Hollywood Turns 125: Hollywood Wax Museum Helps Sponsor Birthday Celebration

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Hollywood Joe

Cup of Hollywood JoeHappy Birthday to the Entertainment Capital of the World. That’s right. Hollywood turns 125 on February 1st, 2012, and boy has she grown!

From a single orchard of fig and apricot trees to a major movie empire with over 200,000 residents and 20 million visitors per year, Hollywood deserves quite a party. And, the scoop from Hollywood Joe is that she will have it this Wednesday, February 1st.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is celebrating Hollywood’s 125th Birthday with a Ace of Cakes Star Duff Goldman Celebrates Hollywoodnetworking mixer that is open to the public from 4 to 7 pm in the courtyard at Hollywood & Highland.  Admission is $10 for members and $20 for non-members.  They’ll have appetizers from California Pizza Kitchen and The Grill at Hollywood & Highland and guests will get gift bags from L’Oreal, who also created a special “Hollywood Red Carpet #125″ lipstick. And, what would a birthday be without cake? Hollywood’s will be an amazing custom creation from the Ace of Cakes himself, Duff Goldman of Charm City Cakes West.

The Chamber is taking RSVPs so make sure to sign up and be there to meet Hollywood Joe, take a picture with Elvis (from the Hollywood Wax Museum), and network with Hollywood’s network. Happy Birthday Hollywood!

 

Posted in Hollywood Attractions, Hollywood Celebrities, Hollywood Encounters, Hollywood Entertainment, Hollywood Joe, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Walking in Hollywood | Tagged , , ,

Celebrity Style Report: Belted Dresses a la Marilyn Monroe

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Hollywood Joe

Wanna look like a star? Zen College Life blogger Jemima Lopez tells you how with her special guest post. Take it away Jemima!

Girly, fun, feminine fashion is definitely all the rage for Spring 2012.

With the slouchiness and almost alien-looking trends of the past couple years, it is a breath of fresh air to see designers turning a more playfully sexy leaf this season.

Pippa Middleton's Sexy Belted Dress
Pippa Middleton’s Unforgettable Belted Dress

One of the best ways to re-create these girlish silhouettes is to take a pencil skirt or a puffy mid-length skirt or dress and belt your waist tightly. Pair with a form-fitting top and heels, and head out the door.

The belted waist has a always given off a sex kitten vibe. Just look at Marilyn Monroe. Her iconic slim-fitting look from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes has become a metaphor for sexy.

Marilyn Monroe's Belted Dresses are In Fashion

For more inspiration, check out the very ladylike belted dresses rocked by Pippa Middleton and Taylor Swift (whose retro looks are gorgeous to behold at Stylebistro.com.) Recently, many models and celebrities have been by Whowhatwear.com sporting belts as integral parts of their looks too.

Taylor Swift at the Teen Choice Awards

Jemima Lopez is a freelance blogger and writer who writes for Zen College Life, the directory of higher education, distance learning, and best online courses. She welcomes your comments at her email: lopezjemima562@gmail.com.

Thanks for sharing, Jemima!

Post your favorite night-on-the-town styles on the Hollywood Wax Museum’s Facebook page. We’d love to see you strut your stuff!

 

Posted in Celebrity Fashion Trends, Celebrity Red Carpet Appearance, Celebrity Sightings, Hollywood Celebrities | Tagged , ,

Making of a Movie Premiere

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Hollywood Joe

Hollywood Joseph (a wonderful Hollywood Wax Museum employee) and guest blogger offers a jolt of joe just for you–starring a celebrity sighting of the lovely and funny Anna Faris.

Guest post from Hollywood Joseph:

Hollywood Joseph Meets Actress Anna Faris

Anna Faris Stops for a Photo with Hollywood Joseph

If you had told me that I was going to meet Anna Faris tonight, I wouldn’t have believed you. But, on my way to my favorite Middle Eastern restaurant, Habibi Cafe, in Westwood Village (yes, that’s near UCLA), I ran into a movie premiere unfolding.

Publicists before premiere of What's Your Number in Westwood

Publicists Waiting for Their Celebrities

 

Check out the scene before the premiere of “What’s Your Number?” at the historic Regency Village Theater (a.k.a. Fox Village Theater). The publicists were all gathered on the red carpet waiting for their celebrities to arrive. It seemed they mostly held stuff for their clients, like purses and already chewed gum, while the stars posed for pictures.

