Excerpt from The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.

 

 He was onto something that had eluded him, something far more exciting than any horse race or radio show. Tom Lyle marveled with Emery over two recent photos of Merle Oberon who’d been in a terrible accident the year before that left her face badly scarred. One picture had been taken of her without her make-up, and the pits and indentations in her skin showed up. Yet here was another picture that made her skin look flawless in spite of the damage. Make-up and clever lighting obviously helped keep her image stunningly beautiful without detracting from her exotic eyes, but something else was going on here. This was the faultless look Tom Lyle had dreamed of, and the image appeared in the kind of vibrant jewel tones that could only be the unique tri-color process from Technicolor. The photo in his right hand was ground-breaking. Technicolor had never been accomplished outside of moving pictures. Someone had worked with a lab to create a still shot from a reel of movie film. Excitement sent Tom Lyle’s pulse racing.

Maybelline provided an inexpensive eye beautifier that mirrored a woman's favorite Glamour Queen

1933 Maybelline Ad.

Maybelline founder, (1915,) Tom Lyle Williams, believed a

woman’s greatest asset was her ability to capture a man’s imagination through her expressive eyes.

By the 1920's women were expressing their creativity through fashion, music, dance, modern art and writing. The film

industry was exploding with glamour and Super Stars.

Maybelline, contracted Hollywood Movie Queens to endorse

their products in full page ads in Glossy magazines. Modern
Women wanted to know what was happening in the glamour

industry..... fashion and beauty and Photography was the

ticket for showing off beautiful eyes.  And, photography meant makeup! Tom Lyle Williams, used photography mixed with art

to create the stunning Art Deco Ads in the early 1930's. 

Magazines were a powerful tool in  women's lives.  By

1929, Tom Lyle Williams had spent a million dollars on

advertising, but That was just the tip of the iceberg. He'd

soon be spending that much a year, keeping Maybelline

number one in the Country. 

The Great Depression, made Maybelline a household word.

Women wanted beauty and glamour and Maybelline gave

them sex appeal socially while exuding confidence in the 

workplace. For first time since the Victorian era, Movie Stars

like Jean Harlow, or Joan Crawford, exuded sex on the screen

and young woman embraced it.  

Maybelline provided an inexpensive eye beautifier that

mirrored the glamour of a woman's favorite Glamour Queen,

and old world standards melted away.  With America's

changing values, Tom Lyle Williams placed his mascara in 

dime stores for the first time and Maybelline became the undisputed giant in its field

Read more about Tom Lyle Williams and his Maybelline company, in The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind it. 

1930s Makeup – The Jean Harlow Look..... by Glamour Daze @glamourdaze

Those very long lashes are black, her mascara of choice being cake Maybelline, which she applies with a fine set of brushes given to her by Max Factor himself.

You can bet that Jean Harlow is using a Maybelline

 Eyebrow Pencil to draw on her pincel thin eyebrows. 

15 cents, in the 1930's... today would be more like 2 dollars. Maybelline still maintains the same quality and is still sensibly priced.

Jean Harlow featured in a Maybelline Ad during the 1930's.

Maybelline was the first Make-up to introduce carded merchandise displayed on a rack, usually at the front of the Dime Store, to encourage impulse buying in the 1930's.

Please visit Glamour Daze Fabulous Vintage Blog if you love Vintage Fashion and Make-Up and check the beautiful article she did on my book, The Maybelline Story.....
http://glamourdaze.com/2013/08/1930s-makeup-the-jean-harlow-look.html

Visit my new Blog, SAFFRONS RULE, taken directly from my 1964 High School Diary at 
http://saffronsrule.com/2013/08/29/making-out-at-the-drive-in-and-my-hair-didnt-even-get-messed-up/

Paulette Goddard, playing the Hollywood game.

One of Tom Lyle Williams, favorite Maybelline Models, in the late 1930's and early 1940's.... Paulette Goddard, was a Woman of Mystery. 

This Maybelline ad, featuring Paulette Goddard was in popular Movie Magazines, while filming

"The Women," in 1939. Trailer for "The Women."

Did you know that, Katherine Hepburn, Tallulah Bankhead, Susan Hayward, Joan Crawford, Paulette Goddard, Bette Davis and Lana Turner all auditioned for the part of Scarlett O'Hara.  Of Course it was Vivian Leigh, who got the part in Gone With the Wind and will always be remembered as the ideal Scarlett.

Paulette - The Adventurous Life of Paulette Goddard.
click on Amazon.

This book, tells the truth about the Paulette/Chaplin marriage. The real reason she didn't get the part in Gone with the Wind. The feud with director Cecil B. DeMille becomes clear. The famous under the table moment at Ciro's with a Director all nicely covered with help from the FBI files.

Gone With The Wind Tests. Auditions and screen tests for Gone With The Wind Appearing : Tallulah Bankhead, Susan Hayward, Margaret Tallichet, Frances Dee, Mary Ray, Lana Turner, Paulette Goddard.

Nobody worked the Hollywood Star System better than Paulette Goddard and won.  Check out her book and while you're at it check out the little Lamarr/Maybelline bags.

Hedy Lamarr, mini-make-up bag is now available

Vintage Hedy Lamarr - 1940 Maybelline ad, is now available on a collectible, mini-make-up-bag.  Love Old Hollywood?  You will love this glamorous conversation piece.  

