Happy 120th Birthday to my Great uncle and Maybelline Founder Tom Lyle Williams

Unk Ile as he was known by his family, will forever be known as the Greatest!

Tom Lyle, during the late 1930's and 1940's, lived on North State Street in Chicago. Know as a swanky part of the gold coast. He also owned the Villa Valentino in the Hollywood Hills in California.  He and his partner, Emery Shaver,  traveled back and forth between the Maybelline Company in Chicago and California, where they concentrated on advertising the Maybelline Brand, with Hollywood's biggest Movie Stars.

 

 

 Here is the building he lived in while in Chicago. It is a masterpiece of Art Deco design and influenced the remodel  at the Villa Valentino in 1938.

 http://chicago.curbed.com/places/fisher-studio-houses

 

 

 

 Take a virtual reality tour, of this Greta Garbo gorgeous, remodeled building and imagine what it must have been like to live there. 

 

 http://www.chicagomag.com/Radar/Deal-Estate/August-2009/Thoroughly-Moderne-Rebori-mdashGold-Coast/

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A couple of units in the famed Fisher Studio Houses have hit the market this year, and this week one more has gone up for grabs. Designed by architects Andrew Rebori and Edgar Miller and built in 1936, the landmark art moderne building located in the Gold Coast surprisingly (or not surprisingly) contains some of the neighborhood's most affordable residences. Back in the day, the building was one of the snazziest in all of the city, however, today, the units' spiraling staircases, curved walls and glass block windows can make for difficult living and thus can be had for a bargain. This particular one bedroom, one bathroom is seeking only $259,000.

 

In the mid-1930s, Frank J. Fisher, a Marshall Field’s executive, commissioned the architect Andrew Rebori to design a residential property that would also generate some income. Rebori recruited the muralist and craftsman Edgar Miller to help detail the spaces with stained glass and other finishes.

Completed in 1937, the building—known originally as the Fisher Studio Houses and situated at 1209 North State Parkway—is an Art Moderne landmark whose street face is a streamlined hatbox of painted brick and glass blocks. Beyond the front gate, 12 duplex apartments overlook a slender courtyard; Fisher lived in the three-story home at the rear.

 The Villa Valentino in the Hollywood Hills. Art Deco with a Mediterranean flair.

To read more about Tom Lyle Williams and his Maybelline Company, established in 1915, read my book, The Maybelline Story.

Old Hollywood Glamour in Newport Beach CA..

A glimpse of Old Hollywood, Art Deco and The Great Gatsby, through the eyes of Maybelline heir, Bill Williams in the 1990s.

My father, Bill Williams, in his late 60s - still handsome, athletic and actively remodeling a stunning, Art Deco, second home in Newport Beach in the late 1980s.

Nothing spelled, Old Hollywood glamour, and turned heads, like Bill and Gloria, cursing down Coast highway, in Newport Beach, with the top down, in Bill's, 1977 Clenet, series 1, # 13. 

When visiting Bill and Gloria, "Aspiration," greeted you at the entry, all lit up, in a running fountain.  

The Art Deco, black and white marble tiles, and Frank Sinatra singing, "Unforgettable" from the surround sound stereo, piped into every room, immediately swept you away to another era.

A glass block bar, with lavender lighting, black marble counter and wall to wall mirror, made the white marble floors look like an ice skating rink at night.

But nothing screamed outrageous, 1930, Hollywood glamour, like the master bath, with it's hand carved, dark green and black, pillar sinks, it's beveled dressing table with Hollywood lights, a tub encased in mirrors, and it's white and black marble floor.


Bill and Gloria in their 70s, at the Condo, hosting  a Christmas, Boat Parade party.

All this splendor looked out at sweeping views of the harbor, from every room, and a veranda where you could sit and have a glass of wine while watching the yachts go by.  The condo included a movie screen that came out of the ceiling, controls that opened blinds, brought down the movie screen, turned on the TV,  surround sound and the recessed lighting that were set on dimmers.  It was a virtual wonderland, that took your breath away, transported you out of your hum drum life and made you feel young, at any age.
Feel the full flavor of this glamorous lifestyle, as it comes to life in my book,  The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.  

Art Deco, avant-garde, slightly naughty, glamour..

Erte', the father of Art Deco, inspired these glamorous 1930s, Maybelline ads,

Art Deco was also, The Great Gatsby and High Society.

Art Deco, from 1920 -1940, represented modernism, the jazz age, streamlined design and elegance.

Art Deco was about turning life into art, It was glamour, Avant-Garde, and breaking away from old world thinking, after WW 1.

Hollywood is Art Deco.  Glamour's Golden Age.

A salute to Art Deco.

Art Deco summed up Tom Lyle Williams and Maybelline. 

Happy 2012 from Sharrie Williams and The Maybelline Story

Happy New Year!!!!  I'm starting 2012 off with Erte's fabulous, 1920's Art Deco illustrations, and pictures of the most beautiful girls in the world!!!

I found this incredible Fresco painted in 1927, on a wall at the Hassayampa Inn, in down town Prescott, Arizona.  It captures the Erte, Art Deco era, just as women were coming out of their shell and making a statement, by wearing Maybelline for the first time. 

Between 1915–1937, Erte designed over 200 covers for Harper's Bazaar, and his illustrations appear in

 such publications, as Illustrated London News, Cosmopolitan, Ladies' Home Journal and Vogue.  Interesting fact, Lash-Brow-Ine and Maybelline, first appeared in these magzines at the same time.       

