The International Society of Makeup Artists (which is also referred to as ISOMA) is pleased to honor exceptional makeup artists in the multi-media makeup industry who have distinguished themselves during their careers. ISOMA prides itself for being an impartial international society that wishes to simply honor members of the makeup profession who have not and may never be honored by members of their profession. ISOMA feels it is an important service to acknowledge deserving individuals. Especially in an industry that entertains, educates, and inspires millions of people who have been affected by the work of various professionals in the multi-media profession. ISOMA is honored to be the creation and means of this goal. The below artists are just a few that have been honored by ISOMA. In the future ISOMA will honor more deserving individuals.

 

BEN LANE · ISOMA LEGEND

The above photograph shows Mr. Lane during his retirement in Palm Springs, California.

The International Society of Makeup Artists (ISOMA,) is pleased to honor the life of Mr. Ben Lane of Palm Springs, California. Mr. Lane was the first recipient of ISOMA's Lifetime Achievement Award. He was a long standing Honorary Member of ISOMA for almost 30 years. Mr. Lane had for over four decades been recognized as one of Hollywood's foremost makeup artists. He began his career at the MGM Studios in 1935, when MGM was the colossus of the motion picture industry. While at MGM, Mr. Lane's work sheet listed many of the outstanding motion picture classics that were filmed during Hollywood's Golden Era.

During his lengthy career, he worked on such films as: "The Good Earth," "Annie Get Your Gun," "Show Boat," "Du Barry Was A Lady," "Anchors Away," "Oklahoma," "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," "Funny Girl," "Cat Ballou," "Bye Bye Birdie," "The Gene Kruper Story," "Guys and Dolls," and many more noted films. He also did numerous television shows, such as: "The Lone Ranger," "Sergeant Preston of the Yukon," "Bewitched," "The Partridge Family," and "I Dream of Jennie," to name a few.

Almost all of the great stars of the MGM era were beneficiaries of Mr. Lane's artistry, such as: Ava Gardner, Myna Loy, Jane Powell, Kathryn Grayson, Judy Garland, Jean Simmons, and Greer Garson, to name a few. Mr. Lane's artistry kept pace with the many technical innovations of the motion picture industry throughout the years that he was recognized as one of the paramount practitioners of his profession.


BEN LANE AND ACTOR RICARDO MONTALBAN

Mr. Lane strived solve makeup problems so that the actors and actresses looked completely natural and believable on the gigantic screen during the advances of black and white and color film development. As a result of his expertise, R.K.O. Studios lured Mr. Lane away from MGM by appointing him the head of the R.K.O Pictures Studio Makeup Department.

In 1955 he was named Director of Makeup for Columbia Pictures in addition to those duties, Mr. Lane had the increased responsibilities of also being the Director of Makeup for Screen Gems, Warner Brothers Television and Warner Brothers Pictures, a position that he held until his retirement in 1991. Although Mr. Lane's days at the studio frequently began as early as 5:30am and at times lasted well past midnight, he still found time to be recognized as one of Hollywood's noted philanthropists. For decades he devoted many hours to the City of Hope as a member of the Philanthropy's Board of Directors as well as many additional hours to Masonry and Shrinedom.



BEN LANE AND ACTOR EDUARDO CINNELLI


In the above photograph, Mr. Lane is shown as a young makeup artist in 1938 on location in the mountainous terrain of Lone Pine, California. He is shown transforming one of the lead actors "Eduardo Cinnelli," into the bald headed leader of the murderous Thuggee Cult in colonial India, for the action-adventure film "Gunga Din." This classic feature film also starred "Cary Grant," "Victor Mc Laglen," "Douglas Fairbanks Jr.," "Sam Jaffe," and "Joan Fontaine." It was directed by the famous Hollywood director George Stevens for R.K.O. Pictures and was released in 1939. This memorable film is considered to be one of Hollywood's Greatest action-adventure films.



BEN LANE AND ACTRESS/DANCER ANN MILLER


The above photo shows Mr. Lane in 1948 beautifying the face of stage and screen star "Ann Miller," for her role with the legendary film dancer/actor Fred Astaire. They starred together in the film "Easter Parade," with Judy Garland, Peter Lawford and Jules Munshin. It was a wonderful period re-creation of early 20th century New York and featured many of the beautiful Irving Berlin songs. It was awarded an Oscar for musical scoring and is an all time movie classic.

In 1941 Mr. Lane received his Masonic Degrees at the Mount Olive Lodge in Los Angeles. In 1972, Mr. Lane was coronated a 33rd Degree Mason, which is Masonry's highest honor, in recognition of his many contributions to the Masonic Order. Los Angeles Mayor Sam Yorty proclaimed January 14, 1972 "Ben Lane Day," when Mr. Lane was installed as President of the Show Business Shrine Club. He was also the recipient of the De Mo lay Legion of Honor in 1975. He was the founder and past president of the Al Malikan Shrine Temple's Masquers and has served as an officer or board member in four Shrine clubs in the southern California area.

Mr. Lane was one of the more active supporters of the Shriner's Hospitals for Crippled Children and Shriner's Burn Institutes while in the film industry as well as being a devoted husband and father. Helping others was a way of life for this multi-talented artist and humanitarian.





