European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 09, 1978, Darmstadt, Hesse Wednesday August 9, 1978 the stars and stripes Page 19 new York Tymel Jack h Barbara Walden sometimes called the Black Estee louder makes up a department store customer. Ico flt tic of Black women the timing was rights by Angela Taylor new York times Arbara Walden laughs when people refer to her As the Black Estee Lauder. Well in a smaller Way perhaps. Walden is a cosmetics entrepreneur with a million Dollar business Barbara Walden cosmetics thriving nicely these Days. She might not have become involved with it except that theatrical makeup did Freaky things to her skin when she is a Young actress storming Hollywood. There was no makeup that worked on my skin the recalled. Dark Pancake made me look purple. It streaked. It is also water based foundation made her skin to Flat and lifeless. So she insisted on playing her roles without it which upset the studio makeup department. But Barbara Walden is a very determined woman who T is her own what she describes As childhood free of Prepuce she run smack into it when As a teen Ager she was toned Down by a modelling school because rhe was Blacke found another school. Later in Hollywood she was not permitted to touch key Rooney on camera in the private lives of am and eve after she had knocked Down a lot of of fades to get the part in the first place. The studio had announced a contest to select seven fifty girls for the movie. Walden s agent advised her to apply. They said they wanted pretty girls they did t men w color she said. Three Hundred girls applied. I was Only Black chosen. It made me very angry that i was to touch Mickey tace anger and the vanity to which she frankly Anlu spurred her throughout her career. Hen she could t find make up that waked for her. Located a chemist who was willing to try out her then she recalled my friends wanted what 1 wearing and i kept giving mine away that s How i Beldea of Selling Black women needed she continued the cosmetics Are now in 35 stores throughout the country and Walden dashes from City to City giving advice to customers who. These Days include some who arc not Walden was born in Camden. . About 45 years ago the daughter of a comfortably established was the Only Black family in a White neighbor Hood but until the Shock of the turndown by the modelling school she says she never Felt any prejudice. She at tended Catholic High school in Camden and her parents planned a business career for her. But she wanted to be a dancer and during Vaca Tion from school when she was 16 years old she danced in a Greenwich Village nightclub until the management found out that she was t 21, As she had said she was and dismissed her. She got to California As a bathing suit Model and joined an acting group in the los Angeles equivalent of off Broadway playing Katharine Cornell s role in wingless Victory. She won Small parts in movies turning Down the ones she thought were not dignified a role in Elizabeth Taylor s to Inree county for instance. I did t mind playing maids but the dialogue was her agent was a Friend of Louella Parsons and since Parsons liked the Spunky Young woman she mentioned her in her column. Roles followed in the ten command ments. A global Allair with Bob Hope and what a Way to co with Paul Newman and Shirley Mclaine. But there weren t Many Good roles for her in pictures and in lean times she supported herself by getting a fran Chise to sell a household product door to door. That experience was valuable when she was starting her own business found a partner or the venture in Dan Rae bum. A los Angeles advertising Man they each contributed $350 in starting opened an office in the Watts Section of los an Geles and she trained women to sell the cosmetics door to door or at parties. It went Well and soon the fledgling company had $15,000 to expand into a Beauty clinic on Crenshaw Boulevard. Its Success Walden said surprised even her. The timing was right in the Early 1970s," she said. Black women were getting better jobs had More Money to spend and were interested in their one of the clinic s Early enthusiasts was the wife of to Bradley now the mayor of los Angeles. In 1972. It was time to tackle the department stores. Walden marched right on to i. Magnin. Los Angeles s prestige department store and her line was accepted. But. She said candidly it flopped there Black women were More Likely to shop in such medium priced stores As the May company the Broadway and Joseph Magnin. Those stores agreed to put in the line. Chicago s Carson Pirie Scott followed suit and now the line of 55 products is sold throughout the country. Such competitors in the Field As Flori Roberts and fashion fair do More business but Walden is Happy to be Small enough to keep her Eye on things making personal appearances and recruiting and training sales people. Does she have Beauty advice for Black women lots she said since few Black women have a role Model in their mothers and Are comparatively new to skin care first she said they have to learn to clean and main Tain their skin which tends to be oily. They should avoid makeup bases that have Pink in them Black skins have a Copper or Blue undertone and Pink does t upper lips Are usually Darker than lower lips Walden has special products to balance the tones. She encourages women to use Bright lipstick and coloured Eye Shad Walden lives in a pleasantly decorated House in the Brentwood area of los Angeles surrounded by her own paintings and results of a Hobby she finds furniture in Thrift shops and relaxes by refinishing it. Recently when her House became overcrowded with her refurbished pieces she went into partnership with a boutique to sell the furniture turning Over her profits to a school that teaches music and Art to underprivileged youngsters. Walden has never married although Ibe has a Beau of Long standing. I m too she said. Has she thought of resuming to acting Well she said with a big Sale if the right role came along. Once a Ham. Always a
