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Dick Smith | Television Academy Interviews

Dick Smith

Makeup Artist

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his five-and-a-half-hour interview, Dick Smith (1922-2014) speaks at length about the difficulties of establishing television's first makeup department, at NBC. He discusses the challenges of working with the studio's hot lights, the live schedule that left little time for makeup changes, and developing the correct colors and textures to be seen on the first television screens. Smith recalls the many mishaps that occurred while doing live television and how he eventually honed his skills and pioneered techniques that helped TV makeup departments both progress and grow. Smith details specific productions of Robert Montgomery Presents and Philco-Goodyear Playhouse as well as other programs, like Mark Twain Tonight! Jeff Kisseloff conducted the interview at Smith's home workshop on May 15, 1996 in Sarasota, FL.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"The ironic thing about my career is that much of my very best work was done before makeup was recognized in television and films. There were no awards given during my entire early television career for makeup. Only when I left NBC did they start giving the Emmy and it took me awhile to collect one. In films, there was no Academy Award during the 'Exorcist' or 'The Godfather' or a number of things I did. I was happy to live long enough to finally collect one."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Dick Smith on the book that changed his life

01:17

Dick Smith on problematic lipstick for black and white television

01:51

Dick Smith on "acting" on live television as a boxer's handler in order to do makeup for a character that was a boxer

01:25

Dick Smith on the most disastrous quick change he ever did

05:31

Dick Smith on people's fascination with monsters

04:37

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his childhood and early influences; on his parents' divorce; on his years at Yale

On discovering stage makeup; on scaring classmates at Yale with his monster makeup; on his interest in movies; on dressing up as Frankenstein's monster and scaring people at a movie theater

Chapter 2

On scaring moviegoers with Frankenstein makeup, contd.; on the 1939 World's Fair

On giving up the idea of being a dentist and deciding to be a makeup artist; on gathering supplies and materials for costumes and makeups at Gray's Drug Store in New York City

On his father's Hollywood contacts and applying for his first job in television makeup

Chapter 3

On the NBC art department in the 1940s; on odd jobs before getting into television; on his big break into television; on practicing makeup at theater companies and reading books

On what he learned from doing theatrical makeup; on standard makeup tools in the 1940s; on his first attempt at making plaster molds and applications for an Abraham Lincoln makeup; on learning about rubber mask grease paint

Chapter 4

On the tools of the makeup artist in the very early days of television; on fellow makeup artists in the 1940s and makeup tips from other artists

On "blood" for The Godfather; on his first days at NBC; on using monitors to see how makeup would look on television; on actors' nerves in live television

On the speed required for television makeup

Chapter 5

On his work schedule and staff at NBC; on his early makeup lab; on learning piano during his first days at NBC

On his perfectionist ways; on budgets and administrative duties; on Fred Coe; on heading the makeup department

On the creative atmosphere at NBC; on recollections of Fred Coe

Chapter 6

On problems that arose on long dramas; on difficulties with directors' and writers' demands; on makeup for James Beard's cooking show; on his on the job learning

On the difficulties of television's hot lights; on the image orthicon camera; on the difficulties of close-ups; on problematic makeup for actor Vaughn Taylor

Chapter 7

On stock players during the early days of NBC; on a makeup mishap on a production of "The Count of Monte Cristo"; on mishaps on Kraft Television Theatre

On the most disastrous quick change he ever did; on difficulties removing prosthetics; on keeping cool under the pressure of live television

On special effects for film; on makeup for Hour Glass, Campus Hoopla and Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

Chapter 8

On his staff and duties at NBC; on an incident with the king of Yugoslavia; on working with Milton Berle

On tensions backstage during the early days of television; on quick makeup changes with actress Claire Bloom in a Robert Montgomery Presents production of "Victoria Regina"

Chapter 9

On feedback on his work from trade articles and supervisors; on the sense of accomplishment he feels from applying 3-D makeup; on experimenting with vinyl and foam latex

