Hollywood in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Max Factor Building

— 1668 Highland Ave —

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 18, 2024

1. Max Factor Building Marker

Inscription.
In 1928, legendary Hollywood make-up artist Max Factor purchased this building, designed by architect S. Charles Lee in the Hollywood Regency Art Deco style, with plans to house the Max Factor Hollywood Makeup Studio. Due to the Great Depression, it did not open until 1935. Factor's studio had specially decorated rooms designed to complement his patrons' complexions and hair colors, where he taught stars such as Lana Turner, Rita Hayworth. Claudette Colbert, and Jean Harlow his techniques. Donelle Dadigan opened the Hollywood Museum here in 2003.

Erected by Hollywood Historic Trust - Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. (Marker Number 42.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Art Deco, and the Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1929.

Location. 34° 6.065′ N, 118° 20.314′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Hollywood. It is on Highland Avenue south of Hollywood Boulevard, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1660 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles CA 90028, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At

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least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: C.E. Toberman Co. Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Hollywood Theatre (within shouting distance of this marker); Hollywood First National Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); Christie Realty Building (within shouting distance of this marker); This Is Where It All Began (within shouting distance of this marker); The Montmartre Cafe (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); El Capitan Theatre (about 400 feet away); Hollywood High School (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.

More about this marker. This marker is part of a series of 47 Hollywood Historic Site markers along a three-mile walking tour of historic Hollywood, beginning eastbound on the north side of Hollywood Blvd and ending westbound on the south side of Hollywood Blvd at Sycamore Ave.
The Hollywood Historic Site signs were originally installed circa 1999. They were updated and replaced in August 2024.

Regarding Max Factor Building. The Hollywood Museum contains some of the original Max Factor Museum rooms, now filled with Hollywood memorabilia.
This building is Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 593, designated in 1994.

Original marker text:
Max Factor, a Russian immigrant, pioneered

Photographed by Craig Baker

2. Max Factor Building Marker

screen make up for which he received a special Academy Award in 1929. He opened the Max Factor Hollywood Makeup Studio in 1928, where he taught Hollywood stars such as Lana Turner, Rita Hayworth, Claudette
Colbert and Jean Harlow to enhance their appearance.
Specially decorated rooms were designed to complement the patrons' complexions and hair colors.
Architect S. Charles Lee designed a remodel of the
Art Deco building in 1935.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. - Hollywood Historic Site markers, walking tour with map.

Max Factor Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 18, 2019

3. Max Factor Building

Mels Drive-In image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 18, 2019

4. Mels Drive-In

Also in the Max Factor building, this diner opened in 2001.

Photo on Original Marker image. Click for full size.

Federal Writers Project (courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library), July 13, 1939

5. Photo on Original Marker

"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.... 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." - LAPL

Original Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 18, 2019

6. Original Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 1,779 times since then and 102 times this year. Last updated on March 3, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 1, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 3, 4. submitted on August 27, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5. submitted on August 31, 2019. 6. submitted on August 27, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.