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I think we can all agree that few things say “DC” more than Whoopi Goldberg. Why who could forget Whoopi hosting TNT‘s “A Very Special Christmas From Washington, DC” back in 1998?
So I guess it should come as no surprise that Madame Tussauds chooses to sit Whoopi outside their museum almost EVERY SINGLE DAY. I wonder though if they’d be better served by occasionally switching it up? I certainly understand not putting George Clooney out there as Mrs Columbo might wander off with him. But what about Honest Abe? Too macabre with the proximity to Ford’s Theatre? Maybe another former President instead, or is that a bad idea in an election year?
Who knows, maybe in London they stick Chris Tarrant outside instead of Ricky Gervais, or Winston Churchill?
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Comments
My vote is for Abe and Whoopi to switch off their diplomatic host duties outside. He can talk govt history/policy and she can tell the jokes. 
Maybe Madame Tussauds would do better if they didn’t charge such an absurd entry fee, and added a discount for Penn Quarter (or at least DC) residents.
There are a ton of free high quality museums, and the few great private museums are unique to DC (Phillips, Spy Museum). Tourists are being careful with their $$ and time. Let’s give some credit to tourists for not falling to an obvious trap.
You know, I never even had any desire to visit Madame Tussaud’s when I lived in London, but at least it’s a tourism institution there. Why they thought it would translate to DC, of all places, I fail to comprehend. Never been, never going.
I went the first weekend when they were charging a lot less.
It’s largely a photo-op experience. There are props — Union or Confederate jackets to don while sitting next to Lee as he surrenders.
IMHO, the creepiest was the option to sit next to Lincoln in a facsimile of the Ford’s theatre box where he was killed.
It’s touted as an interactive experience – if you see a drawer or door open it, a phone – pick it up. A button to launch a missile attack? push it. Guests are encouraged to touch the figures. The guide said that they had to clean lipstick off George Clooney every night — didn’t say from where.
A co-worker took her 12 year old son to Tussaud’s the other weekend and he loved it. (It was a full day, they went to visit the Colbert portrait at NPG and tour the Spy Museum first.)
There is a market here, but probably not as much as was envisioned.
I wonder if the Newseum will have the same pricing issues. It’s going form being free in Virginia to being pricey in the district.
Would love to hear from “insiders” whether Newseum is going to be worth the price of admission? What will tourists think? What will cynical and well-informed DCers think?
Why so much hate? Why do the readers of this blog feel the need to poo poo everything?
Not every establishment in town in meant for you to enjoy. A restauarant might not be to your liking. The style of clothes at at shop might not be to your taste. You might classify a tourist attraction as tacky. But that doesn’t mean it does not belong here!
Opening a new business is a crazy expensive venture. You better believe that Madam Tussauds or Asia 9 or any other business has done a great deal of market surveying before they gave the go-ahead. And if they were incorrect in their predictions, they will know it sooner than later.
I think Madam Tussauds — or any “pay” attraction/museum can only do good for the city. There are plenty of people who visit this city who want to explore something relatively simple — and have no interest in the Building Museum or Museum of the American Indian.
Do I think they are silly? Yes. Will I support them — YES! Because they are my neighbors. And they have made the investment to help revitalize the SAME neighborhood WE have decided to make out home.
So, stop the hate. And the whining and complaining. Its very tiresome. And counterproductive.
Thank you, #10. When I discovered this blog last summer, it was full of great information about the happenings in this neighborhood. It still has the great info, but it has an unhealthy side of mockery, derision, and complaints about anything and everything. Expressing opinions, both negative and positive, is great, but we people need to be more constructive.
Business models aside, I am happy that the opening of MTs allowed that corner of the Woodies Building to be completely cleaned up and rehabbed.
I agree with #10 and #11. I stumbled onto this blog about two weeks after it went up. I have learned a great deal of information about our neighborhood in that time, from the posts and the comments.
But, in the last few months, I try to avoid clicking on the comments for almost all posts because it is just complaining anymore. Whine, moan, and complain has replaced valuable information.
As for the wax museum, I went last weekend and had a great time. Yes the admission is costly, but it is not something I am going to go to several times. For a one time visit, I didn’t mind paying the fee.
I don’t know why #6 credits tourists for not falling into an “obvious trap.” First, MT invests a great deal of money in its museums. This is not a Coney Island operation. MT is a well-respected tourist attraction. Methinks #6 has not even been inside MT.
Second, by giving credit to people not spending their money there, it sounds like #6 wants MT to fail. You think that’s good for the PQ? Maybe you’re ready to invest in a business in the PQ with a better idea?
The same writer (in #9) is starting to do a number on the Newseum even before it opens. I think the number of “cynical DCers” is small. In any case, they are not necessarily “well informed.”
It makes me cringe when I see people trashing new businesses investing in our city, particularly in our neighborhood. Jeez, some welcome!
And #10, what a great posting. Right on target!
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Madame Tussauds doesn’t seem to attract the crowds we originally expected. Here’s a suggestion for them:
http://mr-t-in-dc.livejournal.com/198354.html