Old Hollywood Glamour 1940 style - Tuxedos, False Eyelashes, Daiquiris and Dancing the Conga.

Excerpt from a diary written by Jane Allen, while visiting the Villa Valentino, with Tom Lyle Williams niece, Annette Williams, in June, 1940. Picture left to right.  Tom Lyle Williams, Jane Allen, Emery Shaver, Annette Williams, Arnold Anderson.

We drove to Pasadena to see a sketch of Tom Lyle's new car.  The artist for Packard had sketched it on a blackboard, actual size, to give tom Lyle an idea of dimensions.  Believe it will be some sporty job. The car will be a long convertible, four or five passenger, cream with red leather upholstering.  From the sketch it looks as if this will be the best looking and most unusual car Tom Lyle has had.  We spent the afternoon waiting for Tom Lyle to get all details settled, and stopped at a Drive-in for a sandwich. Rushed home to dress forEarl Carrolls

 Another big night.  Tom Lyle and Arnold dressed in tuxedos again and we wore formals.  I decided to wear false eyelashes and felt like one of the glamour girls.  Evelyn and Bill went with us to Earl Carrolls, so there were six in the party until around eleven when Emery joined the crowd.  Earl Carrolls beautiful night club, much larger than Ciros, with a stage away from the tables for dancing.

 We all had a turn at dancing, but Annette and Arnold did the Conga with the crowd.  The rest of us were sitting at the table and enjoyed the entertainment.  Had a couple of daiquiris around the table and dinner at ten or ten thirty.  The floor show here was gorgeous with loads of beautiful girls.  The stage was revolving, so there were many unusual arrangements in dance. Bert Wheeler was

 master of ceremonies.

Villa Valentino fountain with statue, ASPIRATION.

  Left Earl Carroll's around two, took Evelyn and Bill home, but didn't get to bed until around 4 A.M.  The moon was beautiful when we got home, and Tom Lyle turned on all the flood lights in the garden.  With the fountain, lights, flowers and moon, the garden was gorgeous.

If you love Old Hollywood Glamour, vintage fashion, make up and classic cars, you will love my book.  The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind it.

Chuck Williams-BB1 with his car collection.

Noel A. Williams son, Chuck Williams, aka BB1, does a cosmetic restoration on his father's 1975 Rolls Royce, 12 years after his fathers death.

His fathers Rolls was untouched for 12 years.

unveiling of the Rolls.

Chuck makes the decision to bring the Rolls Royce, back to it's glory days.

1975 Rolls Royce, Silver Shadow, LWB.  Collage's of Chuck Williams car collection, by Charles Abrams Photography.

Chuck bought this 74 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce, new, in 1974 and still has it in his car collection today.  It has been shown several times, at the Concours Italiano and other venue's across the country.  The Alfa has won best Spider, and is known as the Pearl.  It is Chuck's personal favorite.


Chuck had this 1965 Factory 5 racing Cobra, with it's Roush 402R, 525 HP and 515 lbs of torque, built by Joe Cusumano and painted by Red Dog Jones.  The car has won numerous awards and goes 0 to 60 in 3.3 seconds. Also one of Chuck's personal favorites.





Stay tuned this week as my cousin, Chuck Williams of REEEEEL Convertibles and Steve Snyder, of http://www.vaultcars.com/http://www.vaultcars.com/ 
discuss Tom Lyle Williams, 1940 Packard Victoria, built by the custom body builders Bohman & Schwartz.  Steve Snyder's father,  is the owner of the car today. 

          

Maybelline cousins worship Tom Mix, as little boys.

Maybelline cousins, Noel Allen Williams and William Preston Williams Jr. 

They may not have ended up on the back of a horse, but their love for beautiful automobiles, influenced by their uncle Tom Lyle Williams and Tom Mix, enriched their taste for elegance.

 The Cadillac Cowboy, pulled in $17,000 a week in the 1920's and was every little boys, Western Hero.

                             Tom Mix, 1937 Cord 812 Convertible. 

Mix was killed. In the fall of 1940, while speeding along a gravel road, between Tucson and Phoenix, when he came upon the site of a road crew. The Cord crashed through the barriers, swerved violently, plowed into the ditch, and rolled, killing 60-year old Mix. Today a monument marks the spot. 

 Tom Lyle Williams, with his 1940, convertible Packard, at the Villa Valentino.

Bill Williams with his first little car.  Christmas, 1926.

 

Noel Allen, standing outside his Daddy's garage, already a gentleman, automobile enthusiast.

 

 Bill Williams dressed like Tom Mix, with his new wheels, in 1930.

 Noel Allen Williams dressed like Tom Mix, with his famous white hat, 1930.

 Cowboy Noel, getting ready to shoot em up in the Old West with his cousin Bill, in 1930.

Bill standing on the running board of his uncle Noel's Buick, while his little cousin Noel Allen looks out the window, sad to leave, after a day of cowboy play!

Noel Allen's son Chuck, aka, BB1, inherits his fathers 1975 Rolls Royce, and restores it to its original glory.

 William Preston Williams lll, and Sharrie, in their father's 1977 Series 1, 13th edition, Clenet.   Five years after Bill's death, his favorite automobile is back, in its full glory.

See Bill's Clenet, Oct. 28 -30, at the Santa Barbara Concours D' Elegance and meet the family.

read more about Tom Mix and his incredible movie career, in The Maybelline Story.  Purchase a signed copy from me, at www.maybellinestory.com, on this website.