http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/homepage/article_721621.php

Note: The LA Times article reports that admission is now just $5 until it closes.

QuikQuote: She and 35 co-workers learned Tuesday morning that on Oct. 31, the Movieland Wax Museum will close its Beach Boulevard location. In its place will be an entertainment center/pizza parlor.
The museum was a fixture in Buena Park's entertainment corridor, drawing out-of-town visitors and movie stars during its 43-year run.
But declining attendance, changing entertainment tastes and competition led to the decision to close the museum, Movieland owner Rodney Fong said.

Wax museums are something I've never understood. I've never actually gone to one out of interest (nor has anybody I know). It is always as a lark. "Hey, what is the silliest, most touristy thing we can do."

They definitely seem like a product of a different time. So, what we need is a wax museum museum.

I have seen both the New York City and Las Vegas versions of Madame Toussauds's wax museums.

The quality and life-like appearance are vastly superior to any of the Movieland Wax Museum displays, and superior to Hollywood Wax Museum (near Grauman's Chinese Theater).

Supposedly, the Movieland statues were done via photographs, whereas the Toussaud statues were done via life-masks of the real persons.

I highly recommend the NYC and LV museums.
It IS worth the price of admission (the admission fee is why I nearly chose not to see it). -- Pay the admission price. See it. It is something rare and exceedingly well done.

Of course, since the new price is $5, I shall certainly visit MOVIELAND one more time before October 31st.
I might squeeze in RIPLEY'S "B.I. or N.", while I am there.
Hey! I might squeeze in KNOTTS SCARY FARM as long as I am in Orange County.

And, they say, down the street, on Harbor Boulevard, there's a mouse with his own kingdom . . .
;)

We visited once about 12-15 years ago. At the time, the price of a ticket was almost as much as going to Disneyland for the day. I want to say it was $25 or more? I thought it was a total waste of money for the price and we never went back.

Adrienne

Lived here all my life and never been. I have no interest in going even to a really good one like Tussads, I just don't get it.

I've been the Madam Tousseaud's in Victoria, Canada, and it really is a step up from any other, but I still don't understand the appeal.

Vintage Attraction Takes Final Bow

Movieland Wax Museum says, “Thanks for the Memories”

BUENA PARK, CA. - Opened in 1962 with a dedication by beloved Silent Film “Sweetheart” Mary Pickford, Movieland Wax Museum has enjoyed hosting millions of fans of both the large and small screen for more than 40 years. Showcasing more than 300 wax celebrities in a tribute to the World of Entertainment, the vintage attraction takes its final bow October 31, 2005.

Many of your favorite stars and authentic movie sets will be traveling north to join the West Coast’s premier wax museum in San Francisco. The Wax Museum at Fisherman’s Wharf not only presents a galaxy of dazzling stars, but also depicts all aspects of life, enveloping more than 2000 years of the history of mankind. Sport’s Heroes, Royalty, Master Artisans, US Presidents, great Religions of the world, Pulitzer and Nobel Prize Winners, as well as the splendor of King Tut’s Tomb are all showcased in custom sets, many enhanced with informative narrative. And of course, no wax museum is complete without its bone-chilling Chamber of Horrors!

At the same time, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Museum, Movieland’s companion attraction located directly across the street, will also close its doors on their exhibits of the Lifestyles of the Bizarre and Beautiful. Opening at 12:34:56 pm, on 7-8-90, this “Odditorium” has astounded visitors for 15 years with a collection of unbelievable curiosities presented with unique “show biz” flair.

As Movieland and Ripley’s lower their final curtain, they also lower their admission price, allowing fans an opportunity to visit the museums right up to their final closing day for the sensational “Last Chance” price of $5.00.

Just one block from Knott’s Berry Farm, Movieland Wax Museum is located at 7711 Beach Blvd., in Buena Park, CA, and Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Museum is directly across the street. Movieland Box Office hours are weekdays 10 am to 6 pm and 9 am to 7 pm on weekends. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum box office hours are weekdays 11 am to 5 pm and 10 am to 6pm on weeekends. Both museums will be open everyday of October, rain or shine!!