On creating makeup and appliances for color television; on materials he used; on lessons he learned from doing makeup for The Exorcist - different budget from television

On waterproof makeup; on gelatin molds (pre-latex); on advancements he made for bald caps

Chapter 10

On contributions to makeup that he spearheaded or invented; on trading information and tips with artists at other networks; on the supremacy of NBC's makeup department over CBS' and ABC's due to his own personal drive

On leaving NBC; on working in film and with David Susskind in television and film

On NBC censorship; on the Hollywood blacklist; on his greatest achievement at NBC

Chapter 11

On makeup disasters; On his favorite and most difficult actors to work with; on developing as an artist in live TV; on what he would have changed about his TV career

On his thoughts on people with whom he's worked

Chapter 12

On his thoughts on people with whom he's worked; on makeup for David Susskind Productions

On television's conversion from live to tape; On Power and the Glory, Man of La Mancha, and working with Maurenn Stapleton

On photographs of his make-ups: him as the "Phantom of the Opera", as a derilect, as the "Hunchback of Notre Dame," of his Abraham Lincoln mask, of his makeup room, of Vaughn Taylor

Chapter 13

On photographs: of Eva Marie Saint, John Carradine, Vaughn Taylor, Gertrude Lawrence, Dennis King, Nicolaus Saunders, Jose Ferrar, Fred Allen, Rex Harrison, Ralph Richardson, Everette Sloan, Jimmy Durante, Winifred Heidt, and Nancy Marchand

On photographs on cast members of Alice and Wonderland, Peter Pan, Born Yesterday, Caesar and Cleopatra, "Victoria Regina" and of Audrey Hepburn

Chapter 14

On photographs of makeup for Judith Anderson, Lee Cobb, Laurence Olivier, Sterling Hayden, Julie Harris, Patty Duke, Dustin Hoffman, Hal Holbrook and others

On photographs of makeup for Jack Palance, Ed Flanders, Fred Gwyne, Jean Simmons, Marlon Brando, Linda Blair, Hal Holbrook, F. Murrary Abraham and others

Shows

'Way Out

Dick Smith on makeup for 'Way Out

03:30

Alice in Wonderland (1955)

Dick Smith on makeup for Alice in Wonderland

02:38

Amahl and the Night Visitors

Dick Smith on makeup for Amahl and the Night Visitors

00:42

Broadway Open House

Dick Smith on Fred Allen being recognized by an appearance he made with Jerry Lester on Broadway Open House

00:59

Campus Hoopla

Dick Smith on his work on Campus Hoopla

00:37

Harry S. Truman: Plain Speaking

Dick Smith on makeup for Ed Flanders as "Harry Truman"

Hour Glass

Dick Smith on his work on Hour Glass with Bert Lahr and his spinning toupee

02:08

I Love to Eat

Dick Smith on makeup for James Beard's cooking show I Love to Eat

01:18

Kraft Television Theatre

Dick Smith on makeup mishaps with Nancy Marchand as "Queen Elizabeth" on Kraft Television Theatre

03:05

Last War, The

Dick Smith on Eva Marie Saint in The Last War

00:53

Mark Twain Tonight!

Dick Smith on Hal Holbrook on Mark Twain Tonight!

02:36

Dick Smith on challenges for his Emmy award winning makeup for Hal Holbrook on Mark Twain Tonight!

