic Park," and "Planet of the Apes." Max Factor's world famous makeup rooms (individually designed for blondes, redheads, brunettes and brownettes) and thousands of unique, vintage photographs are also among the most spectacular collection of sets, props, costumes and Hollywood memorabilia ever assembled.

"Marilyn Monroe: The Ultimate Hollywood Icon," "Bob Hope: Thanks
for the Memories" and "The Ultimate Autograph Collection"

Where: The Hollywood Museum, 1660 N. Highland Avenue, Hollywood

When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday through Sunday

Ends September 26

Price: $15 for adults; $12 for seniors and children under 12.

Info: [phone]