The Harry Thomas I got to know was everything
everyone has said on
this page. He was warm, entertaining, wonderful. A tremendous fellow
in every way. And also quite debonair. My final image of him was
leaving his front room after spending a day shooting at his house for
my documentary LUGOSI: HOLLYWOOD'S DRACULA. He was in his chair, and
holding a check that we paid him for being an interviewee. He was
smiling happily, because he had a date that night and the money was
going to help get her to a great restaurant. He had already given me
a hug, but from his chair in that final moment, holding the check, he
was beaming with happiness and saying "Wish Me Luck!"
What a helluva guy. --- Gary Rhodes
Eric Levin, the man who introduced me to Harry Thomas, had this to say:
It just occurred to me that Harry Thomas made up more boobs than any other makeup artist- and I'm not referring to alleged pancake clients Ronald Reagan or Richard Nixon either. I've seen several photos of Harry powdering the charms of beautiful, busty starlets and strippers.... all in the name of art, naturally. What's surprising is that these gag shots reveal more of Harry than they do of the actresses involved: Harry's uncanny ability to put people at ease, and to entertain them while doing it, is really evident here. These ladies are completely comfortable with him. (It's very easy to talk about Harry in the present tense. He'll never really belong to the past.)
I got to know Harry during a couple of extended interview sessions for a FILMFAX article. He laughed, waxed poetic, sand and confided little tidbits about celebrities he had befriended over the course of his half-century career in makeup, and it was clear- almost immediately- what drew people to his diminutive character with the devilish twinkle in his eye. Late in life, Harry looked like a scaled-down Jason Robards, an effect that was enhanced by judicious use of a comb (He was bald underneath that redirected swatch of hair). His laugh was a cobra's HISS; the hands that had disfigured countless poor souls were as nimble as ever.
Director Dave Friedman remembers Harry's songs, Harry's sometimes clownish antics. "Tommy" had maimed Claire Brennin for Freidman's Magnum Opus, SHE FREAK.
Roger Corman recalls a much more professional Harry Thomas: "Harry was doing something at the time [the late 50's] that very few makeup artists were capable of. He was providing straight makeup for our pictures, as well as the special-effects monsters. Today this is virtually unheard of."
Harry had insinuated himself into Hollywood at a time when it was easy to do that, in the early 30's. He did a number of odd jobs, including some stunt work, and provided "atmosphere" as an extra in films. Harry appeared in Criminal Code with Walter Huston, and can be spotted sitting behind Laurel and Hardy in the Tommy-gun-passing scene in Pardon Us. By the late 30's, Harry was serving an informal apprenticeship under makeup greats Jack Pierce at Universal, and Charlie Schram, at MGM. Free spirit that he was, Harry found allegiance to any one studio stifling, and decided that he would act as an independent agent. In that capacity, Harry worked a variety of makeup assignments at many of the major- and most of the minor- studios in Hollywood.
I know that Harry had close friends in the film community,
including Eddie Robinson Jr., yet I don't think he had many romantic
attachments, although he did tell me- during one of our meets- about a girl who
"worshipped" him. He showed me her photo (which looked like a late
30's shot) and said simply- and rather wistfully- that she had died. Then he
closed the scrapbook, and walked slowly back into his makeup room, which is
where he was happiest.
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| Harry Thomas, Conrad Brooks and Nick at Beverly Garland paper show 1996 | Crawford Thomas, Paul Marco, and Forry Ackerman at Harry's Memorial Service. | Nick seated on Harry's lucky make-up chair at Harry's Memorial Service. |
Ed Wood collector,
Nick Bougas, ''writes: I had the good fortune of knowing Harry in his later life and
was often treated to his fascinating tales of early Hollywood...one of my
all-time favorite stories took place during the Silent Movie era when Harry was
just a novice makeup man and was sent out on a desert location for a Western
themed picture...The director was an excitable European type who was forever
barking at the crew through his megaphone in broken English...The night before
the shoot began, the director called for Harry and told him, "For zis
prospector character vee shoot tomorrow I vant a long flowing beard...down to
here (motioning to his waist)...Harry meekly protested, stating that all he had
in his kit was standard length crepe hair that would
handily produce a nice grizzled beard of an inch or two but something waist long
was out of the question. The director was incensed and exclaimed," Vat is your
job on zis picture, my friend...to make up zee peoples...my job is to direct zee
peoples and tomorrow I vill direct a prospector mit a beard...DOWN TO HERE!
