About
"The ironic thing about my career is that much of my very best work was done before makeup was recognized in television and films. There were no awards given during my entire early television career for makeup. Only when I left NBC did they start giving the Emmy and it took me awhile to collect one. In films, there was no Academy Award during the 'Exorcist' or 'The Godfather' or a number of things I did. I was happy to live long enough to finally collect one."
In his five-and-a-half-hour interview, Dick Smith (1922-2014) speaks at length about the difficulties of establishing television's first makeup department, at NBC. He discusses the challenges of working with the studio's hot lights, the live schedule that left little time for makeup changes, and developing the correct colors and textures to be seen on the first television screens. Smith recalls the many mishaps that occurred while doing live television and how he eventually honed his skills and pioneered techniques that helped TV makeup departments both progress and grow. Smith details specific productions of Robert Montgomery Presents and Philco-Goodyear Playhouse as well as other programs, like Mark Twain Tonight! Jeff Kisseloff conducted the interview at Smith's home workshop on May 15, 1996 in Sarasota, FL.
Highlights
Dick Smith on the book that changed his life
Dick Smith on problematic lipstick for black and white television
Dick Smith on "acting" on live television as a boxer's handler in order to do makeup for a character that was a boxer
Dick Smith on the most disastrous quick change he ever did
Dick Smith on people's fascination with monsters
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on his parents' divorce; on his years at Yale
On discovering stage makeup; on scaring classmates at Yale with his monster makeup; on his interest in movies; on dressing up as Frankenstein's monster and scaring people at a movie theater
Chapter 2
On scaring moviegoers with Frankenstein makeup, contd.; on the 1939 World's Fair
On giving up the idea of being a dentist and deciding to be a makeup artist; on gathering supplies and materials for costumes and makeups at Gray's Drug Store in New York City
On his father's Hollywood contacts and applying for his first job in television makeup
Chapter 3
On the NBC art department in the 1940s; on odd jobs before getting into television; on his big break into television; on practicing makeup at theater companies and reading books
On what he learned from doing theatrical makeup; on standard makeup tools in the 1940s; on his first attempt at making plaster molds and applications for an Abraham Lincoln makeup; on learning about rubber mask grease paint
Chapter 4
On the tools of the makeup artist in the very early days of television; on fellow makeup artists in the 1940s and makeup tips from other artists
On "blood" for The Godfather; on his first days at NBC; on using monitors to see how makeup would look on television; on actors' nerves in live television
On the speed required for television makeup
Chapter 5
On his work schedule and staff at NBC; on his early makeup lab; on learning piano during his first days at NBC
On his perfectionist ways; on budgets and administrative duties; on Fred Coe; on heading the makeup department
On the creative atmosphere at NBC; on recollections of Fred Coe
Chapter 6
On problems that arose on long dramas; on difficulties with directors' and writers' demands; on makeup for James Beard's cooking show; on his on the job learning
On the difficulties of television's hot lights; on the image orthicon camera; on the difficulties of close-ups; on problematic makeup for actor Vaughn Taylor
Chapter 7
On stock players during the early days of NBC; on a makeup mishap on a production of "The Count of Monte Cristo"; on mishaps on Kraft Television Theatre
On the most disastrous quick change he ever did; on difficulties removing prosthetics; on keeping cool under the pressure of live television
On special effects for film; on makeup for Hour Glass, Campus Hoopla and Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse
Chapter 8
On his staff and duties at NBC; on an incident with the king of Yugoslavia; on working with Milton Berle
On tensions backstage during the early days of television; on quick makeup changes with actress Claire Bloom in a Robert Montgomery Presents production of "Victoria Regina"
Chapter 9
On feedback on his work from trade articles and supervisors; on the sense of accomplishment he feels from applying 3-D makeup; on experimenting with vinyl and foam latex