It's kind of sad. I've had countless out-of-town visitors that I've taken to the Movieland Wax Museum over the years (though admittedly, none in the past 5 or so years), and they always seemed to enjoy it, as I did.

I actually thought the "stars" sculpts were rather nice.

But I suppose it is a relic of the old days when "dioramas" were still a popular touristy thing to do. Nowadays few seem to be interested in the simpler things like this, and want only WOW major hi-tech DO-IT-TO-ME rides and such.

And with Madam Tussuad's in most major cities now and their productive marketing techniques, the chances are that most folks that have an interest in these things, have already visited one of those, and this baby in Buena Park just doesn't pull 'em in anymore.

But I suppose it is a relic of the old days when "dioramas" were still a popular touristy thing to do. Nowadays few seem to be interested in the simpler things like this, and want only WOW major hi-tech DO-IT-TO-ME rides and such.

Well, to be fair, for the most part when such things as wax museums and dioramas were at their peak popularity they were the WOW major hi-tech DO-IT-TO-ME rides and such. People didn't like black and white silent movies because was a calmer more thoughtful form of entertainment but because it was the best the technology offered.

I can see high resolution images of Queen Elizabeth any time I want, seeing the wax version doesn't seem to provide much additional information.

I do remember that we went to a wax museum on my families first trip to California back in 1985. The turnaround point of that trip was Great America in San Jose so it must have been a Bay Area one and I'm pretty sure it wasn't the one at Fisherman's Wharf. I wonder which it was.

It is so sad to see this classic piece of cheese closing. If you've never been you must go! It is wonderfully tacky! It's currently only $5 to get in and 50% off everything in the gift shop. Don't let this SoCal landmark close without seeing it. Not only do you get the wax figures you also get a replica of the statue David and B- list footprints in cement out front. Herve Villacheze anyone? For those previous people who scoff at the whole concept I was there on Saturday to see easily 1,000 people in a line that snaked around the whole courtyard.

I drove down to Buena Park today and paid my five dollars to see the museum one last time.

In summary, it is good that it is closing.
In comparison with NYC and LV versions of Madame Tussaud's wax museums, the MOVIELAND WAX MUSEUM is second rate.

I looked at the displays.
The figures look like wax figures.

The skin does not look real.
The shine or translucence was too much.
Why don't they apply makeup?

The expression on the face (the smile and the eyebrow position) look like those of dummies in a retail store.

The skin tones turn dark.
For example, in the BONANZA display, Little Joe Cartwright looked like to be of Afro-American heritage, or a like a seriously-sunburned cowboy.
Same with Ed Asner (Lou Grant).
(Where is the makeup man/woman?)

There were some good ones.
JOHN WAYNE looked super.
CATHERINE ZETA JONES looked just like CATHERINE ZETA JONES.

The selection was disappointing.
By "selection" I mean the choices of what to keep and what to update.

One example.
They still have Tyrone Power in "Blood and Sand."
Tyrone Power? "Blood and Sand"?
Why???

Another example.
I like William Powell and Myrna Loy in the THIN MAN series of movies. -- I have seen all THIN MAN movies, this year and last year. I rented them because the first one in the series was sufficiently amusing to suggest that the movies were good ways to spend two hours.
But for a wax museum in 2005 to have a display of Powell & Loy and their dog Asta, does not speak well of choices made to draw customers to a wax museum.

Another example.
The three Barrymores. John; Ethyl;Lionel. -- Okay.
But worth keeping as figures after 1970? I don't think so.

DREW BARRYMORE-- That might have been an interesting display.
But no DREW to be found anywhere.
A curious choice of what not to display.

Another example.
SLIM SUMMERVILLE and ZASU PITTS -- A popular pairing in the 1930s (I think), but meaningless to wax museum fans in 2005.

