Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 July 1950 — Page 15
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: Editorials | ~ World Report -
F abulous Fi igures |
e Indianapolis
SUNDAY, JULY 2, 1950
Plaza Hotel, St. Aguile « + +» Museum site.
t History Are Reproduced
Present hotel Tobby where: exhibit will open.
For Hoosier’s Million C Dollar Museum In Florida
By CIFFORD THURMAN mes Staff Writer AFAYETTE, July 1—A Hoosier - capitalist with a million. dollar hobby is bringing a new type of culture—and entertainment—to America for the first time in history. At long last, Americans will be able to stand in the hushed presence of royalty and see for themselves how the mighty monarchs of ancient Europe, their queens, the great Roman Catholic - Popes, Roman emperors and hundreds of latter day celebrities looked in real life. The million- and: -a-half dollar hobby and business venture is the" exclusive brain child of George L. Potter, LaFayette financier, builder, rancher and student of history and the arts. The United States is to have an authentic wax works museum patterned after .the internationaily famous Mme. Tusseaud’s of London. Mr, Potter's
version, however, will be twice
as big as.the 150-year-old London institution and he is sparing no expense to make his figures as authentic and life-like as is humanly possible,
L n= MR. POTTER'S wax works museum will be known as “The World in Wax” and will be located—at first—in St. Augustine, Fla. He hopes to open the exhibition by Jan, 1 with at least 60 figures and the exhibition will be increased at the rate of six figures per month until the ultimate goal of 1000 is reached. “It is something that should live,” Mr. Potter explains. “It should contribute much to American ¢ulture and educa- - tion, It should be a lasting institution of tremendous historical and educational value to the United States and our peole.” Mr, Potter, who spends the
winters in St. Augustine, ex-.
plains that he conceived the idea about three years ago upon learning that approximately 450,000 Florida tourists visited the Marine Gardens an‘nually at St. Augustine. He learned that another 300,000 stopped at the old Fort on the St. Augustine waterfront. “I decided,” he said thoughtfully, “that here was an oppor-
~—tunity-and-an-ideal-spot-for-the.-advancement of historical cul-
—ture-and the chance to provide something of lasting value to America and Americans.”
= = ‘Years of Research ONCE HE made up his mind to sponsor a wax works museum. in this country, Mr. Potter made the project a hobby, ‘a major activity and has spared . no expense in making it the epitome of perfection. For more than two years ,and at a cost exceeding $25.000, ‘Mr. Potter conducted "exhaustive research throughout Europe. He made several trips
dO. LOndOD. 10 study the famous
figures at Mme. He employed an expert staff
of researchers, historians and nthe. figures. with loving. .care.
nr iA - “They gave me no “cooperation whatever at- Mme. Tusseaud's,” he laughingly ex-
John Milton . . . English poet, political writer
plaing. “They've been the exclusive exhibitors of famous historical figures for a century and a half and want no com-
petition. 1 didn't need their
help. The World in Wax in
St. Augustide will be much
bigger, better’ and certainly more authentic.” As his hobby progressed Mr. Potter employed Gems, Ltd., of London, internationally known manufacturers of wax figures (most store window models in Europe are wax) to make the figures in cooperation with his historical experts and artists. 5 » n GEMS, LTD. is now turning out historical figurés for Mr. Potter at the rate of six each month, all that is’ possible in the tedious; hand = sculptured work necessary to meet Mr. Potter's specifications. And that is not all. The wax likenesses of the great figures of history are being authentically costumed by L. & H. Nathan of London, British ¢lothfers to the royal court. The costumes, some valued at hundreds of dollars and on “Which an American daity _some 100-peréent-is collected; are made to exact specifications of a corps of historians and re- _ searchers who studied famous -paintings in the great galleries of the ‘world for months. : So much for the beginning, the idea that started Mr. Potter’s hobby, The World in Wax
of America is no lengér a pas-. sive. -bobby.or. a-wealthy. man's.
dream. It is an institution well on its way fo permanent establishment and 10 of the fabulous, costly figures are already in Indiana. "Some of them are on stately display in. Mr. Potter's LaFayette mansion at 920 EY State St. RE
Given Loving. Care . AN EXPERT watches cover
She is Mme. Janine DeBotte, petite red-haired French beauty who was associated with Mme.
