Movieland Wax Museum, a 43 year-old landmark in Hollywood, has been closed
since October of 2005. Over 400 people lined up on an unusually windy and cold
March 11, 2006 to bid in an auction of items from the Museum’s archives and
displays. The bidders were on-line, on the phone and standing in front of the
auctioneer waving cards.

The big sale was an 18 foot replica of
Michelangelo’s’ David which went for $120,000. The replica of his Pieta
sculpture that went for $90,000. Other highlights include Elizabeth Taylor as
Cleopatra ($25,000), Elvis Presley in his ’68 Comeback Special leather outfit
($14,000) and Christopher Reeve as Superman ($16,000).

Even with these
big sales, the publicity tended to center on the $34,050 paid for the set and
cast of the original Star Trek. It was purchased by Los Angeles restaurant owner
Mark Anthony. He was the same bidder who, in 2002, paid about $6,000 more to buy
a tunic worn by William Shatner in a Star Trek episode.

The auction also
featured props from movies and other Hollywood memorabilia. On a side note, a
figure of the late actor James Doohan as Star Trek’s Scotty was in the
auction. His son Chris was in on the bidding, but when it went to $4,200 he had
to drop out.