Thursday, December 31, 2009

Spirit of Monterey Wax Museum- Ohlone Chief

Here we see a really nice wax figure of one of the Ohlone natives, presumably the tribe's chief. Notice the headdress, and the staff.


With flash we can see in more detail how elaborate the figure is dressed.


This is a close up of the highly detailed figure. This is perhaps the best sculpted figure in the entire museum, and definitely one of my favorites.

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Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Musée Conti- Return to Basin Street

Thanks to Houses of Wax reader Purple Peanut for these recent pictures from Musée Conti's Basin Street tableau. As you can see, the scene looks similar to the way it did in the vintage image. The only difference is that in the background we can see the Razzy Dazzy Spasm Band. These figures used to belong to the Jelly Roll Morton scene, but are now here in the Storyville set.


The prostitute is pick pocketing the sailor, which was not clearly seen in my first Basin Street post.


A closer view of the prostitutes fighting.


And a close up of the action.


The taller dark hair woman seems to be losing the fight.


The red head appears more angry. Notice the tape keeping her hand connected to her arm.

Visit the Musée Conti website here.

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Tuesday, December 22, 2009

News- Sean Diddy Combs at Madame Tussaud's

This past week, Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in New York Unveiled a new wax figure of rap musician and media mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs.


The star with his wax figure.


I know, they look so real.


The real Sean Combs looks so under dressed compared to his figure.

Visit the Madame Tussaud's website here.

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Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Madame Tussauds Vegas- Johnny Depp

Standing with his hand in his pocket is Johnny Depp. Well, his wax figure anyway. Behind the figure is a pirate ship set which highlights the actors role in the Pirates of the Caribbean films.


A close up of the figure. It doesn't look like he's very happy.

Visit the Madame Tussaud's website here.

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Monday, December 14, 2009

Musée Conti- Lower Basin Street

New Orleans 1910, the main street of the red light district. Lower Basin Street is lined with taverns, saloons and prostitutes. This typical scene shows the licentiousness of Basin Street, with its brothels, and violence.


A man and a woman embracing near a window.


This close up shows two inhabitants settling a disagreement the way differences of opinions were usually settled in this neighborhood- with physical violence!

Note: these two figures bear a striking resemblance to two figures from the Paris Spectacular Wax Museum. Perhaps they came from the same mold, or are the same figures.

Visit the Musée Conti website here.

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Saturday, December 12, 2009

National Historical Wax Museum- Juliette Gordon Low

(1860-1927)

Here we see a wax figure of Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA. This figure, which belonged to the National Historical Wax Museum, shows Low in her uniform. Low developed breast cancer in 1923, and passed from the disease in 1927.


A closer view of the figure.

Thanks to Purplepeanut for this wonderful image!

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Thursday, December 10, 2009

Royal London Wax Museum- Queen Victoria

(1819-1901)

Here we see the wax figure of Queen Victoria at the Royal London Wax Museum in British Columbia, Canada. She is known as the longest reigning monarch of the British Kingdom, and the longest female monarch in history.


A close up of the wax figure sitting.

Visit the Royal London Wax Museum website here.

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Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Walter's International Wax Museum- Exterior

This image of the Walter's International Wax Museum at the 1964/65 New York World's Fair shows an artists rendering of the exterior of the building. Walter's Wax Museum was basically the same wax museum as the Paris Spectacular Wax Museum from the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. After the 1965 season, the museum received a new home down the street from Disneyland and was renamed the Wide World in Wax. However, that venture lasted just a short time before closing.

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Sunday, December 06, 2009

Potter's Wax Museum- William Caxton

(1422-1491)

This photograph from Potter's Wax Museum shows a wax figure of William Caxton, the first English printer. His printing press made possible many of the printed works of the Elizabethan era. Caxton continued printing his whole life, even hours before his death.


A close up of Caxton using his printing press.

Visit the Potter's Wax Museum's website here.