BEN LANE AND FRANK SINATRA

In the above photograph is Ben Lane applying makeup to international singing legend and actor "Frank Sinatra." The 1944 musical titled "Anchors Away" was directed by George Sidney and starred Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, Dean Stockwell, James Burke, Billy Gilbert, Henry O'Neill, Kathryn Grayson, Pamela Britton, and Jose Iturbi.

Mr. Lane and his wife Edith moved permanently to their weekend getaway home when he retired in 1981, from Warner/Columbia Studios. Before he retired, he did his last motion picture, the classic and lovable "Annie."

Never one to sit around idle, Mr. Lane started the Scottish Rite of Palm Springs with only a few members and was given Letters of Perfection. He was then appointed Chairman of the Inspector Generals Conference in Palm Springs. The membership steadily increased.



BEN LANE AND ACTRESS ESTHER WILLIAMS


Mr. Lane is shown in a row boat applying makeup to actress Esther Williams for MGM's mammoth technicolor musical special titled "Bathing Beauty," which was released in July of 1944. The film also starred such actors as Red Skelton, Basil Rathbone, Bill Goodwin, Jean Porter and others as well as the Xavier Cugat Orchestra and Harry James and his Music Makers.

Mr. Lane enjoyed performing his craft and loved to be around people. He helped many young makeup artists apply for union membership and as Head of the Makeup Department, he provided a great deal of employment to many individuals. He was one of the founding members of the Makeup Artists and Hairstylist Guild, Local 706, I.A.T.S.E., in Los Angeles, California. He was also a makeup artist disguise consultant to the Los Angeles Police Department, the United States Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In 1980 Mr. Lane was nominated for an Emmy award for his work on "Salem's Lot."

Mr. Lane was named Benjamin Libizer when he was born in Chicago, Illinois on January 23, 1912, he passed away on June 10, 2007 at the age of 95. He is survived by his beloved wife of more than 50 years, Edith (Cassileth) Lane and his son Robert, a retired school teacher, and his sister Trudy Schoenfeld.

The above photo is a 1972 painting of Ben Lane that was created by a fellow makeup artist, Fred Williams. Mr. Lane occasionally dressed as a loveable hobo clown when he did charitable work for the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children.

Mr. C. Robert Erdman, the Executive Director of ISOMA says "It was a pleasure to have Mr. Lane as a member of ISOMA for almost 30 years. He was a friend to everyone, a father figure to many and served as a distinguished advisor to ISOMA on many matters. Ben was a generous artist who always shared his many "makeup secrets" with others. And he was a kindly, humorous, and wonderful human being that will be missed by the many individuals that knew him. Also, young makeup artists of today who have never heard of Mr. Lane or noted individuals like him, benefit from the careers of such former giants in the industry because of the reputations, respect, and esteem that they helped to establish in the makeup profession."

 

 ROBERT O’BRADOVICH · ISOMA LEGEND

 

 
Featured in the photos is Mr. Bob O'Bradovich posing with two of his most treasured loves, his trumpet and his first Emmy Award. The second photo shows Mr. O'Bradovich about to kiss his wolf man makeup creation which he designed for a still photography assignment.
 
There are many makeup artists in the industry now as there were in Mr. O'Bradovich's time. However, only a select few become legends during their lifetime. Mr. O'Bradovich was one of those select few who became a legend during his lifetime. Which is why ISOMA chose to award Mr. O'Bradovich with its ISOMA Legend Award. Unfortunately, Mr. O'Bradovich passed away before ISOMA was able to personally present it to him. The award was presented posthumously to his lovely wife, Marilyn, The award was announced by Mr. C. Robert Erdman at the International Beauty Show in New York City during the presentation of awards for the Makeup Competitions. The International Beauty Show is the oldest, largest, and most influential show of its type for the beauty industry and professionals in the world. It was an appropriate and fitting tribute for a man such as Mr. O'Bradovich.
 
Mr. O'Bradovich was a member of Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Guild, Local 798, I.A.T.S.E., in New York City. He was an inspiration to numerous professionals in the industry, because of his outstanding reputation as a master craftsman who could accomplish almost any assignment with little budget money, time, materials, etc. He was an inventive, quick-thinking and gifted makeup artist. He was born in 1919 in Crosby, Minnesota, U.S.A. He was often asked how he had acquired his odd surname, with its Irish prefix and Slavic suffix. Bob would often say that the name was originally O'Brady, which is Irish. When his ancestors left Ireland during the 19th century famine, they settled for a generation or so in the Balkans, which is where they added the "ovich" to the last part of their name. The O'Bradovich name stuck to the family members that later migrated to America. As a result of his ancestors marrying Serbians, he was of Irish and Serbian extraction. He possessed the strong muscular features of the Irish and their love of life and the dark haired handsomeness of the Serbians. His rugged good looks and cavalier attitude made him likable to those that he encountered in life.
 
