/internal/media/dispatcher/40681/fullPostcard from a wax museum of a scene representing President Kennedy's funeral1968 - 19763 1/2 × 5 1/2 in. (8.9 × 14 cm)PaperThe Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza Collection2012.071.00010One full-color postcard from the Hall of Presidents Wax Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado, of a fabricated scene from President John F. Kennedy's funeral.
The front of the postcard shows the wax museum tableau from President Kennedy's funeral with a flag-draped casket in the lower left corner and a wreath of flowers next to it. The wax figures stand against a blue backdrop with greenery on either side. The individuals represented in the tableau are listed on the reverse of the postcard as: "Haile Selassie, Robert F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Martin Luther King, H. R. H. Prince Philip, Charles de Gaulle, John Jr. and Caroline."
The reverse of the postcard is white with text printed in black. Text in upper left is as follows:
"[star] HALL OF PRESIDENTS [star]
WAX MUSEUM
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Scene 21. The Eternal Flame
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917-1963)
Thirty fifth [sic] President -- 1961-1963
Haile Selassie, Robert F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy
Onassis, Martin Luther King, H. R. H. Prince Philip, Charles de
Gaulle, John Jr. and Caroline.".
Printed in miniscule text in lower left is:
"(c) Sanborn Souvenir Co., Inc., Commerce City, Colorado 80037
31636-D"
A vertical black line separates the address side of the postcard from the note side of the postcard. At the bottom of this line, centered along the lower edge of the postcard is the manufacturer's information:
"dp [sic]
Made by
Dexter Press
West Nyack, New York".
The right side of the postcard has the text "post card" printed above where the address is to be written and has an outline of a box at upper right corner.
The date for the postcard was arrived at because of how Jacqueline Kennedy's name is used on the reverse of the postcard - she married Aristotle Onassis in 1968 - and the fact that the postcard company, Sanborn Souvenir Co., was in business until 1976.
Minimal color loss on front of postcard. Reverse is yellowed and has some discolored spots on left and right edges. Upper right and lower left corners are slightly creased. (PP 09/18/14; JM 10/23/2017).Documents6525313.97002794018.890017780042384Postcard0E-10Postcard from the Hall of Presidents Wax Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado, of a scene meant to represent President John F. Kennedy's funeral.
The image shows a wax museum tableau featuring a flag-draped casket in the lower left corner with a wreath of flowers next to it. A row of wax figures stands against a blue backdrop with greenery on either side. The individuals represented in the tableau are listed on the reverse of the postcard as: "Haile Selassie, Robert F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Martin Luther King, H. R. H. Prince Philip, Charles de Gaulle, John Jr. and Caroline."
The reverse of the postcard is white with text printed in black. Text in upper left is as follows:
"HALL OF PRESIDENTS WAX MUSEUM
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Scene 21. The Eternal Flame
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917-1963)
Thirty-fifth President -- 1961-1963
Haile Selassie, Robert F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Martin Luther King, H. R. H. Prince Philip, Charles de Gaulle, John Jr. and Caroline."
Printed very small in the lower left is:
"(c) Sanborn Souvenir Co., Inc., Commerce City, Colorado 80037
31636-D"
The postcard dates from late 1968 at the earliest, because the text refers to "Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis" - Jacqueline Kennedy married Aristotle Onassis on October 20, 1968. The postcard company, Sanborn Souvenir Co., was in business until 1976.
These images are not available online larger than a thumbnail to protect the copyright of their creator(s). For a more detailed examination of this item, please schedule an appointment in the Museum’s Reading Room.Funeral servicesFuneralPop CulturePostcardWax figuresCasketWorld leadersMourningU.S. presidentsKennedy FamilyGaulle, Charles deKennedy, CarolineKennedy, JacquelineKennedy, John F., Jr.Kennedy, Robert F.King, Martin Luther, Jr.Onassis, Jacqueline KennedyPrince PhilipSelassie, HaileWest NyackCommerce CityColorado SpringsIncluded in the Museum's temporary exhibit, "Mourning a President," about the funeral and mourning rites for President John F. Kennedy, this item will be on display on the Museum's seventh floor from November 17, 2017 to February 19, 2018. -- Lindsey Richardson, Curator of CollectionsFor years following the assassination, most wax museums--which were popular roadside attractions across the United States in the 1960s and 1970s--displayed figures and set pieces which memorialized President Kennedy and evoked significant moments from that fateful weekend. While some wax museums focused on more sensational moments, such as the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald by Jack Ruby, the Hall of Presidents Wax Museum (1969-1996) at 1050 South 21st Street in Colorado Springs, Colorado, opted to commemorate President Kennedy's funeral. In doing so, the creators took some artistic liberties. The Kennedy children did not attend the graveside service at Arlington National Cemetery, as depicted here. John F. Kennedy, Jr.'s famous salute actually took place outside of St. Matthew's Cathedral. In compressing and combining moments from the funeral, however, this set piece demonstrates the visuals and historical figures that people most recall from watching the ceremonies play out on television. -- Stephen Fagin, Curator