On creating makeup and appliances for color television; on materials he used; on lessons he learned from doing makeup for The Exorcist - different budget from television
On waterproof makeup; on gelatin molds (pre-latex); on advancements he made for bald caps
Chapter 10
On contributions to makeup that he spearheaded or invented; on trading information and tips with artists at other networks; on the supremacy of NBC's makeup department over CBS' and ABC's due to his own personal drive
On leaving NBC; on working in film and with David Susskind in television and film
On NBC censorship; on the Hollywood blacklist; on his greatest achievement at NBC
Chapter 11
On makeup disasters; On his favorite and most difficult actors to work with; on developing as an artist in live TV; on what he would have changed about his TV career
On his thoughts on people with whom he's worked
Chapter 12
On his thoughts on people with whom he's worked; on makeup for David Susskind Productions
On television's conversion from live to tape; On Power and the Glory, Man of La Mancha, and working with Maurenn Stapleton
On photographs of his make-ups: him as the "Phantom of the Opera", as a derilect, as the "Hunchback of Notre Dame," of his Abraham Lincoln mask, of his makeup room, of Vaughn Taylor
Chapter 13
On photographs: of Eva Marie Saint, John Carradine, Vaughn Taylor, Gertrude Lawrence, Dennis King, Nicolaus Saunders, Jose Ferrar, Fred Allen, Rex Harrison, Ralph Richardson, Everette Sloan, Jimmy Durante, Winifred Heidt, and Nancy Marchand
On photographs on cast members of Alice and Wonderland, Peter Pan, Born Yesterday, Caesar and Cleopatra, "Victoria Regina" and of Audrey Hepburn
Chapter 14
On photographs of makeup for Judith Anderson, Lee Cobb, Laurence Olivier, Sterling Hayden, Julie Harris, Patty Duke, Dustin Hoffman, Hal Holbrook and others
On photographs of makeup for Jack Palance, Ed Flanders, Fred Gwyne, Jean Simmons, Marlon Brando, Linda Blair, Hal Holbrook, F. Murrary Abraham and others
Shows
'Way Out
Dick Smith on makeup for 'Way Out
Alice in Wonderland (1955)
Dick Smith on makeup for Alice in Wonderland
Amahl and the Night Visitors
Dick Smith on makeup for Amahl and the Night Visitors
Broadway Open House
Dick Smith on Fred Allen being recognized by an appearance he made with Jerry Lester on Broadway Open House
Campus Hoopla
Dick Smith on his work on Campus Hoopla
Harry S. Truman: Plain Speaking
Dick Smith on makeup for Ed Flanders as "Harry Truman"
Hour Glass
Dick Smith on his work on Hour Glass with Bert Lahr and his spinning toupee
I Love to Eat
Dick Smith on makeup for James Beard's cooking show I Love to Eat
Kraft Television Theatre
Dick Smith on makeup mishaps with Nancy Marchand as "Queen Elizabeth" on Kraft Television Theatre
Last War, The
Dick Smith on Eva Marie Saint in The Last War
Mark Twain Tonight!
Dick Smith on Hal Holbrook on Mark Twain Tonight!
Dick Smith on challenges for his Emmy award winning makeup for Hal Holbrook on Mark Twain Tonight!
Moon and Sixpence
Dick Smith on Laurence Olivier in Moon and Sixpence
North and South
Dick Smith on Hal Holbrook as Abraham Lincoln in North and South
Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse
Dick Smith on his work on Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse
Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse: "Marty"
Dick Smith on Rod Steiger and Paddy Chayefsky
Power and the Glory, The
Dick Smith on makeup for the taped production The Power and the Glory
Dick Smith on Laurence Olivier and Patty Duke in The Power and the Glory
Robert Montgomery Presents
Dick Smith on quick makeup changes with actress Claire Bloom in a Robert Montgomery Presents production of "Victoria Regina"
Dick Smith on Claire Bloom's life mask, double and makeup in "Victoria Regina"
Robert Montgomery Presents: "Victoria Regina"
Dick Smith on quick makeup changes with actress Claire Bloom in a Robert Montgomery Presents production of "Victoria Regina"
Dick Smith on Claire Bloom's life mask, double and makeup in "Victoria Regina"
Tex and Jinx Show, The
Dick Smith on Jinx Falkenburg of The Tex and Jinx Show
Your Show of Shows
Dick Smith on Sid Caesar
Topics
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Dick Smith on getting makeup inspiration from 1939's The Hunchback of Notre Dame with Charles Laughton and putting his knowledge to use scaring dormmates
Emmy Awards
Dick Smith on challenges for his Emmy-winning makeup for Hal Holbrook on Mark Twain Tonight!
