tailieunhanh - MADAME TUSSAUDS HOLLYWOOD TIMELINE

There is a whole genre of “celebrity” biography that focuses on the rich and famous, the influential, or the notorious, and within this category an entire sub-genre devoted to movie-stars and other Hol- lywood types. They can range from the sleazy and sensational to the more complex, hefty literary film studies, or historical biography— the latter varieties seeking to situate the biographical subjects in the social, cultural, or literary context of the times in which they lived, without sparing the gossip. This is what makes the literary and film biography of the British actor Victor McLaglen (1886-1959) so fas- cinating and appealing. | MADAME TUSSAUDS HOLLYWOOD TIMELINE 1761 Madame Marie Tussaud is born as Anna Maria Grosholtz in Strasbourg France. Marie s father had passed away before she was born and her mother went to work for physician and brilliant wax modeller Dr. Philippe Curtius in Switzerland. 1765 Curtius had established himself as a wax sculptor in Paris and in 1767 the young Marie joins Curtius in Paris. Noting her artistic talent he trains her in the skills of wax modelling. 1770 Curtius Salon de Cire is the must-see attraction in Paris. His Caverne des Grands Voleurs featuring macabre material gives way later to the Chamber of Horrors. 1778 Curtius exhibition attracts visitors from all nations including royalty and reflects contemporary events. At age 17 Marie models a wax figure of Voltaire from a sitting in Paris. In 1780 Marie is invited to be the art tutor to the royal household at Versailles where she glimpses opulence and splendour. 1783 Marie models Benjamin Franklin and gives this description of him in her memoirs . the frankness of his air the wisdom of his observations and the correctness of his conduct made a most forcible impression upon the reflecting portion of the Parisians. 1787 Marie models figures of the French Royal Family - Louis XVI Marie Antoinette Madame Royal and the Dauphin. 1789 The French Revolution begins. Revolutionaries demand the wax heads of the Duke of Orleans and Necker the people s heroes from Marie and Curtius to parade in peaceful protest however the parade turns violent when the King s troops panic and open fire. On July 14 decapitated heads of French Governors are taken to the Salon de Cire . The courageous Marie makes death masks from the heads rather than risk the mob wrecking the exhibition if she refuses. 1793 On January 21 Marie is commanded to make a death mask from the guillotined head of King Louis XVI and in October of that year a death mask of Marie Antoinette. Marie also goes to sketch the Queen s execution and faints. 1794 During .