Harry dragged back to his quarters and was laying on a cot pondering his
predicament...he hadn't worked long enough to establish any clout and
knew that if he displeased the director, it could affect his whole career
in the business. They were shooting out in the middle of nowhere
...there wasn't even a nearby town...where was he going to get the material he
needed for the prospector's beard by morning? Suddenly he heard a muffled
whinnie from the corral outside. In a flash, the idea shot through Harry's head
like a lightning bolt, propelling him to his feet...just outside his room was a
huge corral where all the stunt riders were keeping their horses. This
particular troupe of riders were big, tough, leathery locals who actually owned
and cherished the animals outside...Harry was a slight fellow who knew that this
mission could have deadly consequences, but undaunted, he fished his trusty
scissors from his kit and, under cover of darkness, crept out to the corral. He
nimbly tred from horse to horse harvesting a small but lengthy
strip of hair from the tail of each...He employed a supremely gentle touch as
just a single sudden protest from any one of the equines could easily spell his
doom. The next morning, Harry cheerfully arose and expertly affixed his ill
gotten gains to the chin of the actor playing the prospector, much to zee
delight ov zee demanding director.
I was perhaps one of Harry Thomas' last friends. Forrest Ackerman introduced
me to Harry when I interviewed Forrest about for a book project I have been
writing about makeup artists, CREATURE PEOPLE. Harry invited me to come to
his house, and we conducted a thorough interview in April of 1996. Several
months later, I organized a party for legendary makeup artist Dick Smith, and
Harry was one of my guests. In the company of some of the major figures in
makeup and special effects, Harry proved to be among the most articulate in
the room! When I called him up to the podium to say a few words about Dick
Smith and makeup in general, he spoke eloquently for about 15 minutes about
his career and the plight of makeup artists in "the old days." He entertained
my other guests with wonderful anecdotes from throughout his life and got them
laughing at several points in his touching speech. He was truly a champion of
makeup artists and their struggles for recognition and fair treatment. I was
taken aback when I learned that he had passed away only weeks after my party.
I am proud to say that I have the last videotape and photographs of Harry
Thomas. Like his colleague, Abe Haberman, who just died this month, Harry
knew and worked with the pioneer of them all, Jack Pierce, and they were the
last living individuals who could describe some of Pierce's secrets when he
created the legendary FRANKENSTEIN, MUMMY and WOLFMAN for Universal Studios.
I will never forget Harry's infectious laugh and his courageous spirit.
Scott Essman
author of CREATURE PEOPLE
January, 1998
I had the pleasure of meeting Harry Thomas a few years ago. We had a
video interview in his studio. This interview was for my Public Access show
PROFESSOR KINEMA. I would be happy to provide a copy on VHS (or Beta) tape to anyone
interested. The daywent well. I even bought him lunch and was photographed with him. An article
is being readied for the next PSYCHOTRONIC VIDEO Magazine about him. A few of my photos (signed
by Mr Thomas) and a mention of the PROFESSOR KINEMA show will be part of it.
I was truly saddened to hear of his passing. He was a friendly and warm person.
--JIM KNUSCH
Hi!
My name is Lilian and I´m a Swedish makeup artist that went to "Joe
Blasco make up center" 1989 and Harry often came to the school and told
us stories and he also invited some of us to his home, where he told many
more stories. I was lucky and got to assist the "KNB efx group" for some
productions after that and I stayed in the States about four years and
during that time I was lucky to see Harry Thomas a few times. He was a
wounderful old man, and his stories could for sure make many
moviescripts. I got really sad when I understood that he had passed away.
This year I have been working in this business for more than ten years
and I´m working a lot, and I have many students and during their learning
period they got to listen to many of his stories through me.I don´t
really know what more to say, I just felt that I had to say something,
'cause he was something special. One of the first, and I´m sure he
probably did do make up till the very end. And to you I want to say that
it was a noble thing to do this page 'cause I´m sure he got many fan
around the world.