The museum took down one of the most memorable of the displays.
Do you remember FRED MCMURRY in "Flubber" (i.e., "The Absent Minded Professor")?
There used to be a display of FRED MCMURRY in his 1930s automobile above the visitor's eyesight, moving on a track (simulating the effect of FLUBBER, a lighter-than-air substance).
That display was NOT there! Why not?
Why are the memorable displays taken down?

The POSEIDON ADVENTURE diorama was okay, but if you know the movie, then you would expect SHELLY WINTERS in the display along side RED BUTTONS (husband of SHELLY WINTERS in the film).
Where was SHELLY WINTERS???

A lot of square footage was used up in the diorama for the Fortress of Solitude for SUPERMAN (Christopher Reeve). Why so big?
Why did that diorama rate so much room when the action heros (JACKIE CHAN and CHUCK NORRIS got about 3 x 3 worth of space?

There were so many that were so far off that you could not tell who the star was that was being depicted.
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER and JACK NICHOLSON and SYLVESTER STALLONE were so bad.

I will cease my report.
I could go on.
But you get the idea.

I chose to NOT add a visit to RIPLEY'S BELIEVE OR NOT MUSEUM because the MOVIELAND dioramas reminded me how un-appealling the RIPLEY re-creations were, last time I saw it.

In closing, let me repeat:
The Las Vegas version and New York City version of M. Tussaud are top quality, lifelike, and sensibly posed and displayed. Pay the admission fee. It is exceptional.

After my trip, I visited DCA and DL.
(To get the bad taste out of my mouth?)
Then I see that CHICKEN LITTLE head! Oh, no!

The last time I had been was in 1990 when Mr. Pooh and I were dating. We got the requisite picture with George Burns.

I can barely remember it, but I know it had changed since I last saw it in the early 80's. It was magical then, in 1990 it was just ok.

To hear it had gone so far downhill was sad. I like wax museums, but I could not tell you why. I guess because they were somewhat magical when I was a kid. Haven't been to one since that trip in 1990. Maybe the acctraction for me was that I grew up with a sister who has always been mad for old movies, so a lot of what was displayed I actually "got".

David Koenig's article today said that some of the Movieland figures will be sent to SF's wax museum. I haven't been there in years either, wax museums creep Piglet out.

The museum took down one of the most memorable of the displays.
Do you remember FRED MCMURRY in "Flubber" (i.e., "The Absent Minded Professor")?
There used to be a display of FRED MCMURRY in his 1930s automobile above the visitor's eyesight, moving on a track (simulating the effect of FLUBBER, a lighter-than-air substance).
That display was NOT there! Why not?
Why are the memorable displays taken down?

If memory serves me, the automobile from that diorama was the actual car driven by Fred MacMurray in the films. Perhaps at some point Disney asked for it back?

Fred and the car were there, hanging from the ceiling above the area where Walt Disney stands....

I got a photo of it today, they are currently being uploaded to my album.....

I drove down to Buena Park today and paid my five dollars to see the museum one last time.

In summary, it is good that it is closing.
In comparison with NYC and LV versions of Madame Tussaud's wax museums, the MOVIELAND WAX MUSEUM is second rate.

I looked at the displays.
The figures look like wax figures.

The skin does not look real.
The shine or translucence was too much.
Why don't they apply makeup?

The expression on the face (the smile and the eyebrow position) look like those of dummies in a retail store.

The skin tones turn dark.
For example, in the BONANZA display, Little Joe Cartwright looked like to be of Afro-American heritage, or a like a seriously-sunburned cowboy.
Same with Ed Asner (Lou Grant).
(Where is the makeup man/woman?)

There were some good ones.
JOHN WAYNE looked super.
CATHERINE ZETA JONES looked just like CATHERINE ZETA JONES.

The selection was disappointing.
By "selection" I mean the choices of what to keep and what to update.

One example.
They still have Tyrone Power in "Blood and Sand."
Tyrone Power? "Blood and Sand"?
Why???

Another example.
I like William Powell and Myrna Loy in the THIN MAN series of movies. -- I have seen all THIN MAN movies, this year and last year. I rented them because the first one in the series was sufficiently amusing to suggest that the movies were good ways to spend two hours.
But for a wax museum in 2005 to have a display of Powell & Loy and their dog Asta, does not speak well of choices made to draw customers to a wax museum.

