I'm proud of my roots in Morganfield Kentucky, where Maybelline got it's start.

In all the research I did for The Maybelline Story,

 I found our family had quite a romantic past

My great grandmother, Susan Anna Alvey.  This picture was taken in 1877 when she was only 16 years of age and considered a great beauty. 

My great grandfather, Sheriff Thomas Jefferson Williams, was the local tax collector, and fearless when it came to doing the right thing. 

Susan Anna Alvey Williams, and Sheriff TJ, had six children, the most famous being Tom Lyle Williams, owner of the Maybelline Company.  When she died of the great flu in 1919, Sheriff TJ, kept the books for Tom Lyle during the early years of Lash -Brow-Ine, and Maybelline. 

My grandfather Preston and his little sister Eva, 1909.

The 500 acre family farm and homestead was over 100 years old by the time the Williams kids were born, and by 1916, the farm was sold, so the family could move to Chicago and help Tom Lyle with his little Maybelline Company.

TJ and Anna's third grandchild, and their son, Noel James and Frances Williams second child, Annette Williams, plays with the chickens in Morganfield.

The country story included the local post office, photography studio, soda fountain, and supply store. it even acted as a saloon, before Prohibition was passed in 1920.

Noel James', wife Frances, with their two girls, Helen and Annette, in Morganfield.  The family, now living in Chicago, worked for Tom Lyle and his Maybelline Company. 

Little Helen, with the chickens in Morganfield.

                   Little Annette in the chicken coop.

Sheriff TJ with his fourth grandchild, my father William Preston Williams, in 1924.  

Sheriff Thomas Jefferson with his son, Tom Lyle Williams, and his first grandchild, Tom Lyle Williams Jr. in Chicago, 1934.


Read more about Morganfield and the early days of Maybelline in my book The Maybelline Story.

NICHE magazine featuring Super Model Kate Moss and my Maybelline Memories Column..

Please turn to page 87 - read my Column in Canada's Outstanding, Glamorous, NICHE Magazine, featuring Super Model, Kate Moss, in the Inspiration issue.

Maybelline founder, Tom Lyle Williams, niece's Annette Williams and Jane Allen visited the Villa Valentino in June of 1940, and Jane kept a diary of their unbelievable adventures. Here is a portion of the diary I posted in my Maybelline Memories column for NICHE magazine.  Open the magazine to see my lovely article in print.

Saturday, June 15, 1940.

Slept until noon as usual. Decided to go to the Hollywood Turf Club and the races. We spent a long time looking for the track. When we finally there the second race had been run. Started losing our money. Arnold and Annette were luckier then the rest of us, winning a small amount. Tom Lyle and I didn't do so well. Of course, he lost more than I did. Tom Lyle bet $10.00 on a horse named Woof Woof, because the name reminded him of himself. It was great fun watching the horses run and I do believe the park was the most beautiful race track I have ever seen. All the buildings are new and modern. Saw Ray Milland, Eugene Palette and Den Carpenter. We drove back home in time for dinner. After dinner we saw “Meet The People,” This is one of the cleverest reviews I have ever attended. The impersonations, especially the one of Katherine Hepburn and the ones of Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt were good. After the show we went t Sardi's for a drink. Played cards after we got home. Just don't seem to go to bed early at all. Emery has had very little time to spare,but is usually home when we get in, so we either talk a while or play a game of cards.

Sunday June 16, 1940

George took Annette and me to Church, as Tom Lyle had a cold and didn't feel so well. After Church, Emery, Arnold, Annette and I had breakfast. Tom Lyle hadn't come down, so we let him rest. Annette, Arnold and I took a walk over to the Hollywood Bowl, a short distance from the Villa Valentino. The Bowl is set in the mountains. Quite a climb, but we were glad to see it and all the scenery around. Concerts, Operas, etc. are held here.

 Tom Lyle was up when we returned, so we picked up Evelyn and took a ride to see the ocean and and on to Malibu Beach. On the way we stopped to see the Japanese Gardens. The flowers were perfectly beautiful and such an array of color. The ride out was grand and the scenery is indescribable it is so wonderful. I expected to see miles and miles of sand before we finally reached the beaches, but the mountains run almost to the waters edge. The drive follows the ocean with mountains on the other side. All along the ocean are brach homes, many belonging to movie people. Marion Davies has what you would almost consider a mansion with large servants homes. Tom Lyle showed us the two beach homes he occupied while at Malibu.

 After seeing the scenery we went over to the Malibu Inn for a bit to eat. We saw John Howard on the way to the Inn. Funny thing happened. We girls started to the rest room, had just gotten inside when Tom Lyle came to the door calling my name. We couldn't imagine what had happened, but discovered we had entered the wrong room and we ere in the men's room. We were embarrassed and boy did everyone in the place roar, including John Howard. We saw John Carroll on the drive back, after chasing him for miles trying to figure out just whom he was. We rode up to the top of the mountain to get a view of the Hollywood city lights at night. Looked like a million little stars from such height and the moon overhead was almost full. Such scenery I have never seen. Had time for a game of cards when we got back to the Villa Valentino.




















