Hooray for the Hollywood Hotel

A double feature event is about to open at an iconic inner city pub, featuring one hundred supporting artists and a leading man.

For the first time in the Surry Hills Hollywood Hotel’s 80 year history, the pub’s first floor will be open to the public for a sprawling wall-to-wall show titled Hooray for Hollywood showing the works of over 100 artists ranging from Archibald Prize winners to art students and their mums.

When Hooray for Hollywood closes at the end of September, a one person show titled Man Walks Into a Bar opens, featuring the work of David ‘Art’ Wales, the pub’s only ever artist in residence.

Doris Goddard, the Hollywood’s long term publican, bought the interwar period pub in 1978, and ran it as an extension of her lounge room with a mix of old style charm and song until shortly before her death in 2019.

The pub got its name due to its proximity to major cinema distributors in Commonwealth Street.

“The show is taking place in a beautiful old bar that was used by the boarders who lived there, and also the kitchen that Doris used,” David Wales, co-curator said.

“Her bedroom, living room and ensuite will be used as gallery space.”

Hooray for Hollywood has attracted some of the biggest names in the local art world, including Lindy Lee, Reg Mombassa, Peter O’Doherty, Susan O’Doherty and Blak Douglas, with John Safran being a late addition.

“I reckon Hooray for Hollywood is the first event of its kind…an art show in a pub where work by big established names hangs alongside young emerging artists,” Blak Douglas said.

“It totally captures the spirit of the Hollywood Hotel and Doris herself [and] the art world needs more of that.”

Hooray for Hollywood is being co-curated by MART collective, consisting of Rupert McEvoy and Alba Tijm.

“I went about it trying to broaden the age range of the show by bringing in two young curators, both in their early twenties, and they are both hot shot artists,” Wales said.

Wales is known by many Sydneysiders as the creator of Guru Adrian, the cartoonish figure which became the unofficial mascot for triple j in the mid-eighties, and who still figures in Wales’ work.

“Just because they were both on a whacky wave length they inevitably came together in the mid eighties,” Wales said.

Man Walks Into a Bar is an accurate description of how David Wales became the Hollywood Hotel’s artist in residence.

His studio space in Newtown was being requisitioned by the owner, and one night he walked into the front bar at the Hollywood, his favourite Sydney pub.

“I first discussed the residency with Ben, the manager, and he asked what did I want to do?” Wales said.

“I said that I wanted to get better as a painter and to do something for the community with a group show upstairs, and that I would like to do something for the pub by leaving a trace of art here.

“The show is essentially paintings that I have done over the past 12 months in the pub, and I set out to have a show that was as inclusive as Doris’ approach to running the pub.”

The art is priced from $30 to $15K, and as Wales said “There is something for everyone”.

Please note: the downstairs bar will be open throughout the shows before the Hollywood Hotel heads into renovations on the upper floors and roof.

Hooray For Hollywood, September 15 – 30, daily 12-6pm

The Hollywood Hotel, 2 Foster Street, Surry Hills

hollywoodhotelsydney.com.au