Queen's Motel

Inspired by the most recent post at the really cool Ultra Swank blog, I thought I would share some pictures of the Queen's Motel in Victorville California. Like most of my roadside signage pictures, this was taken from the passenger seat of our car while on a road trip. The elegance in the simplicity of the sign is what gives it such an appeal. too bad these are becoming so scarce.

Further back, we can see the old motel the sign advertises.

And even further back. I love how the signs contrast with the desert landscape.

Tags: Signage Victorville Queen's Motel

Movieland- Levar Burton

Here's a set from the Movieland Wax Museum featuring Levar Burton from Reading Rainbow. Mr. Burton did an episode on wax figures and had his own likeness created in wax. The whole process wax featured on the show, and this tableau was what resulted.

A larger view of the set. So many books.

Mr. Burton stands under the Reading Rainbow sign.

Levar Burton donated the jacket that the figure wears.

Posters on the wall remind kids to read.

The figure and set both sold at the movieland auction for a mere $150 each, which was way under priced.

You can visit the Reading Rainbow website here. (But you don't have to take my word for it)

For more pictures of wax museums visit Houses of Wax.

Tags: Movieland Wax Museum Wax Figure Wax Reading Rainbow Levar Burton

Marineland- Mold-A-Rama Sea Lion

I posted these pictures on my other blog, Houses of Wax a little while ago. But I thought I would share them here for anyone who doesn't read that blog. This is a Mold-a-Rama Sea Lion from the "defunct so long ago" Marineland of the Pacific. I picked this baby up from a garage sale not too long ago, and it was a killer find. The little guy has some minor cracking, but seeing as the youngest this thing could be is over twenty years old, it is in pretty good shape.

A different angle.


And from behind.

You can visit the Mold-A-Rama website here.

Tags: Marineland Mold-A-Rama Sea Lion

Movieland- Lady of the Tropics

In today's post we see the tableau from the 1939 motion picture Lady of the Tropics. Wax figures of stars Robert Taylor and Hedy Lamarr pose in this small and simple scene. The lighting on each of the the figure's faces makes them look kind of distorted and almost nonhuman. I guess not every wax figure can be perfect.

A flash picture of the same shot. Now we see all the set pieces and scenery, but the figures still look a little off.

A wider shot highlights the entire tableau. It's actually pretty cool looking, even for its small size.

A close up of Taylor and Lamarr. In 1933, Hedy Lamarr caused quite a controversy when she posed topless in the Czechoslovakian film Ecstasy. It obviously didn't hurt her American Career.

The clap board sign which gives information on the film and actors.

During the 2006 Movieland auction, the Hedy Lamarr figure sold for $1200, and the Robert Taylor figure sold for $300. The set sold for $1500.

Visit my other blog, Houses of Wax, for more wax museum pictures.

Tags: Movieland Wax Museum Wax Figure Wax Lady Tropics Hedy Lamarr Robert Taylor