He served in the Army Air Force during World War II and came to New York to study acting under the G.I Bill. While learning to act, he also learned to apply makeup on himself for the various roles that he portrayed. As an actor, he appeared in more than 20 television shows, such as "Martin Kane," and "Big Story." During his search for work as an actor, he frequently supplemented his income by playing the trumpet with small orchestras. A beginner's infrequency of steady acting assignments, or as Bob would later say "just plain starvation," caused him to look into other areas of the theatrical industry for some sort of regular employment opportunities. As a result of his having studied the art of applying makeup while attending acting classes, he applied for a position as a makeup artist at the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) television network in 1950 at the age of 29. It is said by many in the industry that the NBC makeup department was the most famous television makeup department of its time in the 1950s and 1960s due to its gifted makeup artists and the demanding shows that they had to create for.
 
The NBC television network did a variety of live television shows and needed makeup artists who could not only make the performers look natural (especially for the early days of black and white television when individuals appeared unnatural,) but they also needed artists who could quickly transform the talent into character looks. While performing his duties with great success, Bob quickly found his forte in life and became a master quick-change artist.
 
He often said that he could not complain about a lack of variety in his assignments. He did numerous character looks and every type of show possible. One of the shows that he worked on were the NBC operas. He often joked about having nightmares concerning the singers who had to wear mustaches, especially very thin mustaches, which had a small adhesion area. Even though he used an excellent adhesive and took his time to properly apply them, he constantly worried about one coming off during a live close-up performance when the singers stretched their mouths very wide to sing. Bob felt that he was lucky and never once, in 12-years of opera performances, had one come off during a live telecast.

  

BOB O'BRADOVICH AND ACTOR PETER USTINOV

Above is a photo of Mr. O'Bradovich applying a prosthetic appliance to the face of actor "Peter Ustinov" (in order to cover Mr. Ustinov's own real-life facial hair,) for the television production of "The Life of Dr.Samuel Johnson."
 
Another show that he worked on was the "The Life of Dr. Samuel Johnson," an Omnibus Television Production, starring the famed British actor Peter Ustinov (who was 36 years old at the time). Mr. Ustinov had a real-life beard and refused to shave it off for the role of the clean shaven Dr. Johnson. Bob in his usual quick thinking manner, suggested the application of a prosthetic face appliance to cover the hair areas of his face. Mr. Ustinov liked the idea and agreed to the appliance which worked well for every show. Very few people (if any) would have suggested the use of an appliance or even accepted the assignment of adhering one to a star's face and having to remove it each day. The appliance was a success, no one realized that he was wearing it over a beard and mustache. Mr. Ustinov was described as the goutiest, twitchiest, most scarred, scrupulous gulf of a man to wobble across the TV screen.
 
Bob loved challenges, he loved living on the edge in life. He loved being a problem solver, technical or emotional. For the television play "The Turn of the Screw," he was requested to work with the acclaimed actress, Ingrid Bergman. Before the production started, she had asked Bob to locate and use a makeup base that she did not recall the name of, only that it was referred to as "Pancake Liquid or something." Being anxious to please her and wanting to avoid having an unhappy actress on his hands, he thought of the idea of melting a stick of makeup into a container and labeling it Bergman # 1. Upon presenting the foundation base to her and informing her that the base had been named in her honor, she was instantly happy with the product. Another actress that was easy to please was the famed sex-goddess Jane Mansfield. Bob said she was never fussy or demanding, she only wanted a little foundation and some eye makeup, she was naturally attractive and pleasant.
 
Mr. O'Bradovich also appeared in front of the camera as an actor. While secretly working as a makeup artist, He was a cast member of Kraft's Fifty Grand Show, directed by noted film director Sidney Lumet. The actor, Ralph Meeker, played a prize fighter, who had to absorb a great deal of physical abuse. Bob played the ring attendant who was supposed to doctor his wounds, but he was actually creating the cuts, open scar tissue, and black and blue marks, while his back was facing the live television camera. The viewing audience thought that the ring attendant (O'Bradovich,) was merely "doctoring' the fighter and never knew what was actually taking place. O'Bradovich loved the intrigue and excitement of this type of makeup application. Such accomplishments as this and many more like it, made him a living legend among those in the industry.
 
In 1954, Mr. O'Bradovich designed and created the makeup for the Robert Montgomery production of the Victor Hugo classic "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," which was shown in two installments on NBC television. Mr. Robert Ellenstein was the actor who played the part of Quasimodo, the deaf and deformed bell ringer of the ancient cathedral. The show featured 75 actors who were cast as thieves, beggars, and gypsies. It was quite a production for television, which at that time was still in its developing years. The show was merely one of many that required Bob's special artistic expertise and personal energy.
 
In 1959, Bob was named Director of Makeup for the NBC Television Makeup Department. During his years with NBC, he created counterparts of many historical notables, including Thomas Jefferson, Genghis Khan, Oliver Wendell Homes, Ulysses S. Grant, dozens of Abraham Lincolns, Hitler, Stalin, Napoleon, Alexander the Great, among others. He did extensive research and used paintings, photographs, written descriptions, and sketches to create his makeup designs.
 
Two of the most famous early television shows that Mr. O'Bradovich worked on were the Hallmark Hall of Fame Shows. The first was the classic television production of the "Tempest." It was William Shakespeare's fanciful play made into a 90-minute adaption for television. It aired on NBC television Wednesday, February 3, 1960. The (now famous) all-star cast featured Richard Burton, Roddy Mc Dowell, Ms. Lee Remick, Maurice Evans, and Tom Poston, in addition to a talented cast of others.

