Max Factor and Hollywood: A Glamorous History

When Polish wigmaker and cosmetician Max Factor arrived in Los Angeles at the dawn of the motion picture industry, make-up had been associated only with stage performers and ladies of the oldest profession. Appalled by the garish paints worn by actors, Factor introduced the first flexible greasepaint for film in 1914. With a few careful brush strokes, a lot of innovation and the kind of luck that can happen only in Hollywood, Max Factor changed the meaning of glamour. His innovations can be experienced in every tube of lipstick, palette of eye shadow and bottle of nail lacquer used today. Join author Erika Thomas as she reveals the makeup guru's expert beauty tips and the story of how he created the most iconic golden-era looks that are as relevant today as they were nearly a century ago.


About the Author
Thomas, Erika: - Erika Thomas writes for the lifestyle publications Southern California Life, Los Angeles Confidential, Chevrolet New Roads and others. A former actress and voiceover artist, Erika made the rounds at Paramount, Warner Bros. and the Culver Studios (her drive-on pass often taking her through the Ince Gate), where she was always more interested in the history of the famed structures than she was in booking the acting job itself. She holds a degree in English and creative writing from California State University-Northridge. Her love of golden-era Hollywood began at the age of nine, when she saw a rerun of the 1959 film Some Like It Hot. Since then, she's been an enthusiast of old school haunts that range from Lana Turner's favorite booth at Formosa Café and Liz Taylor's bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel to every Googie-era bowling alley and coffee shop in between. Erika enjoys writing about Southern California history, architecture and design.