Paula Kent
Encyclopedia
Paula Kent is an American
actress, model
, businesswoman
and executive
. She co-founded the Redken
hair care
products company.
She was born Paula Jane Baer in Beverly Hills, California
, the daughter of Richard Moorehead Baer and Lois Evelyn Martin. Her maternal aunt was the actress/dancer Paula Langlen, née Pauline Hobbs. Her father was an assistant sound manager for Fox Studios
, but later became an accountant. The family moved to Burbank
, where she grew up.
Paula dropped out
of high school, married Donald Arlen Slocum at age 15, became a mother, and was divorced a year and half later. While attempting to find jobs in television
, she worked as a gas station attendant and as a secretary.
While she acted mostly in TV commercials
, Kent played Mary Lake in a 1955 episode of the series The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
titled Buckshot Comes Home. She played a waitress in an episode of State Trooper
titled The Choker. She also played a minor bit part
as Dino’s Restaurant hat check girl on 77 Sunset Strip
at Warner Bros.
On May 17, 1959, Kent was presented as the Queen of The Congress at the 23rd Annual Congress of Beauty, a costume ball
in the Biltmore Hotel
sponsored by the Hollywood Hair Design Council in conjunction with the California Cosmetologist Association, which had a circus theme and entertainment for thousands of beauty operators
. With her red-gold hair in a new style
, Kent handed out preliminary trophies to a parade of models displaying both new styles and new colors for hair.
As a performer, Kent was constantly having to fuss with her hair, but the shampoo
s and hair spray
s caused her hair to dry out and break, and sometimes triggered allergic
reactions in her scalp
. In 1960, she launched a business career, co-founding with Jheri Redding
, husband of her friend, a Southern California
based hair care products company, Redken
, with an initial investment of $3,000 she received for a Hamm's
beer commercial. Within a few years, Redding sold his half of the business to Kent and she had full ownership of Redken Laboratories.
In November 1972, John E. Meehan (born ca. 1928), who had been with Redken since 1969 as executive vice-president, was elected president of the company, succeeding Kent, who became chairwoman
and CEO
. On April 20, 1973, Kent and Meehan were married in Los Angeles
.
In 1975, Kent had a part in an episode of British
TV's Within These Walls
titled Remand Wing. Her character was named Susie. She played a character named Ethel Holland in a 1977 miniseries
, Love for Lydia
.
As a successful businesswoman, she has received countless awards. In 1977, she was honored as one of Business Week magazine
's "100 Top Corporate Women." In 1992, she was named one of Entrepreneurial Woman magazine’s "Eight Most Powerful Woman Business Owners" and was selected as one of the “Top Fifty Women Business Owners” by Working Woman magazine.
In 1993, Redken was sold to Cosmair, Inc., the U.S. licensee of L'Oréal
. Kent served on the board of directors of Union Bank
(Los Angeles) and the Board of Regents of Loyola Marymount University
(Los Angeles) and has been chairwoman of the regulatory committee of the Economic Development Commission of California. She is president of her own investment company
, handles her extensive real estate
holdings and is chairwoman and president of Kenquest, Inc. and Timequest, Inc.
Paula Kent Meehan lives in Beverly Hills, California.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress, model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
, businesswoman
Businessperson
A businessperson is someone involved in a particular undertaking of activities for the purpose of generating revenue from a combination of human, financial, or physical capital. An entrepreneur is an example of a business person...
and executive
Corporate title
Publicly and privately held for-profit corporations confer corporate titles or business titles on company officials as a means of identifying their function in the organization...
. She co-founded the Redken
Redken
Redken is an American hair care brand owned by L'Oréal Group under the Professional Products division.The company was founded in 1960 by hairdresser/chemist Jheri Redding and actress/model Paula Kent, thus the name, "Red-ken."...
hair care
Hair care
Hair care is an overall term for parts of hygiene and cosmetology involving the hair on the human head. Hair care will differ according to one's hair type and according to various processes that can be applied to hair...
products company.
She was born Paula Jane Baer in Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
, the daughter of Richard Moorehead Baer and Lois Evelyn Martin. Her maternal aunt was the actress/dancer Paula Langlen, née Pauline Hobbs. Her father was an assistant sound manager for Fox Studios
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
, but later became an accountant. The family moved to Burbank
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
, where she grew up.
Paula dropped out
Dropping out
Dropping out means leaving a group for either practical reasons, necessities or disillusionment with the system from which the individual in question leaves....
of high school, married Donald Arlen Slocum at age 15, became a mother, and was divorced a year and half later. While attempting to find jobs in television
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
, she worked as a gas station attendant and as a secretary.
While she acted mostly in TV commercials
Television advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
, Kent played Mary Lake in a 1955 episode of the series The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok is an American Western television series which ran for eight seasons from 1951 through 1958. The Screen Gems series began in syndication, but ran on CBS from 1955 through 1958, and, at the same time, on ABC from 1957 through 1958.-Synopsis:The Adventures of Wild...
titled Buckshot Comes Home. She played a waitress in an episode of State Trooper
State Trooper (TV series)
State Trooper is a half-hour television crime drama set in the 1950s American West, starring Rod Cameron as Rod Blake, an officer of the Nevada State Troopers. The series aired 104 episodes in syndication from September 25, 1956, to June 25, 1959...
titled The Choker. She also played a minor bit part
Bit part
A bit part is a supporting acting role with at least one line of dialogue . In British television, bit parts are referred to as under sixes...
as Dino’s Restaurant hat check girl on 77 Sunset Strip
77 Sunset Strip
77 Sunset Strip is an hour-length American television private detective series created by Roy Huggins and starring Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Roger Smith, and Edd Byrnes....
at Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Television
Warner Bros. Television is the television production arm of Warner Bros. Entertainment, itself part of Time Warner. Alongside CBS Television Studios, it serves as a television production arm of The CW Television Network , though it also produces shows for other networks, such as Shameless on...