Imagine driving around Hollywood in in Tom Lyle Williams, 1940 Packard Victoria.  

• NICHE magazine (5)
• NICHE magazine Fall 2013 (1)
• NICHE Magazine Holiday issue 2013(1)
• NICHE magazine Inspiration issue (1)
• Niche magazine Winter 2014 (1)

Be sure to visit my Hilarious 1964 High School Diary Blog, 
SAFFRONS RULE  at http://saffronsrule.com/

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.

Tom Lyle Williams, MAYBELLINE'S Golden Rule!

Tom Lyle Williams, shared his Pot of Gold, at the end of the Rainbow, with everyone in his life.

Click picture to enlarge.

This picture of Tom Lyle with his niece, Neppy Williams-Corbett and his nephew, Noel A. Williams wife, Jean, was taken in Tom Lyle's home in Bel Air in 1968, right after the Maybelline company was sold to Plough Inc.  Notice the 24K gold plated beams between the plate glass window. 

Here is a story about Tom Lyle's generosity, given to me by his great niece and Mabel and Chet's granddaughter, Linda Hughes.
 
When Maybelline was sold, each employee was given $1,000 for each year they worked for the company. Even those who hadn't been there a full year got $1,000. Tom Lyle's secretary Dorothy (aka Ducky) ended up with  $35,000 as did another secretary called Jimmie.  Jimmie called Mabel, to ask her to relay to TL how grateful she was that she could retire after she got her $30,000 check. At the time my parents had a bookstore and a former employee came in and told them he was bowled over to receive $8,000.  ( Dorothy also received one million dollars from her percentage in stock as well.)
   
Read more about Tom Lyle Williams, a secret American Icon and the great things he accomplished during his lifetime, in The Maybelline Story.
 
A cute story about Emery Shaver, Tom Lyle's lifetime partner of 50 years, given to me be his niece, Joyce Dennehy, (Mabel and Chet's, daughter.)
 
When my family drove from Chicago, to California, to visit Uncle Lyle, when we were kids:  One day it was rainy and my brother Tom was grumbling a bit about having nothing to do. He said to Emery, "don't you have an indoor swimming pool?"   Emery's response was "no but I have an ingrown toenail."

I will be making Frances' Chocolate Icebox Desert tomorrow on The Morning Scramble, with Tonya Mock, on AZTV.  Check into the Maybelline Blog Sat for the video.  

Bill the Clenet will be making his way to the Santa Barbara Concours D' Elegance Sat. and will be shown on Sunday at the Polo Fields. Watch for video's of his adventure.

Maybelline Roots, in Morganfield Kentucky.

Growing up loving Gunsmoke, my first glimmer of romantic thoughts, came in the form of Marshal Dillon an Miss Kitty.

In all the research I did for The Maybelline Story, I found our family had it's own romantic past, in the late 1800,  including a country Sheriff and his pretty lady.

Both being my great-grandparents. Sheriff Thomas Jefferson Williams and his wife, Susan Anna Alvey of Morganfield Kentucky were the real deal.

Susan Anna Alvey, in 1877 only 16 years of age was considered a great beauty for the times.

Sheriff TJ, as he was called, was also the local tax collector, and fearless when it came to doing the right thing.  He lost his right eye in a fight, and often teased his grandchildren by pulling it out and handing it them.  He'd laugh as the kids screamed and ran to their mothers, but never stopped getting a big kick out out the joke.

Susan Anna Alvey Williams had 6 children with Sheriff TJ, the most famous being Tom Lyle Williams, owner of the Maybelline Company.  She died of the great flu in 1919 leaving Sheriff TJ to help with the books in the early years of Lash -Brow-Ine, and Maybelline. 

On the farm as children, my grandfather Preston and his little sister Eva, 1909. 

The 500 acre family farm and homestead was over 100 years old, by the time the Williams kids were born.  By 1916, the farm was being sold, and the family moved to Chicago, to assist Tom Lyle with his little Maybelline Company.

TJ and Anna's third grandchild, and their son, Noel James and Frances Williams second child, Annette Williams, plays with the chickens before the farm was finally sold.

The country story wore many hats in the early day's, including being the local post office, photography studio, soda fountain, and supply store. How knows it may have even acted as a saloon at one time, before Prohibition was passed in 1920.

Noel James, wife Frances, with their two girls, Helen and Annette, in Morganfield, visiting the homestead.  The family was now prospering in Chicago, as the Maybelline Company continued to grow.

Little Helen, with the chickens in Morganfield.

                   Little Annette in the chicken coop.

Sheriff TJ with my father William Preston Williams, in 1924.  Bill was his fourth grandchild.

And finally the Big Three, Sheriff Thomas Jefferson with his son, Tom Lyle Williams, and his first grandchild, Tom Lyle Williams Jr. in Chicago, 1934.