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Friday, December 04, 2009

Madame Tussaud's- The Beatles

Perhaps the greatest Rock n' Roll group of all time, the Beatles are seen here in a vintage Madame Tussaud's tableau. This is a representation of the early beatles, and many museums have created figures of the group from their various stages with Sgt. Pepper being the most surreal.


George sits above the rest of the band.


John stands beside the piano listening.


Ringo holds his drum sticks while Paul plays the piano. Just being able to tell the figures apart (not so easy with other Beatles figures) shows how talented Madame Tussaud's is in creating realistic wax figures.

Visit the Madame Tussaud's London website here.

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Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Historial de Touraine- Saint Martin

Saint Martin, Bishop of Tours and founder of the Abbey of Marmoutier, blesses the young Patrick, who will leave to evangelize Ireland.


A closer view of the two saints. Such incredible detail in this museum which is part of Musée Grévin in France, and is located at Chateau Royal 25 av. Andre-Malraux , France.

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Monday, November 30, 2009

Hollywood Wax Museum- Matthew McConaughey

You might not recognize him with his shirt on, but this figure from the Hollywood Wax Museum is movie star Matthew McConaughey. This is the Hollywood gathering section of the museum, perhaps an awards show, or a movie premiere, and Mr. Maconahay stands ready to get his picture taken.


Another view of the figure.

Visit the Hollywood Wax Museum website here.

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Saturday, November 28, 2009

Tussaud's London Wax Museum- Alice in Wonderland

Fantasy is an often overlooked subject for wax museums, and the genre has slowly been removed from most museums. However, here we see Alice in Wonderland represented at the Louis/Josephine Tussaud's London Wax Museum in St. Petersburg Florida.


The evil Queen of Hearts.


The King of Hearts along with the back of Alice's head. It's unfortunate that there's not more scenes like this around anymore.

Learn more about the London Wax Museum here.

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Thursday, November 26, 2009

Plymouth National Wax Museum- Embarkation of the Pilgrims

This tableau from the Plymouth National Wax Museum shows the Pilgrims on their way to the new world. Before they celebrated their first thanksgiving, they had to withstand a grueling and deadly trip to America. Many people died, and their arrival only brought them new challenges.


A couple wax figures on the boat.


A few more reading the Bible.


An old woman and a child.

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Tuesday, November 24, 2009

National Presidential Wax Museum- Martin Van Buren and John Quincy Adams

In this scene from the National Presidential Wax Museum, Presidents Martin Van Buren and John Q. Adams are attending a white house reception.


Here we see President Van Buren and his daughter in-law Angelica.


John Q. Adams with possibly Daniel Webster standing behind him.

Visit the National Presidential Wax Museum website here.

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Sunday, November 22, 2009

Movieland Wax Museum- Singin' in the Rain

One of my personal favorite tableaux from Movieland Wax Museum is this magnificent display of Gene Kelly from Singin' in the Rain. With actual water falling from the ceiling, the scene is far above most wax museum scenes. The famous song plays as people view the figure.


A shot with flash shows more detail, but has less atmosphere.


A close up of Mr. Kelly.


One of the ever present clapboard signs detailing information on the movie. Notice the sign says Singing not Singin'.

The wax figure of Mr. Kelly was not sold at the Movieland auction, but the set sold for $200.

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Friday, November 20, 2009

Williamsburg National Wax Museum- Exterior

Here's an artist's rendition of the Williamsburg National Wax Museum building. Featuring over 40 scenes of American history, the museum focused on Colonial America.

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Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Calico Ghost Town- Drug Store

This is the exterior of the drug store in Calico Ghost Town. Behind the windows lies a small scene of what a shop like this would have looked like back in the silver mining days.


This figure doesn't look much like a pharmacist. Perhaps he is waiting for his medicine.


A close up of the figure.


The medicine bottles sitting on the shelf.


Information on the drug stores in Calico.


Prices of medicine in Calico.

Visit the Calico Ghost Town website here.

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