potzbie
11-03-2005, 04:23 PM
Yes, Virginia. -- There is a HOLLYWOOD WAX MUSEUM.
Here is a Trip Report.
***
Because of the closing of the (Buena Park, CA, Beach Boulevard) MOVIELAND WAX MUSEUM, I decided to take a chance and tour the HOLLYWOOD WAX MUSEUM.
This afternoon, I drove up Hollywood Boulevard, saw GRAUMAN'S CHINESE THEATER, saw EL CAPITAN THEATRE (where CHICKEN LITTLE IN 3-D will open tomorrow), and I did the museum, close by.
I paid for a combo admission:
For $16 I get the museum as well as (across the street) GUINESS BOOK OF RECORDS MUSEUM.
No discount for Auto Club (AAA). -- I was surprised.
Even their web site has a $2 coupon. -- Why no discount for AAA?
No, I did not get any discount or ticket for the RIPLEY'S BELIVE IT OR NOT ODDITORIUM, which surprised me.
Why was there no tie-in?
Why was the tie in to the GUINESS WORLD RECORDS MUSEUM instead?
***
Bottom line.
(Or, in Hollywood, you'd say, "Cut to the chase!")
Q. Was the HOLLYWOOD WAX MUSEUM better than MOVIELAND WAX MUSEUM?
A. In my opinion, "No."
***
The skin tones on many of the figures were dark, like they were dirty or sunburned.
Some were okay.
Where is the makeup man/woman, when you need him/her?
Certainly, there is less room in the Hollywood version to do expansive sets, like the way SUPERMAN and POSEIDON ADVENTURE or PT 109 has expansive sets in Buena Park's version.
The CHAMBER OF HORRORS was better. Not a lot better, but more threatening than Buena Park's version.
Shouldn't a chamber of horrors be grusome?
Buena Park's version was not grusome.
Hollywood's version had touches of grusome.
So, it was better, but could have been better than it was.
While walking thru the rest of the museum, I saw a number of dark booths (the displays are glassed-in, I suppose to prevent touching).
I am guessing that the empty booths are past or future displays, in maintenance.
For a museum so short of space, you would have thought that every nook and cranny would have a figure.
But no.
Q. Any memorable displays there?
A. Not really.
The cast from M*A*S*H was an unexpected display, even if the figures were just as poor quality as the rest of the figures.
They had 3 Arnold Schwarzenegger displays: One as governor, one as Terminator, and one as Conan the Barbarian.
That was a nice variation.
But the quality of the display was poor -- If you did not read the sign, I doubt you have guessed than Arnold was the person being dipicted.
***
Before I end, I should mention that the GUINESS museum was not worth the price of admission.
You'd get more milage out of buying the full book, the one with color pictures, than walking thru the GUINESS museum.
***
After walking thru those two museums, I chose to decline the opportunity of paying admission to tour the RIPLEY BELIEVE IT OR NOT ODDITORIUM.
I mentally figured that there is no way for it to be better than the two museums i just toured, given the time, place, and audience.
I saw the ODDITORUM years ago, and was not impressed then.
I did not think a 5 or 10 year gap would improve things so much so that I would have been glad or pleased to tour the ODDITORIUM.
***
In closing, if you are a tourist, or if you wish to entertain children, then, sure, there is nothing wrong with both museums.
Someone who is 10 years old, or someone who has never seen any wax museum, might like the HOLLYWOOD WAX MUSEUM.
Someone who likes lists, and who likes photos of the people who made the records, might enjoy the GUINESS BOOK OF RECORDS MUSEUM.
But as stand alone buildings, I cannot recommend then as worth visiting.
My goodness! -- If you are on Hollywood Blvd. or Sunset Blvd., there are more interesting places to visit, I would hope!
***
That is my report.
I again request that someone post their mini trip report of the San Franciso Fisherman's Wharf museums.
It has been 20 years since I've seen them.
I am curous to know the condition of those museums.
Here is a Trip Report.
***
Because of the closing of the (Buena Park, CA, Beach Boulevard) MOVIELAND WAX MUSEUM, I decided to take a chance and tour the HOLLYWOOD WAX MUSEUM.
This afternoon, I drove up Hollywood Boulevard, saw GRAUMAN'S CHINESE THEATER, saw EL CAPITAN THEATRE (where CHICKEN LITTLE IN 3-D will open tomorrow), and I did the museum, close by.
I paid for a combo admission:
For $16 I get the museum as well as (across the street) GUINESS BOOK OF RECORDS MUSEUM.
No discount for Auto Club (AAA). -- I was surprised.
Even their web site has a $2 coupon. -- Why no discount for AAA?
No, I did not get any discount or ticket for the RIPLEY'S BELIVE IT OR NOT ODDITORIUM, which surprised me.
Why was there no tie-in?
Why was the tie in to the GUINESS WORLD RECORDS MUSEUM instead?
***
Bottom line.
(Or, in Hollywood, you'd say, "Cut to the chase!")
Q. Was the HOLLYWOOD WAX MUSEUM better than MOVIELAND WAX MUSEUM?
A. In my opinion, "No."
***
The skin tones on many of the figures were dark, like they were dirty or sunburned.
Some were okay.
Where is the makeup man/woman, when you need him/her?
Certainly, there is less room in the Hollywood version to do expansive sets, like the way SUPERMAN and POSEIDON ADVENTURE or PT 109 has expansive sets in Buena Park's version.
The CHAMBER OF HORRORS was better. Not a lot better, but more threatening than Buena Park's version.
Shouldn't a chamber of horrors be grusome?
Buena Park's version was not grusome.
Hollywood's version had touches of grusome.
So, it was better, but could have been better than it was.
While walking thru the rest of the museum, I saw a number of dark booths (the displays are glassed-in, I suppose to prevent touching).
I am guessing that the empty booths are past or future displays, in maintenance.
For a museum so short of space, you would have thought that every nook and cranny would have a figure.
But no.
Q. Any memorable displays there?
A. Not really.
The cast from M*A*S*H was an unexpected display, even if the figures were just as poor quality as the rest of the figures.
They had 3 Arnold Schwarzenegger displays: One as governor, one as Terminator, and one as Conan the Barbarian.
That was a nice variation.
But the quality of the display was poor -- If you did not read the sign, I doubt you have guessed than Arnold was the person being dipicted.
***
Before I end, I should mention that the GUINESS museum was not worth the price of admission.
You'd get more milage out of buying the full book, the one with color pictures, than walking thru the GUINESS museum.
***
After walking thru those two museums, I chose to decline the opportunity of paying admission to tour the RIPLEY BELIEVE IT OR NOT ODDITORIUM.
I mentally figured that there is no way for it to be better than the two museums i just toured, given the time, place, and audience.
I saw the ODDITORUM years ago, and was not impressed then.
I did not think a 5 or 10 year gap would improve things so much so that I would have been glad or pleased to tour the ODDITORIUM.
***
In closing, if you are a tourist, or if you wish to entertain children, then, sure, there is nothing wrong with both museums.
Someone who is 10 years old, or someone who has never seen any wax museum, might like the HOLLYWOOD WAX MUSEUM.
Someone who likes lists, and who likes photos of the people who made the records, might enjoy the GUINESS BOOK OF RECORDS MUSEUM.
But as stand alone buildings, I cannot recommend then as worth visiting.
My goodness! -- If you are on Hollywood Blvd. or Sunset Blvd., there are more interesting places to visit, I would hope!
***
That is my report.
I again request that someone post their mini trip report of the San Franciso Fisherman's Wharf museums.
It has been 20 years since I've seen them.
I am curous to know the condition of those museums.