Hedy Lamarr is by far, the most popular post on my blog, so to celebrate the worldwide interest, in one of the most beautiful Stars in Hollywood, I have designed this mini-make-up bag/jewelery case.  There is a limited supply so please click on 

Pay Pal and buy now.

Hedy's Folly: The Life and Breakthrough Inventions of Hedy Lamarr, the Most Beautiful Woman in the World [Hardcover]   Richard Rhodes (Author)

Buy it on Amazon today.
Click on Amazon.

Timeless, Maybelline Lady in Red.

Maybelline's Beautiful Lady in Red, 1938.

Please check out this fantastic review of The Maybelline Story on Glamorologist, click below. 
http://theglamourologist.blogspot.com/2012/01/maybelline-story-sharrie-williams.html

Golden Globes 2012: 'Midnight in Paris' Wins Best Screenplay

The 1920's come alive in the most charming way in Midnight in Paris!! 

One night, Gil gets drunk and wanders the streets of Paris. At midnight, an antique car pulls up, and the passengers—dressed in 1920s clothing—urge Gil to join them. They go to a bar, where Gil comes to realize that he has been transported to the 1920s, an era he idolizes. He encounters Cole Porter, Josephine Baker, and Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, who take him to meet Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway agrees to show Gil's novel to Gertrude Stein, and Gil goes to fetch his manuscript from his hotel. However, as soon as he leaves the bar, he finds he has returned to 2010.

Veteran actor-turned-director Woody Allen successfully took home the Best Screenplay award for his work in "Midnight in Paris".

Midnight in Paris and The Artist get my vote for the most original and charming movies on the big screen.  Mildred Pierce and Boardwalk Empire  for vintage, TV dramas.

Vintage Maybelline Glamour Alive and Well in Beverly Hills

Glamor, Style and Panache at The Beverly Hills Women's Club, kicked of a season, sure to match the sensational Maybelline Story event.

The Man of the hour, Rags Ragland, (contributor to the Maybelline Story,and son of Harold W. Ragland, marketing genius at Maybelline from 1933 to 1968.)  Author, Sharrie Williams, President of the Beverly Hills Women's Club, Jill Tavelman Collins, Columnist at the Huffington Post, Patricia Rust.                                                   .

Donna Williams, (Sharrie's sister,)  Rags Ragland, Sharrie Williams, Jill Tavelman Collins.

Ann Williams-Corbett, (Sharrie's cousin,) Donna Williams, Rags Ragland,

Sharrie Williams.

Rags Ragland, Sharrie, Jill Tavelman Collins,

 Lauri Tepper.

Ladies Lunching.

Ladies of The Beverly Hills Women's Club, excited to see,  The Maybelline Story.

Buzzing, as the Fall Season for the Club takes off in a whirl of fashion.

Bettie Youngs, of Bettie Youngs Books, Publisher of the Maybelline Story, introduces Sharrie Williams.

Sharrie Williams at the podium.

The Maybelline Story takes the stage, as 235 vintage Maybelline ads and family pictures, set to the music of the Philharmonic Orchestra, playing Beach Boy songs,  and a vintage recording of Tom Lyle Williams, doing a 1930's, Maybelline, Penthouse Serenade commercial, created a special atmosphere for Sharrie to make the Maybelline Story come alive. 


The Maybelline Story presentation, kicked of the Season for the Beverly Hills Women's Club, as well as establishing their new President, Jill Tavelman Collins, in her new position for the year.  The tables were decorated with vintage memorabilia and fresh cut flowers, setting the tone for a walk down memory lane during the 20th Century.  Over 90 ladies filled the grand hall of the beautiful home built in 1916, where the ambiance of the era, bloomed for all who attended.  A separate room, filled with tables of Campaign and wine,  salads and deserts, as well as loads of bright Sunflowers, made the event a special reception for The Maybelline Story to make it's debut in Beverly Hills.


The books were signed by the author after the presentation and many well wishers expressed a desire for a movie, or mini series, like Mildred Pierce ,or Boardwalk Empire.  Romance seemed to be the call of the day, for all the ladies who love nostalgia, history and of course Maybelline.


Sharrie Williams is available to repeat her show.  Information available under CONTACTS. 

Rudolph Valentino's Aspiration, sets the tone for positive thinking.

Rudolph Valentino's Aspiration, still inspires the Williams family to always look up.

Here is a picture of my father Bill Williams with his cousin Noel A. standing next to Aspiration.

Aspiration (Rudolph Valentino)

1930. Roger Noble Burnham. Marble and bronze statue, 36' x 16' x 16. De Longpre Park, 1350 North Cherokee Street, Hollywood, California. Plaque reads: Erected in memory of Rudolph Valentino, 1895-1926. Presented by his friends and admirers from every walk of life in all parts of the world in appreciation of the happiness brought to them by his cinema portrayals.

The Villa Valentino, with Aspiration overlooking the pool.  Bottom right, Bill, Tom Lyle and Evelyn Williams.

Aspiration at the Villa Valentino, Tom Lyle's home in the Hollywood Hills.  I believe Tom Lyle, was a major contributor, paying for the statue to be set in De Longpre Park, in 1930.  He bought the Villa, placed a copy of Aspiration in a fountain and called his home, The Villa Valentino.   Aspiration is still in our family and we love his inspiration to aspire up and never look down.