Theda Bara, Silent Films "The Vamp," promoted Maybelline one hundred years ago

Theda Bara was one of the most popular Stars, of her era, and one of cinema's earliest sex symbols.

The word “vamp,” originated from Theda’s nickname while filming a sultry vampire, in A Fool There Was.    

A 1915 silent film, inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s poem, “The Vampire." Theda's character simply known as “the Vampire."  was reduced to “vamp,” and the title stuck.

Just as Theda Bara, appeared as the Vamp, in

A Fool There Was in 1915 - Mabel Williams, inspired her brother, Tom Lyle Williams - to formulate an eye beautifying product, called Lash-Brow-Ine - that  became Maybelline, in 1916, and was named in her honor.

Lash-Brow-Ine and Maybelline, were the first eye beautifying products, in America, sold through mail order and eventually over the counter.  Silent Film Stars, like Theda Bara, made the public aware of the most forgotten feature on the face, "The Eyes."

Tom Lyle Williams, founder and owner of The Maybelline Company from 1915 - 1967.

Older brother Noel James Williams, also played a role in Maybelline's birth, when he loaned his brother Tom Lyle, $500. to launch Lash-Brow-Ine, in 1915.  He was Maybelline's Vice President from 1915 until his death in 1951.

Hollywood and Silent Films were a key ingredient in making Maybelline, a great success in the  20TH Century.  

Theda Bara, Silent Film's original Vamp, promotes Maybelline in 1915.

Theda Bara was one of the most popular Stars, of her era, and one of cinema's earliest sex symbols.

The word “vamp,” originated from Theda’s nickname while filming a sultry vampire, in A Fool There Was.    

A 1915 silent film, inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s poem, “The Vampire." Theda's character simply known as “the Vampire."  was reduced to “vamp,” and the title stuck.

Theda Bara, the original Vampire. click here and on the video.

Just as Theda Bara, appeared as the Vamp, in

A Fool There Was in 1915 - Mabel Williams, inspired her brother, Tom Lyle Williams - to formulate an eye beautifying product, called Lash-Brow-Ine - that  became Maybelline, in 1916, and was named in her honor.

 

Lash-Brow-Ine and Maybelline, were the first eye beautifying products, in America, sold through mail order and eventually over the counter.  Silent Film Stars, like Theda Bara, made the public aware of the most forgotten feature on the face, "The Eyes."

Tom Lyle Williams, founder and owner of The Maybelline Company from 1915 - 1967.

Older brother Noel James Williams, also played a role in Maybelline's birth, when he loaned his brother Tom Lyle, $500. to launch Lash-Brow-Ine, in 1915.  He was Maybelline's Vice President from 1915 until his death in 1951.

Hollywood and Silent Films were a key ingredient in making Maybelline, the great company it became during the 20TH Century.  

Silent Film week, continues tomorrow.

This is a song by Leon Redbone, called Nobody's Sweetheart Now, written in 1924.  It's about becoming a vamp.  "You'd be out of place in your home town.  Walk down the avenue - they won't believe it's you.  Painted lips, painted eyes...all seems wrong somehow, cause you're nobodies sweetheart now."

Thank you to my cousin Linda Hughes, Mabel Williams granddaughter, for suggesting this song to me.  It says it all, about the era when, Maybelline and Silent Films, explooded onto the world stage.

Maybelline lifts Women's Spirits in 1915.

Lash-Brow-Ine was introduced in 1915, at a time when women, were fighting to be recognized as individuals.

Vogue magazine cover, Christmas, 1915, depicting

the image of an ideal lady.

Everyone looked alike, no real individuality in 1915. The world was still very Victorian Age.

 Than, D W Griffith's Birth of a Nation,  proved extremely controversial, with its negative depiction of Black Americans and their supporters, and its positive portrayal of slavery and the Ku Klux Klan, as well as women being abused.

Click on this video to view some of the most controversial themes in D W Griffith's 1915 Birth of a Nation.