Dick Smith on his Oscar-winning makeup for Amadeus starring F. Murray Abraham and finally winning and Emmy
Hollywood Blacklist
Dick Smith on being warned about the Hollywood Blacklist
Industry Crossroads
Dick Smith on being warned about the Hollywood Blacklist
Technological Innovation
Dick Smith on the coming of color television and renegotiating his salary
Dick Smith on creating makeup and appliances for color television
Television Industry
Dick Smith on being warned about the Hollywood Blacklist
TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)
Dick Smith on NBC censorship when he had to make Laurence Olivier look like he had leprosy
Professions
Makeup Artist
Dick Smith on the book that changed his life
Dick Smith on giving up the idea of becoming a dentist to become a makeup artist
Dick Smith on standard makeup tools for television in the 1940s
Dick Smith on the tools of the makeup artist in the very early days of television
Dick Smith on creating makeup and appliances for color television
Stylists
Dick Smith on the tools of the makeup artist in the very early days of television
Genres
Classic Anthology Series
Dick Smith on the tools of the makeup artist in the very early days of television
Dick Smith on makeup mishaps with Nancy Marchand as "Queen Elizabeth" on Kraft Television Theatre
Dick Smith on quick makeup changes with actress Claire Bloom in a Robert Montgomery Presents production of "Victoria Regina"
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Dick Smith on his work on Hour Glass with Bert Lahr and his spinning toupee
Service Shows
Dick Smith on makeup for James Beard's cooking show I Love to Eat
People
F. Murray Abraham
Dick Smith on his Oscar-winning makeup for Amadeus starring F. Murray Abraham
Fred Allen
Dick Smith on Fred Allen
Dick Smith on Fred Allen
Paul Alley
Dick Smith on his father's contact at NBC News, Paul Alley, and how he helped Smith apply for jobs in the art department
Dick Smith on Paul Alley helping him to get an interview in the NBC production department
Judith Anderson
Dick Smith on Judith Anderson in "Madea"
James Beard
Dick Smith on makeup for James Beard's cooking show I Love to Eat
Milton Berle
Dick Smith on working with Milton Berle
Linda Blair
Dick Smith on Linda Blair in The Exorcist
Claire Bloom
Dick Smith on quick makeup changes with actress Claire Bloom in a Robert Montgomery Presents production of "Victoria Regina"
Dick Smith on working with Claire Bloom
Dick Smith on Claire Bloom as Cyrano's "Roxanne"
Dick Smith on Claire Bloom, Cedric Hardwicke and Cyril Ritchard in Caesar and Cleopatra
Dick Smith on Claire Bloom's life mask, double and makeup in "Victoria Regina"
Marlon Brando
Dick Smith on David Sarnoff, "The Godfather"
Dick Smith on Marlon Brando in The Godfather
Sid Caesar
Dick Smith on Sid Caesar
John Carradine
Dick Smith on experimenting with gelatin molds (pre-latex) on a production starring John Carradine
Dick Smith on John Carradine and Vaughn Taylor in Twelfth Night
Paddy Chayefsky
Dick Smith on Paddy Chayefsky
Bobby Clark
Dick Smith on Bobby Clark in Alice in Wonderland
Lee J. Cobb
Dick Smith on makeup for the taped production of Man of La Mancha with Lee Cobb
Dick Smith on Lee Cobb as "Don Quixote"
Fred Coe
Dick Smith on his lab in Fred Coe's desk
Dick Smith on working with Fred Coe
Dick Smith on working with Fred Coe
Dick Smith on making wire masks for a production directed by Fred Coe
Ernest Colling
Dick Smith on a scene with Uta Hagen directed by Ernest Colling
David Cronenberg
Dick Smith on a problem he had with special effects makeup for a film
Patty Duke
Dick Smith on Patty Duke in Power and the Glory
Jimmy Durante
Dick Smith on Jimmy Durante as "Cyrano"
Morris Evans
Dick Smith on Morris Evans
Max Factor
Dick Smith on Max Factor and creating makeup and appliances for color television
Jinx Falkenburg
Dick Smith on Jinx Falkenburg of The Tex and Jinx Show
Jose Ferrer
Dick Smith on Jose Ferrer as "Cyrano"
Ed Flanders
Dick Smith on makeup for Ed Flanders as "Harry Truman"
William Friedkin
Dick Smith on lessons he learned from doing makeup for The Exorcist - different budget from television
Eva Le Gallienne
Dick Smith on Eva Le Gallienne in Alice in Wonderland
Reginald Gardiner
Dick Smith on Reginald Gardner in Alice in Wonderland
Fred Gwynne
Dick Smith on Fred Gwyne in Arsenic and Old Lace
Uta Hagen
Dick Smith on a scene with Uta Hagen directed by Ernest Colling
Cedric Hardwicke
Dick Smith on Claire Bloom, Cedric Hardwicke and Cyril Ritchard in Caesar and Cleopatra
Julie Harris
Dick Smith on Julie Harris
Rex Harrison
Dick Smith on Rex Harrison
Sterling Hayden
Dick Smith on Sterling Hayden
Winifred Heidt
Dick Smith on Winifred Heidt as "Queen of Spades"
Audrey Hepburn
Dick Smith on Audrey Hepburn
Dustin Hoffman
Dick Smith on Dustin Hoffman
Hal Holbrook
Dick Smith on Hal Holbrook on Mark Twain Tonight!
