V-MAIL
438th AAA AW BN
APO 527 % Postmaster, N.Y.
England
8 March, 1944
Dearest Sweetheart,
Well back at last and safely and glad to be back too, dear. I didn’t expect to write today because I thought I’d be back too late – but here I am. I’ve already noticed that I have about seven letters, darling, dating from about February 14th to the 25th – so I’m looking forward to some pleasant reading material soon. I just wanted to get this off in time for the outgoing mail.
I’ll soon change into my field clothes again and get comfortable. I’ve had enough of a big city for awhile and shall be content to stay around camp.
Yesterday I merely went to the movies (D. Durbin in ‘His Brother’s Sister’) and finally saw the Wax Exhibition – and it was all they said it would be – amazingly true to life.
All for now, sweetheart – will write tomorrow. Regards to everyone and
Well back at last and safely and glad to be back too, dear. I didn’t expect to write today because I thought I’d be back too late – but here I am. I’ve already noticed that I have about seven letters, darling, dating from about February 14th to the 25th – so I’m looking forward to some pleasant reading material soon. I just wanted to get this off in time for the outgoing mail.
I’ll soon change into my field clothes again and get comfortable. I’ve had enough of a big city for awhile and shall be content to stay around camp.
Yesterday I merely went to the movies (D. Durbin in ‘His Brother’s Sister’) and finally saw the Wax Exhibition – and it was all they said it would be – amazingly true to life.
All for now, sweetheart – will write tomorrow. Regards to everyone and
All my love for now
Greg
* TIDBIT *
about Tussaud's Wax Museum
Madame Tussaud in wax
about Tussaud's Wax Museum
Madame Tussaud in wax
From the Madame Tussaud's website comes this:
In an article in Time magazine, 25 October, 1943 entitled Art: Taps for a Tussaud, the death of John Theodore Tussaud, her great-grandson, fills out the timeline in this way:
Madame Tussaud's life story is filled out here:
The life of Madame Tussauds’ founder was as colourful as any of the celebrities who have been posed for the world famous attraction in its illustrious 200 year history. Here is a timeline of her life:
1761: Madame Tussaud is born Marie Grosholtz in Strasbourg. Her mother worked as a housekeeper for Dr. Philippe Curtius, Switzerland, who was a skilled in wax modelling. Curtius taught Tussaud the art of wax modelling.
1777: Models the famous author and philosopher, Francois Voltaire.
1780: Becomes art tutor to King Louis XVI’s sister and goes to live at the Royal Court in Versailles.
1789: On the eve of The French Revolution, Marie returns to Paris.
1793: Imprisoned with her mother in the notorious Laforce Prison, Paris. On her release she is forced to prove her allegiance to the Revolution by making death masks of executed nobles and her former employers, the King and Queen.
1794: The French Revolution ends and Marie inherits Dr Philippe Curtius’ wax exhibition.
1795: Marie marries Francois Tussaud.
1802: Madame Tussaud takes her exhibition on tour to the British Isles, leaving behind her husband.
1835: With her sons, Madame Tussaud establishes a base in London at The Baker Street Bazaar.
1850: Madame Tussaud dies
1884: Marie’s grandsons move the attraction to its current site on Marylebone Road.
1761: Madame Tussaud is born Marie Grosholtz in Strasbourg. Her mother worked as a housekeeper for Dr. Philippe Curtius, Switzerland, who was a skilled in wax modelling. Curtius taught Tussaud the art of wax modelling.
1777: Models the famous author and philosopher, Francois Voltaire.
1780: Becomes art tutor to King Louis XVI’s sister and goes to live at the Royal Court in Versailles.
1789: On the eve of The French Revolution, Marie returns to Paris.
1793: Imprisoned with her mother in the notorious Laforce Prison, Paris. On her release she is forced to prove her allegiance to the Revolution by making death masks of executed nobles and her former employers, the King and Queen.
1794: The French Revolution ends and Marie inherits Dr Philippe Curtius’ wax exhibition.
1795: Marie marries Francois Tussaud.
1802: Madame Tussaud takes her exhibition on tour to the British Isles, leaving behind her husband.
1835: With her sons, Madame Tussaud establishes a base in London at The Baker Street Bazaar.
1850: Madame Tussaud dies
1884: Marie’s grandsons move the attraction to its current site on Marylebone Road.
