Howard Smit

Makeup Artist


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

About
About this interview

In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, Howard Smit (1911-2009) talks about his early life, growing up in the Great Depression and eventually taking a job with Max Factor. He recalls doing makeup for several feature films, including The Wizard of Oz and The Hunchback of Notre Dame in 1939. He describes doing makeup for early experimental television broadcasts in Los Angeles in the 1930s, and joining the hair and makeup union leadership. He discusses his involvement with the first thirteen episodes of Dragnet, and what it was like working in live television in the 1950s. Smit details some of the challenges of doing makeup for television, including creating fake blood, prosthetics, and the aging of actors when the script calls for it. Smit outlines creating the Deb Star Ball, a yearly industry event to introduce new female talent, and also chronicles helping to improve working conditions for hair and makeup artists as president of the union. He recounts doing makeup for several classic anthology series, including Schlitz Playhouse of Stars and Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and working with Hitchcock on the classic features The Birds and Marnie. He concludes by discussing several luminaries he worked with in his career, including Aaron Spelling, Lucille Ball, Danny Thomas, and Milton Berle. Byrd Holland conducted the interview on November 21, 1997 in North Hollywood, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"When I see television I want to see what my eyes would see if I were looking at you personally. I want the true person. I don’t want to see a bunch of makeup. Therein lies the challenge of the makeup artist."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Howard Smit on doing makeup for Alfred Hitchcock Presents
05:46
Howard Smit on doing makeup for the feature film "The Wizard of Oz"
02:17
Howard Smit on doing makeup for The Red Skelton Show
03:12
Howard Smit on doing makeup for the classic feature film "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," and on working in black and white versus working in color
03:09
Howard Smit on the challenges of doing makeup on early television
02:29
Howard Smit on what hairstylists and makeup artists thought of television in the early 1950s
01:14
Full Interview

Play Full Interview

Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on his family moving to Los Angeles in 1928 and living though the Great Depression; on going to work for Max Factor and learning the techniques of makeup for movies
On the early days of makeup in the movies; on the early days of hairstylists in the movies

Chapter 2

On the first time he saw television, and on his first involvement with experimental television, at a local Los Angeles station in the 1930s; on the challenges of doing makeup on early television; on leaving law school in 1937 to do makeup full time, and on joining the union
On doing makeup for the feature film "The Wizard of Oz"; on doing makeup for early Technicolor features and the emergence of television; on doing makeup for the classic feature film "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," and on working in black and white versus working in color

Chapter 3

On his experiences during World War II; on being a negotiator for the hair and makeup union in 1942; on participating in making training films for World War II
On doing makeup for Dragnet, with Jack Webb; on what hairstylists and makeup artists thought of television in the early 1950s; on moving on from Dragnet after 13 episodes
On the process of corrective beauty makeup; on sharing information with other makeup artists; on dealing with fake beards and mustaches as a makeup artist

Chapter 4

On creating fake blood for television and movies; on the process of aging actors and using various prosthetics on them; on dealing with makeup and the hot lights of the studio
On becoming president of the hair and makeup union in 1953, and on organizing the Deb Star Ball; on the Hollywood Blacklist; on helping improve working conditions for hair stylists and makeup artists as president of the union
On doing makeup for The Red Skelton Show; on doing freelance work as a makeup artist

Chapter 5

On working with Red Skleton and the various guest stars of The Red Skelton Show; on doing makeup for Alfred Hitchcock Presents; on working with Alfred Hitchcock on "The Birds" and "Marnie"
On doing makeup for "The Lonely Wizard," an episode of Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, starring Rod Steiger; on doing makeup for Lloyd Bridges on The Lloyd Bridges Show, and on dealing with continuity in makeup; on working with various actors, and on the transition from live television to filmed television

Chapter 6

On doing makeup for The Virginian and other Westerns; on working with Lee J. Cobb, James Drury, and Doug McClure on The Virginian
On doing makeup for The Mod Squad for producer Aaron Spelling; on the cast of The Mod Squad, including Peggy Lipton
On makeup artists dealing with different skin tones; on working with Sammy Davis, Jr. as a guest star on The Mod Squad; on going on location with The Mod Squad, and on the end of the show
On being the business rep for his union, and improving conditions for hair and makeup artists

Chapter 7

On getting recognition from the Motion Picture Academy for hair and makeup artists; on receiving an award from his union; on his union's anti-discrimination policy and on negotiating for his union
On his retirement from the union and on his proudest achievements as a union representative; on the most important developments in television makeup, and on technological innovations in the medium; on his career highlights and how he would like to be remembered
On various people with whom he has worked in his career; on Milton Berle, Lucille Ball, Chuck Connors, and Danny Thomas

