In 1928 Max Factor purchased the four-story Max Factor Building (formerly the Hollywood Fire & Safe Building) known as the "Jewel Box of the Cosmetic World", and began manufacturing his world-famous make up on the upper floors while transforming the ground floor into a grand salon where fashionable women and celebrities came to see and be seen, as well as to purchase his make-up. In 1935 he opened the Max Factor Make Up Studio (adjacent to the main building) fondly nicknamed "The Pink Powder Puff," in the modern Art Deco style, which was designed by architect S. Charles Lee. The exterior of the Make Up Studio (seen here) includes rare marble imported from France, Greece and Italy; elegant street-to-roof fluted pilasters; six gracefully curved display windows containing bronze, copper and pewter finished aluminum castings; showcase window trimmings; bas-relief ornaments; art-deco rooftop ornaments, and magnificent ornamental lamps at the grand entryway. Declared L.A. Historic Cultural Monument 593 on April 26, 1994, this building eventually became The Max Factor Museum of Beauty. Sadly, it closed its doors in 1996, but reopened in 2002 as The Hollywood History Museum. Exterior view of the Max Factor Building, the "Jewel Box of the Cosmetic World," located at 1666 North Highland Avenue, in Hollywood. Photograph dated July 17, 1939.
Max Factor Building (Hollywood, Los Angeles, Calif.) Max Factor Co Cosmetics industry--California--Los Angeles Streets--California--Hollywood (Los Angeles) Street-railroad tracks--California--Hollywood (Los Angeles) Automobiles--California--Los Angeles Electric lines--California--Los Angeles Art deco (Architecture)--California--Hollywood (Los Angeles) Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments Works Progress Administration Collection photographs Highland Avenue (Los Angeles, Calif.) Hollywood (Los Angeles, Calif.) Lee, S. Charles
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