It's been a long time since I last posted, but I thought I would share this news item. The Mammoth Cave Wax Museum's figure's are being put up for auction on May 19th. The press release I received never actually mentions the museum by name, but a viewing of the auction items easily confirms where the figures are from.
One of a kind - Albert Einstein wax figure
and 70 others to sell at Auction in Ohio
May 19th 2012 11:00 AM EST.
This rarity was commissioned by Einstein to be created by Katherine Stubergh (the legendary wax sculptress of the stars) shortly after he came to America. This amazing work was done as a “Live Blast” which means that Mr. Einstein actually sat with Stubergh in her studio as she took a mold casting off of his face and created his likeness! This is the only one known to exist!
This once in a lifetime former wax museum collection includes 63 other works by Stubergh including Jean Harlow, Charlie Chaplin, Walt Disney and even a 13 piece full scale rendering of The Last Supper! This story is the perfect combination of the bygone era of Hollywood legends, roadside American attractions and the excitement of auction!
Here's a photo from the Musée Grévin in Paris. The scene is entitled Madame Laetitia entouree de sa famille, which shows Laetitia Bonaparte with her family. Her son Napoleon stands behind her, as well as her other children. She lived to be 85 years old, and died in 1836.
Heralding their arrival in Washington D.C., wax figures of all 44 U.S. Presidents were gathered at Union Station by Madame Tussauds Washington D.C. to celebrate the launch of its U.S. Presidents Gallery – which debuts at the attraction on Thursday, February 17, 2011.With the opening of the $2 million-plus Gallery, Madame Tussauds D.C. will be the only place in the world where people can see and interact with all 44 U.S. Presidents. (Photo Credit: Jim Sulley/Newscast for Madame Tussauds D.C.)
This photo shows the wax figure of Queen Isabella I of Castile. Known as the financier of Columbus, Queen Isabella helped unify Spain. Her investment in the voyage of Columbus brought Spain out of bankruptcy and back into prominence in Europe.
A close up of the queen. It was also during her reign that the Spanish Inquisition began.
Here's a shot from the Denver Wax Museum of President Richard Nixon. The figure is fairly accurate, and doesn't look as generic as some lower quality presidential wax figures. If you want to see many of the figures from this defunct museum, make sure you visit the Forney Museum of Transportation in Denver Colorado.
Standing at this table in the Tussaud's London Wax Museum are three wax figures of our nation's founding fathers. From left to right are; John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin. The London Wax Museum had an eclectic array of figures, but the majority were historical. This was one of the more modest sets.
A close up of the John Adams figure. Nice detail in the face.
Madame Tussauds U.S. Presidents Gallery will be the Only Place in the World Where People Can See and Interact with All 44 U.S. Presidents
[Washington D.C., December 20, 2010] – The ultimate three-dimensional tribute to America and its commanders-in-chief is one step closer to being a reality for the Washington D.C. area, as Madame Tussauds Washington D.C. today announced that its new $2 million-plus U.S. Presidents Gallery—which will house wax figures of all 44 U.S. presidents—opens its doors to the public on Thursday, February 17—just in time for Presidents Day. The launch of the Gallery will make Madame Tussauds D.C. the only place in the world where people can see and interact with all 44 U.S. presidents.
“We are looking forward to providing the public with the unique opportunity to experience all of the U.S. presidents in a way unlike ever before,” said Dan Rogoski, General Manager of Madame Tussauds Washington D.C. “As the only place in the world where people will be able to meet and interact with all 44 U.S. presidents, history buffs, students and the general public alike will enjoy a truly unique and enriching educational experience at the Gallery.”
Since the Gallery was announced last February, Madame Tussauds studio artists have been working tirelessly to create entirely new wax figures of 28 U.S. presidents. In anticipation of the opening of the Presidents Gallery, figures of presidents have been popping up across the country. Throughout the year, figure sightings have included: President Gerald Ford at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum for the 97th anniversary of his birthday; founding fathers George Washington and Thomas Jefferson at the Independence Visitor Center in Philadelphia over the July 4th holiday; and most recently, Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, which took a road trip to Mount Rushmore in honor of the 69th anniversary of the monument’s completion. A lighthearted video of the trip can be viewed at Madame Tussauds Washington D.C.’s Facebook and YouTube pages; and a photo of the figures at the monument with their stone visages in the background can be viewed and downloaded at newscast.
A tremendous undertaking, each figure takes about three to four months to complete and requires an extensive amount of work. In order to make the figures as lifelike as possible, Madame Tussauds artists have to study hundreds of photographs, and when available, hours of video footage. Of course in some cases, the artists did not have the luxury of photographs or videos, and needed to rely on historical accounts, even paintings.
The U.S. Presidents Gallery will serve as a rich educational resource and include a curriculum focused on the history of the U.S. presidents. The new curriculum will fully complement the attraction’s existing and free comprehensive Educational Curriculum Guide, which was developed in accordance with the U.S. Department of National Social Studies Standards and National Council for the Social Civil Rights Movement Studies Standards. The guide was designed to empower educators with the tools they need to deliver exciting lessons in areas such as history, political science, social studies and media – before and after visiting the attraction.
