Movieland Wax Museum
Encyclopedia
Movieland Wax Museum, with over 300 wax figures in 150 sets, was the largest wax museum
in the United States
. Located in Buena Park, California
, it was one of the most popular wax museums in United States for decades. Allen Parkinson founded the museum on May 4, 1962, but sold it to the Six Flags Corporation
in 1970.
In 1975, Six Flags opened a Movieland Wax Museum clone called "Stars Hall of Fame" in Orlando, Florida
, located near the intersection of the Bee-Line Expressway and I-4, close to Sea World and just north of Walt Disney World. However, in 1984 after a drop in attendance, the Florida museum was closed and sold to publisher Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. Having no interest in the museum but an interest in the land alone, Harcourt sold off the exhibits to the American Musical Academy of Arts Association and turned the property into a showroom for the company's educational materials.
On April 1, 1985, the Six Flags Corporation
sold the California-based Movieland Wax Museum to Fong & Paul Associates, the owners of the world famous Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf
in San Francisco. Twenty years later, on October 31, 2005, after forty-three years in business and 10 million visitors, Movieland closed.
In the museum's heyday, several actors and actresses attended the unveilings of their wax likenesses, and even went so far as to donate costumes to be worn by their likenesses, accompanied with sets replicated from well-known movie scenes. Movie themes and sound effects also added to the authenticity of the museum. A movie clapperboard
on each set included the name of the wax figures and facts about the movie, props, costume, and the person whom the wax figure was modeled on.
Many of the wax figures and sets from the Movieland Wax Museum were auctioned off in March 2006. http://www.octhen.com/2006/02/movieland-wax-museum-closing-down.htm
The former Starlite Gift Shop in front of the museum is now a Starbucks Coffee.
The Starprint Gallery, with handprints and footprints of celebrities in cement, dating from the early 1980s, still exists on the front part of the property.
The tall tower sign, pictured on the right, is the tallest sign in Orange County, California. It still exists on the property.
The Movieland Wax Museum property was purchased by the City of Buena Park
in May 2007.
Wax museum
A wax museum or waxworks consists of a collection of wax sculptures representing famous people from history and contemporary personalities exhibited in lifelike poses....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Located in Buena Park, California
Buena Park, California
Buena Park is a city in northwestern Orange County, California. As of Census 2010 the population was 80,530. The city is adjacent to the city of Anaheim and is 12 miles northwest of downtown Santa Ana. The Current OMB metropolitan designation for Buena Park and the Orange County Area is "Santa...
, it was one of the most popular wax museums in United States for decades. Allen Parkinson founded the museum on May 4, 1962, but sold it to the Six Flags Corporation
Six Flags
Six Flags Entertainment Corp. is the world's largest amusement park corporation based on quantity of properties and the fifth most popular in terms of attendance. The company maintains 14 properties located throughout North America, including theme parks, thrill parks, water parks and family...
in 1970.
In 1975, Six Flags opened a Movieland Wax Museum clone called "Stars Hall of Fame" in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, located near the intersection of the Bee-Line Expressway and I-4, close to Sea World and just north of Walt Disney World. However, in 1984 after a drop in attendance, the Florida museum was closed and sold to publisher Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. Having no interest in the museum but an interest in the land alone, Harcourt sold off the exhibits to the American Musical Academy of Arts Association and turned the property into a showroom for the company's educational materials.
On April 1, 1985, the Six Flags Corporation
Six Flags
Six Flags Entertainment Corp. is the world's largest amusement park corporation based on quantity of properties and the fifth most popular in terms of attendance. The company maintains 14 properties located throughout North America, including theme parks, thrill parks, water parks and family...
sold the California-based Movieland Wax Museum to Fong & Paul Associates, the owners of the world famous Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf
Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, California
Fisherman's Wharf is a neighborhood and popular tourist attraction in San Francisco, California. It roughly encompasses the northern waterfront area of San Francisco from Ghirardelli Square or Van Ness Avenue east to Pier 35 or Kearny Street...
in San Francisco. Twenty years later, on October 31, 2005, after forty-three years in business and 10 million visitors, Movieland closed.
In the museum's heyday, several actors and actresses attended the unveilings of their wax likenesses, and even went so far as to donate costumes to be worn by their likenesses, accompanied with sets replicated from well-known movie scenes. Movie themes and sound effects also added to the authenticity of the museum. A movie clapperboard
Clapperboard
A clapperboard is a device used in filmmaking and video production to assist in the synchronizing of picture and sound, and to designate and mark particular scenes and takes recorded during a production...
on each set included the name of the wax figures and facts about the movie, props, costume, and the person whom the wax figure was modeled on.
Many of the wax figures and sets from the Movieland Wax Museum were auctioned off in March 2006. http://www.octhen.com/2006/02/movieland-wax-museum-closing-down.htm
The former Starlite Gift Shop in front of the museum is now a Starbucks Coffee.
The Starprint Gallery, with handprints and footprints of celebrities in cement, dating from the early 1980s, still exists on the front part of the property.
The tall tower sign, pictured on the right, is the tallest sign in Orange County, California. It still exists on the property.
The Movieland Wax Museum property was purchased by the City of Buena Park
Buena Park, California
Buena Park is a city in northwestern Orange County, California. As of Census 2010 the population was 80,530. The city is adjacent to the city of Anaheim and is 12 miles northwest of downtown Santa Ana. The Current OMB metropolitan designation for Buena Park and the Orange County Area is "Santa...
in May 2007.