It may not have been the Old West, exactly, but I have to say I'm pretty proud of my roots in Morganfield Kentucky, and having a real-life, gun-toting Sheriff, with a pretty little wife, as my great grandparents. 

Gunsmoke, still lives on in my heart, with wonderful memories of my earliest romantic fantasies and Miss Kitty is still the prettiest lady in the Old West.

Read more about Morganfield and the early days of Maybelline in my book The Maybelline Story.

Noel James Williams was the Maybelline Company!

People have asked me about Tom Lyle's older brother Noel James Williams - not sure of how he fit in with the founding of the Maybelline Company.

Noel was the second son born to TJ and Susan Williams and he like the rest of the Williams kids had plans of his own that didn't include working a farm.  He fell in love with his childhood sweetheart Frances Allen and planned to earn the money to marry her while she was in her first year of college.  There was no way to earn money in Morganfield Kentucky so he moved to Chicago where he found employment with the railroads as a bookkeeper.

You'll have to read The Maybelline Story for the whole story but in a nutshell his younger brother Tom Lyle also joined him in Chicago, followed by sister Mabel and the three of them helped build Tom Lyle's budding mail order business.   If you've been following my blog you have an idea of the magnitude this major event meant to the Williams family and eventually the world.  However when Tom Lyle needed the money to launch Maybelline, he turned to his brother Noel who had saved $500 to marry Frances.  The rest is history, but to honor Noel for believing him him Tom Lyle made his older brother Vice President of the Maybelline Company, a position he held for the rest of his life. 

Tom Lyle paid  the $500 back one year later and on Nov 8th 1916 Noel and Frances were married.  Here is a picture of Noel and Frances soon after the wedding standing in front of Tom Lyle's convertible Page in Chicago's heavy snow. 

Noel and Frances moved into an apartment down the street from the Maybelline warehouse while the rest of the Williams family lived together in the apartment above it.  Noel and Tom Lyle were the driving force behind the little budding cosmetic company and together they made an unbeatable team.

 Here is the whole Williams Clan in Chicago after Noel and Frances first baby, Helen Frances was born May 31, 1918. 

Right to Left we see Proud Papa Noel looking at Frances in awe with his father TJ behind, holding baby Helen.  Next in the picture is Mabel, Preston in a Navel uniform,  Susan (their mother,) with her arm around Eva.  (not sure who the girl with the long curls is.) 

By 1935 Noel and Frances had four children.   In this picture we see left to right, Annette, Helen, Noel, Dick, Frances and Noel Allen.  Family came first for Noel Williams followed by Maybelline, in fact it was hard to separate the two because Maybelline was  family and family was  Maybelline.   Noel represented stability, responsibility and propriety to the the highest level.  With him at the helm of Maybelline's ship Tom Lyle concentrated on what he did best Advertising and since he spent most of his time at the Villa Valentino in the Hollywood Hills, he depended on Noel's ability to run a tight ship at the Maybelline Company in Chicago.

After 30 years living in a brownstone not far from the Maybelline Company in Chicago, Noel and his family moved to the suburbs into a large custom home fit for an executive.  He was 55 years old and the little company he believed in and supported with his wedding money proved to be one of America's biggest success stories - and still is today after almost 100 years.  In this picture left to right, we see Ches Haines, Eva's husband head of transportation for the company, (not sure who second man is,) than Noel's youngest son Dick, his son Noel Allen, Noel, and Rags Ragland the marketing genius Tom Lyle hired in 1933 and the only person outside the family to work for the Maybelline company.

Noel and Frances' son Noel Allen's wedding Feb 12, 1949. Left to right, mother of the bride Alberta Kilroy, Noel and Frances, Father of the bride, Charles Thomas Kilroy, Jean (Kilroy) Williams, Noel Allen and Jean's girlfriends as maid of honor and bridesmaids. On November 23, 1949, Charles Allen Williams, (Chuck,) was born while Noel Allen and Jean were living in one of the apartments in the  Maybelline building.

This picture of Noel outside the Maybelline Building at 900 Ridge and Clark in Chicago shows a man meticulous in every way.  He's such a stunning example of the quintessential executive with his overcoat, hat and briefcase under his are, that the man walking down the street had to do a double take.  Noel never took a day off from work in the 36 years he ran the Maybelline Company. It was only after a heart attack shortly after his sons wedding, that Tom Lyle insisted he take time off and visit him at his new estate in Bel Air California.  

Here is one of the last pictures of Noel and Frances - at Tom Lyle's ultra modern stone and glass estate in Bel Air -before Noels death the following year in 1951.

Tom Lyle Williams with his older brother Noel, founded the Maybelline Company, and at Noel's death it was said the Noel was the Maybelline Company.  We sure know that without him there certainly wouldn't have been a Maybelline Company. 

Tom Lyle had a great idea, given to him by his sister Mabel, but without the capitol to launch it, and the devotion to run it, Maybelline might have remained just a good Idea.

Read more about Noel and the building of an empire in The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Behind It.