SINCERELY LILIAN!
(e-mail: lilian.hemmingsson@swipnet.se)
Comments: I'm glad I found this page. I met Harry on a couple of
occasions back around 1977
or so. He was advertizing in a local classified paper selling hand made
makeup cases. Special
effects makeup was and still is a hobby of mine so I called about the
ad. I went to his home
which was just off of Hollywood Blvd and Western in an area that seen
better days. Harry met
me at the front door. I didn't know who he was at the time but I
quickly learned when I stepped
into his house. It was like a museum with momentos, props, masks,
autographed pictures and the
like on display throughout this small house of his. I was very
impressed. Harry was a fascinating
man, who could talk on and on about the many experiences he has had in
Hollywood throughout
his many years. He must have been in his early 70's then but you would
think he was pushing 60.
I told him that he should write a book of his life. I bought a makeup
case as well as some
makeup from him. Some of the makeup goes back many years. I got a
couple of tins of Max
Factor liner with a picture of Max on the lid. Harry was teaching part
time at a makeup school at
the time, it might have been the Elegance Academy of Makeup or
something like that. He told
me he couldn't work too much otherwise he would end up in a higher tax
bracket and end up
taking home less. He had a few things to say about the IRS. I remember
he wanted to move out
of the neighborhood and asked me how Granada Hills was to live in. He
was embarrassed to say
he worked on Plan Nine From Outer Space but I reminded him about what a
great Tor makeup
he created that went on to be a classic Don Post mask. Well, I moved to
Phoenix shortly after
and lost touch with Harry. I would often wonder how he was doing and
only recently found out
through the Makeup Artist magazine that he had passed away. I'd like to
know what he'd doing
the last few years. Did he ever move?
----Gary
I too had the distinct pleasure of not only knowing Harry Thomas but working with
him as well. I like hundreds of others by now, attended The Joe Blasco School Of
MakeUp........but only one catch....I was in the first class!!! Harry and I became good friends and
what a good story teller he was indeed. During my schooling Harry would come and be a guest
speaker. He was great .....he will be missed by many.....Dennis ...if you ever see Joe Blasco tell
him there is a retired makeup artist in Texas that wonders if he will ever forgive him of his youthful
mistake. Thanks again Dennis for the memories.
Sincerely, Rick Jones
Wow..what a super site...Thank you for visiting my page .... I knew Harry as I was
at Universal when he was doing "Munsters" and I use to take tours on the sets (I worked at UI for
ABC and we had offices there)..before the official tram tours started. He was a lovely and
talented man.
N.Ellen
Greg Herger (Burbank, CA): Dennis, what a wonderful tribute to a truely wonderful man. I had the opportunity of
meeting Harry Thomas a year ago at the premier of The Haunted World of Ed World in
Westwood, CA and then again a few days later at another showing. That night we sat and chated
for an hour as he gleefully talked in detail about his career... working with everyone from Charlton
Heston (the gray beard in Ten Commandments) to Ed Wood (Tor Johnson's eyes) He signed
many photos of his wond- ful make-up work through the years and even took a photo with me. I
was very saddened to hear of his death shortly afterwards, as we had exchanged phone numbers
that night with the intention of developing a future friendship. I'll miss him.
Photo of Greg Herger and Harry Thomas at the premire of The Haunted World of Ed Wood (1996). Photo courtesy of Greg Herger
Richard E. Hill wrote: Hey Dennis! Here's a good one for you. In 1974, while I was in college, I made a bet with Harry that he could not make me up to where my wife would not recognize me. And, he could not use any prosthetic appliances. If I win I don't have to come to class for a week. If he wins I have to clean the make up room for a week. Now this is in front of the whole class,Harry said ok. Now think back to The Ten Commandments (Harry turned a young actor named Charlton Heston into an old Moses) Harry was a master at making young people look old. I was about 28 at the time and had hair to the top of my shoulders. With just pencils, a grease stick, powder,and non-flexible calodeon (spelling?), Harry went to work. It took him around an hour and an half. He did put gray in the hair. Then, I called my wife, who I was married to for 8 years at the time. I said to meet me at the Copper Penny at La Brea and Sunset in Hollywood I was sitting by the door as you come in, well she came and looked at me I nodded at her. She looked for 15 minutes. There were some other students there to keep the record straight. Well, do I need
to say any more? The make up room was never so clean by yours truly. He was the best. He was not a tall man, but he was a giant as an artist and friend. He captured the true meaning of the make up artist and he touched me personally. God bless Harry forever. Thanks for wanting a story from me.
