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Millions and millions of people have flocked through
the doors of Madame Tussauds since they first opened
over 200 years ago and it remains just as popular as it ever was
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There are many reasons for this enduring
success, but at the heart of it all is
good, old-fashioned curiosity.
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Today’s visitors are sent on a unique, emotionally-charged
journey through the realms of the powerful and famous.
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The museum-style ropes and poles have gone so
guests can truly get up, close and personal with
A-list celebrities, sporting legends, political heavyweights and historical icons, reliving the times, events and moments that made the world talk about them…
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From France to Britain
The attraction’s history is a
rich and fascinating one, with roots dating back to
the Paris of 1770. It was here that Madame Tussaud learnt to model wax likenesses under the tutelage of her mentor, Dr Philippe Curtius.
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At the age of 17, she became art
tutor to King Louis XVI’s sister at the Palace
Of Versailles and then, during the French Revolution, was hastily forced to prove her allegiance to the feudalistic nobles by making the death masks of executed aristocrats.
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Madame Tussaud came to Britain in the early
19th century alongside a travelling exhibition of revolutionary relics
and effigies of public heroes and rogues.
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Bringing The News to Life
At a time when
news was communicated largely by word of mouth, Madame
Tussauds’ exhibition was a kind of travelling newspaper, providing insight into global events and bringing the ordinary public face-to-face with the people in the headlines.
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Priceless artefacts from the French Revolution and Napoleonic
Wars brought to vividly life events in Europe which
had a direct bearing on everyday lives.
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Figures of leading statesmen and, in the Chamber
of Horrors, notorious villains put faces to the names
on everyone’s lips and captured the public imagination.
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In 1835, Madame Tussauds’ exhibition established a permanent
base in London as the Baker Street Bazaar -
visitors paid ‘sixpence’ for the chance to meet the biggest names of the day. The attraction moved to its present site in Marylebone Road come 1884.
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In the 20th century Madame Tussauds’ role began
to change. Thanks to the rapid growth of both
popular tabloid press and public literacy, information about current events was easily acquired.
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The attraction gradually, therefore, became less a source
of direct news, than a commentary on popular celebrity.
It also came through some major upheavals, surviving near destruction by fire (1925), earthquake (1931) and World War II ‘Blitz’ bombing (1940.)
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Today, Madame Tussauds is bigger and better than
ever, combining its diverse history with the relentless glamour,
intrigue and infamy of 21st century celebrity.
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And then there are the more contemporary, more
interactive stars. Kate Moss, alongside whom you can pose
for the cover of a glossy fashion mag, the biggest names in entertainment, sport and politics are all dazzlingly represented; authentic down to the very last eye lash….
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Madame Tussauds continues regularly to add figures that
reflect contemporary public opinion and celebrity popularity – Bollywood
kings like Shah Rukh Khan; Hollywood sirens such as Nicole Kidman; pop idols Timberlake and Minogue.
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The attraction also continues to expand globally with
established international branches in New York, Hong Kong, Las
Vegas, Shanghai, Amsterdam and Washington DC soon to be joined by new outlets in Berlin (July 2008) and Hollywood (2009) – all with the same rich mix of interaction, authenticity and local appeal.