Jo Weldon's New York School of Burlesque

When I discuss costuming with my students, I often mention that it doesn't stop at the neck. Think like a ballerina or a drag queen: If your costume is fabulous and your face is drab, the fabulousness is sadly, utterly lost! False eyelashes do more than make you more photogenic--they help to give you the exaggeration of expression that an audience can see from the furthest row. Mary Pickford. Image from infoplease.com. "Beauty legend has it that American movie director D.W. Griffith designed the first set of false eyelashes. While creating a motion picture in 1916, he wanted his leading lady to have lashes so long they graced her cheeks when she blinked or looked down thoughtfully." http://makeup.lovetoknow.com/False_Eyelashes I would say that the movies popularized false eyelashes, but they are almost as historical as makeup itself! Dr. Lukki Backstage at the 2007 New York Burlesque Festival. Photo by me. When asked about false eyelashes, Dr. Lukki quotes Roland...