Richard E. Hill
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The above photos are possibly of one of Lon Chaney Sr's make up cases. Lon Chaney gave the case to Harry Thomas after Harry's case came up missing on a film shoot. Harry later gave the case to Richard Hill. Photos are courtesy of Richard E. Hill.
Here is one for you. I believe we were out on location near Lone Pine, California in the early 60's. Being a young boy of 9 or 10 years old, I was getting in the way as usual. Grandpa found me a job of keeping everyone on the set supplied with a cool drink during the day of filming. It was a hot one that day, so I was busy. I put on a pair of old and worn cowboy boots and left the studio trailer that had been provided for us to stay in and made my way over to the food tent that had been set up. As I tried to walk, I kept stumbling over my feet as the boots that I had chosen were size 10 1/2 D's. As I ventured past another studio trailer, I heard a man start to laugh. He asked me where I was headed and I told him that I was going to work and what my important job consisted of. He invited me over to his trailer as he put down an item that he had been working on. The item seemed to be some sort of wig or head appliance. He asked me my name and introduced himself as Harry. He said, that it looked as if I was having a hard time walking in those boots, but I said that they were fine. We talked for a while, then he got me to take the boots off and asked me to get him a cold drink and come back in a half hour. He then gave me a pair of old moccasins to wear to cover my feet and I proceeded to the food tent, got a tray full of drinks in leaky cups and made my way back to his trailer. Harry came out with a big high back chair, and had me climb into it. He then took the drinks from me and went into the trailer and after a short time came out carrying the boots and 2 coffee cans. I watched as he set the boots on the ground and proceeded to pour from one coffee can, then the other, some sort of yellow baby food looking smelly substance. Each coffee can held just enough mixture with the appearance of pudding to fill each boot. Then came the fun part. He removed the moccasins from my feet, also my socks and wrapped some waxed paper around each of my legs. He then had me get down off the chair and while placing my hand on his shoulder to steady myself, Harry then held each boot and asked me to place first one foot, then the other into each boot and stand very still. Being brought up to respect my elders, I did what I was told and slowly placed the first foot, then the other into each boot filled with the cold and slimy mixture. I then stood very still. After a few minutes, I noticed that the mixture had changed and was now taking on the consistency of warm oatmeal. I started laughing and that got Mr. Thomas to laugh also. "Must be working", he stated as I nodded and laughed at the same time. I stood in the hot sun daring not to move as Harry finished his cool refreshing drink, then asked me to slowly step out of the boots while he held them down. As I did so, I heard a squishy sound and was finally able to set down. (While all this was going on I kept wondering if the mixture was really cement and this had been planned to get me out of the way). Harry then removed the waxed paper from my legs, wiped them with a towel, gave me my socks and borrowed me his moccasins so that I could deliver the drinks that he had kept in the ice box and told me to come back in a half hour. It took longer than that just to deliver the drinks and I got yelled out twice for walking out in front of the camera. Anyway's, I returned to the trailer and once again Harry had me try on the boots. As I tired on each boot, I noticed that I slipped into a perfect soft mold of each of my feet. I learned later that this was a form of a pliable latex that he had been working on. The boots fit great and I was able to walk around proud and feel like a big guy. The latex has slowly disintegrated over the years, but I still have those boots and now they fit without any help. Oh, by the way. I learned a few new words the next morning when grandpa was called on the set and tried to put his boots on that they had supplied him from the wardrobe department. They were size 10 1/2 D's. I have always been grateful to Harry for making me feel like I was a part of the team that day and I feel it a great privilege to have been able to have known him.
