The Westmore's

The Westmore family are royalty in Hollywood. The family has produced four generations of exceptionally talented makeup artists for Hollywood since 1917, when George Westmore established Hollywood's first makeup department. At this time, actors and actresses had to complete their own makeup, so George Westmore ultimately changed the film industry.

George Henry Westmore (1879-1931) was a specialist wig-maker, and later a makeup artist. He worked on a vast amount of celebrities, including cutting Winston Churchill's hair, creating Mary Pickford's signature curls and created the lace wig. He is referred to as the Patriarch of the Westmore family, which has since produced four generations of makeup artists. He taught his sons, Perc, Wally, Ern, Monte, Bud and Frank, the techniques of the makeup industry, with Monte working with MGM, Perc becoming head makeup artist at Warner Brothers, Wally was head of Paramount and Ern at 20th century fox. Bud was head at Universal Studios, and youngest son Frank wrote a book on his talented brothers and father, 'The Westmore's of Hollywood'. George sadly killed himself in 1931 via mercury poisoning, after his marriage with second wife Anita Salazar took a turn for the worst.
(Encyclopedia Britannia, 2014, 'Westmore Family' (online) [viewed on 0711/2014], available from: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/641129/Westmore-Family)

The Westmore's have worked on almost every major celebrity in Hollywood, Bette Davis, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe. In the 1930's they created their own makeup brand, 'House of Westmore', which beautiful stars such as Rita Hayworth, Gail Russell and Marilyn Monroe advertised. This was a huge beauty salon on Sunset Boulevard, and became well known across America for the amazing makeup. 

Marilyn Monroe appearing in an add for Tru-Glo Makeup and lipstick by the Westmore's in 1953.
http://ladylikelady.tumblr.com/post/79345528672

Gail Russell starring in a movie magazine advert for OverGlo by the Westmores, which was also publicised for the movie 'The Unseen' in 1945.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35255697@N03/5396573583/

Rita Hayworth modelling for Westmore Cosmetics in 1941
http://silverscreenoasis.com/oasis3/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=5863&start=330

Westmore Cosmetics Advert 1950
http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/beauty-and-hygiene-ads-1950s/43