Chapter 8

On working with Bing Crosby, John Forsythe, Jerry Lewis, and Jonathan Winters; on Walter Diehl; on his wives Edith Smit and Isabelle Smit

Chapter 9

On b-roll pictures from his career- in 1943 during World War II; doing makeup for an Army Air Corps film; making up Jane Wyatt; applying makeup to Jackie Coogan; on the set of "The Birds" with Alfred Hitchcock; with Sammy Davis, Jr.; with Aaron Spelling; on the set of The Mod Squad; making up Peggy Lipton (2 pictures); applying clown makeup to Clarence Williams III on the set of The Mod Squad; with co-workers; with his first wife, Edith; with his second wife, Isabelle; the "Smitty Award," named in his honor
Shows

Alfred Hitchcock Presents aka The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

View Show Page
Howard Smit on doing makeup for Alfred Hitchcock Presents
05:46

Dragnet

View Show Page
Howard Smit on doing makeup for Dragnet, starring Jack Webb
06:16
Howard Smit on moving on from Dragnet after 13 episodes
00:51

George Gobel Show, The

View Show Page
Howard Smit on working with George Gobel on The George Gobel Show
00:56

Lloyd Bridges Show, The

View Show Page
Howard Smit on doing makeup for Lloyd Bridges on The Lloyd Bridges Show
02:06

Mod Squad, The

View Show Page
Howard Smit on doing makeup for The Mod Squad
04:39
Howard Smit on the cast of The Mod Squad, including Peggy Lipton
02:51
Howard Smit on working with Sammy Davis, Jr. as a guest star on The Mod Squad
02:57
Howard Smit on going on location with The Mod Squad, and on the end of the show
04:11

Red Skelton Show, The

View Show Page
Howard Smit on doing makeup for The Red Skelton Show
03:12
Howard Smit on working with Red Skleton and the various guest stars of The Red Skelton Show
02:59

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars aka Celebrity Playhouse

View Show Page
Howard Smit on doing makeup for "The Lonely Wizard," an episode of Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, starring Rod Steiger
02:31

Thriller

View Show Page
Howard Smit on doing makeup for Boris Karloff's Thriller series
01:23

Virginian, The

View Show Page
Howard Smit on doing makeup for The Virginian and other Westerns
06:09
Howard Smit on working with Lee J. Cobb, James Drury, and Doug McClure on The Virginian
02:55
Topics

Historic Events and Social Change

View Topic
Howard Smit on his experiences during World War II
01:31
Howard Smit on participating in making training films for World War II
03:08

Hollywood Blacklist

View Topic
Howard Smit on the Hollywood Blacklist
02:27

Industry Crossroads

View Topic
Howard Smit on the Hollywood Blacklist
02:27

Pivotal Career Moments

View Topic
Howard Smit on doing makeup for the feature film "The Wizard of Oz"
02:17

TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)

View Topic
Howard Smit on doing makeup during the Golden Age of Television and dealing with live broadcasts
03:48

Television Industry

View Topic
Howard Smit on the Hollywood Blacklist
02:27

War

View Topic
Howard Smit on his experiences during World War II
01:31
Howard Smit on participating in making training films for World War II
03:08

World War II

View Topic
Howard Smit on his experiences during World War II
01:31
Howard Smit on participating in making training films for World War II
03:08
Professions

Hair Stylist

View Profession
Howard Smit on dealing with fake beards and mustaches as a makeup artist
08:17
Howard Smit on dealing with makeup and the hot lights of the studio
02:26

Makeup Artist

View Profession
Howard Smit on the challenges of doing makeup on early television
02:29
Howard Smit on the process of corrective beauty makeup
03:04
Howard Smit on sharing information with other makeup artists
01:20
Howard Smit on creating fake blood for television and movies
02:56
Howard Smit on the process of aging actors and using various prosthetics on them
03:15
Howard Smit on helping improve working conditions for hair stylists and makeup artists as president of the union
03:53
Howard Smit on doing freelance work as a makeup artist
02:53
Howard Smit on dealing with continuity in makeup
01:24
Howard Smit on the makeup artist dealing with different skin tones and ethnicities
02:32
Howard Smit on the most important developments in television makeup, and on technological innovations in the medium
04:13

