Southwestern Historical Wax Museum- Wild Bill Hickok

In this black and white photo, we see James Butler (Wild Bill) Hickok a split second before he is killed by Jack McCall. Probably most remembered for the way he died, Hickok was also a famous gunfighter. But his notoriety got the best of him while he was playing poker in deadwood South Dakota. The poker hand he was holding when he died, aces and eights, is now known as the dead man's hand.

A close up of Jack McCall with his gun at Wild Bill's head. (Well, his back. But it should be his head)

Find more information on Wild Bill here.

Tags: Louis Tussaud's Southwestern Historical Wax Museum Wax Figure Wax Wild Bill Hickok

Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf- Britney Spears

As a teaser for all passers by at the Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf, a wax figure of Britney Spears tries to grab their attention. The figure is horrible, but not the best likeness. The artisans got the smile mostly correct, and the rest of the statue is far more covered up than the singer normally is.

A close up of Miss Spears. The rotating platform that the figure is on tends to change figures based on popularity and relevance.

Find more information on Britney Spears here.

Visit the Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf website here.

Tags: San Francisco Wax Museum Figure Britney Spears

Hawaiian Wax Museum- Birth of Kamehameha I

(1753?-1919)

It is said that there was rain, thunder, and lightning on the night when Kamehameha was born. He ua lokuloku no Ikuwa ke 'li'i (like the heavy rain of Ikuwa is the chief.) Here we see Kamehameha as a baby being taken away. His mother, Kekuʻiapoiwa, lays on the left. At his fathers command, Kamehameha was taken to escape possible death caused by neighboring enemies.

Kekuʻiapoiwa, the mother of Kamehameha.

Keoua, Kamehameha's father, handing off his son to Nae'ole the Chief of Kohala for protection. Nae'ole would become Kamehameha's Kahu (guardian).

Tags: Hawaii Wax Museum Wax Figure Wax Kamehameha

News- Gilbert Arenas at Madame Tussaud's

NBA superstar Gilbert Arenas was on hand to unveil his brand new wax figure at the Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in Washington D.C. this week. The figure, which is very accurate, looks just like him. As always, Tussaud's did a terific job sculpting the figure, and the outcome is quite impressive.

A rare glimpse at the creative process. The man hours it takes to create just one figure is astounding.

Visit the Madame Tussaud's website here.

Tags: Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum Wax Figure Wax Gilbert Arenas

all Photos property of Madame Tussaud's

Movieland Wax Museum- PT 109

In a very dramatic, and quite bloody tableau, PT 109 is represented at the Movieland Wax Museum. Here, we see Cliff Robertson as John F. Kennedy attempting a rescue of a fellow shipmate.

A view with flash reveals the graphically bloody scene, A fairly rare sight for a scene not in the chamber of horrors.

A close up shows how the decades of water exposure has damaged the figure, and the coins thrown onto its lap.

A plaque dedicating the scene in honor of the actual events.

The usual clapboard sign, and wax facts.

The set and figures sold as one complete lot in the auction for $1900.

Tags: Movieland Wax Museum Wax Figure Wax JFK Cliff Robertson PT 109

News- Daniel Craig Stirs up Madame Tussaud's

The Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum franchise has been busy this week with the unveiling of several new figures. In New York, Daniel Craig has been honored with a new figure representing his James Bond character. Here we see it in a black tuxedo, waiting for any spy stuff to happen. The figure is quite realistic, and much taller than the Tinkerbell and Chipmunk figures recently unveiled.

A closer shot of the English actor highlights the detail of the sculpt.


It's face is very realistic.

The ITN report on the unveiling.

Visit the Madame Tussaud's website here.

Tags: Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum Wax Figure Wax Daniel Craig James Bond

Alvin and the Chipmunks Sing and Dance Their Way Into Madame Tussaud's

Tinkerbell was not the only pint sized addition to hit madame Tussaud's this past week. Alvin and the Chipmunks also received wax figures at the Las Vegas museum. Although the singing rodents are covered in fur, the museum decided that they deserved the wax treatment. They stand 18 inches tall, and are in a dancing pose. Not many non human and/or fictitious characters get made into wax figures at Madame Tussaud's. And in Las Vegas, the Chipmunks Join Master Chief from Halo, Spiderman, and Siegfried and Roy's Tiger in that category.

Alvin! Where's his Hula Hoop?


Simon with his Harold Lloyd glasses.


And Theodore.

Visit the Madame Tussaud's website here.

