Monday, December 29, 2008

American Heritage Wax Museum- Famous Indians

This tableau from the American Heritage Wax Museum in Scottsdale Arizona depicts three famous Indians posing. We see Geronimo, Sitting bull, and Red Cloud together in a scene that honors the historical significance of the three men.


(1829-1909)
Geronimo, an Apache medicine man and warrior, who fought the American government during its expansion into the west.


(1831-1890)
Sitting Bull, a Sioux holy man and warrior, most remembered for his defeat of General Custer at the Battle of Little Big Horn.


(1822-1909)
Red Cloud, a Sioux Warrior and leader, fought a series of battles against the United States. These Conflicts were known as Red Cloud's War.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas!

Houses of Wax would like to Wish everyone a blessed and wonderful Christmas season!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Musée de Cire Lourdes- The Nativity

The Musée de Cire Lourdes in France, a wax museum dedicated the the lives of Bernadette Soubirous, and Jesus, houses this wonderful little tableau of the Nativity scene. Here, we see Mary, the shepherds, and the Magi, all admiring the baby Jesus in his swaddling clothes. The manger, a hollowed out log, is all he has for a bed, as there was no room for them at the inn.


In this close up, we see Mary and Jesus. The bond they held, evident in this display.


One of the Magi, holding Frankincense, or Myrrh.


A shepherd boy standing near the Christ Child.

The Musée de Cire Lourdes is a part of the Musée Grévin chain, and is located in Lourdes France.

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Sunday, December 21, 2008

News- Anne Frank at Madame Tussaud's

The Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in Berlin is currently displaying a figure of Anne frank, on loan from Amsterdam, for a limited exhibit. If this is to quell all the bad press about their Adolf Hitler figure, I don't know, but it comes at a time when they have received a lot of heat for their Hitler display (Hitler has been a common figure here in the states, and is often displayed with other Axis leaders).


Miss Frank sits at a small desk, writing in her diary.


Along with the figure is an historical display giving information about the girl; her life, internment, and death.

View more information on Anne Frank here.

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Friday, December 19, 2008

Stars Hall of Fame Wax Museum- Danny Thomas

(1912-1991)

We see today an image from the Stars hall of Fame wax museum in Orlando Florida of entertainer Danny Thomas. Danny was most known for his television show Make Room for Daddy, and for being one of the founders of St Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Here we see his wax figure in a Las Vegas show.


A close up of Mr. Thomas, or Amos Alphonsus Muzyad Yaqoob, which was his birth name.


A close up of the clapboard sign, which has far less detail than some of the other Movieland signs.

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Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Movieland Wax Museum- Two Women

In what was one of the biggest highlights of a trip to the Movieland Wax Museum is this stunning tableau from the motion picture Two Women. Here we see Sophia Loren as Cesira, holding her daughter Rosetta, portrayed by Eleonora Brown. The amount of agony and emotion that they captured in this wax figure is absolutely incredible! To see these beautiful scenes sold off, and never to be enjoyed again was the worst part of the museum's closing.


A picture with flash shows the detail of the scene, but destroys the mood.


A close up of the two women. Sophia Loren won a best actress academy award for this film, despite it being in Italian.


The clapboard sign, it's strange how only Loren is credited in this scene, as Eleonora Brown is a major character as well.


Another sign explaining how Sophia Loren donated to Movieland the actual dress from the movie.


It was rare to see a sign detailing the events of the scene, but here we see how emotional the scene is.

The Eleonora Brown wax figure sold at the Movieland auction for $200. The set sold for $150. I am so amazed how low they went for. The Sophia Loren figure was not for sale, and ended up in a very strange location. You can find her in a very different kind of tableau at the San Francisco wax museum. . .


She's a member of the crowd in the Sermon on the Mount scene! She still has a handkerchief, and her neck and arm betray the dirt and soot from Two Women.

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

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Monday, December 15, 2008

Hollywood Wax Museum- Angelina Jolie

Today's post features the famous Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie. Here we see her at the Hollywood Wax Museum in the red carpet area. The figure stands beside many Hollywood celebrity's wax likenesses. This particular figure of her looks very lifelike and realistic. A far cry from some other figures of famous women.


A closer shot of the figure. If I had to make any criticism, it would be that she looks a bit tired. However, that is just a small detail.


Mrs. Pitt standing next to Ben Affleck, who had his own post on this website a little while ago.

View more information on Angelina Jolie here.

Visit the Hollywood Wax Museum website here.

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Saturday, December 13, 2008

Paris Spectacular Wax Museum- Marie Antoinette and the Scandal of the Necklace

At the Paris Spectacular Wax Museum we find Marie Antoinette, Archduchess of Austria, Queen of France, and wife of King Louis XVI, receiving a necklace from Jeweler Bassenge. Cardinal de Rohan, duped by the charlatan Cagliostro and the Comtess de la Motte, bought the necklace to present to the Queen. However, he was unable to pay for it, and King Louis XVI had him thrown into the Bastille.


A close up of the Queen admiring herself with the necklace.


The Jeweler Bassenge holding the box.

View more on Marie Antoinette here.

Learn about the Seattle World's Fair here.

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Thursday, December 11, 2008

Plymouth National Wax Museum- Exterior

15 Carver Street Plymouth, Mass. 02360

Today we have an exterior view of the Plymouth National Wax Museum. The building which looks to be colonial revival architecture, not only housed the many wonderful wax tableaux, but also overlooked Plymouth rock. As expected, the museum was dedicated to the history, struggles, and achievements of the first European settlers in the new world. The museum closed in 2005, leaving the area without a wax museum.

Stay tuned for more pictures from this wax museum.

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Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Denver Wax Museum- Baby Doe at the Matchless Mine

For today's post we see the tragic story of Elizabeth McCourt Tabor, also known as Baby Doe. A once wealthy Colorado silver mine owner, she became penniless during the silver crash of 1893. Her husband, Horace Austin Warner Tabor, who was 25 years older than she was, convinced her that their beloved matchless mine would once again yield a fortune in silver. He died in 1899, and Baby Doe lived out most of the remaining years of her life in a shack by the mine until she froze to death in 1935.


A close up of Baby Doe Tabor, a delusional, sickly, poor woman who let the greed of a non-existent fortune dictate most of her life.

View more on Baby Doe Tabor here.

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Sunday, December 07, 2008

Madame Tussaud's- Nicolas Cage

The Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in Las Vegas allows guests to pose with a couple of figures without having to pay for admission. Here we see Nicolas Cage's figure standing outside of the entrance of the museum. The figure once was part of a Ghost Rider exhibit, but Mr. Cage has lost the phantom wheels and sports a normal set of clothes.


Closer up, we can begin to see the detail of the figure. It gets hot in Vegas, and outside is not the ideal location for a wax figure. However, this one seems to be holding up in the shade.


And a close up really shows how much the figure looks just like Nick Cage.

View more information on Nicolas Cage here.

Visit the Madame Tussaud's Las Vegas website here.

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Monday, December 01, 2008

Happy Birthday Madame Tussaud

December 1st, 1761, Marie Tussaud was born in Strasbourg France.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

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.

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Wednesday, November 26, 2008

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.

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Sunday, November 23, 2008

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).

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Thursday, November 20, 2008

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

all Photos property of Madame Tussaud's

Monday, November 17, 2008

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.

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Friday, November 14, 2008

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.

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