The origins of the figures date back to 1925, when Sid Grauman commissioned a series of works from the Stubergh Manufacturing Company. The Stuberghs, who were personal friends of Grauman\u2019s from his years in San Francisco, were a family of renowned wax artists who had made their name as one of the first manufacturers of retail store mannequins. Their initial work for Grauman entailed creating figures of movie stars, to be displayed at the Egyptian Theatre, and a few pieces utilized in some of Sid\u2019s infamous pranks. Then, in 1926, a series of Chinese figures (described at the time as \u201ccommon Orientals\u201d) were commissioned, as promotional pieces, for Grauman\u2019s soon to open masterpiece. <\/span><\/p>\n Originally consisting of both genders, the 5\u20193\u201d figures were dressed in ornate ethnic costuming and situated throughout the lobby, as if they were theatre attendants. According to an account by the late theatre historian, Terry Helgesen, some of the figures were even partially animated, with motorized arms that moved \u201cas if smoking opium or fanning\u201d. The lifelike nature of this early display was such that stories abounded of theatre patrons attempting to strike up conversations with the wax figures, only to skulk away embarrassed, as they realized their error.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"waxfigure1\"](\"http:\/\/cinelog.org\/cinelog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/waxfigure1.jpg\")
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