MovieChat Forums > House of Wax (1953) Discussion > Who is 'The Mad Butcher'?

Who is 'The Mad Butcher'?

posted 15 years ago by jrpelt
4 replies | jump to latest

At the top of the movie, Worth names a bunch of crime and horror icons that a rival wax museum is showing, and names Jack the Ripper, Burke and Hare, and... The Mad Butcher?

I've tried to look up historical crime articles about anyone referred to as "the mad Butcher", and my findings consist of
* a Cleveland serial killer (whose actions are also known as the Torso Murders of Kingsbury Run) but that happened in 1936 after this movie premiered
* Fritz Haarmann, the Butcher of Hannover, who was arrested and executed in 1925 for the murder and dismemberment of a number of children.
* And of course... the immortal Ed Gein :P

Now, they follow up the Mad Butcher with mentioning Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and in all honesty this could be him... or perhaps they're referring to his partner, Mrs. Lovett. All the same, I thought I'd post here to see if any more professional crime afficianadoes and criminologists could be of assistance.

[–] not_richjenkins 14 years ago

The movie premiered in 1953

[–] bx_version_2 14 years ago

also i just finished watching all three House of Wax movies and if i recall only the original "Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)" mentioned Sweeny Todd since the opening took place in London. So as far as "House of Wax (1953)" It could be any of the ones mentioned... or it could be a fictional character created for the movie.

[–] joystar5879 10 years ago

In the 1933 film, It could have been Peter Kurten or Fritz Harmann, as they had done their "work" in the 1920s, and MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM was contemporary 1933.

HOUSE OF WAX was probably ca. 1901 or later. as the commemorative watch was presented in late 1900. I would say that it was either Sweeney Todd or a made up character.

"I do hope he won't upset Henry.."

[–] CoriSCapnSkip (2755) a month ago

You are right, House of Wax almost certainly takes place after September 14, 1901, when Theodore Roosevelt took office, as his portrait is displayed in the police station.