Madame Tussaud's Holocaust

Holocoaust' might be overstating it a little - even in this pre-WWII era - but when a business run on wax succumbs to fire, the result is pretty catastrophic. For Madame Tussaud's, the world's most celebrated waxwork museum, the night of 19 March 1925 was one to forget. Fire destroyed not just most of the exhibits, but also much of the structure of the Marylebone Road building. No wonder manager John Tussaud (great-grandson of creator Marie), is in such a dark mood in this newsreel.

Lost to the flames were most of the original waxworks crafted by Marie Tussaud herself, though these could be reconstituted from the original moulds, stored elsewhere. Beyond replacement were Mme Tussaud's collection of Napoleonic artefacts, including three coaches used by Napoleon himself, all reduced to ashes. According to the Manchester Guardian, eyewitnesses to the fire were rewarded with quite a spectacle: "Strong red and golden flames leapt 50 feet from the roof of the building. The surrounding gardens looked as if they were illuminated by powerful electric light: a dozen firemen stood out silhouetted in perfectly clear outline of the walls of the building, and the spray from their hose looked like fine rain. The wax models could be distinctly heard sizzling." Alas, Topical Budget's cameraman could only film the smouldering ruins. Barely a year later, the museum opened its doors to the public once more.