Another example.
The three Barrymores. John; Ethyl;Lionel. -- Okay.
But worth keeping as figures after 1970? I don't think so.

DREW BARRYMORE-- That might have been an interesting display.
But no DREW to be found anywhere.
A curious choice of what not to display.

Another example.
SLIM SUMMERVILLE and ZASU PITTS -- A popular pairing in the 1930s (I think), but meaningless to wax museum fans in 2005.

The museum took down one of the most memorable of the displays.
Do you remember FRED MCMURRY in "Flubber" (i.e., "The Absent Minded Professor")?
There used to be a display of FRED MCMURRY in his 1930s automobile above the visitor's eyesight, moving on a track (simulating the effect of FLUBBER, a lighter-than-air substance).
That display was NOT there! Why not?
Why are the memorable displays taken down?

The POSEIDON ADVENTURE diorama was okay, but if you know the movie, then you would expect SHELLY WINTERS in the display along side RED BUTTONS (husband of SHELLY WINTERS in the film).
Where was SHELLY WINTERS???

A lot of square footage was used up in the diorama for the Fortress of Solitude for SUPERMAN (Christopher Reeve). Why so big?
Why did that diorama rate so much room when the action heros (JACKIE CHAN and CHUCK NORRIS got about 3 x 3 worth of space?

There were so many that were so far off that you could not tell who the star was that was being depicted.
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER and JACK NICHOLSON and SYLVESTER STALLONE were so bad.

I will cease my report.
I could go on.
But you get the idea.

I chose to NOT add a visit to RIPLEY'S BELIEVE OR NOT MUSEUM because the MOVIELAND dioramas reminded me how un-appealling the RIPLEY re-creations were, last time I saw it.

In closing, let me repeat:
The Las Vegas version and New York City version of M. Tussaud are top quality, lifelike, and sensibly posed and displayed. Pay the admission fee. It is exceptional.

After my trip, I visited DCA and DL.
(To get the bad taste out of my mouth?)
Then I see that CHICKEN LITTLE head! Oh, no!

Good points here. Lots of them. But something I should say. I just read the article by David on the main page. Obviously he has some of the same memories that I have had of the place. How about the area that you walk into, that can be called intermission, that lets you bypass the horror section? They used to have a souvenier stand there that would put your faces on dollar bill posters. Now all they have is cheap cheesy games. Which can easily be made up for when you walk to the next section and hear the music from what I think was the Sundance Kid right there across from where Andy Griffith was. The horror section isn't what it used to be. Granted there are A LOT of figures there that don't even look like their counterparts and shouldn't even be there. And as David said, too many of them are just standing around like some sort of a police line up. Like they just ran out of room. And speaking of room, in regards to one comment you made, granted the Superman area has lost a lot of its appeal. But think back to when that first opened. It was really popular and looked great. But they just haven't kept it up. I went there earlier this year around Springtime, and the flubber car was there, but just wasn't moving. Let's face it. The place is seriously rundown, and has just taken a back seat to Disney and Knotts. It just isn't as fun anymore. But it will be kinda sad to see it go.


And maybe its just the video gamer in me, but if I saw that chicken little head in person over there at DCA, I'd get the urge to shoot it with a bow and arrow. lol

Hey Dark, awesome pics of the Wild Animal Park. But I see you went back in February. My gf and I went last month before the Summer hours ended and were there all day long. Rode the railway 3 times. Morning, sunset, and after dark. Awesome trip. And we got to see the new lion camp exhibit which was real nice. And it was such a different feel and atmosphere there after dark. I wanna go back there again next spring when the butterflies are there. Perhaps try out the campout. We took some pics, but they're just not as good as yours. She took some on here cellphone, and I took some on a little disposable. This xmas, I'm gettin a digital camera. :)

Still uploading, but here are 2 photos of Fred McMurray and the auto..

