ILONA MASSEY PLUGS MAX FACTOR

In this full page ad from the March 1943 issue of HOLLYWOOD, the beautiful Hungarian actress, Ilona Massey poses for a shot promoting Max Factor's line of makeup products. Factor was a major force behind the makeup and cosmetics industry during the 1930's and 1940's. Universal's head of makeup, Jack Pierce, worked closely with Max Factor over the years to develop special products that would be captured on film in a particular way. Miss Massey, of course, starred in FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN, and was, along with the monsters, the recipient of Pierce's makeup expertise.

MONSTER MAKE-UP MEMORIES

I mentioned in an earlier post that I at one time had aspirations of becoming a Hollywood make-up artist. I was already living in Los Angeles, so how hard could it have been?

One of the places that I frequented for my make-up stuff was a store called "Dickson's Theatrical Supplies". I'm not sure if they're still in business but they had -- or they could get -- anything I needed in the way of goop and gravy to make myself up just like the young men in the Dick Smith-created, Jim Warren-published FAMOUS MONSTERS MAKE-UP HANDBOOK. As I recall, the proprieter was pretty nice. He noticed my budding interest and offered me a stack of literature to help me along. Among them was this first in a series of booklets published by cosmetics giant Max Factor. The publication date is 1971, but I believe they were originally printed much earlier, judging from the very retro art deco style cover and the way the illustrations are drawn.