Perc Westmore

The photograph series of the Perc Westmore papers spans the years 1925–1965 and encompasses 6 linear feet. The series consists of 3,675 items. The bulk of the material is black-and-white prints, photostats, negatives, and color tranparencies. The photographs are grouped into motion picture production photographs, biography photographs, and subject photographs.

The motion picture production photographs span the years 1928–1955 and consist largely of makeup, wardrobe, and hairstyle tests; and off-camera, publicity, research, makeup process, and makeup reference photographs. The material is arranged alphabetically by film title. Titles include Across the Pacific (1942), The Adventures of Don Juan (1949), The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), Anthony Adverse (1936), Arsenic and Old Lace (1944), The General Died at Dawn (1936), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939), Juarez (1939), The Life of Emile Zola (1937), Marie Antoinette (1938), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1935), and Revenge of the Creature (1955).

The biography photographs span from the late 1920s to the 1960s (bulk 1940s), and consist largely of photographs of hairstyle and makeup tests, processes, and techniques, as well as off-camera, publicity portrait, candid, and research photographs. The material is arranged alphabetically by name. Persons depicted include Joan Blondell, James Cagney, Gary Cooper, Bette Davis, Kay Francis, Carole Landis, Kim Novak, George Raft, Ann Sheridan, and Gene Tierney. The largest number of photographs are of Perc Westmore individually and with film notables including Lauren Bacall, Linda Darnell, Ruby Keeler, Ida Lupino, Louella Parsons, Martha Raye, Ronald Reagan, Fay Wray, Jane Wyman, and Loretta Young.

The subject photographs span from the late 1920s to 1956 (bulk 1940s), and consist largely of publicity and hair and makeup reference photographs. The material is arranged alphabetically by subject. Subjects include House of Westmore, Perc Westmore makeup kits, publicity photographs for “The Westmore Beauty Book,” Warner Bros. Studio Department of Makeup and Hairdressing, Westmore makeup products, Seven basic face shapes, Red Cross War Relief Drive, and Perc Westmore entertaining the troops in World War II.

Gift of Ola Carroll Westmore (via Sol Dolgin), 1971.