When I saw Pete Berthoud’s recent blog post reproducing a review of Madame Tussaud’s from the 1880s this prompted me to look out a Souvenir Brochure from the very same place that I had acquired from a charity shop a few years ago.
The brochure isn’t dated but it was produced sometime between 1928 to 1935. The first Madame Tussaud’s was in Baker Street until 1884 when it moved to Marylebone Road. In 1925 it unfortunately burned down but was reopened 3 years later in 1928. The brochure’s Foreword comments on the fire in the third paragraph from the bottom.
The next plate refers to “His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales” who later became Edward VIII and we all know what happened to him.
On this occasion the last set shows “Madame Tussaud the Foundress of the Exhibition” standing next to The Sleeping Beauty.
i also have this one… its an amazing item for a madame tussauds fan like me!
greetings from vienna!
Hi Joanna,
I was interested to come across this post as I'm currently researching Mme Tussauds for the talk I have to give at my interview for the Westminster guiding course.
Above you say that "The original Madame Tussaud's in Baker Street burned down in 1925…" but it was actually the original Marylebone Rd building that caught fire. See Guardian archive article http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2010/apr/28/madame-tussauds-fire.
The exhibition moved from original premises in the Baker St Bazaar to Marylebone Rd in 1884. That building – Druce's Depository – was destroyed in the Blitz. See: http://www.westendatwar.org.uk/page_id__7_path__0p2p.aspx
Thought the above might be of interest. I think it's accurate.
It's a fabulous brochure though – I'm jealous 🙂
No doubt bump into you again at some point.
Jenny (Jane's friend and fellow LA).
Thanks Jenny. I have no idea how I got this wrong as even the link that I have put in for "1928" says the same as you do.
I hope the interview goes well and I look forward to hopefully seeing you as a Westminster Guide in the future.