False Eyelashes

False eyelashes were invented by the American film director D. W. Griffith, when making his 1916 epic “Intolerance”. He wanted actress Seena Owen to have lashes that brushed her cheeks, to make her eyes shine larger than life. A wigmaker wove human hair through fine gauze, which was then gummed to her eyelids. “Intolerance” was critically acclaimed but flopped financially, leaving Griffith with huge debts which he might have been able to settle easily - had he only thought to patent the eyelashes.