Double Stars and Double Takes

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The Hollywood Wax Museum is a top-notch tourist attraction where visitors are invited to “come play with the stars.” Luckily, you needn’t be in Hollywood to experience the acclaimed museum, although they appropriately boast a location there. You’ll find it on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles where close encounters with all your cinema faves await you.

Each figure reportedly takes three months to create, employing six artists at one time. Can’t find your favorite movie star? The museum’s website allows fans to vote for the subjects of future wax figures. If 500 million others share your tastes, you just might get your wish next time you drop in!

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But don’t yawn just yet. There’s no gazing behind glass panels here. Guests are encouraged to position themselves within imaginative set pieces for selfies. They even offer an array of props and accessories to make the pics legit.

Yes, you can finally dance with Marlene Dietrich, have a few yuks with Charlie Chaplin, pose with Marilyn Monroe, flex alongside Vin Diesel and run in fear from popular characters like King Kong, The Joker, The Terminator and Frankenstein’s Monster! It’s the place where you’ll mingle with the brightest stars in the world, no matter what list you’re on.

With three other locations in the U.S., there’s no reason not to go to Hollywood. The town is magically yours to behold in Branson, Missouri, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Only one drawback, of course — Don’t expect too many autographs.

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Christopher Robinson

Stars Frozen in Time

The golden years of Hollywood saw a nearly endless legion of talented actors and beloved stars come and go. At the Movieland Wax Museum in Buena Park, California, many of those figures actually gathered and lived together for decades... in wax.

Created in 1962 by Allen Parkinson, Movieland went through several shifts in ownership but enjoyed a hugely successful run as America’s biggest wax museum and a frequent tourist attraction. Visitors could gaze at their favorite screen icons and learn about their lives and work as they strolled through the building’s many ‘sets’ designed for the ambience of their Tinseltown subjects.

Those subjects included everyone from Rudolph Valentino and Tom Mix to Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable to Jennifer Lopez. An accompanying ‘Starprint Gallery’ collected famous cement hand prints to view as well.

Inevitably, time has cast a curious shadow on some of the choices that the artists made for the subjects of their creations. Bill Clinton, Billy Ray Cyrus, Ricky Martin and the Olsen Twins are a few that might have seemed appropriate for about a week or two but now only serve to forever boggle your pop culture mind.

In 2005 the waxy star palace finally closed its doors after 43 unrivaled years. The building itself has since been demolished and will apparently be set aside for what will be the world’s largest butterfly observatory!

Now only a fantastic memory of ‘celluloid heroes’, the Movieland Wax Museum is remembered for its first-rate showcasing of those greats of the silver screen with imagination and artistry that brought it all to the masses in style.

Acknowledgement: Thank you to Daveland for use of the photos in this story. Check out his blog, photography and art at davelandweb.com.

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Christopher Robinson

A Coliseum Ya Gotta See

The construction of the Flavian Amphitheater, as it was originally known, began in 72 AD under the Emperor Vespasian. Its completion in 80 AD was overseen by Vespasian’s son, Titus.

Created from limestone and volcanic rock, the ancient ‘Coliseum’ seated 55,000 people and although partially in ruins, still stands proudly in central Rome, east of the Roman Forum. But what exactly took place within that hallowed structure?

Nothing less than spectacular mock-battles and gladiator exhibitions were staged by Rome’s elite and voraciously cheered on by the Coliseum’s throngs. Often these spectacles were preceded by grand processions and pageantry in the form of criminal executions.

Thousands of wild lions, bears and dogs were slaughtered for a pre-game show as well as turned against condemned individuals in brutal executions. As with other historical atrocities, the act of human beings feeding fellow humans to animals for the arousal of other humans would seem inconceivable were it not for its perpetuity in our collective conscience leaving us slightly desensitized.

The gladiator matches which encompassed the ceremonies’ main event saw skilled men and women fighters enter the Coliseum on foot or horseback wielding swords, shields, tridents and nets to battle their opponents until injury, stalemate or death concluded the match.

These exhibitions were carried out by fighters of varied social standings including veteran soldiers, slaves and knights who often competed to engage in combat merely for the fame, attention and honor.

