Museum revels in ridicule of wax works
BOSTON, Massachusetts — A good roasting hasn’t caused a meltdown at Boston’s new wax museum.
Officials at the attraction say they’re embracing the extra attention brought by waves of online hecklers who have lampooned some of its less-thanflattering likenesses.
“It’s absolutely been a blessing to have all of that controversy,” said Michael Pelletz, Dreamland Wax Museum’s vice-president of sales. “Even if it’s negative press, it’s working wonderfully.”
Photos of the museum’s lifesized wax figures have been circulating online since it opened its doors in July, in some cases inspiring ridicule.
It started with a wax portrayal of President Donald Trump that some say looks more like South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham.
Then it was a statue of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady that some called “creepy”, with one online critic saying it looks like someone who “would murder you and hide the body”.
Now it’s a figure of former Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce, which one sports-news website simply said “looks like someone who’s not Paul Pierce”.
Pelletz says some of the figures aren’t perfect because they’re based on photos instead of actual measurements from the celebrities and most of the sculptors are based overseas, in London and Paris.
Some researchers say wax models inspire mixed feelings because of a phenomenon called the “uncanny valley”, an idea that people are unsettled by human replicas that look nearly but not quite real.
Some visitors have said they left feeling disappointed, not unsettled, by the statues.
“We weren’t impressed,” said Donna Mulvey, who went with her 11-year-old son for his birthday in July. “It seemed as though several of the people’s heads were small.”
Instead of driving people away, though, Pelletz says the attention is drawing curious crowds to the site.
“Pictures and videos, sometimes they don’t do it justice,” Pelletz said. “When people do come, they absolutely love it.”