Hollywood wax museum selling figures

CALABASAS, Calif., April 2 (UPI) -- Hollywood Wax Museum is offering hand-sculpted wax figures and original costumes for auction, the Profiles in History memorabilia dealer said Thursday.

This is the first time in the museum's 44-year history that it has sold these types of items from its collection, Profiles noted. More than 200 figures will be auctioned May 1 by Profiles in History.

Worldwide bids can be placed either in person, via mail, phone, fax or live on the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a true piece of Hollywood's history," Joe Maddalena, president and chief executive officer of Profiles in History, said in a statement. "Millions of people from all over the world have visited the Hollywood Wax Museum and seen these amazing wax figures, each of them a piece of art in itself."

Up for sale are figures crafted in the likenesses of Humphrey Bogart, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, Tom Cruise, Barbra Streisand, Charlie Chaplin, Clint Eastwood, Will Smith, Arnold Schwarzenegger, "The Wizard of Oz" cast, Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, Henry Winkler, the "Seinfeld" cast, the "M*A*S*H" cast, Lucille Ball, The Three Stooges, Don Johnson and the "Star Trek" cast.

Statues created to resemble The Beatles, Cher, Elton John, Sammy Davis, Jr., Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan will also be hitting the auction block.

Figures representing U.S. Presidents Washington, Lincoln, Kennedy, Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Clinton; Princess Diana; and the 12 apostles are also being sold.