Tag Archives: blackface

makeup history

c. 1940 Tom Mix Comic Advertisement and “Disguise” Kit

C. 1940 Tom Mix Advertisement and "Disguise" Kit
A Tom Mix comic strip with advertisement for the Tom Mix Straight Shooter Program and a coupon for a free Tom Mix movie makeup kit.

Tom Mix was Hollywood’s first Western movie star. He starred in hundreds of movies in the early 1900s, most of which were silent movies. He was so popular he even had his own radio program and comic book series based on his on-screen cowboy persona.

C. 1940 Tom Mix Advertisement and "Disguise" Kit
The problematic movie makeup “disguise” kit being offered in the comic advertisement. This was back when blackface, yellowface, etc. were common in the movie/theatre scene.