robbalvey Posted October 19, 2005 Share Posted October 19, 2005 Movieland Closing News Article Movie wax museum melting into past LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Southern California's Movieland Wax Museum, opened in 1962 by silent-film star Mary Pickford, is closing its doors -- a victim of the thrills and spills of huge theme parks and action-packed video games. The owners of the museum, one of the largest in the world and home to more than 300 wax celebrities, said the attraction would take its final bow on October 31. "Times have changed," Rodney Fong, president of the family-owned museum, said on Wednesday. "Trying to compete as a small attraction in the Southern California area has become tougher and tougher." The Movieland Wax Museum is a block from Knott's Berry Farm theme park in Orange County and a short drive from Disneyland, both of which have expanded dramatically in the past 20 years. The popularity of graphic video games may also have played a part in the museum's meltdown. "It is a static display and I think the younger generation wants flash images and a lot of things happening in 30 seconds," Fong said. Many of the wax figures depict movie and TV stars of a bygone era although the museum has added celebrities like Catherine Zeta-Jones and Britney Spears in recent years in a bid to attract more tourists. Fong said some 10 million to 20 million people had visited the museum since 1962 but he declined to give recent attendance figures. Many of the exhibits will be moved to the Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco but the Movieland site is likely to be redeveloped as a pizza restaurant. More info here: http://www.movielandwaxmuseum.com/ Becoming a pizza restaurant?!?!? While I haven't been there in YEARS, we used to go when I was a kid. Sad, but then again, who goes here? --Robb Creepy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnome Posted October 19, 2005 Share Posted October 19, 2005 Sad, but then again, who goes here? I don't know. But it is sad to see it go, but then again nobody really does go..... At least Po` Folks is still around! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebl Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 Thank goodness for Po' Folks! I need to go back there...it's been a few years. Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoshiFan Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 I don't believe they are blaming video games as part of the reason it has become less popular. Some wax museuems are still popular so I think there are other reasons, maybe it hasn't been updated in a while to have newer wax models with people who are popular today?. Madame Tussads in NYC was jammed last time I was there and everyone including kids seemed to be having a good time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnome Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 Or maybe the simple lack of advertisement has to do with it. I mean, its not like its in hollywood so people flock to it, just because its a hollywood wax museam in hollywood. So that could be a start, but then it might not help either way. But w/e. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 I wonder if they'll auction off the figures. That would be awesome/creepy as hell to have in your home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blazen_AZN Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 The popularity of graphic video games may also have played a part in the museum's meltdown. there balming you robb! how come everything nowadays is balmed on video games? I'm suprised noone has said that iraq was full of terrorists because of 'graphic video games' it's sad to see this place go though, even if i dont think ive ever been there (i'm not sure though). im sure if i have, i'd be having nightmares about wax people for years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meteornotes Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 I was in there over ten years ago, as some computer graphics company had rented the place out for a trade show event. I thought it was really creepy and it seemed sort of dirty and run down back then, so I can only imagine what it's like now. I don't think it will be missed... dt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 OMG - I was there I guess the second year it was open - 1963 @ age 10. Then, I revisited in 1975 @ age 22. My my. Was fun to go thru. Things change, somewhat, sometimes, huh? Pizza restaurant, hmm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nursemelis374 Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 I am sad that this is closing. My family always enjoyed going every couple of years and I went 2 years ago. I am hoping I can make it there before it closes for good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
America Sings Freak Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 I have never been to the wax museum, but i have been to Po' Folks and am very glad to see it staying open But what would happen if the pizza thing happens hmmm. Pizza vs. Po' Folks I wonder how that will turn out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
America Sings Freak Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 I am double posting for the fun of it (here all of the emotions i have because of wax museum closing the first one i feel the most) :o :? :shock: :o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wackyboxer Posted October 21, 2005 Share Posted October 21, 2005 I'm really sad to hear about this. I was on the construction crew that built what was then known as the "Black Box" addition (sci-fi movies mostly) to the museum back in 1982. To think that it's going to be redeveloped into a pizza parlor is just so awful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpengeist04 Posted October 21, 2005 Share Posted October 21, 2005 I'd like to put a bid on the Jennifer Lopez. Did I just write that. :shock: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Six Posted October 21, 2005 Share Posted October 21, 2005 I am double posting for the fun of it (here all of the emotions i have because of wax museum closing the first one i feel the most) :o :? :shock: :o ??? Although its sad; I'm not suprised. The last few times I've been there its been empty. And 2 of those times were during summer. _six Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XANAX: The Ride Posted October 21, 2005 Share Posted October 21, 2005 I'm really sad to hear about this. I was on the construction crew that built what was then known as the "Black Box" addition (sci-fi movies mostly) to the museum back in 1982. I was there last during this time, I think. Wasn't there a huge ad campaign with “WhatEVERherNAMEwas Syndrome”??? This female character was supposed to be scared as hell in the ad and her hair was all sticking straight up and out and she had a screaming look on her face. About a year ago, I found myself getting a coffee (decaf, thanks) in the same parking lot that the MLWM shares. The side of the museum was in major disrepair. This is a sad thing – it closing – I guess, but then again I don’t like to celeb hound, so why would I want to see wax versions of them? ~Xan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momo1tx Posted October 21, 2005 Share Posted October 21, 2005 Mmmm... pizza. But really, while it's always sad to see roadside stops like this close, wax museums never had much of an appeal to me. The idea of celebrities in wax never seemed that special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Benny Posted October 21, 2005 Share Posted October 21, 2005 Wow.. that's so sad. I only went there once and I don't remember much of it becaus I was only 6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J man Posted October 21, 2005 Share Posted October 21, 2005 Hey I walked by that place! It was between my hotel and Knotts. That's too bad though. I never got to see what all was inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnome Posted October 21, 2005 Share Posted October 21, 2005 yeah, its very mixed fillings. I'm sad, yet I'm not... :? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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