Dick Smith on challenges for his Emmy award winning makeup for Hal Holbrook on Mark Twain Tonight!
Dick Smith on Hal Holbrook
Dick Smith on Hal Holbrook as Abraham Lincoln
Robert Jiras
Dick Smith on a young Bob Jiras, future first head of the CBS makeup department
Dick Smith on CBS makeup department head Robert Jiras
Dennis King
Dick Smith on Dennis King as "Scrooge" and "Napoleon Bonaparte"
Bert Lahr
Dick Smith on his work on Hour Glass with Bert Lahr and his spinning toupee
Charles Laughton
Dick Smith on getting makeup inspiration from 1939's The Hunchback of Notre Dame with Charles Laughton and putting his knowledge to use scaring dormmates
Gertrude Lawrence
Dick Smith on makeup for Gertrude Lawrence
Dick Smith on Gertrude Lawrence as "Catherine the Great"
Jerry Lester
Dick Smith on Fred Allen being recognized by an appearance he made with Jerry Lester on Broadway Open House
Clare Booth Luce
Dick Smith on Clare Booth Luce
Delbert Mann
Dick Smith on Delbert Mann
Nancy Marchand
Dick Smith on makeup mishaps with Nancy Marchand as "Queen Elizabeth" on Kraft Television Theatre
Dick Smith on makeup mishaps with Nancy Marchand as "Queen Elizabeth" on Kraft Television Theatre
Dick Smith on Nancy Marchand as "Queen Elizabeth"
Mary Martin
Dick Smith on Cyril Ritchard as "Captain Hook" and Mary Martin as "Peter Pan"
Dick Smith on Mary Martin in Born Yesterday
Roddy McDowall
Dick Smith on makeup for the taped production Power and the Glory
Robert Montgomery
Dick Smith on Robert Montgomery
Henry Morgan
Dick Smith on Henry Morgan
Laurence Olivier
Dick Smith on NBC censorship when he had to make Laurence Olivier look like he had leprosy
Dick Smith on working with Laurence Olivier
Dick Smith on makeup for the taped production Power and the Glory
Dick Smith on Laurence Olivier in Moon and Sixpence
Dick Smith on Laurence Olivier in Power and the Glory
Jack Palance
Dick Smith on Jack Palance in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"
Jack P. Pierce
Dick Smith on monster makeup artist Jack P. Pierce
Ralph Richardson
Dick Smith on Ralph Richardson as "Scrooge"
Cyril Ritchard
Dick Smith on Cyril Ritchard as "Captain Hook" and Mary Martin as "Peter Pan"
Dick Smith on Claire Bloom, Cedric Hardwicke and Cyril Ritchard in Caesar and Cleopatra
Eva Marie Saint
Dick Smith on his work on Campus Hoopla
Dick Smith on Eva Marie Saint in The Last War
David Sarnoff
Dick Smith on David Sarnoff, "The Godfather"
Nicholas Saunders
Dick Smith on Nicholas Saunders on Believe it or Not
Jean Simmons
Dick Smith on Jean Simmons in a production of "Soldier in Love"
Everett Sloane
Dick Smith on Everett Sloane as "Vincent Van Gogh"
Maureen Stapleton
Dick Smith on makeup for Maureen Stapleton
Rod Steiger
Dick Smith on Rod Steiger
David Susskind
Dick Smith on working with David Susskind
Dick Smith on working for David Susskind Productions
Vaughn Taylor
Dick Smith on problematic makeup for actor Vaughn Taylor
Dick Smith on photographs of makeup for Vaughn Taylor
Dick Smith on John Carradine and Vaughn Taylor in Twelfth Night
Arturo Toscanini
Dick Smith on Arturo Toscanini
Warren Wade
Dick Smith on NBC director Warren Wade
Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver
Dick Smith on
Bud Westmore
Dick Smith on a Life magazine article showcasing Bud Westmore's makeup for film
Dick Smith on Bud Westmore and the Westmore family