Professional Entertainment, 1930-1992
Scope and Contents
Professional Entertainment contains items from the professional career of Stein as a makeup artist and political image maker between the years of 1934-1992. The series contains photographs and snapshots from a variety of television shows from the mid-twentieth century, film stills, theater programs from productions around New England, and a complete schedule for the broadcast of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. An edited copy of the script of "An Evening's Journey to Conway, Massachusetts" by Archibald MacLeish, unlabeled negatives, T.V. Guides from WGBH, and news articles and features about Stein are also included. In a subseries, there are a small number of items of makeup from the Jack Stein Makeup Center in Boston, Massachusetts, which were developed by Stein.
Dates
- 1930-1992
Creator
- Stein, Jack, 1919-2000 (Person)
Language of Materials
Records in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to researchers. No materials may be checked out or borrowed from the Emerson College Archives & Special Collections.
Conditions Governing Use
Some materials may be subject to copyright. No part of the materials protected by copyright may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the copyright holder. Researchers are required to seek permission from the copyright holder to reproduce and/or publish materials under copyright.
Any photographs published from the collection will carry the credit line: Courtesy Jack Stein Collection.
Biographical / Historical
Jacob "Jack" Stein, makeup artist for the stars, had quite a successful career as one of the most well-known makeup professionals in New England. His career in the theater began at a young age when he worked in a small theater. Always more fascinated with what went on behind the scenes than performing on stage, Stein decided that is where his passion lay. In 1945 around the age of 26 he opened the Jack Stein Makeup Center in Boston, Massachusetts. Stein also began teaching classes in the Drama department at Emerson College. He would go on to receive an honorary degree from the college in 1958 and taught his art for over 30 years.
Stein worked for several of the television stations around New England such as WGBH. His talents put him on the radar of several political figures in Washington, D.C. Some of the politicians he worked to make presentable included: Dwight D. Eisenhower, Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Richard Nixon. Stein also used his abilities in philanthropic efforts. He did not consider himself as solely as a theatrical makeup artist but also as a rehabilitative makeup technician. Stein worked to use makeup as a form of rehabilitation for victims at the Burn Institute of Boston's Shriners Hospital for Children and for women at correctional facilities.
Stein passed away July 8, 2000 at the age of 81. His wife of 58 years, Sophie Shapiro Stein, passed away in 2006. The two are survived by their daughters Sharon Weinberger and Judy Klamka and by their five grand-children.
Extent
1.32 Linear feet
Arrangement
The folders are arranged chronologically and the undated folders have been arranged in the series by topic and are located in Box 1. Makeup items have been wrapped in tissue and placed in Box 2.
Custodial History
Jack Stein donated his collection on September 20, 1991.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Jack Stein
Appraisal
In series two, Professional Entertainment, under the subseries titled Makeup one of the items of makeup needed to be disposed due to leakage from its container. Photographs of the item have been saved.
Repository Details
Part of the Emerson College Archives and Special Collections Repository
Walker Building, Room 223
120 Boylston Street
Boston Massachusetts 02116 United States
(617) 824-8301
archives@emerson.edu