Movieland Wax Museum- Dinner at Eight

This figure of Jean Harlow is from the 1933 motion picture Dinner at Eight. Considered Hollywood's first platinum blonde, Harlow quickly became a major star, but died tragically at the age of 26. This movie highlights Harlow's sex appeal, as she was one of the most popular leading ladies of the 1930's. Harlow died in 1937 of a kidney disease.

The tableau with flash on shows how the lighting really set the mood for the scene. The set is filled with light colored props and dressings, allowing the lighting to better recreate such an intimate setting.

Without the lighting, you'd think this was Harlow's preserved corpse. A little too much make-up was applied to the figure.

Some of the props from the set. For some reason they remind me of my grandmother's house. All the props and the set sold at the auction for a combined $2900. This includes the beaded curtain and chandelier(not shown), as well as the couch and end table.

The clapboard giving more information about Jean Harlow and Dinner at Eight. Jean Harlow's wax figure sold at auction for $7,250, a relatively large amount.

View more information on Jean Harlow here.

Tags: Movieland Wax Museum Wax Figure Wax Jean Harlow

National Wax Museum of Lancaster County Heritage- Old Swimming Hole

This scene from the once glorious National Wax Museum of Lancaster County Heritage, shows how local kids survived the summer heat in Lancaster County. Whether it was fishing, swimming, or swinging from a rope, the kids here seem to really enjoy the satisfaction of cool water quenching the scorching heat. This first photograph shows the tableau in its heyday, with clean water and children that did not have broken hands and grime on them. The museum, which closed in December, was hopefully going to relocate its collection somewhere else in Lancaster County, but I suppose these effort failed. Now, almost all of the figures and sets will be auctioned of on May 19th. So any of you history fans out there can own your own wax figures (actually, vinyl).

This boy had been swinging into the water for nearly forty years.

This boy looks like it has been a rough forty years for him also.

He used to hold something in his hand, but his thumb broke off. Luckily, using the traditional Amish invention of electrical tape, he is as good as new.

Except for the bad peeling on her legs and feet, this young girl seems to have held up pretty well.

This kid, who was fishing in the first picture, lost his pole and gained some wear and tear.

One kid who made it into the water isn't looking too good now. I get raisin fingers after a half an hour. This kid was in there forty years.

Except for the first picture, all photos are from Jennings Auction Group.

Tags: Discover Lancaster Lancaster County Wax Museum Wax Figure Amish Swimming Hole

Knott's Ghost Town- Toy Shop

Like many of the peek in scenes at Knott's Berry Farm, this toy shop is easily missed. Inside, you'll find several figures enjoying the shop and its toys. These figures are not exactly top notch wax figures. They seem to be typical mannequins dressed up in period clothes. The child's hair looks very fake. There is still a charm to this scene.

The outside of the toy shop shows just how small it is.

Another figure inside the shop. She looks more detailed than the child, but is clearly just a fiberglass type mannequin.

Visit the Knott's Berry Farm Website here.

Tags: Knott's Berry Farm Wax Figure Ghost Town