http://darkbeer.smugmug.com/gallery/919424/15/41954102/Large

http://darkbeer.smugmug.com/gallery/919424/15/41954106/Large

I will admit this.
The wax museum did motivate me to see or re-see a couple of movies just to confirm (or re-live) the scene.
***
"TWO WOMEN" (Sophia Loren) -- The movie earned Sophia Loren an Academy Award.
The wax display used to have two sentences from the movie playing, as an audio enhancement.
Now the scene is silent, like the 99% of the other wax scenarios.
To recap: In WW II Italy, Sophia Loren is the widowed mother of a 13 year old girl, and while fleeing, they take refuge in a bombed-out church.
The scene shows Sophia Loren holding her bruised and bloodied daughter, both of whom had just been raped by Moroccan soldiers.
The sentence I had remembered includes the line, "Look at her. She is worse off than dead."
Last week, when I visited the wax museum, the scene was there, but no audio overlay.
Too bad.
I missed hearing it.
I rented the movie to see the actual scene, and to hear the actual lines.
I wanted to see what earned an Acadamy Award.
***
I got on NETFLIX and ordered "DRACULA" because I have never seen the whole thing.
***
I saw Lon Chaney's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (the B&W silent version).
The wax scene is a cop-out. -- The wax phantom is not as ugly as the movie phantom.
***
I've got to rent "Perfect Day" (1929, LAUREL AND HARDY) because I remember reading elsewhere that the scene in the was museum is not actually from the movie, but a generic catastrophe chosen just as a representative sample ending of Laurel & Hardy kind of movies.
***
In closing.
What would have been nice to see again is THE PALACE OF LIVING ART.
Do you remember?
They did 3-D re-creations of famous paintings.
How long did that last?
When did they take that down?
***
That's it.

I may swing by the HOLLYWOOD WAX MUSEUM near GRAUMAN'S CHINESE THEATER just to compare.
I've been to the San Francisco wax museum, at Fisherman's Wharf, but it has been too many decades ago to remember any impressions, good or bad.
If someone remembers the S.F. wax museum, I'd like to hear how IT is holding up, quality-wise, maintenance-wise.

I will admit this.
The wax museum did motivate me to see or re-see a couple of movies just to confirm (or re-live) the scene.
***
"TWO WOMEN" (Sophia Loren) -- The movie earned Sophia Loren an Academy Award.
The wax display used to have two sentences from the movie playing, as an audio enhancement.
Now the scene is silent, like the 99% of the other wax scenarios.
To recap: In WW II Italy, Sophia Loren is the widowed mother of a 13 year old girl, and while fleeing, they take refuge in a bombed-out church.
The scene shows Sophia Loren holding her bruised and bloodied daughter, both of whom had just been raped by Moroccan soldiers.
The sentence I had remembered includes the line, "Look at her. She is worse off than dead."
Last week, when I visited the wax museum, the scene was there, but no audio overlay.
Too bad.
I missed hearing it.
I rented the movie to see the actual scene, and to hear the actual lines.
I wanted to see what earned an Acadamy Award.
***
I got on NETFLIX and ordered "DRACULA" because I have never seen the whole thing.
***
I saw Lon Chaney's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (the B&W silent version).
The wax scene is a cop-out. -- The wax phantom is not as ugly as the movie phantom.
***
I've got to rent "Perfect Day" (1929, LAUREL AND HARDY) because I remember reading elsewhere that the scene in the was museum is not actually from the movie, but a generic catastrophe chosen just as a representative sample ending of Laurel & Hardy kind of movies.
***
In closing.
What would have been nice to see again is THE PALACE OF LIVING ART.
Do you remember?
They did 3-D re-creations of famous paintings.
How long did that last?
When did they take that down?
***
That's it.

I may swing by the HOLLYWOOD WAX MUSEUM near GRAUMAN'S CHINESE THEATER just to compare.
I've been to the San Francisco wax museum, at Fisherman's Wharf, but it has been too many decades ago to remember any impressions, good or bad.
If someone remembers the S.F. wax museum, I'd like to hear how IT is holding up, quality-wise, maintenance-wise.