Stylists

View Profession
Howard Smit on the challenges of doing makeup on early television
02:29
Howard Smit on the process of corrective beauty makeup
03:04
Howard Smit on sharing information with other makeup artists
01:20
Howard Smit on dealing with fake beards and mustaches as a makeup artist
08:17
Howard Smit on creating fake blood for television and movies
02:56
Howard Smit on the process of aging actors and using various prosthetics on them
03:15
Howard Smit on dealing with makeup and the hot lights of the studio
02:26
Howard Smit on helping improve working conditions for hair stylists and makeup artists as president of the union
03:53
Howard Smit on doing freelance work as a makeup artist
02:53
Howard Smit on dealing with continuity in makeup
01:24
Howard Smit on the makeup artist dealing with different skin tones and ethnicities
02:32
Howard Smit on the most important developments in television makeup, and on technological innovations in the medium
04:13
Genres

Classic Anthology Series

View Genre
Howard Smit on doing makeup for Alfred Hitchcock Presents
05:46
Howard Smit on doing makeup for "The Lonely Wizard," an episode of Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
02:31
Howard Smit on doing makeup for Lloyd Bridges on The Lloyd Bridges Show
02:06

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

View Genre
Howard Smit on doing makeup for the first 13 episodes of Dragnet
08:24
Howard Smit on doing makeup for Mod Squad
17:18

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

View Genre
Howard Smit on doing makeup for The Red Skelton Show
03:12
Howard Smit on working with Red Skleton and the various guest stars of The Red Skelton Show
02:59

Western Series

View Genre
Howard Smit on doing makeup for The Virginian
09:01
People

Lucille Ball

View Person Page
Howard Smit on working with Lucille Ball
00:56
Howard Smit on Milton Berle, Lucille Ball, Chuck Connors, and Danny Thomas
01:35

Milton Berle

View Interview Page
Howard Smit on Milton Berle, Lucille Ball, Chuck Connors, and Danny Thomas
01:35

Lloyd Bridges

View Person Page
Howard Smit on doing makeup for Lloyd Bridges on The Lloyd Bridges Show
02:06

Lee J. Cobb

View Person Page
Howard Smit on working with Lee J. Cobb, James Drury, and Doug McClure on The Virginian
02:51

Chuck Connors

View Person Page
Howard Smit on Milton Berle, Lucille Ball, Chuck Connors, and Danny Thomas
01:35

Joan Crawford

View Person Page
Howard Smit on Jane Wyman and Joan Crawford
00:59

Bing Crosby

View Person Page
Howard Smit on working with Bing Crosby
00:39

Sammy Davis, Jr.

View Person Page
Howard Smit on working with Sammy Davis, Jr. as a guest star on The Mod Squad
02:57

James Drury

View Person Page
Howard Smit on working with Lee J. Cobb, James Drury, and Doug McClure on The Virginian
02:55

Max Factor

View Person Page
Howard Smit on working directly with Max Factor
01:23

John Forsythe

View Interview Page
Howard Smit on working with John Forsythe
00:50

George Gobel

View Person Page
Howard Smit on working with George Gobel on The George Gobel Show
00:57

Alfred Hitchcock

View Person Page
Howard Smit on doing makeup for Alfred Hitchcock Presents
05:46
Howard Smit on working with Alfred Hitchcock on "The Birds" and "Marnie"
05:14

Boris Karloff

View Person Page
Howard Smit on doing makeup for Boris Karloff's Thriller series
01:24

Jerry Lewis

View Interview Page
Howard Smit on working with Jerry Lewis
01:18

Peggy Lipton

View Person Page
Howard Smit on the cast of The Mod Squad, including Peggy Lipton
02:51

Red Skelton

View Person Page
Howard Smit on doing makeup for The Red Skelton Show
03:12
Howard Smit on working with Red Skleton and the various guest stars of The Red Skelton Show
02:59

Aaron Spelling

View Interview Page
Howard Smit on doing makeup for The Mod Squad for producer Aaron Spelling
04:39

Rod Steiger

View Person Page
Howard Smit on doing makeup for "The Lonely Wizard," an episode of Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, starring Rod Steiger
02:31

Danny Thomas

View Person Page
Howard Smit on Milton Berle, Lucille Ball, Chuck Connors, and Danny Thomas
01:35

Jack Webb

View Person Page
Howard Smit on doing makeup for Dragnet, starring Jack Webb
06:16

Jonathan Winters

View Interview Page
Howard Smit on working with Jonathan Winters
00:28

Jane Wyman

View Person Page
Howard Smit on Jane Wyman and Joan Crawford
00:58

All Interviews

S