Following subsequent periods where the Coliseum became a church (ironically) and fortress, it fell to lightning and earthquakes before laying derelict as a quarry, its marble and trimmings pillaged for centuries.

Restoration of the Coliseum probably began in the 1800s and continued into the 1990s. Today it boasts almost 7,000,000 annual visitors as one of Europe’s great tourist attractions.

Not surprisingly, movie crews have ventured out to this historic arena on many occasions, beckoned by its ancient aura. Some films that prominently featured the Coliseum include Roman Holiday starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn, Return of the Dragon/Way of the Dragon starring Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris and (of course) Gladiator starring Russell Crowe.

It all stands to reason... that all roads, in fact, lead to Rome.

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Christopher Robinson

Cruising for Love

One industry that seems to have been hit considerably hard by the pandemic lockdowns is that of the passenger cruise lines. New cases of Covid-19 among many Carnival and Disney crew members has led to an extension of sailing hiatuses for most lines until the end of the year with full capacity operations on hold till at least next year.

For the time being, those setting a course for adventure, their minds on a new romance will have to settle for weekly reruns of one beloved and slightly unusual TV show.

Airing for a successful nine seasons on CBS, The Love Boat debuted following three TV movies that introduced its stories centered aboard the Pacific Princess cruise liner to audiences in 1976. Produced by network wiz Aaron Spelling, Love Boat was unique as an hour-long sitcom that featured a well-cast crew of likable regulars who interacted with legendary guest stars, generally playing the ship’s romance-seeking cruise guests. Though additional cast members would appear as the series progressed, most of the original regulars remained throughout the series run.

Gavin MacLeod memorably portrayed Captain Merrill Stubing, the ship’s respected father figure and boss who is curiously never seen checking in with the bridge or consulting with deputy captains or officers. Instead, Stubing ignores all ship personnel with the exception of a cheery cruise director(Lauren Tewes), a wry yeoman purser(Fred Grandy), a sagacious ship doctor(Bernie Kopell) and a jovial bartender(Ted Lange). Stubing’s chief responsibilities seem to consist of roaming the deck to pry into his guests’ personal matters while sporting his magnificent tan.

By the third season, Jill Whelan joined the cast as Stubing’s lovable daughter Vicki. In the show’s final season, someone hatched the dastardly plan to feature a recurring team of Vegas-style showgirls dubbed The Love Boat Mermaids, who routinely took to the stage to assault evening dinner crowds with atrocious Flashdance-inspired song and dance abominations. All of it, of course, was done in the name of mindless escapism, with an emphasis on consistently light comedy and drama which was balanced in a crafty manner that kept its viewers amused and engaged.

The show’s sexual subtext is surprisingly more obvious than one might recall as the situations and dialogue prove that the preoccupation with sex on shows like The Love Boat were just as prominent as in shows today, if not more so. The difference is the veiled manner in which the era required it to be addressed as opposed to the blunt and direct language now permitted in entertainment accessible to all ages.

Sex does, in fact, seem to be a primary motivation for Stubing’s bachelor crew(Doc, Gopher and Isaac in particular), who chase skirts as though they’ve been away at sea for year-long solitary voyages.

Even as the stories’ middle-aged guest stars trade one-liners and witty banter by poolside, a parade of young scantily-clad women and men, otherwise never seen on the ship, conspicuously flaunt their bods in the near background while posing awkwardly atop the uncomfortable perimeter of the soundstage pool careful to avoid any noise or splashing.

The Love Boat’s enduring appeal may, in fact, be the impressive roster of Hollywood greats, some making final appearances, who sadly, are now mostly gone. Even more sad is noticing the many ostensibly unknown young actors and actresses appearing alongside the famous veterans who had perhaps hoped and worked towards stardom that never came, despite frequent television exposure.

Very few of the younger guest stars were, in fact, recognizable names whereas nearly all of their older co-stars had already achieved success long before. It poignantly exemplifies just how short-lived and unrealized television careers can actually be for the average actor.

Well, If all this has properly primed you for a bon voyage then I’m sorry to say you’ll have to remain ashore for a spell. Until then, the next best thing can batten down the hatches for the real deal.

Do you sometimes need to see the world through media as a substitute for being there?

In any case, good luck and save me a place at the Captain’s table!

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