Tom
Mix did his own stunts long before there were stuntmen and doubles
handling the dangerous stuff. His silents for Fox were big box office
and kept that studio solvent.
Tom
Mix was a genuine Hollywood legend and his lavish lifestyle reflected
that status, as his salary at Fox reached $17,500.00 ..... PER WEEK.
Tom Mix, loved fast automobiles, and drove them with accelerator to the floorboard. Over the years, the ownership of the Mix death car has changed several times. In August, 2009, it was sold at a Bonhams auction
When
my grandfather, Preston Williams, met Tom Mix in Hollywood, in 1927, he
called his brother Tom Lyle and told him he had to get to California
and see Mix's car collection. Tom Lyle and Emery not only took
Preston's advice, they eventually moved to California, bought Rudolph
Valentino's home in Hollywood and like Tom Mix, had this custom, 1940
Packard Victoria, made by Bowman and Schwartz.
Tom Lyle's Packard Victoria today, owned and restored by Bill Snyder in California.
As a Child, Preston Williams, craved the adventure and excitement he read about in Western, Dime Novels. All he wanted, was to someday, be a real cowboy.
This picture of my grandfather, Preston Williams, was taken in 1922, during the Jazz age, of the Roaring 20's. Prohibition was in full force and Hollywood's heyday was just beginning.
Preston was a born athlete, a boxer, swimmer and WW1 Vet, - perfect requirements for a stuntman in the movies. His hero's were Tom Mix and Will Rogers who would eventually touch his life in the most unexpected way.
Charlie Chase. click here. Through comedian Charlie Chase, Preston did live out his dream, for a short time in Hollywood, but you'll have to read The Maybelline Story to see what happened. Buy a signed copy at www.maybellinestory.com.
Charley Chase in "APRIL FOOL" (1924) musical score by Ben Model.
The Miracle Rider Trailer,Tom Mix ...
WESTERN COWBOY STAR - WILL ROGERS - BIOGRAPHY. William Penn Adair "Will" Rogers (November 4, 1879 -- August 15, 1935) was an American cowboy, comedian, humorist, social commentato
Oh those Maybelline Eyes Gorgeous Silent Film Star Viola Dana gained a reputation as a dramatic actress, with the ability to cry often. It was a reputation that led to a contract in 1916 with Metro, with whom the actress remained through 1924, starring in some 51 feature films. By the early 1920’s, Viola Dana was the highest paid female star at the studio where she played both drama and comedy.
I imagine Tom Lyle was impressed by Viola Dana's larger than life eyes on the silver screen glistening with tears, touching the audience deeply and making them remember "Those Eyes." What better actress to target a growing market for Maybelline in the early 1920's than Viola Dana with her captivating smile and Hippopotamus eyes. Viola became one of Maybelline's most memorable Super Models throughout the 1920's, standing just 4 feet, 11 ½ inches tall and her exotic dark hair and jovial, piercing eyes gave her the screen presence and auraof a giant. And "Giant Maybelline Eye's" were just what Tom Lyle was looking for.
He knew there was a market for the ingenue, the flapper and the girl next door, but Viola appealed to the socialite, the society woman the mature woman as well as a younger market looking for their own identity after women got the vote in 1920. Viola was not only glamorous, sensuous and elegant, she was quick witted, smart and independent. Tom Lyle knew the growing need for an independent role model like Viola - a lady not afraid to order that little red box of Maybelline - was the image he needed to represent him and his growing cosmetic company.
