Family Tree
The GWRL&M was founded in Burbank in 2000 by Marvin G. Westmore, (Grandson of George H. Westmore) in order to serve the Westmore Academy of Cosmetic Arts students growing needs for historical research. Since January 2006, the museum’s operations have been separate from the Academy in an effort to offer more specialized care and attention to the specific needs of a Makeup & Hair collection and develop a research library and museum to fulfill the community and cultural needs, add museum-trained personnel and create a respected Board of Directors. 2008 is a landmark year for Makeup’s legendary Westmore family – thus marking 91 years of services that the family has provided to Hollywood’s film industry and as medical cosmetic specialists. The program covers and provides consultation, counseling and instruction – in collaboration with physicians, surgeons, dermatologists and other medical specialists – to medically referred clients who have undergone aesthetic or re-constructive surgery, as well as post-trauma patients and those with congenital skin discoloration. This program constitutes a cultural and social effort on behalf of the Westmore’s to enhance participant’s lives. As pioneers of their industry, the Westmore’s not only created but defined the role of Makeup Artists in motion pictures. Wigmaker George Westmore made history when he opened the very first makeup department at the Selig-Polyscope Studios in Edendale, a suburb of Los Angeles next to Hollywood, in 1917. (Located in the same area was Mac Sennet’s Keystone Studios, Chaplain Studios, and Disney.)
The Westmores
George’s sons, Monte, Ern, Perc, and Wally went on to open their own makeup departments at Famous Players-Lasky Studio, then on Selma & Vine, and later, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Selznick International and RKO Hollywood Studio. By the 1930s nearly every movie studio had a Westmore heading their makeup department. In 1935 the brothers teamed up to open the most opulent salon of its time, a glamour mecca: The House of Westmore at 6638 Sunset Blvd. on the famous Sunset Strip.
Westmores of Hollywod
Bud Westmore ran the makeup department at Universal International Pictures for 24 years where he re-created the makeup designs for Universal’s horror characters including, Frankenstein and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. Youngest son, Frank was a freelance makeup artist who worked with Cecil B. DeMille on The Ten Commandments and wrote a family biography titled, The Westmore’s of Hollywood.