 ACTOR RICHARD BURTON AS "CALABAN"

Above is actor Richard Burton in character as "Calaban" in William Shakespeare's play the "Tempest," which was made into a 90-minute adaption for television.
 
The actor Richard Burton had to have his body hair shaved (legs, arms, and torso.) He then had to wear a heavy costume that included the application of makeup, spirit gum adhesive, prosthetic scales and feathers. Mr. Burton suffered a great deal of skin irritation. However, Bob said "Mr. Burton never once complained, he was always pleasant and joked a great deal." Mr. Burton's character, Calaban (the grotesque hybrid of a man and monster,) had webbed feet, a wide flattened nose, body scales, hair, feathers, and fangs (which were later removed, because he looked too mean for his character). It was a wonderfully unique creation for a wonderful and unique actor. Mr. Burton gave a performance of strength and compassion.

 

ACTOR RODDY MC DOWELL IN CHARACTER AS ARIEL

 

Roddy Mc Dowell who also appeared in the same performance with Mr. Burton as the character "Ariel." The appliances for Mr. Mc Dowell's character were made by Mr. O'Bradovich and NBC staff makeup artist Robert Laden. The appliances were applied by another makeup artists for the performance since Mr. O'Bradovich was busy applying Mr. Burton's makeup and appliances.
 
The production also featured many other interesting designs, such as the one worn by Roddy Mc Dowell for his portrayal as Ariel. Mr. Mc Dowell wore several appliances on various parts of his body. Embedded in the appliances were more than 150 barbs, which were used to create the look of thin spines protruding from his skin. His face and body was white. The finished look was a striking appearance, especially when combined with the sets and lighting of the Tempest Production. The show was directed by George Schaffer, whose various productions during these early years of television had won 13 Emmy Awards.

 

 ACTRESS JULIE HARRIS AS QUEEN VICTORIA

 

In the above photos is actress Julie Harris as Queen Victoria in the Hallmark Hall of Fame production of "Victoria Regina." Ms. Harris was transformed by Mr. O'Bradovich from an 18-year old woman into middle age and then finally into the 78-year old Queen. The appliances made the performance very believable. A remarkable achievement, remembering that this was during the early days of television, and the development of early foam appliance materials and techniques that were not as advanced as they are today.
 
Mr. Schaffer also directed Victoria Regina, the Hallmark Hall of Fame television show that presented Mr. O'Bradovich with the opportunity to earn the recognition for his makeup wizardry. This show starred a young actress called Julie Harris, who went on in life to become a world renowned film and television actress. Mr. O'Bradovich transformed Ms. Harris from a lovely 18-year old woman into a 78-year old corpulent aged Queen Victoria. In the climactic Diamond Jubilee scene, in which Victoria Regina is 78, he used vintage photographs of the real Victoria to guide him through the sculpting of her aged prosthetic appliances. Famed Broadway and television hairdresser Ernest Adler, created the hairstyles for Ms Harris's character. Noted New York wig maker, Mr. Ira Senz created the wigs for the show. Mr. O'Bradovich won his first Emmy Award for makeup for his work on this 1961 television play.

 

BOB O'BRADOVICH AT THE EMMY AWARDS CEREMONIES

 
Bob O'Bradovich is shown with others at the 1965 Emmy Award ceremonies. Holding their Emmy's for their work on the Emmy Award winning show, "The Magnificent Yankee." is (starting from the left) Mr. O'Bradovich - Makeup Designer; Warren Clymar - Set Designer; Phil Himes - Lighting Director; Actor Melvin Douglas accepting for Actor Alfred Lunt; Actress Joan Crawford accepting for Actress Lynn Fontanne; and George Schaffer - Director. 
 
Bob earned his second Emmy Award for makeup for the 1965 production of the "Magnificent Yankee," starring Mr. Alfred Lunt and Ms. Lynn Fontanne as Chief Justice and Mrs. Oliver Wendell Homes. In 1979, he received his third Emmy Award for makeup, for the Halloween classic, "The Halloween that Almost Wasn't". It is still frequently shown around Halloween time (October 31st,) in America. It features Mr. O'Bradovich's personal humor and unique skill as a makeup artist. He creates several likenesses of classic horror characters which are very comical and humorous. It was a showcase of Mr. O'Bradovich's special talent and emotional expressions. 
 
 
In 1966, Mr. O'Bradovich left his makeup home at NBC television to seek a freelance makeup career, in order to earn more money that many freelance makeup artists were currently earning on higher paying assignments in the industry.He worked on a variety of successful film, television, commercial, industrial, theater, etc. assignments. Some of the films that he worked on were: Three Days of the Condor, Boys in the Band, Applause, Auntie Mame, Far Country, and Beatlemania to name a few. 
 
He graced the faces of numerous stars, celebrities, and politicians, such as: Eva and Zsa Zsa Gabor, Walter Mathau, Judy Garland, Stacy Keach, Ingrid Bergman, Rip Torn, Lauren Bacall, Hal Holbrook, Carol Lawrence, Sammy Davis Jr, Greer Garson, Johnny Carson, Lisa Minnelli, Ralph Bellamy, Rachel Welch, James Dean, and President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson. 
 
