Hollywood Wax Museum

The Hollywood Wax Museum is a celebrity wax museum located on Hollywood Boulevard in the tourist district of Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1965 by entrepreneur Spoony Singh, it holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating celebrity wax museum in the United States. The museum features lifelike wax replicas of film, television, music, and sports personalities, and promotes itself as the only wax museum dedicated solely to celebrities. Its original Hollywood location remains the flagship of a four-venue chain that also operates in Branson, Missouri; Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The Hollywood Wax Museum opened on February 26, 1965, drawing such crowds that the line reportedly stretched half a mile along Hollywood Boulevard. Founder Spoony Singh, a Canadian-American entrepreneur, built the museum's reputation through personal relationships with celebrities, gossip columnists, members of the foreign press association, and fans. After Singh's retirement, his sons and grandson assumed ownership and operation of the business, continuing to expand its reach. In June 2012, the Singh family received recognition as Heroes of Hollywood from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Community Foundation for their sustained support of the Hollywood community. The museum's success prompted expansion beyond California: a Branson, Missouri location opened in 1996 and underwent complete renovation in 2009, earning the Branson Beautification Award in 2011 for improvements to Highway 76. A Gatlinburg, Tennessee location opened in 2007 but closed after three years, replaced by the larger Hollywood Wax Museum Pigeon Forge in May 2012. The fourth location opened at Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in 2014.

The museum's collection spans multiple entertainment genres including film, television, music, comedy, sports, and broader pop culture. Displays range from Golden Age legends to contemporary stars, with figures regularly updated to reflect current celebrity culture. The collection emphasizes interactivity: visitors are encouraged to approach figures closely, pose with them, and take photographs. The museum provides props and accessories to enhance the photographic experience, and constructs themed environments that simulate Hollywood settings such as red carpet events, A-list parties, and fitness scenes. In addition to its celebrity figures, the museum maintains a Chamber of Horrors featuring classic and current movie monsters. The Hollywood location also offers companion attractions: Hannah's Maze of Mirrors, a reflective corridor maze, and Outbreak: Dread the Undead, a 5D interactive attraction combining 3D visuals, moving seats, special effects, and zombie-fighting action.

The museum's wax figures include representations of Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Charlie Chaplin, James Dean, Johnny Depp, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Beyoncé, Harry Styles, Zendaya, Ryan Reynolds, and Leonardo DiCaprio, among many others. The figures are crafted through a process beginning with clay modeling to achieve precise likenesses, with particular attention to facial details and costuming. The museum has appeared in several film and television productions, including The Mechanic, Cursed, and America's Next Top Model, and features in the video game Midnight Club: Los Angeles.

The original Hollywood Wax Museum occupies the Christie Realty Building at 6767 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90028. The building was designed by architect Carl Jules Weyl and constructed in 1928, predating the museum by nearly four decades. Its location places it directly along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in proximity to other landmark venues including the TCL Chinese Theatre and the Dolby Theatre. This situates the museum within the dense concentration of Hollywood Boulevard tourist attractions, contributing to its accessibility and visibility. The Branson location operates at 3030 West 76 Country Boulevard, Unit A; the Pigeon Forge location at 106 Showplace Boulevard, Unit A; and the Myrtle Beach location at Broadway at the Beach.

The Hollywood Wax Museum Entertainment Center operates 365 days per year. The Hollywood location's hours run from 9am to 10pm Sunday through Thursday, and 9am to 12am Friday and Saturday. The museum remains family-owned, continuing under the Singh family's operation since its founding. Admission packages may include entry to the companion attractions Hannah's Maze of Mirrors and Outbreak: Dread the Undead. The museum's official website is https://www.hollywoodwaxmuseum.com/, with additional information available through www.hollywoodwaxentertainment.com. The four locations collectively market themselves as the most visited attraction on Hollywood Boulevard since 1965, emphasizing their role as interactive destinations where visitors can pose with figures, use props, and learn biographical details about featured celebrities including their pets, pet peeves, side businesses, and charity work.