Madame Tussauds Hollywood

Location: 6933 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028 (Next to Grauman’s Chinese Theatre). Phone: (323) 798-1670.

If you have a passion for celebrity culture—whether that includes keeping up with the latest gossip or idolizing film and sports stars—then visiting Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in Hollywood is an exciting opportunity. Although you might not meet your heroes in person, you can snap memorable photos alongside their lifelike wax figures.

However, if the world of celebrity is not your thing, the admission fee of $19.95-$30.95 may not be justified.

Overview of Madame Tussauds Hollywood

Website: www.madametussauds.com/hollywood

Hours: Open daily from 10:00 AM – 8 PM. During summer (Memorial – Labor Day), open until 10 PM. Ticket sales stop one hour before closing. Closed for the Oscars.

Admission: Adults $30.95, Children (ages 4-12) $22.95, and kids 3 and under are free. Check online for discount options.

Parking: No parking validation is provided. Valet parking under the museum is available at $15. You can park at Hollywood & Highland for $2 for two hours with validation from the Visitor Center or any H & H business, after which it’s $1 every 15 minutes up to a $15 maximum.

Public Transport: Take the Red Line to Hollywood & Highland.

Admission is also included in the Go Los Angeles Card.

Background of the Museum

Opened in August 2009, Madame Tussauds Hollywood quickly became a landmark due to its prime location next to the famous Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. This Hollywood site is the 9th location for the renowned Madame Tussauds wax museums, which began as a traveling exhibit from France in the late 1700s. The permanent museum in London was established in 1835. Over the decades, the museums have depicted not only celebrities but also infamous figures throughout history.

In Hollywood, the exhibits celebrate the stars of today and yesteryear, from the red carpet entrance where visitors can imagine themselves being interviewed by Joan Rivers to various themed sections showcasing actors, singers, athletes, and directors from the realm of entertainment.

Exhibits at Madame Tussauds

The museum features different themed areas, including:

• A-List Cocktail Party: Join wax figures of celebrities like Elton John and Jennifer Aniston.
• Spirit of Hollywood: Admire stars from the Golden Era of cinema such as Fred Astaire and Bette Davis.
• Cinematic Characters: Interact with representations of iconic characters, including Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra.
• Additional Galleries: Explore themes from Westerns, Crime, and modern classics to Sports and Action Heroes.

While not all wax figures are perfect replicas, the craftsmanship behind them is noteworthy, and the experience can still be enjoyable even if you aren’t a fan of the personalities featured.

Visitor Experience

Unlike other wax museums, Madame Tussauds Hollywood encourages guests to engage closely with the figures. You can pose and interact, making for a fun photo opportunity with the likes of Cameron Diaz or Kobe Bryant. The museum is designed to immerse visitors in a variety of settings with the stars, creating memorable experiences.

Spanning three stories, visitors begin their journey on the top floor and descend through various galleries. Photography is not only allowed but encouraged, with several stations for souvenir photos featuring popular characters.

Before leaving, you have the chance to get your hand cast in wax and browse the gift shop for memorabilia.

Trivia about Madame Tussauds Hollywood

• 50 unique figures debuted exclusively at Madame Tussauds Hollywood, including Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and Bruce Willis.
• Tom Hanks appears three times: as Forest Gump, in Castaway, and at the Academy Awards exhibit.
• Queen Elizabeth holds the record for the most reproduced figure, yet her likeness is not present in the LA exhibit.
• Each wax figure requires about four months to create using approximately 500 accurate measurements.
• Most figures are crafted from real human hair and include clothing donated by the celebrities themselves.
• Michael Jackson famously swapped jackets with his wax figure during a visit, later wearing it at the MTV Music Awards.