In 1977, he traveled to Africa and met famed anthropologist Richard Leakey. He was asked to create a head mask that a native African volunteer would wear to re-create the look of the two-million-year-old Homo habilis, for the cover of the November issue of Time Magazine. Mr. Leakey was impressed by the Time Magazine photography/story idea, which the photographer, Carl Fischer, saw as a pictorial as well as an anthropological challenge. The photograph featured on the cover of Time Magazine was photographed in the desolate Rift Valley, outside of Nairobi. The idea of the noted anthropologist posing with a live, two-million-year-old replica of Homo habilis was a big success for Time Magazine and O'Bradovich. He came back to New York and continued to happily perform his feats of magic for the various employers that frequently requested his artistry until he passed away in 1993 at the age of 74. 
 
ISOMA is appreciative of Mr. O'Bradovich for having created an atmosphere of everlasting respect, esteem, and awe for the makeup profession. He was one of the early pioneers of the television industry that created an aura that all future makeup artists may bask in, like the warm rays of the sun. Many individuals may come into the industry, but only a select few will ever reach the heights and accomplishments that Mr. O'Bradovich did during his lifetime. ISOMA is extremely pleased to honor Mr. Robert O'Bradovich; for his skills, abilities, contributions to the makeup profession and especially for inspiring other professional makeup artists in the industry. 
 
ISOMA is appreciative to Mrs. Marilyn O'Bradovich for providing her photographs and information for this article.

 

 

ROBERT J. SCHIFFER · ISOMA LEGEND

 
Mr. Robert J. Schiffer was honored in 1994 with the ISOMA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT Award presented by the International Society of Makeup Artists (ISOMA). From 1967, Mr. Schiffer was the Director of the Makeup and Hairstyling Department for the Walt Disney Studios, in Burbank, California. He had been a makeup artist for almost 70 years. Born in Seattle, Washington in 1916, Mr. Schiffer began his four-year makeup apprenticeship in 1934 by spraying the bodies of hordes of gladiators for the RKO Pictures film "The Last Days of Pompeii".
 
During his career he had worked with a variety of internationally known stars, including: Humphrey Bogart, Marlene Dietrich, Rita Hayworth, Joan Crawford, Cary Grant, Bette Davis, Norma Shearer, Kirk Douglas, Barbara Stanwyck, Jeanette Mac Donald, Orson Wells, Lana Turner, Ingrid Bergman, Myrna Loy, Judy Garland, Rosalind Russell, Paulette Goddard, and Maximilian Schell. He had the rare pleasure of working with both legendary stars of the Golden Years of Hollywood and a great number of the stars of today. Mr. Schiffer personified the true tradition of the Hollywood makeup artist. He worked on numerous assignments, and performed a variety of artistic skills for many unique stars in both large and small productions.
 
In addition to beautifying the stars, Mr. Schiffer was an expert at creating character looks and making prosthetic designs. He even transformed the head of actor/comedian Jonathan Winters into a pumpkin, while still retaining the actor's face and permitting movement. He also satisfied unusual requests for unusual performers. . . including having to change the hair color of a camel and creating a tail for a dog whose real tail had been bitten off by a wolf.
 
He considered his biggest challenge to be the makeup that he did on famed actor, Burt Lancaster for his role in the motion picture "Birdman of Alcatraz," when he aged the world renowned actor from an 18-year old youth to an 80-year old man. The transformation process of Mr. Lancaster took approximately 2-1/2 hours. During the makeover process, Mr. Schiffer applied prosthetic eye bags and a chin piece, in addition to a meticulous application of aging stipple.
 
During his apprenticeship, Mr. Schiffer trained under his makeup artist friend Bill Phillips, his father and three brothers, who were also makeup artists. One of the early jobs he was given as a makeup apprentice, was to put full body makeup on thirty women for their appearance in the Marlene Dietrich film "Blonde Venus." Large crowd scenes of extras were sprayed by Mr. Schiffer with a product that he said was "miserable and hard to remove" in the shower. The extras were paid the handsome sum of $5.00 or $7.50 per day depending upon where they stood. As he became more proficient at his craft he was permitted to apply makeup to secondary players in films, while the head makeup artist did the principle performers. As time went by and as he mastered his craft, he began doing the makeup for the leads in many features. One of the films that he worked on was the first Technicolor film, "Beckey Sharp." He said "In those days, we really didn't know how to do makeup for color; no one knew for sure how it would turn out until the film came back from the lab. We had a Technicolor consultant on the set to supposedly tell us how it would look on the screen."
   
He was not pleased with the way that makeup looked in color films until the technique of creating them went from the two-strip to the three-strip Technicolor process. With that process he said "You could judge your skin tones a little better." Mr. Schiffer did the first Eastman color film movie, using Max Factor theatrical makeup products. During these early years of the film makeup profession, he was not really satisfied with the results of how makeup looked on the screen in color . He was convinced that with the way modern film stock had developed, you could almost let the actor go on without makeup for certain looks.