02:10

Moon and Sixpence

Dick Smith on Laurence Olivier in Moon and Sixpence

03:23

North and South

Dick Smith on Hal Holbrook as Abraham Lincoln in North and South

00:36

Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

Dick Smith on his work on Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

00:08

Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse: "Marty"

Dick Smith on Rod Steiger and Paddy Chayefsky

00:59

Power and the Glory, The

Dick Smith on makeup for the taped production The Power and the Glory

01:34

Dick Smith on Laurence Olivier and Patty Duke in The Power and the Glory

03:40

Robert Montgomery Presents

Dick Smith on quick makeup changes with actress Claire Bloom in a Robert Montgomery Presents production of "Victoria Regina"

12:43

Dick Smith on Claire Bloom's life mask, double and makeup in "Victoria Regina"

02:53

Robert Montgomery Presents: "Victoria Regina"

Dick Smith on quick makeup changes with actress Claire Bloom in a Robert Montgomery Presents production of "Victoria Regina"

12:43

Dick Smith on Claire Bloom's life mask, double and makeup in "Victoria Regina"

02:53

Tex and Jinx Show, The

Dick Smith on Jinx Falkenburg of The Tex and Jinx Show

00:34

Your Show of Shows

Dick Smith on Sid Caesar

01:09

Topics

Creative Influences and Inspiration

Dick Smith on getting makeup inspiration from 1939's The Hunchback of Notre Dame with Charles Laughton and putting his knowledge to use scaring dormmates

02:58

Emmy Awards

Dick Smith on challenges for his Emmy-winning makeup for Hal Holbrook on Mark Twain Tonight!

02:10

Dick Smith on his Oscar-winning makeup for Amadeus starring F. Murray Abraham and finally winning and Emmy

01:41

Hollywood Blacklist

Dick Smith on being warned about the Hollywood Blacklist

01:46

Industry Crossroads

Dick Smith on being warned about the Hollywood Blacklist

01:46

TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)

Dick Smith on NBC censorship when he had to make Laurence Olivier look like he had leprosy

01:34

Technological Innovation

Dick Smith on the coming of color television and renegotiating his salary

01:25

Dick Smith on creating makeup and appliances for color television

05:01

Television Industry

Dick Smith on being warned about the Hollywood Blacklist

01:46

Professions

Makeup Artist

View Profession

Dick Smith on the book that changed his life

01:17

Dick Smith on giving up the idea of becoming a dentist to become a makeup artist

02:45

Dick Smith on standard makeup tools for television in the 1940s

03:38

Dick Smith on the tools of the makeup artist in the very early days of television

05:35

Dick Smith on creating makeup and appliances for color television

05:01

Stylists

View Profession

Dick Smith on the tools of the makeup artist in the very early days of television

05:35

Genres

Classic Anthology Series

Dick Smith on the tools of the makeup artist in the very early days of television

05:35

Dick Smith on makeup mishaps with Nancy Marchand as "Queen Elizabeth" on Kraft Television Theatre

03:05

Dick Smith on quick makeup changes with actress Claire Bloom in a Robert Montgomery Presents production of "Victoria Regina"

12:43

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

Dick Smith on his work on Hour Glass with Bert Lahr and his spinning toupee

02:08

Service Shows

Dick Smith on makeup for James Beard's cooking show I Love to Eat

01:18

People

Arturo Toscanini

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Dick Smith on Arturo Toscanini

01:35

Audrey Hepburn

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Dick Smith on Audrey Hepburn

03:26

Bert Lahr

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Dick Smith on his work on Hour Glass with Bert Lahr and his spinning toupee

02:08

Bobby Clark

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Dick Smith on Bobby Clark in Alice in Wonderland

00:49

Bud Westmore

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Dick Smith on a Life magazine article showcasing Bud Westmore's makeup for film

01:26

Dick Smith on Bud Westmore and the Westmore family

01:43

Cedric Hardwicke

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Dick Smith on Claire Bloom, Cedric Hardwicke and Cyril Ritchard in Caesar and Cleopatra

00:37

Charles Laughton

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Dick Smith on getting makeup inspiration from 1939's The Hunchback of Notre Dame with Charles Laughton and putting his knowledge to use scaring dormmates

02:58

Claire Bloom

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Dick Smith on quick makeup changes with actress Claire Bloom in a Robert Montgomery Presents production of "Victoria Regina"

12:43

Dick Smith on working with Claire Bloom

01:03

Dick Smith on Claire Bloom as Cyrano's "Roxanne"

