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58 • THE ARTISAN SPRING 2020 In Memoriam Joe moved in with his aunt and uncle who lived in Tarzana. Once there, he enrolled in numerous make-up classes. Putting in his dues, Joe eventually got his big break and began working on several nonunion productions from Empire Pictures/ Full Moon Entertainment, run by owner Charles (Charlie) Band. He lent his talents to such notable B-films as Puppet Master, Trancers, and Oblivion. It's worth noting that many of these guilty pleasures were shot in a converted castle/studio in Romania. Recalling his work there, Joe would frequently mention just how cold it would get while shooting in the castle. "It had no heat- ing so during the winter months, you'd freeze your butt off," he would love to say. But Joe took all this in stride with his usual wry sense of humor. When not doing make-up, Joe entertained many other inter- ests such as his love for classic cinema comedy, the likes of the Little Rascals ("Yum yum eat 'em up!), the Three Stooges, as well as the antics of Laurel and Hardy. He would recite many of the catch phrases. Much of his humor was cinema-related. While convalescing in the Burbank Rehabilitation Center, after a fall he took on his last birthday fracturing his pelvis, Joe didn't lose his sense of humor as he was introduced to a nurse by the name of Shirley. Without skipping a beat, he started calling her Shirley Temple. Joe had the innate ability of memorizing people's names after just meeting them once. He could easily recall a person's name with speed and accuracy. While working on The Santa Clause 3 feature that had upward of 150 kids, Joe had almost every young- ster's name down—both first and last name! One day, while he was working on a young girl, Joe asked what her last name was, to which she answered back Rambaldi. He soon discovered that she was the granddaughter to the famous effects artist Carlo Rambaldi. Joe was so elated knowing that he was just one step away from working on one of his icons. Another interest of Joe's was composing music. He liked the classics, as well as soundtracks and had an extensive library of CDs. He also enjoyed creating cosmetic formulas and developed a line of temporary tattoo inks he called JOMO. Other work experiences he was involved with, were partnering up with John Criswell and having a shop together for a short time. And when Bart Mixon and Earl Ellis opened ME F/X Studio, Joe was their go-to man to not only help them in the studio, but on set as well. He worked with them on the pilot to Danger Island (the predecessor to Lost), Corpse Killer, Night of the Scarecrow, Sometimes They Come Back Again. In fact, Bart and Joe had originally met on the Chiodo brothers series Land of the Lost. Joe applied the cave boy Stink's make-up. On Saturday, January 4, several friends of Joe's rallied to be with him at the ICU: Bart Mixon, Roxy D'Alonzo, Ron Pipes, Felicia Linsky, Robert Maverick, Cynthia Hernandez, and Brad Look. They all took turns holding his hand and talking with him. Made in the USA Gluten Free Paraben Free www.RCMAmakeup.com