MR. ROBERT J. SCHIFFER TOUCHING UP ACTRESS PAULETTE GODDARD

 

Mr. Schiffer said that he left RKO Pictures and went to work for the MGM Studios as a journeyman makeup artist, where the legendary makeup artist Jack Dawn was the head of the Makeup Department. He said that "Jack Dawn was a rough taskmaster and was responsible for the training of a lot of the best makeup artists in Hollywood." One of the classic films that Mr. Schiffer worked on was the "Wizard of Oz". He said that "Jack Dawn's appliances were very important to the film, even though they were crudely made." It's important to remember that such appliances in the early days of film were not as advanced as they are now. Since materials and techniques have improved a great deal over the years, the creations by today's young gifted artists are even more magical and dazzling to see on the movie screen. Because of early makeup artists like Jack Dawn and his creations (the Mummy, Frankenstein, the Wolf man, etc.), the work inspired movie-goers and started the trend for such special makeup creations and effects that are frequently created by today's young makeup artists.
 

 
In the above photo is Mr. Schiffer and a young model from one of the Evening Fashion Makeup Competitions that he served as a Judge for. Mr. Schiffer was invited by ISOMA to serve as a judge for the Makeup Competitions at the Long Beach Beauty Expo in Long Beach, California.
 
Mr. Schiffer left MGM and freelanced for a while, but he eventually went to Columbia Pictures and stayed there for about 18 years, mostly working on film legend Rita Hayworth, who was their biggest star. He enjoyed doing character work, by aging people and creating monsters. He recalls working with Clay Campbell (another noted Hollywood makeup artist,) on the "Return of the Vampire", starring Bela Lugosi and having to take a mold of Lugosi's face and make a wax replica of it . Afterward, a skull was put under the wax head and heat was applied to it, so that when the face was dripped away, the skull was revealed. Such early techniques are still useable today.
 
Although he enjoyed doing a variety of makeup assignments, he was often requested to do beauty makeups for many major female stars and is known for helping to create the "forties" beauty look for many movie legends, which was emulated by the female movie going public. His "Joan Crawford" makeup personified the look of the forties. When doing her makeup, he would emphasize her mouth and eyes. For the lips, he would apply a crimson shade of lipstick, topped by the application of a little Vaseline to create the full sensuous look that has attracted and aroused the thoughts of male movie goers for years. It was a sexy, seductive look that was quickly copied by the cosmetic wearing female public. They hoped to be as appealing to men as Joan Crawford was in the movies. On giving beauty advice, Mr. Schiffer stated that "subtleness is the key," regardless of the age or period.
 

In the above photograph, Mr. Schiffer is seen with a Japanese model that was entered into the Avant-Garde Makeup Competition which was presented by the Long Beach Beauty Exposition in Long Beach, California. Competitors from around the world come to compete in a variety of competitions at this event.

 
Mr. Schiffer was requested by members of ISOMA to be one of the select few to judge the Makeup Competitions for the Long Beach Beauty Expo, in Long Beach, California. After being in the industry for nearly 70 years, Mr. Schiffer passed away at the age of 88 on April 26, 2005. He had worked on more than 200 films during his illustrious career. Films such as: Last days of Pompeii, Mutiny on the Bounty, Annie Oakley, The great Ziegfeld, The Jolson Story, Death of a Salesman, From Here to Eternity, The Caine Mutiny, Marty, Mr. Roberts, The Kentuckian, Pal Joey, Elmer Gantry, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane, Cleopatra, Ensign Pulver, My Fair Lady, Gigi, Oceans Eleven, Splash, to name a few.
 
ISOMA Executive Director, Mr. C. Robert Erdman stated that ISOMA was truly honored to have been briefly associated with Mr. Robert J. Schiffer. His passing was a great loss to his family, friends, associates, and the makeup industry he served so well for all those years. We honor him, and revere him for all his many gifts, talents, and respected reputation. People with that kind of devotion and talent are few and far between.
 

 

 

JOYCE KANG · INTERNATIONAL ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF ISOMA

 
 


Joyce Kang is the International Artistic Director of ISOMA and is an internationally-known, multi-award winning hair-stylist/hair-cutter/makeup artist/nail artist. She has been presented with more than 50 medals, awards, and honors during her lengthy professional career, which she has devoted her life to. Ms. Kang has been a member of the International Society of Makeup Artists (ISOMA) since its inception and has been the International Artistic Director of ISOMA for more than 20 years. She is also a member of the National Cosmetology Association (NCA), the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATA&S), the Asian Beauty Association (ABS), and the Korean American Women’s Alliance (KAWA). During her professional career, Ms. Kang has enhanced the appearances of a variety of society members, beauty contestants, individuals of importance, celebrities, stage, film, and television stars.
 
 
Joyce Kang and actor Al Lewis who is known to his fans as Grandpa Munster

 
Joyce Kang started her beauty career in 1968 as a young cosmetology student in Pusan, Korea, where she was born. She came from a modest family of hard-working individuals. Upon graduation from beauty school, she immediately went to work as a hairdresser in a local salon. Because of her inquisitive mind and interest in her profession, she continued to grow professionally by learning as much as she could from seasoned members of her craft, and by attending seminars, and professional beauty shows. As she advanced in knowledge and as her artistic skills blossomed, she quickly moved up the ladder of success to work in salons that were the best in her city.
 