00:44

Dick Smith on Claire Bloom, Cedric Hardwicke and Cyril Ritchard in Caesar and Cleopatra

00:37

Dick Smith on Claire Bloom's life mask, double and makeup in "Victoria Regina"

02:53

Clare Booth Luce

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Dick Smith on Clare Booth Luce

02:07

Cyril Ritchard

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Dick Smith on Cyril Ritchard as "Captain Hook" and Mary Martin as "Peter Pan"

00:56

Dick Smith on Claire Bloom, Cedric Hardwicke and Cyril Ritchard in Caesar and Cleopatra

00:37

David Cronenberg

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Dick Smith on a problem he had with special effects makeup for a film

03:00

David Sarnoff

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Dick Smith on David Sarnoff, "The Godfather"

03:35

David Susskind

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Dick Smith on working with David Susskind

01:40

Dick Smith on working for David Susskind Productions

00:48

Delbert Mann

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Dick Smith on Delbert Mann

00:27

Dennis King

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Dick Smith on Dennis King as "Scrooge" and "Napoleon Bonaparte"

01:08

Dustin Hoffman

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Dick Smith on Dustin Hoffman

00:42

Ed Flanders

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Dick Smith on makeup for Ed Flanders as "Harry Truman"

00:43

Ernest Colling

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Dick Smith on a scene with Uta Hagen directed by Ernest Colling

03:25

Eva Le Gallienne

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Dick Smith on Eva Le Gallienne in Alice in Wonderland

00:57

Eva Marie Saint

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Dick Smith on his work on Campus Hoopla

00:37

Dick Smith on Eva Marie Saint in The Last War

00:53

Everett Sloane

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Dick Smith on Everett Sloane as "Vincent Van Gogh"

00:52

F. Murray Abraham

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Dick Smith on his Oscar-winning makeup for Amadeus starring F. Murray Abraham

04:31

Fred Allen

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Dick Smith on Fred Allen

05:30

Dick Smith on Fred Allen

01:04

Fred Coe

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Dick Smith on his lab in Fred Coe's desk

01:06

Dick Smith on working with Fred Coe

01:48

Dick Smith on working with Fred Coe

02:00

Dick Smith on making wire masks for a production directed by Fred Coe

05:06

Fred Gwynne

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Dick Smith on Fred Gwyne in Arsenic and Old Lace

00:36

Gertrude Lawrence

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Dick Smith on makeup for Gertrude Lawrence

01:08

Dick Smith on Gertrude Lawrence as "Catherine the Great"

00:42

Hal Holbrook

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Dick Smith on Hal Holbrook on Mark Twain Tonight!

02:36

Dick Smith on challenges for his Emmy award winning makeup for Hal Holbrook on Mark Twain Tonight!

02:10

Dick Smith on Hal Holbrook

01:09

Dick Smith on Hal Holbrook as Abraham Lincoln

00:36

Henry Morgan

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Dick Smith on Henry Morgan

00:22

Jack P. Pierce

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Dick Smith on monster makeup artist Jack P. Pierce

00:49

Jack Palance

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Dick Smith on Jack Palance in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"

00:47

James Beard

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Dick Smith on makeup for James Beard's cooking show I Love to Eat

01:18

Jean Simmons

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Dick Smith on Jean Simmons in a production of "Soldier in Love"

00:43

Jerry Lester

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Dick Smith on Fred Allen being recognized by an appearance he made with Jerry Lester on Broadway Open House

01:54

Jimmy Durante

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Dick Smith on Jimmy Durante as "Cyrano"

00:52

Jinx Falkenburg

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Dick Smith on Jinx Falkenburg of The Tex and Jinx Show

00:34

John Carradine

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Dick Smith on experimenting with gelatin molds (pre-latex) on a production starring John Carradine

02:05

Dick Smith on John Carradine and Vaughn Taylor in Twelfth Night

00:43

Jose Ferrer

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Dick Smith on Jose Ferrer as "Cyrano"

