Eden Musee - Then and now

With the upcoming recreation of the Eden Musee Wax Museum and Chamber of Horrors, I decided to break out my old Eden Musee catalogue and share some information on the original version of the attraction. Based on the information contained within, the booklet I have would have to be dated somewhere between 1949 and 1967.

1900 - A license is obtained from the world famous Eden Musee in New York City to operate Boston's Eden Musee at Riverview Park. It operates here for about 18 years.

1919 - Boston's Eden Musee and Chamber of Horrors reopens at Cedar Point. It operates out of what is now the Jack Aldrich Theatre.

1947 - The attraction is forced to close after heavy snow caves in a roof.

1949 - After 2 years of refurbishment the attraction reopens. The wax work was done by Mrs. Leone Krewson.

1966 - Final Season for Boston's Eden Musee and Chamber of Horrors

1967 - Hollywood Wax Museum opens. Some of the famous personalities include: Walt Disney; Bob Hope; Phyllis Diller; the Bonanza Family; Natalie Wood; Alfred Hitchcock; Al Capp; Julie Andrews; Louis Armstrong; Huntley & Brinkley; James Bond; Barbara Streisand; Jimmy Durante; Ronald Reagan; Sam Snead; Jack Nicklaus; Arnold Palmer; Vince Lombardi; Jack Parr; Maurice Chevalier; Clyde Beatty; and Mary Martin

1969 - Final Season for Hollywood Wax Museum

2012 - Eden Musee Wax Museum and Chamber of Horrors opens in newly constructed building in the Mean Streak infield. Floor Plan.

The show was owned and operated by Edward Schmid Enterprises. They were manufacturers of Walk Thru Fun Houses and Dark Rides. They were located in Hollywood and Hebron, OH. The collection was accumulated since 1883. Many figures were purchased from New York's Eden Musee. Many more are later added by Mrs, Knapp. Most of the show portrays scenes prior to 1900. Since acquiring the New York Eden Musee collection, Boston's Eden Musee was the largest wax museum in the U.S.

The catalogue I have lists in detail all of the different scenes. It is a small booklet and the 69 scenes are detailed over 20 separate pages. The attraction was broken up into separate areas. "The Lobby" had 3 scenes. The "First Hall" had 16 scenes. The "Chamber of Horrors, No 1" had 12 scenes. "Murders Row" had 38 scenes.

Is that floorplan of the new haunt or the original museum?

The new haunt.

And if you compare that with the actual building, you may be surprised by how much they're fitting in such a small looking house.

Yeah, I was a bit surprised. The building doesn't look to be that big. I'm excited to see the new museum. :-)

That does seem to be bigger than I originally thought.

Thanks for sharing Jason! Looking forward to it!

Wonderful information. Much better than what I'd come across so far.

Jason, any chance you could upload the booklet you have detailing the different scenes?

Not any time soon.

Although. I haven't had time nor motivation to scan my booklet, I saw this one for sale on eBay.

Eden Musee Booklet