Jack is seen here putting the finishing touches on Tom Tyler for his role in Universal's THE MUMMY'S HAND (1940). The photo is from the first issue of Warren Publications' MONSTER WORLD (1964).
-={ An appreciation of the life and career of Jack P. Pierce, creator of the world's most famous screen monsters }=-
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
JACK PIERCE IN 'MONSTER WORLD'
Jack is seen here putting the finishing touches on Tom Tyler for his role in Universal's THE MUMMY'S HAND (1940). The photo is from the first issue of Warren Publications' MONSTER WORLD (1964).
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Sunday, July 3, 2016
PIERCE'S "MAD" MAKEUP
An ancient Mayan "nerve gas" is used on a modern subject as an experiment for George Zucco's Dr. Alfred Morris in Universal's THE MAD GHOUL (Working title: THE MYSTERY OF THE MAD GHOUL). Released on November 12, 1943, it is one of the "forgotten" film of the 40s, and despite a few atmospheric scenes, not one of Universal's best.
The B-star cast of Zucco, Turhan Bey, Evelyn Ankers, David Bruce, Robert Armstrong and Milburn Stone, and a recycled if not rousing music score by Hans J. Salter does little to raise the fare to tepid. David Bruce plays Ted Allison and is the subject of Dr. Morris' mad plan.
Jack Pierce was on hand for the makeup chores, but this is one of the numerous films that he goes uncredited. Pierce did a little recycling himself, as he reworked his ancient, wrinkled skin technique used over a dozen years previous in THE MUMMY for Bruce's "ghoul" makeup. The combination of cotton, collodion and (probably) green greasepaint was effective enough to make the character creepy enough to scare wartime theater-goers.
Friday, May 13, 2016
RARE JACK PIERCE INTERVIEW
Jack Pierce was rarely interviewed during his later years. This interview with Russ Jones for MONSTER MANIA #1 might well be the last interview that Jack gave -- at least in any monster movie magazine. The interview appeared in the October 1966 issue less than two years before his death. Jack discusses details about his life as well as his work in Hollywood. One wishes that the conversation had been several times lengthier.
Monday, May 9, 2016
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
JACK PIERCE'S MAKEUP ASSISTANT
Considering the usually daunting work of making up the entire cast of a movie, it was not unusual for Jack to employ the use of makeup assistants. Pictured above is Joe Bonner, who assisted Pierce in preparing Lon Chaney Jr. for his role as Kharis in THE MUMMY'S TOMB (Universal 1942).
Bonner was born in England in 1881 and died at the age of 77 in 1959. The snipe on the reverse of the photo reads: "Makeup man Joe Bonner puts a touch on Lon Chaney's outfit to ready him for the cameras in Universal's latest horror epic, "The Mummy's Tomb".
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
THE JACK PIERCE MEMORIAL GALLERY
The Cinema Makeup School on Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles is where you will find the Jack Pierce Memorial Gallery for Makeup and Character Arts. The Gallery is housed in a wing off the second-floor lobby.
Pictured here is the placard affixed at the entrance of the gallery (above) and the invitation that was sent out for the open house dedication on May 30, 2013 (below).
Doug attended the Open House and both Doug and I visited the Gallery together on March 31, 2014 after attending the Monsterpalooza at the Burbank Marriott the weekend before.
The Gallery is free to the public during the School's open hours.
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