What's Your Number Premiere at the Landmark Fox Village Theater

I thought it would be fun to get a celebrity autograph while I

Dave Annable at premiere of What's Your Number in Westwood

Dave Annable Almost Stole My Pen!

was there. So, I asked Dave Annable (remember him Brothers and Sisters–I miss that show!) He came off the red carpet, and I handed him a pen. When he was done signing, he walked away without giving it back to me. I yelled, “my pen, Dave!” He brought it back and said with a smile, “I was actually going to keep that as a souvenir.”

All in all, a great Hollywood encounter with a bonus of awesome Baba Ganoush (roasted eggplant, tahini sauce, garlic, olive oil and lemon) and Atayeh (Egyptial crepes with stuffed with walnuts and syrup). Gotta love LA!

Thanks for this guest post, Joseph. We can’t get enough of your Hollywood nights insight.

Share your celebrity encounter. What has a star said to you?

 

 

 

 

Posted in Celebrity Autograph, Celebrity Red Carpet Appearance, Celebrity Sightings, Hollywood Celebrities, Hollywood Encounters, Movie Premiere Night | Tagged , , , ,

“Alien Actor” Bill Blair sets Guinness World Record for Most Special Effects Characters

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Hollywood Joe

Bill Blair - Arrives at the event in full special effects makeup

Our own Hollywood Joseph (a great Hollywood Wax Museum employee) was there when actor Bill Blair was honored at the famous Los Angeles attraction, the Guinness World Records Museum in Hollywood, for his record breaking career portraying special effects characters on the big screen. Joseph took these picture of Blair, whose rather unique career started back in 1989. He has portrayed 202 characters in movies and television that have required him to wear special makeup and/or prosthetics. Some of his most notable appearances include parts in Star Trek – Deep Space Nine and Babylon 5.

Blair’s ability to sit patiently for hours during makeup applications has given him an upper hand in the world of special effects character acting. Blair was quoted recently at the award ceremony for his record breaking career as saying “I like to tell people that I started training for this type of thing when I was a child, because I would love to sit in front of the television and watch Saturday morning cartoons for hours on end, and I wouldn’t move.”

Bill Blair - Red Carpet Interviews in front of the Guinness Museum of World Records

For the red carpet event at the Guinness World Records Museum on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Blair was presented with a certificate acknowledging his record breaking career amongst a number of Hollywood celebrities he has worked with over the years. As a treat to his fans, Bill arrived on the Hollywood red carpet as a character and was trnasformed back to himself during the course of the evening.

Pic: Neko Kelly

Posted in Celebrity Red Carpet Appearance, Celebrity Sightings, Hollywood Attractions, Hollywood Celebrities, Hollywood Entertainment, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Uncategorized | Tagged , , ,

Hollywood Shoe Alert

Posted on January 15, 2012 by Hollywood Joe

Hollywood Joe here with star shoe news…

Lily Collins Sports Brian Atwood Pumps

Take a look at the show stoppers on Lily Collins at the premiere of Abduction.  These fire engine red 5 -1/5 inch pumps were designed by Brian Atwood who shows a cigarette as inspiration for those super skinny heels. Atwood made four custom pairs of heels for Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw in “Sex and the City 2″ and created 30 more pairs for SJP’s promotional tour. We hear that Gwenyth Paltrow, Nicole Kidman and Madonna are also Brian Atwood fans, putting Ms. Collins in good company. BTW: most of the shoes in Atwood’s Fall 2011 line range from $300 to $600, but the ones with real ostrich feathers go up to $1,450.

Lily Collins plays Snow White in Mirror Mirror

Lily Collins as Snow White

What’s next for the 22-year-old Lily? She’ll portray Snow White opposite Julia Roberts in the comedy action adventure “Mirror Mirror,” coming out March 16, 2012. Of Julia Roberts, Lily says, “She plays the Evil Queen brilliantly in this creepy eerie way that you don’t know if you love her or hate her.”

What’s your pick? Lily Collins as Snow White in “Mirror Mirror” or Kristen Stewart as Snow White in “Snow White and the Huntsman” (coming out June 1, 2012)?

