# The wiki on "Max Factor" is an interesting read **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 9, 2015, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wiki-on-max-factor-is-an-interesting-read/719616 "2015-05-09T11:06:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2015, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wiki-on-max-factor-is-an-interesting-read/719616/1 "2015-05-09T11:06:43Z")
[Wiki here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Factor) I always thought “Max Factor” was some made up corporate name but it actually derived from “Maksymilian Faktorowicz” who came to the US in 1904. The wiki history is quite fascinating as it detailed how he became a power in movie makeup then expanded the brand. He was even involved in the war effort. I wiki’d it up because I used to see Max Factor ads everywhere by didn’t recall seeing any for some time and indeed Max factor is no longer advertised or retailed in the US. Here’s a few paragraphs. The wiki is an interesting bit of history. > [@](#): > > After immigrating from Russian-controlled Congress Poland to the United States in 1904 Max Factor moved his family and business to Los Angeles, California, seeing an opportunity to provide made-to-order wigs and theatrical make-up to the growing film industry. Besides selling his own make-up products he soon became the West Coast distributor of both Leichner and Minor, two leading theatrical make-up manufacturers. > > In the early years of movie-making, greasepaint in stick form, although the accepted make-up for use on the stage, could not be applied thinly enough, nor where did colors work satisfactorily on the screen. Factor began experimenting with various compounds in an effort to develop a suitable make-up for the new film medium. By 1914 he had perfected his first cosmetic product. With this major achievement to his credit, Max Factor became the authority on cosmetics in film-making. Soon movie stars were eager to sample his “flexible greasepaint”. > > In the early years of the business Factor personally applied his products to actors and actresses. He developed a reputation for being able to customize makeup to present actors and actresses in the best possible light on screen. Among his most notable clients were Ben Turpin, Gloria Swanson, Mary Pickford, Pola Negri, Jean Harlow, Claudette Colbert, Bette Davis, Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, and Judy Garland. As a result virtually all of the major movie actresses were regular customers of the Max Factor beauty salon, located near Hollywood Boulevard. ---
**Author:** ![wellanuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@wellanuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wellanuff)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2015, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wiki-on-max-factor-is-an-interesting-read/719616/2 "2015-05-09T18:56:42Z")
Apropros of next to nothing, one of the first indications to me that my future first wife and I were going to be compatible 30 years ago occurred one day when she pointed out to me that in spoken Japanese the brand name “Max Factor” is well nigh indistinguishable from “Max fucked her”. Always happy to share. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wiki-on-max-factor-is-an-interesting-read/719616/3 "2015-05-10T04:33:05Z")
His brother, [John Factor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Factor), called “Jake the Barber”, was an interesting character. Big time swindler, con man, and gangster. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wiki-on-max-factor-is-an-interesting-read/719616/4 "2015-05-10T18:55:56Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > His brother, [John Factor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Factor), called “Jake the Barber”, was an interesting character. Big time swindler, con man, and gangster. [https://web.archive.org/web/20070416115704/http://gamblingmagazine.com/articles/53/53-184.htm](https://web.archive.org/web/20070416115704/http://gamblingmagazine.com/articles/53/53-184.htm) Very interesting … thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wiki-on-max-factor-is-an-interesting-read/719616/5 "2015-05-10T20:45:17Z")
> [@astro](#): > > [MOB STORIES](https://web.archive.org/web/20070416115704/http://gamblingmagazine.com/articles/53/53-184.htm) > > Very interesting … thanks! If you want to read Tuohy’s side of the fake kidnapping, here’s the complete manuscript of his somewhat self-serving book, **[Roger Tuohy: The Stolen Years.](http://tuohysoftheworld.blogspot.com/2013/04/roger-touhy-stolen-years-complete.html)**