On October 11, 2018, President Ronald Reagan returned to life at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum as a hologram. Working with award-winning Hollywood special effects masters and the leader in hologram celebrity recreations, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute created a first-of-its-kind hologram of our nation’s 40th President.
Three separate hologram scenarios rotate throughout the week in the Reagan Library’s renovated Caruso Family Theater (introductory theater experience).
The three scenarios were created using various portions of Ronald Reagan’s speeches and audio recordings. In order to maintain historical accuracy, every word expressed by this hologram of Ronald Reagan was actually spoken by our nation’s 40th President during his life.
Using photos and video materials, an “introductory” video was created for each scenario that provides background on the environment and location of the presentation.
The three scenarios include:
- The Whistlestop Train Tour in the 1984 presidential campaign – The Ferdinand Magellan pulls into a stop in Ohio and President Reagan talks to us about the state of the country and the world in the 1980s (from one of his campaign speeches) and his strong belief that America’s best days are still ahead.
- The Tack Room at Rancho del Cielo – President Reagan has just returned from a horseback ride and he talks to us about the Ranch and how it helps him to balance the pressures of the Oval Office, and then tells us a little about his ideas on freedom.
- The Oval Office – President Reagan has just returned from a trip on Marine One and enters the Oval Office, where he talks to us about the history of the most powerful office in the world, decisions that he made in the office and people that visited him there.
Our Hologram of President Reagan is the first time a Hologram has been created where visitors sit only 12-feet away from the image, creating the need for the Hologram to be photo-realistic.
Fun facts:
- For authenticity in the Ranch scene, one of President Reagan’s saddles and one of his western belts and a buckle was used by the actor. An identical dog representing the Reagans’ dog, Victory, was brought in for the filming of the Ranch scenario.
- For both the Oval Office and Whistle-stop Train scenarios, a set of President Reagan’s personal cufflinks and a tie tack were worn by the actor during filming.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute would like to express its deep appreciation to Mr. Richard R. Sills and The Conrad Hilton N. Foundation for their respective vision and foresight in funding the Reagan Hologram.
Starting February 23, 2023, the Ronald Reagan Hologram Theater will be closed for one year as the space is being used for the Reagan Library’s special exhibit, Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away.