Visiting Madame Tussauds Hollywood

Each year I attend TCM Film Fest I find myself running up and down Hollywood Blvd. to the various theaters while paying little attention to what’s around me. Like Madame Tussauds. Located adjacent to the Chinese Theatre I’ve passed by it numerous times without going inside. I decided this year would be different so between screenings (and armed with a complimentary pass) I popped inside to check it out.

When I was young I would visit Movieland Wax Museum in Buena Park and it was a strictly hands off affair. You would walk a circuitous route and look at the different dioramas but there was absolutely no touching (save for a photo op with George Burns at the end). Madame Tussauds Hollywood is the exact opposite. It’s all about the photo op. You can sidle right up the figures and take as many pics as you want. As such, dioramas are minimal and the focus is on the figures themselves.

Hey Conan!

Before visiting, I assumed the museum would be filled with contemporary famous folks so imagine my surprise when I discovered a plethora of classic stars!

Bob Hope? George Burns? Bette Davis? Marlena Dietrich, is it really you?

It is! Or at least, it’s a wax likeness of you. A pretty darn good one at that. I had a ball “hanging out” with some of my favorite actors and actresses.

As I continued on I ran into another blast from the past but this time I was alive to see it all the first time around.

The 90’s! Oh man, what a trip down memory lane! This temporary exhibition runs through May and features a number of iconic 90’s figures.

And if you really want to be nostalgic you can relive your teen years in the 90’s bedroom.

NKOTB…90210…Lisa Frank!!! How many Lisa Frank stickers did I have? Answer: a ton.

Before leaving there was one last figure to meet.

Madame Tussaud!

Did you know Madame Tussaud was an actual historical figure? She worked for King Louis XVI, survived the French Revolution, inherited a wax exhibition, moved to London and established the famous museum we know today. There are some historic artifacts on display and the history nerd in me loved learning all about this fascinating lady.

Madame Tussauds is so much more than I expected it to be. I must admit, in the past I wrote it off as another tourist trap but it’s so much more than that. I love the nod to its historic past, I’m so happy many classic, iconic stars are celebrated and it’s really fun to the approach the figures and take selfies with them. Next time I’m running around Hollywood Blvd. I’ll be sure to pay more attention to what I’m passing by.