In 1915 a course of events led to change - a parting of the Red Sea, that cleared the the way for Maybelline, to be born and women to have a voice.

January 12

House of Representatives rejects proposal to give women right to vote

February 8

"Birth of a Nation" opens at Clune's Auditorium in LA.

May 7

Lusitania sunk by German submarine; 1198 lives lost

October 9

Louis Kaufmans "Unchastened Woman," premieres in New York City

October 23

25,000 women march in New York City, demanding right to vote

December 4

Ku Klux Klan receives charter from Fulton County Ga

December 16

Albert Einstein publishes the General Theory of Relativity LASH-BROW-INE IS BORN!!!!

Tom Lyle Williams, formed Maybell Laboratories and Lash-Brow-Ine's first little ad, appeared in The Police Gazette magazine.  

From the looks of what was going on at the time, you'd think there would be a slim chance for Lash-Brow-Ine, to be accepted, but women were ripe for expressing themselves, and the product took off way beyond Tom Lyle, Noel and Mabel's greatest expectations.

Read the whole wonderful saga, in The Maybelline Story.  Signed copies with Hedy Lamarr make-up bag will be available very soon.

Frances - the Bride who helped launch an Empire!

Frances... the Bride, who postponed her Wedding for a year, so her fiance's brother, might have a chance at starting a little company, called Maybelline.

Eva, Frances, (the Bride,) Tom Lyle,  Noel James, (the Groom, in the shadows,) Bennie and my grandfather, Preston - Chicago, 1917, soon after Maybelline was launched.

Try Frances', homemade, rich, decedent, dark-chocolate extravaganza!  So modestly called...

                  Chocolate Icebox Dessert!



3 – 8 oz packages of Bakers German sweet chocolate


3 eggs


1 pint whipping cream


1 ¼ Tbsp. Vanilla


3 Tbsp. Powdered sugar


2 boxes of Social Tea Biscuits


Melt chocolate in double boiler.


Separate eggs, beat yolks with sugar,


Beat egg whites and add-


Add vanilla.


Add ½ pint whipped cream, (save ½ pint for topping.)


Line loaf pan with cookies.


Add layer of chocolate mixture.


Continue layering cookies and chocolate mixture, ending with chocolate.


Store in refrigerator and slice and serve with whipped cream.


Today I made an, out of this world, deep dark chocolate, delightful dessert and my audience couldn't get enough.  I hope you make this recipe, as it will surely become a special-occasion, family favorite.


OH!  By the way, if you want to know about the Bride, who waited a year, for the sake of Maybelline, read The Maybelline Story soon.

Check in next week, and watch Sharrie make her auntie Frances', Chocolate Icebox Dessert on The Morning Scramble - AZTV. 

Before Maybelline New York the brand was known as Maybelline.

Before Maybelline New York, there was the Maybelline Company.  Before the Maybelline Company, there was Maybell Laboratories.  Before Great Lash Mascara, there was Ultra Lash.  Before Maybelline there was Lash-Brow-Ine.  But no matter what - It all started with Tom Lyle Williams.

Tom Lyle Williams with his nephew Bill Williams, (my dad,)  discussing the good old day's when Maybelline was Maybell Laboratories and Lash-Brow-Ine sold for 50 cents in 1915.  This picture was taken in 1972, five years after Tom Lyle sold the Maybelline Company to Plough Inc.  He was never the same and regretted not preparing the next generation to take over the company.  For the next four years his health declined to the point, he refused to be seen any longer.

Lash-Brow-Ine ad, 1915.

Standing in front of his new Paige automobile, is Tom Lyle, his father TJ and Mable, namesake for the Maybelline Company, 1916.



An original Maybelline tin, that would be filled with a cake of mascara, a little red and black brush and mirror, in the 1940's.


Be sure to read the Maybelline Story for all the wonderful historic details and stunning nostalgic vintage memories.