Tags: Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum Wax Figure Wax Chipmunks

all Photos property of Madame Tussaud's

News- Tinkerbell Lands at Madame Tussauds

This past week, Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in London released a new Tinkerbell wax figure. The miniature figure is only 5 and a half inches tall, and is perched on a tree branch. The detail is amazing for such a small figure, and it must be far more fragile than a normal wax figure.

An artist touches up her face, and adds the last few details before the figure is unveiled. Tink reminds me of the Christmas tree topper my family had when I was a kid.

Visit the Madame Tussaud's website here.

Tags: Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum Wax Figure Wax Tinkerbell


all Photos property of Madame Tussaud's

Musée Grévin- An Evening at Malmaison

Musée Grévin in Paris France is one of the oldest wax museums in the world, and it holds some of the greatest wax figures and wax tableaux ever (based on the pictures I've seen). Here we see many a French dignitary enjoy Chateau Malmaison one quiet evening. Standing on the left are Joseph Fouché and Louis Alexandre Berthier. Sitting at the table are Joseph Bonaparte, Jean Jacques Régis de Cambacérès, Charles Francois Lebrun and Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord. Don't ask me who is who.

I am assuming that this is Bonaparte, and that the other gentlemen at the table are Cambacérès, Lebrun, and Talleyrand.

Joseph Fouché and Louis Alexandre Berthier. Standing by the mirror, enjoying the night.

And the rest. Maybe Talleyrand. I am just not up on the history of the French Revolution.

Visit the Musée Grévin website here.

Tags: Grevin Wax Museum Wax Figure Wax Bonaparte Talleyrand

National Historical Wax Museum- A Western Scene

Here, in the National Historical Wax Museum, we see a typical western scene. A saloon girl watches as two men come down the stairs, observing what looks to be a disagreement about a poker game. The scene is very alive, and the characters have excellent expressions on their faces. This is just a terrific tableau.

What great detail on the female figure! For some reason women are hard to sculpt in wax, but they did a great job with this one.

Uh oh, the men have their guns drawn! It looks like this is getting out of hand.

The men at the table. Unfortunately, wax museums offer only a static glimpse into the worlds that their scenes recreate. We can never know how this scene plays out. (However, this is the National Historical Wax Museum, so this scene may be based on an actual event. I just don't have any information about it.

Tags: National Historical Wax Museum Wax Figure Wax Saloon Old West

National Presidential Wax Museum- Lincoln Douglas Debate

Well, the Halloween countdown is over, yet Purplepeanut has continued to provide us with calendar appropriate wax museum pictures. This time, a little less ghoulish, but just as intense, and far more important. He decided to share some photographs of his recent trip to the National Presidential Wax Museum in South Dakota. So without further delay, let the debate begin. . .

Another presidential election year's in full swing, and the television debates have begun in earnest! We thought it might be fun to revisit one of history's most famous debates, with the help of the National Presidential Wax Museum (aka Parade of Presidents, aka Shrine of Democracy) in Keystone, South Dakota. These pictures are from the museum's display featuring the spectacular Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858.

In a series of seven debates which took place in various Illinois towns, Democrat Stephen Douglas tangled with Republican challenger Abraham Lincoln over the issues of slavery, states' rights and popular sovereignty. The winner of the election would take the coveted post of U.S. Senator from Illinois.

Douglas barely won the election, but Lincoln's strong challenge led to his nomination for president in 1860. The rest, of course, is history.

The Lincoln figure, like the others in this display, was modeled by third-generation wax artist Katherine Stubergh-Keller. The life mask she used for Lincoln's features was later used to create the Abraham Lincoln animatronic at Walt Disney's theme parks.

In wax museums, Lincoln's not often depicted sans facial hair, much less in a white suit. He didn't grow his famous beard until shortly after his election. Here his figure is compared with a daguerreotype by Mathew Brady.

Douglas looks like he's itching for an opportunity to respond to Lincoln. Here's a comparison of his figure with an actual photograph of the "Little Giant".

The two on-stage spectators are identified, but they look quite attentive as Mr. Lincoln makes his points.

"A house divided against itself cannot stand," Lincoln said in the *** debate, at ***, *** on *** ***, 1858. "I believe this government cannot endure, permanently, half slave and half free."

(Special thanks to the National Presidential Wax Museum)

Photos and text courtesy of Purplepeanut.

Thanks again Richard for the terrific pictures!

Visit the National Presidential Wax Museum website here.

Tags: National Presidential Wax Museum Abraham Lincoln Stephen Douglas