In an article in Time magazine, 25 October, 1943 entitled Art: Taps for a Tussaud, the death of John Theodore Tussaud, her great-grandson, fills out the timeline in this way:
As it must to all men, death came in England last week to John Theodore Tussaud (pronounced Tuss-so'), 86, great grandson and successor to Madame Marie Tussaud, who brought the famed Tussaud waxworks from Paris to England in 1802.
The London blitz damaged but did not destroy the Tussaud museum on Marylebone Road. In the ruinous days of September 1940, a bomb blasted two of the museum's rooms into reportedly picturesque and possibly symbolic confusion: Hitler lurched on his beam-ends, his head chipped to its core. Göring's resplendent tunic was ripped to shreds and his countless medals strewn on the floor. Goebbels lay on his back, staring at nothing. But firm and unshaken, the blue eyes of Winston Churchill gazed blinkless at the scene.
Tussaud's had its beginning in the French Revolution. The original Mme. Tussaud, born Marie Grosholtz of Swiss parents, was an accomplished modeler in wax. She was friend, companion and teacher to Louis XVI's sister and lived at court at Versailles, where she knew the great personages of the period. After the Revolution her realistic waxwork was in great demand. She modeled many of the Terrorists from life, sometimes willingly, sometimes under protest. Once she was forced to reproduce the freshly guillotined head of a Royalist. A Royalist at heart, she watched for a chance to leave France.
Meantime, the shrewd, energetic woman realized that she was shaping a fine commercial asset in wax. In 1802 she got to England with many of her images intact, [and] put them on exhibition. She added more, taught her children how to model and how to manage. Her venture was plagued by riot, shipwreck and fire. But before her death in 1850 at 90, Marie Grosholtz Tussaud had made an institution of her exhibit in London's Baker Street, first permanent home of the collection. Succeeding Tussauds have carried on. The fingers of at least one member of the Tussaud descendants have always been trained to model in clay and wax. The "Mr. John" who died last week was such a craftsman. Like the founder, he ran the establishment efficiently: four hours after Rudolph Hess dropped into Scotland, his correctly costumed effigy was on display at Tussauds. Mr. John leaves the museum to his son, Bernard Tussaud: the waxworks will go on. And, as for generations, English children and their nurses will make straight for the Chamber of Horrors.
The London blitz damaged but did not destroy the Tussaud museum on Marylebone Road. In the ruinous days of September 1940, a bomb blasted two of the museum's rooms into reportedly picturesque and possibly symbolic confusion: Hitler lurched on his beam-ends, his head chipped to its core. Göring's resplendent tunic was ripped to shreds and his countless medals strewn on the floor. Goebbels lay on his back, staring at nothing. But firm and unshaken, the blue eyes of Winston Churchill gazed blinkless at the scene.
Tussaud's had its beginning in the French Revolution. The original Mme. Tussaud, born Marie Grosholtz of Swiss parents, was an accomplished modeler in wax. She was friend, companion and teacher to Louis XVI's sister and lived at court at Versailles, where she knew the great personages of the period. After the Revolution her realistic waxwork was in great demand. She modeled many of the Terrorists from life, sometimes willingly, sometimes under protest. Once she was forced to reproduce the freshly guillotined head of a Royalist. A Royalist at heart, she watched for a chance to leave France.
Meantime, the shrewd, energetic woman realized that she was shaping a fine commercial asset in wax. In 1802 she got to England with many of her images intact, [and] put them on exhibition. She added more, taught her children how to model and how to manage. Her venture was plagued by riot, shipwreck and fire. But before her death in 1850 at 90, Marie Grosholtz Tussaud had made an institution of her exhibit in London's Baker Street, first permanent home of the collection. Succeeding Tussauds have carried on. The fingers of at least one member of the Tussaud descendants have always been trained to model in clay and wax. The "Mr. John" who died last week was such a craftsman. Like the founder, he ran the establishment efficiently: four hours after Rudolph Hess dropped into Scotland, his correctly costumed effigy was on display at Tussauds. Mr. John leaves the museum to his son, Bernard Tussaud: the waxworks will go on. And, as for generations, English children and their nurses will make straight for the Chamber of Horrors.
Madame Tussaud's life story is filled out here:
