Wax museum
A waxworks museum is an exhibition, in the most life-sized figures, modeled in wax, are exhibited. Usually it involves celebrities from past and present. Often the figures are also part of sceneries.
History
In the 19th century, before the cinema made its triumphant, were waxworks museums to popular entertainment venues. As with other sideshows of the time, it was permanently installed cabinets, as well as so-called "traveling cabinets " that moved from place to place. Castans panopticon in Berlin was one of the well-known German cabinets of the late 19th century with branches in other cities. The 1879 in Hamburg -St. Pauli founded panopticon is in its presentation form ( with a smaller footprint and less technical director) as well as its location on the Spielbudenplatz, which refers to the previously constructed here stands the showman, yet most comparable to these early cabinets. It was not uncommon for an employee of the exhibition visitors in guided tours to the celebrities and scenes were shown explanations.
Some cabinets are and were dedicated to special topics, such as horror cabinets, which were shown at fairs. Not all waxworks for your amusement. Some are also used, eg, for scientific purposes. A famous cabinet of a medical nature exists in Florence for more than 200 years.
The wax figures are very sensitive, therefore, used to partially robust materials such as silicone rubber. Plastination allows even today, to permanently preserve organic tissue, and make it capable of exhibition, but such exhibitions of corpses are very controversial.
View
Cabinets, To survive in the age of modern high-tech entertainment, are dependent to be based on current trends. The most famous waxworks museum Madame Tussauds is a worldwide today in London. Madame Tussauds as expanded Tussauds Group with various offshoots in the world and is now part of the Merlin Entertainments Group a global theme park company. The Cabinet in London was repeatedly extended and technically upgraded, so it goes with London taxis driving -inspired gondolas through the exhibition Spirit of London. However, some changes have been criticized. So in 2004 there was considerable dispute about the representation of the Holy Family by the family of David and Victoria Beckham at Madame Tussauds, which is rejected by some Christian circles. Was also heavily criticized the preparation of Adolf Hitler wax figure at Madame Tussauds in Berlin, when a visitor to the figure tore the head.
In the culture
Wax figures are partly been in novels and movies popular items, since you can play with real people of similarity. In The Man with the Golden Gun in 1974 as a wax figure of the main character James Bond in training obstacle course of a professional killer is found.
Perhaps the most famous film representation of a Wax Museum dates back to 1953. In the horror film The House of Wax Vincent Price plays the mannequin manufacturer who can do no right figures more after an accident, but human corpses covering with wax.
Known cabinets in Europe
- Madame Tussauds in London, Amsterdam, Berlin and Vienna
- Museo de Cera in Madrid and Barcelona
- Grevin Museum in Paris
- National Wax Museum in Dublin
- Panopticon in Hamburg and Mannheim
- Waxworks Jagodina
Known cabinets in America
- Madame Tussauds in Los Angeles ( Hollywood), Las Vegas, New York City, and in Washington, DC