The Costumer's Manifesto: Old Theatrical Makeup

The Costumer's Manifesto is written by Tara Maginnis, and proudly hosted by William Baker.

THE MANIFESTO IS MUTATING! IT IS TURNING INTO A WIKI THAT CAN BECOME THE HIVE MIND OF ALL COSTUMERS, FINALLY LIVING UP TO IT'S SLOGAN: "COSTUMERS OF THE WORLD, UNITE!" YOU CAN HELP IN THIS PROCESS BY MOVING PAGES TO THE NEW SITE AT THECOSTUMERSMANIFESTO.COM, HELPING TO EDIT THE PAGES THAT ARE THERE ALREADY, AND ADDING YOUR OWN ORIGINAL INPUT.

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Old Theatrical Makeup

I have been collecting old makeup kits sold on eBay of late in the hope of learning a bit more on the earlier use of stage makeup. These photos show some kits I've purchased recently. Click the kit to see detailed pictures of the makeup.

Page 2: PICT0077.JPG (42723 bytes) A complete American professional actor's kit in it's original tin box, most probably used by a white male in the early 20th Century.

Page 3: 2e_1_b.JPG (29566 bytes) An American barely used makeup kit contents suggestive of a white female (amateur?) ingénue 1900-1925?

Page 4: PICT0123.JPG (70116 bytes) Complete and unused white female Max Factor theatrical "student" kit in original box (1940's?)

Theatrical Makeup Design Interactive

amazon.com Theatrical Makeup Design Interactive Complete Set DVD Tara Maginnis,Kade Mendelowitz

T.Z. CASE International Pro Case
T.Z. CASE International Pro Case Deluxe
The Face Is a Canvas : The Design and Technique of Theatrical Makeup by Irene Corey Behind the Burnt Cork Mask: Early Blackface Minstrelsy and Antebellum American Popular Culture (Music in American Life)

Page 5: PICT0084.JPG (60927 bytes)

Assorted old theatrical makeup supplies and boxes.

Page 6: e1_1_b.JPG (26164 bytes) Special effects makeup kit in England probably before the 1950s

Page 7: A Small Basic Set of Stein's Greasepaint Sticks for a white actor or actress in it's original c.1900 tin

Page 8: PICT0115.JPG (246587 bytes) c. 1900 white female kit of Blanca Lester, plus roll of c.1900 stage money.

Page 9: DSCF6034.JPG (3369624 bytes) c. 1900 Stage makeup kit from the U.S., probably for a white male specializing in drunks and bums.

Related Links:

Make Up Book for Professionals by F.W. Nack, Chicago, c.1900 a complete facsimile of a copyright expired lithographic pamphlet on stage makeup from around 1900. It shows clear diagrams of the common types of theatre makeup used for portraying popular characters and types on the American stage at that time. These diagrams are not only interesting for the study of the history of stage makeup, but also for the study of various stereotypes of race, gender and age prevalent in stage works of the time, including blackface, yellowface, and redface.
Makeup for Theatre THR 351 Class pages
Vanity Treasures ~ Specializing In Victorian And Vintage Vanity Collectibles, Ladies' Compacts, Cosmetics And Much More.
The art of theatrical make-up. Illustrated with thirty-two reproductions from photographs of the author by himself (1909)
Vintage Steins Theatrical Make-up Pink Boxes. (Jewelry-Vanity Items) at From Me To You
Antique Vanity Items_Compacts_Face Powder Boxes Tins Vanity Items Vintage
Make-Up Books
Colour Books, Chris Mullen's Collection
- Leichner's catalogue 1938, Make-up for Stage and Screen
- A Book of Make-Up 1946, Visual Telling of Stories, Expression
Minstrel Memorabilia in Shoe Shine Box
Journal - Blackface and Old Wounds
The History of Blackface site
Jack Richeson 6-Piece Small Tortillions Set - for applying stage makeup in 1900 fashion
haresfoot and rouge makeup - pictures from 1879 booklet
The Actor's Art A Practical Treatise on Stage. 1882.. - Google Book Search
- The Actor's Art A Practical Treatise on Stage- chapter on makeup, ... - Google Book Search
How to Get on the Stage and how to Succeed There 1899 Section on Theatrical Makeup - Google Book Search
The Guide to the Stage Containing ... - Google Book Search (Has info on Victorian stage makeup)

The Costumer's Manifesto is proudly hosted by William Baker.

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This Page is part of The Costumer's Manifesto by Tara Maginnis, Ph.D. Copyright 1996-2010. You may print out any of these pages for non-profit educational use such as school papers, teacher handouts, or wall displays. You may link to any page in my site.

This page last edited on 06/20/2010