About Madame Tussauds Washington D.C.
Madame Tussauds Washington D.C. is a fully interactive, full-sensory experience, where visitors are able to touch, see and hear major historical events and celebrities in a way unlike any other Washington D.C. attraction. Recent additions to the attraction include music superstar Rihanna; actress, singer and teen sensation Selena Gomez; music megastars and teen sensation, the Jonas Brothers; superstars Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Penelope Cruz and Tyra Banks; as well as President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. Madame Tussauds is located on the corner of F and 10th Streets, NW, within walking distance of the National Mall and the White House. For more information, visit www.madametussaudsdc.com or call 202-942-7300 or 888-WAX-IN-DC.
Here is Italian explorer Giovanni Caboto from Potter's Wax Museum. Caboto sailed for England in the fifteenth Century, where he is known as John Cabot. He sailed a northern route to the new world, reaching Greenland and Newfoundland. His voyages helped give England a claim to North America.
ARMY VETERAN AND MRS. AMERICA 2010 1ST RUNNER-UP RAQUEL RILEY THOMAS TO MEET, GREET AND TAKE PHOTOS WITH VISITORS AT MADAME TUSSAUDS WASHINGTON D.C. IN CELEBRATION OF VETERANS DAY
Veterans Go Free, $5 Off for Family and Friends as well as Other Special Discounts and Giveaways
In celebration of the brave men and women in the U.S. armed forces, past and present, former U.S. Army Ordnance Captain, current Mrs. Maryland America and 1st Runner-Up in the 2010 Mrs. America pageant, Raquel Riley Thomas, will sign autographs, take pictures and greet visitors in celebration of Veterans Day at Madame Tussauds Washington D.C., on Thursday, November 11, from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., 1001 F Street, NW (at F and 10th Streets). For the entire day admission will be free for all veterans and members of the U.S. military (valid veteran/military ID required), and friends and family members will receive $5 off admission.
Saluting visitors and passersby from a new 10th Street window display will be a wax figure of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who issued the first Veterans Day proclamation in 1954. Additionally, the very first veteran to arrive at the attraction on Veterans Day will receive a special Madame Tussauds D.C. photo album; the first ten veterans will receive a special Madame Tussauds book bag; and all guests will receive a yellow pin in honor of the nation’s veterans. The attraction will also offer an exciting scavenger hunt, where winners will receive a 25 percent discount off items in the gift shop. Festive Foods Catering will also provide refreshments for guests to enjoy throughout the day.
“Madame Tussauds is pleased to honor and provide the brave men and women of the U.S. armed forces with a day of fun and enjoyment that they can share with their families,” said Madame Tussauds D.C. General Manager Dan Rogoski. “With the help of Raquel Riley Thomas, the variety of special discounts and activities we are offering, as well as the interactive experiences our figures provide, veterans will have a lot to be happy about on this special day.”
Visitors will have the opportunity to meet and interact with wax figures of some of the nation’s most well-known historical icons, many of whom served in the military, including: George Washington, Robert E. Lee, Theodore Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy.
From presidents and first ladies to political icons and civil rights leaders to pop stars and sports heroes, Madame Tussauds D.C.—the premier wax attraction—offers guests the chance to get up close and personal, take their picture with, hug and even kiss wax likenesses of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, actress, singer and teen sensation Selena Gomez, the Jonas Brothers, Tyra Banks, Penelope Cruz, Rihanna and many more.
Madame Tussauds Washington D.C. is a fully interactive, full-sensory experience, where visitors are able to touch, see and hear major historical events and celebrities in a way unlike any other Washington D.C. attraction. Recent additions to the attraction include actress, singer and teen sensation Selena Gomez; nine U.S. presidents which will be included in the under-construction U.S. Presidents Gallery opening in February 2011; music megastars and teen sensation, the Jonas Brothers; superstars Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Penelope Cruz and Tyra Banks; as well as President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. The attraction is located within walking distance of the National Mall and the White House. The entrance is on the corner of F and 10th Streets, NW. The attraction is metro-accessible by the Red, Blue, and Orange lines at Metro Center or the Yellow, Green, and Red lines at Gallery Place/Chinatown. Hours of operation are 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Sunday through Friday; and 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information, visit www.madametussaudsdc.com or call 202-942-7300 or 888-WAX-IN-DC.
Presidential wax figures from Madame Tussauds Washington D.C.’s forthcoming U.S. Presidents Gallery – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln – are posed with their stone visages as part of a road trip from the nation’s capital to Mt. Rushmore, in recognition of the anniversary of the monument’s completion—October 31, 1941. The U.S. Presidents Gallery will debut at Madame Tussauds D.C. in February 2011. (Photo Credit: Jim Sulley/Newscast)
In this amazingly graphic scene from the American Heritage Wax Museum in Scottsdale Arizona we see an Indian warrior attacking a settler as his horrified daughter watches in terror. The Indian is scalping the man for what the museum calls revenge for his intrusion into the Indian's territory.
