Life-size Disney•Pixar's Cars characters Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater have stopped by the Petersen Automotive Museum for a visit with their fans. The dynamic duo have a prestigious parking spot in the lobby during their visit to America's premier automotive museum. The characters are on display now through September 15, but will return for four days beginning October 2, for the Petersen Automotive Museum's Comedy and Cars fundraiser gala where they will salute their creator, Disney•Pixar's John Lasseter, who will receive the museum's 2012 Automotive Visionary Award.
The Petersen Automotive Museum's Executive Director, Terry Karges sees the characters' smiling faces as an exciting addition to the museum. "We like to put vehicles in the lobby that are exciting, dramatic, and capture the imaginations of our guests as they arrive. Lightning and Mater not only bring a sense of fun to our entrance, but they also represent the relationship between automobiles and Hollywood, which speaks to our mission to explore and present the history of the automobile as it relates to life and culture using Los Angeles as the prime example."
Cars Exhibit
In celebration of their Disney•Pixar Cars die-cast vehicles collection, Mattel unveiled From Silver Screen to Die-cast: Disney•Pixar Cars Imagined by Mattel, a comprehensive exhibit showcasing the history of its Cars die-cast collection. Located within the Petersen Museum's "Hollywood Gallery," this special exhibit offers families and Cars collectors an entertaining and informative glimpse into Mattel's blockbuster toy line, and includes movie scene dioramas featuring hundreds of real die-cast Cars vehicles, rare and never before released to the public die-cast vehicles, the innovative micro-technology showcase called Lightning McQueen Alive, and the journey of Cars die-cast packaging, a design that revolutionized the die-cast category.
Cars Creator John Lasseter to be Honored at Museum Gala
The Petersen Automotive Museum will honor John Lasseter and Adam Carolla at the "Comedy and Cars Gala" at 6:30 pm on Thursday October 4, 2012. The Gala is open to the public and is the museum's biggest fundraiser of the year, promising a night full of fun and surprises. Attendees will have an intimate evening with legends from the automotive world, entertainment industry, politics and business. This year's signature event will include a cocktail reception, a live auction, an elegantly catered dinner, and a lot of laughs. Individual tickets for the 2012 "Cars and Comedy Gala" are available in advance for $350 a person. For Gala tickets and information, go to www.petersen.org or call (323) 964-6355.
The Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity. The Museum is located at 6060 Wilshire Boulevard (at Fairfax) in Los Angeles, California 90036. Admission prices are $12 for general admission adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for students with ID, $3 for children ages 5 to 12. Museum members, active military with ID and children under five are admitted free. Parking is free for the first 30 minutes and $2.00 each additional 30 minutes. One hour validation with purchase of $20 or more in the Museum Store or Johnny Rockets located in the museum lobby. Museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 6pm. For general Museum information, call 323/930-CARS or visit the Museum's Web site at: www.petersen.org.