![]() Fields and John Barrymore would regularly show up drunk to Katherine’s studio on Hollywood Boulevard, drawn by Barrymore’s keen fascination with her work. During this time, nearly every name on the Hollywood A-list sat for Katherine in her studio as she assessed their figure and made face and body measurements – the first step in creating a wax figure. President.īorn in 1911 to German wax mannequin makers, the young Madame Stubergh wanted nothing more than to be a classically trained dancer however, her astounding natural skill in wax sculpture and pressure from her family led her to abandon her dancing dreams and focus on developing the family business.Īs Katherine’s skill and fame grew, demand for her wax figures skyrocketed as the silver screen film industry began to increasingly rely upon wax figures for the purposes of stand-ins and extras in films. Originally named the Parade of Presidents Wax Museum, the National Presidential Wax Museum is the only wax museum in the world to feature every U.S. It had always been a dream of Madame Stubergh’s to create a museum dedicated exclusively to the United States Presidency and considered it the capstone of her prolific career. This story was originally published on the Washington DC VAMC’s website.The National Presidential Wax Museum was founded in 1971 by famous Hollywood wax sculptor Madame Katherine Stubergh and renown movie set designers Don and Bonnie McPhee. She was one-of-a-kind a strong-willed, funny, wise, giving and feisty WWII Veteran. Hawkins, MHA, she will be missed, “…especially the caregivers and Veterans of our Community Living Center. She also held media interviews with many local and national outlets.Īccording to medical center director, Brian A. She has met presidents, the first lady, members of Congress, high-ranking military officers, celebrities and musicians. No one has to tell you that you look good…do it for yourself.” “I tell everyone to dress nice for yourself and you’ll feel better, even if you don’t feel good,” she said. She was disappointed in how young women dress today. She loved to sit in the medical center Atrium and watch the people. She always wore stylish clothes and jewelry and sported well-manicured nails. She never left her room without fixing her makeup and hair. She retired from government service in 1973.Īt the medical center, she was affectionately called the “Queen Bee” and was known for impeccable dress. As a member of the Women’s Army Corps, she was stationed in England and France where she played an important role in the postal service as part of the 6888th Battalion.Īfter leaving the Army, she served the government for many years at the Census Bureau and for the Pentagon where she served as a purchasing agent, buying everything from pencils to airplanes. She was among one of the first African-American women in the Army. I didn’t need him or his money,” she said. “I found myself a job, an apartment and a roommate. This didn’t sit well for the independent young woman. He found out she was sending money home to her family and put her on a strict allowance. She was married for a time, but divorced her husband over an $18 grocery bill. She lived life on her own terms from that day forward. At the age of 16, she changed the spelling of her name to Alyce after seeing a picture show starring actress Alyce Mills. Dixon, one of the nation’s oldest living female Veterans, passed away this week at the age of 108 years old.ĭixon was born in 1907, when an American’s average life expectancy was only 47 years. ![]() ![]() Bob McDonald meets with Alyce Dixon in January 2015.
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