The Campana Company
Encyclopedia
The Campana Company was a major manufacturer of cosmetics
in the early to mid-20th century.
. The formula was purchased from a Dr. Campana, from where the company derives its name. Although the company first operated only two years before the start of The Great Depression, they were initially very prosperous. This was because of innovative methods of advertising promoted by their owner, Ernest Oswalt. Campana was one of the first companies to offer free cosmetics samples in magazines, a method that is still extensively used to this day. A second method of advertising was the use of radio commercials. Oswalt hired writer Florence Ward to create a radio variety show that would feature commercials for the company. The show, The First Nighter Program
, was very successful and ran for twenty-two years. Due in part to these commercials, Italian Balm became one of the best-selling hand lotions in the United States.
By the late 1930s, The Campana Company wanted a new factory to keep up with the high demand for their product. Oswalt wanted a building that would reflect the modern appeal of his products, and commissioned a Streamline Moderne
building in Batavia
, Illinois
. The Campana Factory
featured many new technologies, including air conditioning
.
The Campana Factory had to change the name of its popular lotion to Campana Balm after World War II
due to growing anti-Italian sentiment. The Campana Company was sold to the Purex Corporation of California, which itself was later bought by the Dow Chemical Company
. Dow relocated the workers and shut down Campana operations.
Cosmetics
Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and...
in the early to mid-20th century.
History
The Campana Company was incorporated in 1927. Its first product was Italian Balm, a hand lotionLotion
A lotion is a low- to medium-viscosity, topical preparation intended for application to unbroken skin. By contrast, creams and gels have higher viscosity.Lotions are usually applied to external skin with bare hands, a clean cloth, cotton wool or gauze...
. The formula was purchased from a Dr. Campana, from where the company derives its name. Although the company first operated only two years before the start of The Great Depression, they were initially very prosperous. This was because of innovative methods of advertising promoted by their owner, Ernest Oswalt. Campana was one of the first companies to offer free cosmetics samples in magazines, a method that is still extensively used to this day. A second method of advertising was the use of radio commercials. Oswalt hired writer Florence Ward to create a radio variety show that would feature commercials for the company. The show, The First Nighter Program
The First Nighter Program
The First Nighter Program was a long-running radio anthology comedy-drama series broadcast from 1930 to 1953. The host was Mr. First Nighter .The show's opening recreated the aural atmosphere of a Broadway opening. Before each week's drama began, Mr...
, was very successful and ran for twenty-two years. Due in part to these commercials, Italian Balm became one of the best-selling hand lotions in the United States.
By the late 1930s, The Campana Company wanted a new factory to keep up with the high demand for their product. Oswalt wanted a building that would reflect the modern appeal of his products, and commissioned a Streamline Moderne
Streamline Moderne
Streamline Moderne, sometimes referred to by either name alone or as Art Moderne, was a late type of the Art Deco design style which emerged during the 1930s...
building in Batavia
Batavia, Illinois
Batavia was founded in 1833, and is the oldest city in Kane County, Illinois, with a small portion in DuPage County. During the Industrial Revolution, Batavia became known as ‘The Windmill City’ for being the largest windmill producer of the time...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. The Campana Factory
Campana Factory
The Campana Factory is a historic building in Batavia, Illinois. It was built in 1936 to serve as a factory for The Campana Company, which produced Italian Balm, the most popular hand lotion in the United States during The Great Depression. The Streamline Moderne and Bauhaus building features many...
featured many new technologies, including air conditioning
Air conditioning
An air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
.
The Campana Factory had to change the name of its popular lotion to Campana Balm after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
due to growing anti-Italian sentiment. The Campana Company was sold to the Purex Corporation of California, which itself was later bought by the Dow Chemical Company
Dow Chemical Company
The Dow Chemical Company is a multinational corporation headquartered in Midland, Michigan, United States. As of 2007, it is the second largest chemical manufacturer in the world by revenue and as of February 2009, the third-largest chemical company in the world by market capitalization .Dow...
. Dow relocated the workers and shut down Campana operations.