00:35

Judith Anderson

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Dick Smith on Judith Anderson in "Madea"

00:21

Julie Harris

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Dick Smith on Julie Harris

01:08

Laurence Olivier

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Dick Smith on NBC censorship when he had to make Laurence Olivier look like he had leprosy

00:23

Dick Smith on working with Laurence Olivier

00:10

Dick Smith on makeup for the taped production Power and the Glory

01:34

Dick Smith on Laurence Olivier in Moon and Sixpence

03:23

Dick Smith on Laurence Olivier in Power and the Glory

03:40

Lee J. Cobb

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Dick Smith on makeup for the taped production of Man of La Mancha with Lee Cobb

01:49

Dick Smith on Lee Cobb as "Don Quixote"

00:52

Linda Blair

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Dick Smith on Linda Blair in The Exorcist

01:54

Marlon Brando

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Dick Smith on David Sarnoff, "The Godfather"

00:56

Dick Smith on Marlon Brando in The Godfather

01:29

Mary Martin

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Dick Smith on Cyril Ritchard as "Captain Hook" and Mary Martin as "Peter Pan"

00:56

Dick Smith on Mary Martin in Born Yesterday

00:48

Maureen Stapleton

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Dick Smith on makeup for Maureen Stapleton

01:10

Max Factor

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Dick Smith on Max Factor and creating makeup and appliances for color television

02:20

Milton Berle

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Dick Smith on working with Milton Berle

05:55

Morris Evans

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Dick Smith on Morris Evans

01:09

Nancy Marchand

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Dick Smith on makeup mishaps with Nancy Marchand as "Queen Elizabeth" on Kraft Television Theatre

03:05

Dick Smith on makeup mishaps with Nancy Marchand as "Queen Elizabeth" on Kraft Television Theatre

02:10

Dick Smith on Nancy Marchand as "Queen Elizabeth"

02:24

Nicholas Saunders

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Dick Smith on Nicholas Saunders on Believe it or Not

02:31

Paddy Chayefsky

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Dick Smith on Paddy Chayefsky

00:35

Patty Duke

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Dick Smith on Patty Duke in Power and the Glory

03:40

Paul Alley

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Dick Smith on his father's contact at NBC News, Paul Alley, and how he helped Smith apply for jobs in the art department

02:54

Dick Smith on Paul Alley helping him to get an interview in the NBC production department

03:21

Ralph Richardson

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Dick Smith on Ralph Richardson as "Scrooge"

00:33

Reginald Gardiner

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Dick Smith on Reginald Gardner in Alice in Wonderland

00:13

Rex Harrison

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Dick Smith on Rex Harrison

00:49

Robert Jiras

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Dick Smith on a young Bob Jiras, future first head of the CBS makeup department

02:22

Dick Smith on CBS makeup department head Robert Jiras

01:07

Robert Montgomery

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Dick Smith on Robert Montgomery

00:24

Rod Steiger

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Dick Smith on Rod Steiger

00:24

Roddy McDowall

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Dick Smith on makeup for the taped production Power and the Glory

01:34

Sid Caesar

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Dick Smith on Sid Caesar

01:09

Sterling Hayden

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Dick Smith on Sterling Hayden

01:08

Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver

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Dick Smith on

01:17

Uta Hagen

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Dick Smith on a scene with Uta Hagen directed by Ernest Colling

03:25

Vaughn Taylor

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Dick Smith on problematic makeup for actor Vaughn Taylor

04:20

Dick Smith on photographs of makeup for Vaughn Taylor

04:14

Dick Smith on John Carradine and Vaughn Taylor in Twelfth Night

00:43

Warren Wade

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Dick Smith on NBC director Warren Wade

03:19

William Friedkin

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Dick Smith on lessons he learned from doing makeup for The Exorcist - different budget from television

00:53

Winifred Heidt

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Dick Smith on Winifred Heidt as "Queen of Spades"

02:02