Spoony Singh, founder of Hollywood Wax Museum, died in his Malibu home of congestive heart failure Oct. 18. He was 83.
Born in India in 1922, Singh moved with his family to Canada when he was 3. After owning sawmills and a successful amusement park in Victoria, Canada, Singh was approached in 1964 by promoters who thought the popularity of wax museums in England might spark interest in the U.S. He spent two weeks touring Hollywood and stopping into the famous restaurants and popular spots around town. Singh never saw a celebrity and thought Americans would relish the chance to get close to their favorite entertainers, albeit sculpted in wax.
The museum opened on Feb. 26, 1965, with a line of people extending a half-mile along Hollywood Boulevard waiting to get inside. Singh became a self-described “pitch man” for the museum. He joined the Magic Castle, kept in touch with celebrity columnists, traveled with stars to sporting events and even rode an elephant in the Hollywood Christmas Parade. At the same time, he was always teaching his teenage sons about the business and giving them hands-on experience by putting them to work doing anything and everything-from working the cash register to hosting celebrity wax unveilings.
But, Singh, an avid reader-kept his eye out for new business opportunities as well and built Thousand Oaks Self Storage (now Hollywood Storage Center) in 1979. Again, it was his children who learned and assisted, whether they were running plans to the city or running cranes at the site.
In 1990, Singh retired from daily operations but continued to guide the development of the Hollywood Guinness World Records Museum in 1991, the Hollywood Wax Museum in Branson, Mo. in 1996 and the expansion and rebranding of the storage facility in 2002.
“He was brilliant but also one of the most fun-loving people I have ever known,” said his son, Raubi Sundher. “If a light bulb really did go on every time Spoony had a new idea, there would be no electricity left in the world. There’s actually no better tribute than our flashing neon sign that lights up Hollywood Boulevard every night, 365 days a year. He will always be remembered as the bright light in our lives.”
Singh is survived by his wife of 63 years, Chanchil; children, Meva (Jocelyn), Janik (Raj), Indie (Loui), Kabir, Jehlam (Kathleen), Raubi (Sue) and grandchildren, Amar, Tej, Sarina, Sanjai, Kristina, Navi, Ryan, Kirin, Miles, Pria and Shaila. Funeral services took place Tuesday at Forest Lawn – Hollywood Hills, and a celebration of his life followed at Duke’s Malibu.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that friends honor Singh’s memory through either of the following Associations:American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Ave.,Dallas, TX 75231-4596; Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Stem Cell Project; Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Blvd., MS #62, Los Angeles, CA 90027