Posted in Celebrity Fashion Police, Celebrity Red Carpet Appearance, Celebrity Sightings, Hollywood Celebrities, Hollywood Encounters, Hollywood Entertainment, Hollywood Joe, Movie Premiere Night | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Head of Pixar, Hawaiian Shirt, and Me

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Hollywood Joe

The Hollywood Wax Museum’s Hollywood Joseph met a legend and guest posts about it here:

With our beautiful weather and all, you see a lot of people walking around Hollywood wearing Hawaiian shirts. But, none as important to American culture as John Lasseter. You might be saying John who? Well, if the name Pixar rings a bell, or Toy Story, Cars, or Monsters Inc. you’ll know why this Hollywood encounter was a great one for me.

John Lassester Stops for Photo with Hollywood Joseph of Hollywood Wax Museum
Me with the Head of Pixar!

Besides being known for wearing Hawaiian shirts, even on the day he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in front of the El Capitan Theatre, John Lasseter is the man behind the creativity of Pixar films. I really admire him because he was able to make a legendary career out of something he loved–drawing cartoons.

And, talk about talent… he was in the same animation class with Tim Burton at the California Institute of Arts in 1975. But, when he got his first job at The Walt Disney Company, he had to work his way up to being a Skipper on the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland before getting into their animation department.

Now, he’s the chief creative officer of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios. He also helps design attractions for Disney’s theme parks.

Definitely a great experience to meet him. Honestly, I felt speechless. After we took the picture, he asked me to look at it to make sure I liked it. Can you believe that! Wish I had worn my Hawaiian shirt!

Have you ever had your pic taken with a star? Please share! Post on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hollywoodwaxmuseum.

 

 

Posted in Hollywood Encounters, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Walking in Hollywood | Tagged , , , , ,

World’s Most Tattooed Woman Visits the Hollywood Wax Museum

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Hollywood Joe

Julia Gnuse, Most Tattooed Woman with Guinness World Records Museum General Manager Lon Casey, who showed her where she appears in the 2012 Guinness Book of World Records

Julia Gnuse, The world’s most tattooed woman, made a recent visit to the Hollywood Guinness World Records Museum.   She was visiting our Los Angeles Entertainment Attraction to shoot an interview with a German television station.

Current and Former Most Tattooed Women Record Holders

Ninety five percent of Gnuse’s body is covered in ink.

Her body art passion was inspired by a skin condition she suffers from called porphyria, a skin disorder similar to lupus where exposure to sunlight leaves the body scarred.  In a creative way to cover this up, she decided to have her whole body and face completely tattooed. Her tattoos include flowers, frogs, unicorns and even Hollywood celebrities like Lucille Ball and the Beatles.

Julia Gnuse has reported estimates that she spent over than $70,000 on her body art.   In the past, she worked as a courier and a cookie now she has developed a business making personal appearances. World's Most Tattooed Woman at The Guinness World Records Museum

Posted in Guinness World Records Museum, Hollywood Attractions, Hollywood Entertainment, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Uncategorized | Tagged , , ,

Hollywood Entertainment Attractions Give Back and Give Thanks

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Hollywood Joe

Hollywood Wax Museum Staff Holiday Greetings and GivingThe management and staff at of all our Hollywood-themed entertainment attractions would like to wish our wonderful customers and fans a Happy, Happy Holiday.   As we celebrate the season, we want to share how we give back, as giving year-round is part of our commitment to the communities where we operate.

For our Hollywood attractions, Hollywood Wax Museum, Starring You – Our Hollywood Walk of Fame Photo Attraction, and Guinness World Records Museum, Hollywood, California, we gave away $37,982.20 in tickets, benefiting 614 organizations.  The beneficiaries of those tickets were great organizations including A Special Wish Foundation, Inc., American Heart Association, Boys & Girls Club, Hollywood Arts, Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), Oasis of Hollywood, PADRE Foundation, Special Olympics Southern California, Wheels for Humanity, and Fisher House.

