In the silent film era of the 1920's, one of Hollywood's brightest stars was Lon Chaney, known as the Man Of 1000 Faces. He received this moniker because of his ability to completely change his appearance in every movie he did. He did this with a combination of vast make-up knowledge (including many groundbreaking techniques) and a talent for altering his physicality. To this day he has yet to be topped for the sheer number of characters he created. Virtually every make-up artist in Hollywood owes a debt of gratitude to Lon Chaney for the techniques and make-up protocols he developed. Wally has been a "Chaniac" since childhood, and it is in tribute to his work that Wally designed The Chaney Room.

A Chaney visits the Chaney Room! Ron Chaney, great-grandson of Lon Sr., and grandson of Lon Jr., came by to check out the Chaney Room for himself! He was amazed at the wealth of Chaney photos in Wally's collection, and even added his famous name to the Chaney Room's south wall!

(Notice the uncanny resemblance to his famous great-grandfather in the photos behind him!!)

As you enter the Chaney room, a vintage-looking engraved metal sign adorns the door.
This is the custom-made make-up table installed in the Chaney Room for character experimentation. It has two small pull-out drawers to hold sponges, adhesives, make-up and tools. To the right of the table is a shelf full of masks, wigs and beards.

These shelves hold assorted things like contact lenses and solutions, various character dentures, solvents, adhesives, paints, and jewelry.

Here are various beards, mustaches, wigs
and glasses that Wally has used in various projects.

Sergio Lopez, a top Hollywood make-up and hair designer, is a frequent visitor to the Chaney Room. Here, he styles a new Austin Powers and Tony Clifton wig.

In the corner hangs a custom-designed Lon Chaney collage featuring some of his famous 1000 faces and his signature. The speaker is one of two that pipe music into the Chaney Room from the house system. The original Don Post Wizard of Oz masks sit atop a shelf full of videotapes, and the Wally's Wacky World set miniature sits below. Note the Lon Chaney "Phantom" clock that hangs above the mirror.

In one side of the costume closet you see several prosthetic pieces, wigs, headpieces and recognizable costumes. The keen eye will pick out Wally's Andy Kaufman, Tony Clifton and Beetlejuice costumes.  Above the closet are several celebrity lifemasks, including Mike Myers, Alfred Hitchcok and Adam West.

In the other side of the costume closet sits more wigs and headpieces. Wally uses two different Austin Powers wigs, and
several Batman cowls for appearances.

Here's a better shot of the Lon Chaney collage. It features pics from Phantom Of The Opera, Mr. Wu, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Road to Mandalay, Blind Bargain, London After Midnight, and two shots from a Photoplay Magazine photo session of Lon Chaney at his make-up table, and showing off his famous make-up kit.
In one of the cabinets sits a fully built-up version of the Lon Chaney Man Of 1000 Faces model kit.
It has amazing detail that can't all be captured here.
A good close-up of the Wally's Wacky World set
miniature.
Every picture or piece of art that hangs in the Chaney Room serves as a symbol of inspiration for Wally. Here are some animation cels and pictures of Wally's heroes.
Just outside the Chaney Room sits a custom-built display case which features some of the pieces of Wally's collection.


This is Wally's first Chaney Room, in the basement of his folks' house in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

 

Wally was involved behind-the-scenes in a tribute to Lon Chaney at Universal Citywalk. Many make-up artists donated their time making up actors in the classic Chaney make-ups as a tribute to the legendary silent film star. Wally loaned a few make-up items and his beaver hat, as well as some stills from his Lon Chaney photo collection.

See step by step procedures Wally uses to transform into these characters...
Tony Clifton , Beetlejuice, Zombie, Bomber,  Austin Powers, Paul Stanley, Georgie Riggs, Man In The Beaver Hat.