A close up of the gruesome scene. The look on the scalped man is disturbing, as well as the anger in the native's face.
The daughter, crouched in the corner in fear, can do nothing but watch as her family is murdered.
Michelangelo's statue, The Captive (A.K.A The Dying Captive, The Prisoner), is seen here in the Palace of Living Art. Located at the Movieland Wax Museum, the Palace had wax representations of famous paintings and sculptures. This figure represents the human model for the sculpture.
A closer view of the figure shows its detail. Notice the shackle on the left arm.
When Movieland Wax Museum closed its doors in 2005, they sold many items that once belonged to the Palace of Living Art. Here is the marble statue that was also at the palace. There was often both a wax figure, and a reproduction of the original piece of art in the Palace.
This image was used in promotional material for the museum. I'm not sure if it was a photograph of the original or of their reproduction.
The marble reproduction of the captive statue sold at the Movieland auction for $850. The wax figure isn't part of the Palace of Living Art in San Francisco. However, that's not to say the figure isn't on display somewhere at the Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf. Next time we'll take a look at that figure, and what kind of tableau it could belong to.
This image from the Potter's Wax Museum in Florida shows Italian explorer Christopher Columbus. After attempting to acquire financing from Portugal and England for his trip to Asia, Columbus eventually found funding through Spain. Instead of Asia, Columbus and his ships found the Bahamas. This lead the way to further explorations in what is now the North and South American continents.
Sad news coming out of British Columbia as today marks the end of one of North America's great wax museums. The Royal London Wax Museum will close its doors for good as an unfortunate lease dispute has ended the relationship the museum has had with the owners of the historic Canadian Pacific Steamship terminal building. Due to seismic upgrades needed on the building, the museum had to vacate the premises, but the expense of temporarily moving and then rebuilding the tableaux proved too costly. They also were unable to secure a long term lease in the building, even if they could have found the money to rebuild. The museum owners looked for other suitable locations, but they could not find any.
The figures will move into storage, and hopefully a solution will be found. However, the future does not look bright that the Royal London Wax Museum will ever reopen.
Visit the Royal London Wax Museum website while it is still up here.
This scene from the Spirit of Monterey Wax Museum shows Gaspar de Portola, the governor of Baja California as he moved north to establish Spanish rule in Alta California. Here, he stands in front of Spanish soldiers. Northern California was crucial to the Spanish empire in preventing Russia from southern expansion from Alaska.
A close up of the Gaspar de Portola figure.
A wide view of the scene. Like many historical wax museums, Spirit of Monterey uses narration and lights to tell a story. Guests follow each scene as it lights up and then dims. This doesn't allow much for stragglers, as people need to keep up with the tour.
This scene from the defunct National Presidential Wax Museum shows William Penn receiving the land grant from King Charles II in 1681.
In this photo we see Williams Penn holding the grant when the previous, vintage photo had King Charles holding the paper. I suppose that during the nearly forty years of the museum's existence Mr. Penn finally got a hold of it.
A clergyman I guess. Penn's namesake state had the greatest religious freedom of any territory.
King Charles II. He gave Penn the land grant just a few years before his death.
A guard stands by.
A larger view of the tableaux. Not counting the wall, the set is pretty small.
A sign off to the side gives information on the scene.
Here we see the upstairs residents of Goldie's Place at Knott's Berry Farm. This one seems to have her hand bound, but I think that it is just to keep her arm up. A bit risque for a family theme park, Goldie's Place does add a bit of authenticity to the Ghost Town area of the park.
The second of the two upstairs figures hides elusively behind the window. These two figures are best viewed at night when the interior lights come on.
As you can see, the figures are barely visible in the daylight hours. Unfortunately, the Goldie's Place sign is obstructed by the Wreath as this photo was taken during Christmas time.
One last detail. This is the kicking leg that is on the side of this Board and Batten building. Along the alley is the pathway to Sad Eye Joe's jail cell.
Knott's Berry Farm is famous for their peek-in ghost Town scenes. Here we see Goldie's Place, Knott's very own house of ill repute. The building has recently been torn down for a major remodel, and is scheduled to be rebuilt. These photographs show the place before the demolition.
The ladies of the night. This picture was taken after dark, when the building's interior lights were on. Though the detail is not quite as good on these figures as some of the other buildings, the mannequins do offer an idealized view of these women.
A close up of one of the figures with its red feather boa.
This is the most prominent figure. Could this be Goldie?
The front door of Goldie's Place. They won't do much business with that huge lock preventing people from entering.
Goldie's Place
A house for 'ladies of the night' was a permanent fixture in most mining towns, so our Ghost Town would not be complete without this building. Goldie has the only parlor in town and it is decorated in shades of her favorite color, red.
Goldie's Place was built in 1940, and is copied after an old building standing in Bodie before much of that town was burned out.