Tusseaud’'s of London for nine years. She was brought to
-America by Mr, Potter because
of her expert knowledge of wax figures “and historical background of the figures involved. “She knows how to keep their fingernails natural, their beards authentic and -how to fix the hair on the female figures,” Mr. Potter explains. Mme. .DeBotte looks upon the wax monarchs and their queens as if they were real people. With merry twinkling eyes she scolds personages like Ann Boleyn for being “naughty.” Tenderly, lovingly, she cares for them. “My kings, my queens, my very beautiful queens,” she exclaims with a delightful French accent, “they're down there in boxes, all packed away like coffins.” She was discussing the most recent shipment of figures from ems, Ltd., which are currently stored in the United States Customs Department warehouse in Indianapolis awaiting
customs clearance. Mme Deir. Potter —
Botte is—eager —f¢ “to get them home but queeek!” : = = » 5 IN MR. POTTER'S stately home here three mightly rulers of the British Empire stand majestically in the huge-draw-— ing room. In royal Fobes and
—fully ~armed with "authentic
swords ~is William the Con-
querer; 1027-1087
William wears the white robes and ‘great red cross of the Christian crusaders. Be-neath-the robes is a suit of mall and he carries a mighty sword of authentic steel. He is stately, tall and his beard is blond. ~In—-another..- -COTRET Of... the. drawing room is Richard the Lion Hearted; 1157-1199. The wax face and great black locks
=~show-cleariv-theflerceness of:
the mighty fighting king who died- of war wounds in the Seige of -Chaluz.
Of special interest is the exactness, the true-to-life expression on Richard's massive face, The makers, Mr. Potter explained, implanted thousands of heavy, black human hairs in his facé and then shaved it to leave the dark snadow of his beard. There is even the bluish tinge of the facial veins usually caused from frequent and close shaving.
Eerie Atmosphere
A SAD FIGURE in the group is King John I of the Magna Carta. King John is seated and holding the rolled parchment paper, bearing the authentic royal seal, which depicts the His lifelike exr “reflects ' the extreme sadness of his reign. The figures already in Mr. Potter's home are so real, so lifelike, that the casual visitor experiences an eerie, awesome tingle as he walks into the
drawing room. One feels, al-
most, like kneeling in. respect to -the great men present. There is an atmosphere of power and greatness in the room. -It is not hard at all to find one's self expecting to hear the booming voice of Richard, the crusading oratory of William or: the quiet wisdom of John I. There is little ‘wonder that the artists and sculpturers of Gems, Ltd., have achieved such lifelike figures, Mr. Potter explains that the hair on the figures is ‘human hair, imported into England from Italy. It can be washed and both hair and beards on the figures are frequently shampooed to maintain the natutalness. ” s ” THE EYES are manufactured by one of the greatest German optical firms. They are so perfect that #mall "red blood vessels are visible; they literally seem :o alternately stare and twinkle. obo The clothing on the figures is manufactured of the costliest of materials, metals and decorative® features. The .fur on the robes is real and an amazing feature. is that the jewels .worn by the female: figures are authentically real. The figures are even clad in costly under. garments. —Ann-Boleyn-wears-a-diamond-ring and real pearls. A total of 189 figures have already been carefully selected, researched and ordered from Gem's, Ltd. for Mr: Potter's World of Wax.
Great Americans, Too
AMONG THOSE already in Indiana, besides-the ones men-
tioned, are Xing Edward. IV.
Catherine Howard, Katherine of Aragon and Jane Seymour. The other wives of Henry VIII are expected soon. Packed ina coffin-like case
in“the customs officée—much to’
the chagrin of Mme. DéBotte—
are. William. Shakespeare, John.