As time went by, she felt that she had advanced as far as she could in the city of Pusan. As a result, she moved to Korea's largest city, Seoul, to work in salons that catered to an upscale clientele that desired the latest fashions and the highest standards of beauty services. As a professional, she was quite advanced by this time, but she continued to acquire additional knowledge and skills that she could use for further growth in the beauty industry. Joyce had her heart set on a much bigger professional goal in life. Her artist’s mind was restless and her inner drive to do more and to succeed at anything she tried was unstoppable. So she continued to attend numerous training sessions, seminars and trade shows that are offered to Korea's community of more than 600,000 beauty professionals who take their profession very seriously.
 


Joyce Kang and actress Mia Farrow
Prince Michael of Greece and Joyce Kang
Actor John Lithgow, Joyce Kang and Model/Actress Brooke Shields
 
 
She especially enjoyed attending seminars, beauty expositions and trade shows that showed the platform work of skilled artists from her country as well as those of the visiting artists from other countries. Every time she attended such shows, she said "I was inspired and invigorated by their creativity and wished to emulate their work by creating my own unique styles and high standards of creativity.” She started to envision her future career as an international beautifier and wanted to travel, learn more, do more, and be more than a one-dimensional artist that she felt that she was. She felt that she was a multi-tasked artist and wanted to do as much as she could and go as far as she could. She wanted to soar with the eagles of her profession and be all that she felt that she could be in life. Like many young artists of every generation, she was inspired by the artistic creations of others at the various beauty shows and the artistic makeup photos that she saw in the magazines. As a result of such a burning desire, she decided to plan her future as one would plan for a long road trip, and decided on a course of achievement for herself. While working in the beauty salon and earning a profitable living, she decided to start her plan by first entering various professional competitions and become recognized for her creativity. She focused on designing a "look" and entering one of the upcoming competitions as the first step of her vision for her future.
 
She entered the first of her many competitions for professionals in the beauty industry, and in 1980 was awarded by the Mayor of Seoul, Korea, the Grand Prize, a Gold Medal for her hairstyling artistry at the Seoul Beauty Show. In the beauty industry, Ms. Kang has been presented with numerous honors, she was presented the First Place Award for Hairstyling in Seoul, Korea at the Seoul Beauty Show; she received a Gold Medal for her Makeup Artistry in Korea at the Seoul Beauty Show; she received the Nationwide Korean Beauty Art Conference Gold Medal for Haircutting; she received a Gold Medal from the Asian Federation Haircut Group; she received a Gold Medal from the C.I.D. Haircut Group; in Japan, she was awarded a Gold Medal for Haircutting at the Festival Mondial De La Coiffure; she was nominated as one of the Committee for the Royal Palace Hairstyle in Korea; in Taiwan, she was awarded the Silver Medal at the Asia Conference Haircutting Group; in various years in New York City at the International Beauty Show (IBS), she was awarded the Fourth Place Medallion of Merit for her entry in the Evening Fashion Makeup Competition; she was awarded the Fourth Place Medallion of Merit for her entry in the Avant-Garde Hairstyle Competition; she has also been presented with numerous First, Second and Third Place Awards for her entries in the Hairstyling, Makeup and Avant-Garde Nail Competitions at the International Beauty Show in New York City, the Long Beach Beauty Exposition and the International Cosmetology Exposition (ICE) in Los Angeles, California. Joyce has been honored with various awards for her entries in numerous other competitions nationally and internationally.

 

 
Singer/Pianist/Music Revivalist Michael Feinstein and Joyce Kang
Singer Lyle Lovett with Joyce Kang
Actor George Takei of Star Trek Fame and Joyce Kang

Joyce has been a designer/trainer for a variety of international competitors who have won numerous First, Second, Third and Fourth Place Awards in various national and international competitions. For more than 15 years she has served as one of the distinguished judges for the International Beauty Show in New York City, the Long Beach Beauty Exposition in Long Beach, California, the International Cosmetology Exposition in Los Angeles, California and the Beauty Fusion Show in New York City. They are the oldest, largest and most influential shows of their kind in the world. They are considered to be the Academy Awards of the Beauty Industry. Because of her artistic abilities, keen eye and appreciation of beauty and unique art styles, she is the only Asian and woman to have been a permanent member of the judges for these shows.

Legendary CBS broadcast journalist, Walter Cronkite and Joyce Kang

She has also served as a judge for the New Jersey National Cosmetology Associations Beauty Competitions and the Korean Beauty Technicians Show in New York. For ISOMA, she has demonstrated at numerous shows and personally presented a variety of shows in the USA, Korea, and Japan, demonstrating her artistic abilities before numerous small and large size groups of professionals. She has worked on various television productions such as: the International Emmy Award Show, the Daytime Emmy Award Show, The Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C., the NBC TV Prime-time Promotions, various television commercials, Satellite Media Tours, Seventeen Magazine promotions and numerous still photography assignments.