With my thanks,
Ronald B. WalksHorse
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Galen in Harry's class- demonstrating burns, bruises and beard tone effects. (ca. 1979) |
werewolf makeup by Galen on a
co-worker, Halloween 1979. |
Harry's makeup room in his house. |
Galen in a special class Harry held for Halloween (1979) - Harry and I are camping it up. |
Harry Thomas was one of the neatest guys I have ever
known. He was multi-talented, very entertaining, funny, and knowledgeable.
I studied makeup under him in Hollywood after moving to California to study
film. When I discovered Harry had worked with Jack Pierce I was thrilled,
as Pierce had been one of my heroes since my teens. I love the Universal
horror movies so I thought it was fantastic to learn from Harry. He
revered Jack as well, often citing how Jack applied materials to an actor's
face, leaving it free for expression, unlike a mask. The first day of
makeup class Harry had everyone in stitches. He was fascinating to listen
to and watch and he was an absolute riot! I really wanted to capture it so
the second class I put my cassette recorder in my shoulder bag and surreptitiously
taped the class. He was in really fine form that night and had us all
rolling in the aisles! I still have that tape from over 20 years ago and
it still makes me laugh hard when I hear it. The evening comes back to me
just thinking about it - the room, where I sat, the desks - it's one of those
treasured memories.
Later, Harry would ask me to teach his class when he was on sabbatical. He
told me I was his best student at the time and the college got me the permission
to teach, which I did several times. Whenever I needed to learn additional
techniques I would go over to his house in east Hollywood and he would show me.
He lived in kind of a bungalow on New Hampshire off Hollywood Blvd.
He had a room in the back of his house for all of his makeup stuff. It was
a fascinating place. Besides all of his equipment he had a lot of
memorabilia: stills all over the walls (many were autographed, such as George
Reeves, Ed Wood...) and makeup paraphernalia. One time I was there he had
a head piece for the Frankenstein monster, and he showed me horns he made for
Chaney Jr. (for a film I forget the title of). When I needed supplies and
equipment, he sold me stuff he had -I still have them. (See photo). I took
a picture of his back room and you can see many of the photos. In the
background you can see Harry on the set of The Invisible Man's Revenge with Jon
Hall.
One time I remember he and I were going through some stuff in his cluttered
bedroom (he couldn't sleep in it - he slept on the floor in the living room).
I pulled out an old 8x10 from the 20s that I thought was Valentino. Harry said
to me, "That's not Valentino - that's ME! Can you believe I looked
like that? I turned the photo over and there was Harry's name and statistics
printed on the back of this headshot. He was a knockout. (You can see
Harry in Pardon Us with Laurel & Hardy. He is the good-looking young
man with dark hair sitting behind Ollie in the mess hall scene.) Harry pulled
out a telegram from Desi Arnaz. He wired Harry telling him how much he
liked his song Illusion and wanted to perform it with his band. I think
Harry had sung with some dance bands in the 30s. He had written some songs
and I recall he talked about Illusion several times to me and thought it could
be a hit.
Harry's talents went beyond makeup and music as well. He started as a sign
painter, then worked as an animator for Disney, he studied medicine, and was a
chiropractor (Lucille Ball and Phyllis Diller were clients).
I would pick up Harry some evenings and we would go out to dinner. I loved
listening to him - he must have encountered every celebrity imaginable,
including some gangsters! A friend of mine hosts monthly film parties so I
got the idea to have Harry as a guest. That was really a special evening.
We had dinner then a Q&A interview session I videotaped and ran films he
worked on. It was a big hit. Three months later Harry died. I
treasure that video we made.
I had mentioned to him about writing a book about all his experiences and people
he knew but he had no interest in it. I finally managed to talk him into
letting me tape his stories so I could transcribe them. I had only gotten
started when Harry died.
I'm happy to say I learned some of the old techniques from Harry; I still put
them to use when I do monster makeup or Halloween creations. Some photos
of my work are attached. Galen Wilkes.
Back to The Harry Thomas Web Page.
Grab some popcorn and have a look at some of my collection of horror and science fiction movie
props