Milton, 8ir- Isaac Newton, discoverer of the law ef gravity; and John Wycliffe,” They are
- London. Mr. Potter also has ordered Ferdinand of Spain, Queen Isa-
occupied... by an. American. -Rise
heavily.-insured--by--Liovd's=of=
- King Edward IV bella, Ponce de Leon, Martin Luther, John -Wesley, John Knox, Catherine de Medici, DeSoto and John Calvin, In fact, Mr. Potter emphagizes, all of the great rulers and figures of history will be represented as authentically as possible. “There'll be everything that's in Mme. Tuysseaud’'s of London, plus “500 more,” Mr. Potter assures, : Great American presidents have been ordered as well as such personages as Winston Churchill, Stalin, Ghandi, Caruso, von Hindenburg and the Kaisers of Germany and Czars of Russia. Then, too, there'll be. figures
‘of Henry Ford, Thomas Edi...s0n, Rockefeller and many-other
great Americans. ” » A SECTION of the museum will be devoted to great actors and actresses, some still living. And the children haven't been forgotten. Orders have been placed for Mother Goose characters, Mickey Mouse, Donald k, Uncle Remus, Jiggs a
"Maggie and other popular comic _ characters made famous by
American cartoonists. The World in Wax will be located in the heart of St. Augustine on U. .8. Highway No. 1; major route of tourists to Florida. In looking for -an -apprepriate site Mr. Potter sought to purchase - the famed Alcazar Hotel, a part of which is now
tory - museum owned by the Flagler Estate. nig The estate would not sell when it learned Mr. Potter pro posed.-to--establish--a. competi tive muséum. in The World ih Wax, Mr. Potter said, se he
urchased an.entire St. AMgus-....
ine city block, including the
~well-known -Plaza--Hotel: ~The
cost ran six high figlires.’ The hotel proper-will:be the. site of thg Museum when first opened, Mr. Pptter said. The lower floor afd spacious mez-
zanine are currently being re-
conditioned and air-condition- -
ing equipment is being installed to assure a constant temperature. for the costly wax figures. ” » = BLUEPRINTS of drawings for a museum building to occupy the entire -block, with the hotel building as the center, are already in Mr. Potter's hands. “It Will be the greatest museum of its kind in the world,” he says proudly. Mr. Potter can well afford his expensive hobby but he expects it to pay for itself in years to come. A native of Lafayette and descendant of Roger Williams, Mr. Potter is the son of the late William 8. Potter, attorney and banker. He attended Culver Military Institute, Howard College. and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School, Prior to going to Harvard he was abroad for two years and he attributes to this experience his great interest in history and the arts. Upon leaving Harvard he enlisted in the Army in World War I and was a member of the Signal Corps. * ” an "
World's Fair Mansion
A WIDOWER, he resides in the huge mansion which was imported to LaFayette from the. 8t. Louis World's Fair. The great house was known as the Connecticut House at the fair and was a replica of the Hargrave Mansion in Norwich, Conn. It was moved in its entirety and rebuilt in LaFayette, He has three children: Mrs. David Roach, wife of a Chicago surgeon; Mrs. Frances Waite, married to a Purdue University psychiatrist, and William 8. Potter, who - resides with his father. Mr. Potter,s holdings are extensive. He operates a 13,000acre wheat and cattle ranch in western Kansas, an 8000-acre cotton and cattle ranch in Texas, 120 miles north of Houston, and a large rose farm in Texas where attar of roses is manu-
factured for his perfume plant. “His holdings--also include -&.
large number of apartment and
office bulidings in Chicago,
~ [3 = 8 / HIS PHILOSOPHY is quite simple. He beligtes that although the life Span of man is very short, mdn himself is the most wondepful of all creations. In that belfef his million dollar hobby born. He would like to perpetuate the great men and
Rome of History: op uy’ think people should see
thése great personages as they Xeally were in life,” he says simply.
“IT want them to see; to vise -
ualize-the greatness and magnitude of -the men of history. I believe —sarnestiy.believe 1 it will be a lasting contribution
to American cufture and educa-
tion. I want to give Americans
something-they-have never-seen- i
before.”
Mr. Potter, undoubtedly, is
doing exacily that.
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