On May 17, 1959, Kent was presented as the Queen of The Congress at the 23rd Annual Congress of Beauty, a costume ball
Costume party
A fancy dress party or a costume party , mainly in contemporary Western culture, is a type of party where guests dress up in a costume.-Fancy dress parties in Britain:...
in the Biltmore Hotel
Millennium Biltmore Hotel
The Millennium Biltmore Hotel, originally named the Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel of the Biltmore Hotels group, is a luxury hotel located on Pershing Square in Downtown Los Angeles, California. Upon its grand opening in 1923, the Los Angeles Biltmore was the largest hotel west of Chicago, Illinois in...
sponsored by the Hollywood Hair Design Council in conjunction with the California Cosmetologist Association, which had a circus theme and entertainment for thousands of beauty operators
Cosmetology
Cosmetology is the study and application of beauty treatment. Branches of specialty including hairstyling, skin care, cosmetics, manicures/pedicures, and electrology....
. With her red-gold hair in a new style
Hairstyle
A hairstyle, hairdo, or haircut refers to the styling of hair, usually on the human head. The fashioning of hair can be considered an aspect of personal grooming, fashion, and cosmetics, although practical, cultural, and popular considerations also influence some hairstyles.-History of...
, Kent handed out preliminary trophies to a parade of models displaying both new styles and new colors for hair.
As a performer, Kent was constantly having to fuss with her hair, but the shampoo
Shampoo
Shampoo is a hair care product used for the removal of oils, dirt, skin particles, dandruff, environmental pollutants and other contaminant particles that gradually build up in hair...
s and hair spray
Hair spray
Hair spray is a common cosmetic product that is sprayed onto hair to keep it stiff or in a certain style...
s caused her hair to dry out and break, and sometimes triggered allergic
Allergy
An Allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system. Allergic reactions occur when a person's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment. A substance that causes a reaction is called an allergen. These reactions are acquired, predictable, and rapid...
reactions in her scalp
Scalp
The scalp is the anatomical area bordered by the face anteriorly and the neck to the sides and posteriorly.-Layers:It is usually described as having five layers, which can conveniently be remembered as a mnemonic:...
. In 1960, she launched a business career, co-founding with Jheri Redding
Jheri Redding
Jheri Redding was anAmerican hairdresser, chemist, hair care products entrepreneur and businessman. Redding is best-known for creating the Jheri curl, which was used by the singer Michael Jackson.Redding is credited with being the inventor of modern day hair conditioner...
, husband of her friend, a Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
based hair care products company, Redken
Redken
Redken is an American hair care brand owned by L'Oréal Group under the Professional Products division.The company was founded in 1960 by hairdresser/chemist Jheri Redding and actress/model Paula Kent, thus the name, "Red-ken."...
, with an initial investment of $3,000 she received for a Hamm's
Hamm's Brewery
Hamm's is the name of a former American brewery in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Hamm's breweries were also found in other cities, such as San Francisco.-History:...
beer commercial. Within a few years, Redding sold his half of the business to Kent and she had full ownership of Redken Laboratories.
In November 1972, John E. Meehan (born ca. 1928), who had been with Redken since 1969 as executive vice-president, was elected president of the company, succeeding Kent, who became chairwoman
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
and CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
. On April 20, 1973, Kent and Meehan were married in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
In 1975, Kent had a part in an episode of British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
TV's Within These Walls
Within These Walls
Within These Walls is a British television drama programme made by London Weekend Television for ITV and shown between 1974 and 1978. It portrayed life in HMP Stone Park, a fictional women's prison...
titled Remand Wing. Her character was named Susie. She played a character named Ethel Holland in a 1977 miniseries
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
, Love for Lydia
Love for Lydia
Love for Lydia is a semi-autobiographical novel written by British author H. E. Bates, first published in 1952.-Plot:Lydia Aspen, a seemingly shy girl from a wealthy but isolated background, is encouraged by her aunts, her new carers, to discover the delights of growing up...
.
As a successful businesswoman, she has received countless awards. In 1977, she was honored as one of Business Week magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
's "100 Top Corporate Women." In 1992, she was named one of Entrepreneurial Woman magazine’s "Eight Most Powerful Woman Business Owners" and was selected as one of the “Top Fifty Women Business Owners” by Working Woman magazine.
In 1993, Redken was sold to Cosmair, Inc., the U.S. licensee of L'Oréal
L'Oréal
The L'Oréal Group is the world's largest cosmetics and beauty company. With its registered office in Paris and head office in the Paris suburb of Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France, it has developed activities in the field of cosmetics...
. Kent served on the board of directors of Union Bank
Union Bank of California
Union Bank, N.A., formerly known as Union Bank of California, N.A., is a full-service commercial bank providing an array of financial services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, and major corporations...
(Los Angeles) and the Board of Regents of Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University is a comprehensive co-educational private Roman Catholic university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions located in Los Angeles, California, United States...
(Los Angeles) and has been chairwoman of the regulatory committee of the Economic Development Commission of California. She is president of her own investment company
Investment company
An investment company is a company whose main business is holding securities of other companies purely for investment purposes. The investment company invests money on behalf of its shareholders who in turn share in the profits and losses....
, handles her extensive real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
holdings and is chairwoman and president of Kenquest, Inc. and Timequest, Inc.
Paula Kent Meehan lives in Beverly Hills, California.