The Westmores

Book Ref: 'The Westmores of Hollywood', Frank Westmore & Muriel Davidson, Lippincott, 1st Edition edition (March 1976)
Internet Ref: 'Z-A Westmore', Westmore Museum Research Library 
http://westmoremuseum.wordpress.com/z-to-a-westmore/

In the world of makeup the Westmore family represent Hollywood's finest, from the iconic beauties Bettie Davis and Elizabeth Taylor to the Hollywood monsters that brought terror to the screens of viewers like the Hunchback of Notre Dame, the Wolf-man and Mr Hyde.

English wigmaker George Westmore began his career opening a hair salon in 1901 in Newport, from there he went on to work in Canterbury, Kent until 1906 until 1917 when he founded his first small makeup studio at Selig Studios, Los Angeles for the Triangle Motion Picture Company. Soon becoming known for his freelance makeup work to the stars seeking perfection. By the 1930's the House of Westmore had become a Guild on Sunset Boulevard where both the public and stars alike could come and view the glamorous looks created for the red carpets and blockbuster movie theatres.   With the help of his sons George Westmore built his own workshops and supplied the makeup for a number of actors, for the time period this was unusual as most actors and actresses did their own makeup often just assisting one another, however George Westmore broke this tradition within film and became a sole figure responsible for both the hair and makeup of the stars. George Westmore married Ada Savage in 1901 and together they had 9 children, two of whom died young, however the eventual overshadowing of his sons lead to George developing depression and eventually commiting suicide in 1931.

• Monte - 1902
• Perc - 1904
• Ern - 1904
• Wally - 1906
• Dorothy - 1907
• Bud - 1918
• Frank - 1923

Monte Westmore (1902-1940)

First son of George Westmore, Monte went on to become the makeup artist to Rudolph Valentino and created the clean Latin look. This was a concept established by his father but refined and perfected by Monte which then led to its worldwide recognition, when Valentino died in 1926 Monte then went on to become a freelance makeup artist for Gloria Swanson, Clara Bow, and Sonia Henie. Monte's passion for makeup is believed by many modern day critics to be the reason for his death in 1940 as his work on the set of Gone With the Wind (1939) was so enormously demanding that it pushed him to his limits. Monte left behind a wife, Edith McCarrier and three children: Monte Jr, Marvin and Michael. 

Perc Westmore (1904 - 1970)

Another prominent member of the Westmore household, Perc as well as founding the House of Westmore with his brothers and father in the 1930's also rose to become the head of department at the Warner Bro's makeup department taking charge of several changes within the companies running, such as names for shades of hair colour to determine the appropriate makeup, producing a chart consisting of 35 shades of Blonde alone. Previously actors and actresses were merely referred to as Blonde or Brunette regardless of tones. Within the House of Westmore, Perc was known for his beauty skills and produced his own range of makeup under the family title. Perc also became the sole makeup artist for actress Bettie Davis in the film 'The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex' (1939) where she became the first actress to appear bald onscreen, this was done through the use of a bald cap and also the shaving of roughly 3 inches from the front of her hairline. Davis had chosen this to represent a historically accurate interpretation of Queen Elizabeth I. 

Ern Westmore (1904-1967)

The twin of Perc Westmore and third child of George and Ada, Ern is considered one of the most successful children from the Westmore family, becoming exceptionally talented as a makeup artist having found work for Warner Bros, RKO Studios and Eagle Lion Studios. Ern became the director of makeup for other 50 films, even featuring within a few smaller productions himself, and like his brothers was also involved in the creation of the House of Westmore. In 1955 Ern was granted his own television show originally called "Hollywood Today" but going on to be titled "The Ern Westmore Hollywood Glamour Show" featuring makeup tips and suggestions for cosmetic beauty. However Ern battled his whole life with alcoholism and died in 1967 of an apparent heart attack. 

Wally Westmore (1906-1973)

Wally's first successful film was 'Dr Jekyll and My Hyde' in 1931, like his brothers he was a highly successful makeup artist and worked with Paramount Productions for roughly 40 years, becoming renowned for his special effects makeup of Hyde. Wally worked on over 300 films within his time including the original 'War of the Worlds', 'White Christmas' and 'For Whom the Bell Tolls', he also worked closely with Audrey Hepburn on a number of productions including creating the makeup for Hepburn's most famous film, 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'. 

Bud Westmore (1918-1973)

Hollywood makeup artist Bud Westmore has been accredited for more than 450 movies and television shows during his career including films such as 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and most famously 'The Creature from the Black Lagoon' which to this day remains a horror cult classic. Within this film Bud assisted the designer of the 'Gill-man' Millicent Patrick, although due to the time period her role within the creatures creation was downplayed, allowing Bud to take centre stage credit for the creatures design. Bud was also the main makeup artist behind hit TV show 'The Munster's' where throughout the shows period there were numerous makeup changes. Originally designed as a technicolor show it was ultimately filmed in greyscale to avoid the garish colours being to frightening for young children. As the season went on the makeup for Herman, Lily, and Grandpa was changed on numerous occasions. These changes included Lily's hair becoming all black instead of having a white streak and increasingly more angled eyebrows. Grandpa was given more exaggerated makeup and heavier eyebrows, and Herman's face was widened to give him a more comical appearance.  Frank Westmore (1923-1985) After apprenticing alongside his brother Wally at Paramount productions, Frank went on to work on a number of movies. He also worked alongside his brother Bud on the television show 'The Munster's' and also produced makeup for the series 'Plant of the Apes'. Frank also became known for the early developments of the bald cap which went on to become a key prosthetic within many film productions including Bettie Davis's Elizabeth which his brother Perc remained the key makeup artist.

However the history of the Westmore family did not stop at Frank, Monte's third child Michael also went on to become a makeup artist as is to this day a judge on the popular TV competition, 'Face Off' which features numerous budding makeup artists competing in creating special effects creatures.