WALLY WESTMORE BODY MAKE-UP DEVICE DEMONSTRATED BY EARL CARROLL | MURDER AT THE VANITIES (1934) Publicity photo

[Los Angeles]: Paramount Pictures, 1934. Vintage original 8 x 10″ (20 x 25 cm.) black-and-white glossy silver gelatin photo. Some wear at bottom corners, near fine.

Original type on verso explains that Wally Westmore, head of Paramount’s make-up department, has invented a new gun spray make-up device for applying body make-up. In this image, showman Earl Carroll is shown demonstrating it on one of his showgirls, Anya Taranda. Carroll’s dancing ladies performed an extravagant production number in the film. The device is the forerunner of today’s airbrush make-up technique.

Photo is coded 989/2/90.