For our Branson, Missouri attractions Hollywood Wax Museum, Castle of Chaos, Hannah’s Maze of Mirrors, and Shoot for the Stars Mini-Golf, we gave away tickets valuing over $18,000.00, benefiting over 400 non-profit organizations.  Groups that received tickets included The Warner Children’s Foundation, Missouri School for the Deaf, 30 Different Big Brother & Big Sister programs, American Heart & American Stroke Associations, Tantone Industries (Sheltered Workshop), Generation Rescue’s  “A Day for Shay and Pals”, MS Walk, Aids Project of the Ozarks, Cox Health Foundation, American Cancer Society, St. Mary’s Catholic School, and Council of Churches of the Ozarks.

We are so thankful for our visitors, beneficiaries, and our wonderful communities where we work!  Have a wonderful, happy, healthy holiday.  We hope to see you at one of our attractions in 2012!

Hollywood Wax Museum – Hollywood, California

Starring You – Hollywood Walk of Fame Photo Attraction

Guinness World Records Museum, Hollywood, California

Hollywood Entertainment Center, Branson, MO:

Hollywood Wax Museum – Branson, Missouri

Castle of Chaos, Branson, Missouri

Hannah’s Maze of Mirrors, Branson, Missouri

Shoot for the Stars Mini-Golf, Branson, Missouri

 

 

Posted in Branson Museum, Hollywood Attractions | Tagged , , , , , ,

Discount VIP Tickets Available as Ripley’s Opens New Show on Hollywood Boulevard

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Hollywood Joe
Ripley's Reopens on Hollywood Boulevard with Renovated Show
Tej Sundher of Hollywood Wax Museum with World’s Tallest Man at Ripley’s

This hot tip from Hollywood Joe will save you money! Great idea for holiday fun too!

Ripley’s Believe it or Not Odditorium has re-opened on Hollywood Boulevard after two months of renovation. The colorful new galleries offer over 350 exhibits and lots of interactive fun.

Hollywood Joe had a chance to preview the new show today with Tej Sundher, owner of the Hollywood Wax Museum across the street. As a veteran in the attraction business, he was impressed with the updates and glad to be working with the company to give Hollywood visitors a great deal on combo tickets to the Hollywood Wax Museum, Guinness World Records Museum, and Ripley’s. Adults can now enjoy all three Hollywood Boulevard Icons for $27.99, and kids tickets (ages 5-12) are only $16.99.  Guests who buy on-line also receive a free Walk of Fame Guide ($5 value).

You won’t want to miss the new Marilyn Monroe collection, the amazing miniatures of Willard Wigan (visible by microscope), or the animatronic world’s tallest man, Robert Wadlow. When he stands up from his chair (see above photo), you get to experience the full impact of his 8-foot, 11-inch height. We also loved the Star Wars characters made completely from scrap metal car parts. Each model was assembled by a master welder in Thailand and weighs several hundred pounds.

Stars from Cars is a New Ripley's Exhibit on Hollywood Boulevard

See you in Hollywood, and may the force be with you!

Posted in Hollywood Attractions, Hollywood Entertainment, Hollywood Joe | Tagged , , , , ,

Carson Daly’s Mystery Interview on Hollywood Boulevard

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Hollywood Joe

When you’re walking in Hollywood, you never know who you might see or what they might be doing.

Today, Hollywood Joe ran into Carson Daly interviewing a guy who was playing guitar in front of Express at Hollywood & Highland, right down the block from the Hollywood Wax Museum.

Carson Daly Interviews Dylan Chambers on Hollywood Boulevard

As you can see from his sign board, the guitarist/singer was Dylan Chambers, who was trying to sell his CDs on the street for $10. After doing a bit of research, we found that Dylan recently moved to LA from Texas with his friend Todrick Hall, a Season 9 American Idol finalist.

Carson Daly Interviews Street Musician at Hollywood & Highland

We also discovered that Dylan has been active in the LA music scene, recently performing with Rumer Willis (daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis) at The Parlor on Melrose in Hollywood.

Dylan Chambers Plays Guitar on Hollywood Boulevard with Carson DalyBut, the big mystery remains about why Carson was talking with Dylan on camera.

Will he be a contestant on The Voice? Will he be appearing on Last Call with Carson Daly?

Carson is known for launching music careers, so maybe Dylan Chambers is somebody to watch!

Check out his video here:

Do you think Dylan Chambers will be a star? Please share your thoughts!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Celebrity Sightings, Hollywood Encounters, Hollywood Entertainment, Hollywood Joe | Tagged , , , , ,