Charles Revson

Charles Haskell Revson
Born	Template:Birth date Somerville, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	August 24, 1975(1975-08-24) (aged 68) Premium Point, New Rochelle, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, philanthropist
Years active	c. 1930s–1975
Known for	Founder of Revlon; inventor of first color-based nail lacquer

Charles Haskell Revson (October 11, 1906 – August 24, 1975) was an influential American entrepreneur and philanthropist, renowned for revolutionizing the United States cosmetics sector by inventing the first color-based nail lacquer and establishing Revlon, a company he managed for fifty years.

Early years

Born in Somerville, Massachusetts following his family's relocation from Canada to the U.S., Revson was raised in Manchester, New Hampshire. His father, Samuel Revson, descended from Lithuanian-Jewish roots, while his mother, Jeanette Weiss Revson, had German-Jewish ancestry. The family moved to Boston in the late 1800s and had nine children. Jeanette passed away prematurely from pneumonia in the 1920s. The Weiss lineage inspired many family members toward achievement, embodying qualities such as meticulousness and an appreciation for beauty that influenced Charles's professional path. He cultivated a strong independent identity, often separating himself from much of his extended family.

Samuel Revson earned a living as a cigar maker in Manchester’s German-American "West Side" district. After completing his studies at Manchester High School West, Charles relocated to Boston.

Founding of Revlon

Revson decided to launch his own venture after Elka, the cosmetics firm where he was employed, declined to appoint him as national distributor.

Quiz show scandals

During the mid-1950s, Revlon sponsored the quiz program The $64,000 Question, which greatly increased product sales. Allegations arose that Charles and his brother Martin exerted pressure on producers to manipulate questions to favor popular contestants and sustain viewer interest. This behavior played a role in the broader quiz show scandal, involving shows like The $64,000 Question, The Challenge, and Twenty One that employed similar methods to attract large audiences.

Steve Carlin, Entertainment Productions, Inc.'s executive producer, testified before Congress that Revson insisted on rigging outcomes to guarantee high ratings. Carlin remarked, "There is a tradition in television...of trying to please the client." Although Charles and Martin Revson appeared before Congress as witnesses, neither underwent formal investigation. While this scandal marked the end of the quiz show era, Revlon had already expanded its market presence and secured its position as a leading global cosmetics brand.

Personal life

Charles Revson was married three times. His second marriage to Johanna C Ancky Johnson resulted in two sons—John and Charles H. Revson, Jr.—and they also adopted a daughter named Penelope. He had five grandchildren, among them Jill Revson and Charles H. Revson III. His third spouse was Lyn Revson, who became one of Andy Warhol’s subjects during the 1980s. Additionally, he maintained a relationship with actress and singer Eartha Kitt.

His nephew Peter Revson, son of Martin Revson and a Formula One driver, died in a racing accident in 1974. Peter’s brother Doug also lost his life in a 1967 motorsport crash in Denmark. Shortly before Peter’s fatal accident during practice for the South African Grand Prix, he was engaged to 1973 Miss World, Marjorie Wallace.

Revson frequently patronized bespoke tailor William Fioravanti in New York and later invested in the business.

He passed away on August 24, 1975, at his residence in Premium Point, New Rochelle, New York.

Philanthropy

In 1956, Revson established the Charles H. Revson Foundation, contributing more than $10 million throughout his life. The foundation's main focus was on supporting educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and community service groups within New York's Jewish population. Following his passing, Revson bequeathed $68 million to the foundation and allowed its board to determine its future course. Since initiating a formal grantmaking framework in 1978, the foundation has awarded $145 million in grants and expanded its endowment to $141 million.

Legacy

Revson's character appears in the musical War Paint, which draws inspiration from Lindy Woodhead's book and the documentary The Powder and the Glory. Erik Liberman portrayed him in both the Goodman Theatre and Broadway renditions, sharing the stage with Patti LuPone as Helena Rubinstein and Christine Ebersole as Elizabeth Arden.

The Revson Fountain at Lincoln Center, created by Philip Johnson Associates and financed by the Revlon Foundation in 1962, was officially dedicated in 1964.