Her personal warmth, outstanding work (that she can amazingly do so quickly), and her stage presence made her stand out at the craft classes and seminars that were held by ISOMA. As ISOMA grew, because of her artistic abilities, enthusiasm, tireless energy, and devotion to her craft, she was the one who was quickly recognized and chosen to be the International Artistic Director for the International Society of Makeup Artists.

 

 
Actor James Earl Jones and Joyce Kang
Joyce Kang and Actor Hume Cronyn
Joyce Kang and Actress Kristen Johnston
 
Ms. Kang now presents the Joyce Kang Beauty Award to winning contestants at various beauty competitions around the world as well as the ISOMA Awards to competitors at competitions and functions that ISOMA is associated with. She is internationally known and respected by the many individuals that know her and of her beautifying skills.
 
 
In the above photo is Joyce Kang and another one of her First Place Award winning creations that is worn by her model. Joyce designed and created the hairstyle, makeup, jewelry, and clothes in order to create this total beauty design.

Joyce has been the owner of several beauty salons and has enjoyed a career of being a freelance multi-media beautifier and the International Artistic Director of ISOMA . She has worked with a variety of movie stars, celebrities and noted individuals of importance, such as: President Bill Clinton, actor Nathan Lane, actor Al Lewis, actress Kristen Johnston, actress Mia Farrow, singer Judy Collins, singer Neil Sedaka, actor and film legend Paul Newman, actor/comedian Jerry Seinfeld, actress Brooke Shields, film and television actor John Lithgow, comedian/actor Bill Cosby, singer Michael Feinstein, actress Mia Farrow, CBS TV news legend Walter Cronkite, talk show host Dick Cavit, comedian/actor Sid Caesar, actor Lou Gosset, actor James Earl Jones, actor George Takei, actor Ray Liotta, New York City Mayor Giuliani, Prince Michael of Greece, actor Hume Cronyn, actress Jessica Tandy, actor Danny Glover, singer Lyle Lovett, Turner Classic Movie TV Host Robert Osborne, Larry King Talk Show Host, “Cheers”actress Rhea Pearlman, Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev, numerous fashion models and many other individuals.
 


Joyce Kang and Actor Nathen Lane

She has also trained beauty competition competitors and enhanced their beauty for various First, Second, and Third Place Awards at the Miss Teen New York Korean Beauty Competition, the Miss New York Korean Beauty Competition and the Miss Korean Beauty Competition in Seoul, Korea. She also renders her makeup and hairstyling services as a wedding consultant and beauty artist. In the beauty salon, she is a total beautifier. She has also enhanced the faces of more than 1,000 brides during her almost 40 years in the beauty industry.
 
 
Actor/Comedian Jerry Seinfeld with Joyce Kang


When ISOMA started to design the ISOMA Cosmetics website, Joyce Kang was the one who first suggested that ISOMA should not show the standard type of photos of models wearing natural or fashion makeup applications that are normally displayed on many cosmetic websites. She felt that since ISOMA represents creative makeup artists from around the world, it would be more interesting for ISOMA to feature unique looking artistic creations on its website, as well as the more traditional natural and fashion looks. As a result, most of the unique makeup photos that are featured on the ISOMA Cosmetics website are the creations of Joyce Kang, the International Artistic Director of Makeup for ISOMA. Ms. Kang designed and personally made the clothes, jewelry, hairstyles, makeup, and nail looks on most of the photographs that are displayed on the ISOMA Cosmetics website.
 


Joyce Kang judging competitions at the International Beauty Show in New York City


ISOMA Executive Director, C. Robert Erdman, says "ISOMA is pleased to have such a gifted artist as Ms. Kang to be its International Artist Director and to simply have her be a part of ISOMA. She has been very instrumental in the success and growth of the International Society of Makeup Artists over the past 30 years. And as the Artistic Director of ISOMA, many of the photos that are featured in the ISOMA Cosmetic website were designed and created by Ms. Kang, which are a credit to her artistic abilities as a gifted creative artist. She is not limited to doing unique or Avant-Garde creations, she is capable of creating a wide variety of designs of stunning elegance and captivating originality, and designs that are breathingly beautiful and glamourous. We are all extremely proud of her many accomplishments, and artistic abilities, and are deeply appreciative of her representation of ISOMA."
 
 


Joyce Kang presenting an ISOMA makeup seminar in New York City



Joyce Kang presenting an ISOMA makeup seminar in Seoul, Korea



Joyce Kang and a young model for a Seventeen Magazine promotion

 


Joyce Kang creating one of her designs on a model for a photo shoot

 


The finished creation of Joyce Kang, she designed and created the hair piece, head dress, makeup, clothes, and jewelry. Ms. Kang is a total beauty artist.
 
 
The above photo shows another Joyce Kang model that was presented with the First Place Award for the Evening Fashion Makeup Competition at the International Beauty Show in New York City. Joyce Kang being the total beauty artist that she is, designed and created the hair, makeup, jewelry, and clothes.



A young Japanese competitor and Joyce Kang at the Beauty Fusion Show in New York City. Ms. Kang presented the ISOMA Award for Artistic Excellence and the Beauty Fusion Award to this artist for her entries in the Evening Fashion and Avant-Garde Makeup Competitions.



Joyce Kang and her Classic Mercedes Benz Auto