Max Factor

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The cosmetic firm Max Factor was named after Max Factor, Sr, a make-up artist for the Russian royal ballet who emigrated to the United States in 1904. Max Factor is presently a brand owned by Procter & Gamble Co..

In the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, during the glory days of Hollywood, Max Factor became intimately associated with the world of movie make-up. He created the first makeup for the movies in 1914, and coined the term "makeup", based on the verb, "to make up" (one's face).

Jean Harlow, Claudette Colbert, Bette Davis, and virtually all of the major movie actresses were regular customers of the Max Factor beauty salon, located near Hollywood Boulevard. His name appeared on many movie credits, and Factor himself appeared in some cameos.

John "Jake the Barber" Factor was the brother of Max. He was a high class trickster and in 1933 was on the run from England where he had been sentenced to a total of twenty-four years. Roger "Tough" Touhy was convicted on false evidence for John Factor's kidnapping and convicted on behalf of Frank Nitti. The kidnapping had been set up to eliminate Touhy from competition. Factor's wrongly accused kidnapper Touhy escaped from prison and was recaptured before finally being released on November 25th 1959. He was shot to death while visiting his sister on December 17th. He was likely killed on the orders of Murray "The Hump" Humphreys, whom he had humiliated many years earlier, and who was acting on behalf of Jake Factor. Touhy wrote a book about his false imprisonments Italic textThe Stolen Years '' At the moment of Roger Touhy's death Jake the Barber, now well involved with mob interests in California and Las Vegas was in town enjoying a steak at The Singapore, a Mob-controlled restaurant on Rush Street. He later became the front man for Chicago at The Stardust Casino, after its brainchild Los Angeles gambler and crime figure Tony Cornero died in 1955, shortly before the casino was finished construction.

Many of Max's celebrity clients also appeared in full-color magazine ads to promote his cosmetics, so the brand name Max Factor soon became world-renowned.

Max Factor is credited with many cosmetic innovations, including Pan-Cake makeup, the mascara wand, and concealer.

Even today, 2006, Max Factor's television adverts cross-promote the latest blockbusters in which their make-up is used.

Convicted rapist Andrew Luster is an heir to the Max Factor fortune.

[Max Factor website]

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