Max Factor and Hollywood: A Glamorous History

The story of the makeup artist who changed the film industry—and the world of modern cosmetics. Includes photos.

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, an...