His delicate figures and sophisticated, glamorous designs are instantly recognisable, and his ideas and art still influence fashion into the 21st century. His costumes, programme designs, and sets were featured in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1923.

Tom Lyle Williams also captured the spirit of Art Deco, in his exquisite, Lash-Brow-Ine, and Maybelline Ads in the 1920s. This one features Gloria Swanson,

the Queen of Silent Films, Art Deco Era.

Erte Clip, click on Video

Stay tuned this week, for more interesting, vintage Hollywood news.   Wishing all  my followers, from the 99 countries, who have checked into the Maybelline Blog, a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2012!!! 

VOGUE - DIANA VEERLAND - MAYBELLINE.

With the new release of Vogue Editor, Diana Vreeland's, new book, The Eye Has to Travel, I give this tribute.

Vogue, 1920's. Flapper.

Maybelline 1920's flapper.

                                              Vogue, 1930's, Art Deco.

Maybelline, 1930's, Art Deco.

Vogue, 1940's.

Maybelline, 1940's.

Vogue, 1950's.

Maybelline, 1950's.

  

Vogue 1960's.

Maybelline, 1960's.

“There is only one thing in life and that’s the continual renewal of inspiration.” Diana Vreeland

Diana Vreeland was one of the great figures of the New York City fashion and art world until her death in 1989.

Diana Vreeland, Vogue

Like Vogue Magazine, Maybelline, is an American Icon, a Fashion leader, and a large part of the world's, culture.  

Autographed copies of The Maybelline Story for $14.99, available for the Holiday's at www.maybellinestory.com.

Art Deco, Vintage Hollywood fashion, make-up bag's coming soon at www.maybellinestory.com.

Check back next week for Maybelline;
Fashion, Beauty and Women of Color.

Maybelline's own original Blond Bombshell, Jean Harlow!!

By the 1930's Tom Lyle needed a Super Star who could deliver the blow of a velvet hammer on a glamour-conscience public - a public ready to purchase Maybelline, no questions asked. 

Jean Harlow, 1933

Who better than Hollywood sex goddess Jean Harlow, known for her white satin gowns, ivory skin and platinum blond hair, she created the sparkle Tom Lyle was looking for.  Harlow's glamour had the ability to reachout and grab the attention of everyone in the audience and like Maybelline, she was not unreachable but human with an earthy sense of humor.  Tom Lyle realized Harlow's superb comedic persona and stunning looks made her the original blond bombshell and used her image to explode Maybelline out into the stratospheres.

With Maybelline easily accessible in dime stores by 1933, Tom Lyle used ads like this to illustrate Jean Harlow's heavily made up eyes and entice young women to seek their own movie star glamour.   Now anyone craving that Harlow magic could find it in Maybelline's newly carded wide range  of eye beautifying products - including Eyebrow Pencil, Eye Shadow, Eyelash Tonic Cream and a Special Eyebrow Brush for brushing and training lashes and brows.
There was no stopping the female market in the 1930's known as "The Art Deco Era" from being as appealing as Jean Harlow with her pencil thin eyebrows, irresistible allure and Star Quality Maybelline Eyes.  The average girl could now stop a train with her stunning made up Maybelline Eyes and feel as beautiful as any Hollywood film goddess. 

Click here to see Harlow and those Maybelline Eyes
in Dinner at Eight!!

http://www.dimoramotorcar.com/preview.html?URL=/content/videos/KenNorton.flv

Beginning of the Art Deco Era for Maybelline

Advertising was the secret to Maybelline's success in the 1930's and still is today.

When most companies were sinking 1n 1931 during the Great Depression Maybelline continued to endure.  Tom Lyle concentrated on Advertising as the power head of Maybelline's expansion.  He found that even during the worst economical times women spent money on Maybelline rather than putting meat on the table - just to have longer, darker more luxurious lashes. 

During Maybelline's Art Deco period, Tom Lyle used artist illustrations to produce sleek, modern, sophisticated images women emulated to appear as alluring as their favorite film stars.  His instincts were right and that target market of independent woman carried Maybelline through the depths of financial insecurity to the heights of world success.

Woman were hooked on glamour, style and beauty, refusing to ever be plain Jane's again.  Even today when luxuries are tossed by the wayside to survive, cosmetics  endure and steal the Lyon's share of the market.

If you'd like to comment please do, I'd love to hear how your great grandmother, grandmother, mother and even yourself and daughter can relate to what Tom Lyle did to bring women out of the shadows and into the light of confidence and Panache.

What's in a Maybelline slogan?

Look at these eyes, what do you see.  Captivates and takes your breath away.  That's what Maybelline was all about.

Viola Dana - Beautiful Photoplay Star, 1925.  Read all about her in The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.  Order now on Amazon.

Today when you think of Maybelline, you think of Maybelline New York's catchy slogan, "Maybe She's Born With It?  Maybe It's Maybelline?"   But over the last 95 years there have been many other wonderful slogans, with beautiful stars from stage and screen.  Here are a few: 

      
In 1917, The slogan "Maybelline, Darkens and Beautifies Eyelashes and Brows Instantly," splashed onto the pages of movie magazines for the first time with lovely Mildred Davis as Maybelline's fetching face of the decade. 

       
During the 1920's, the slogan, "Eyes That Charm" seduced women to mail order Maybelline, after being captivated by vampish silent  screen star Viola Dana.

      
In the 1930’s Maybelline ads went from black and white to beautifully colored art deco illustrations of glamorous women, inspired by actress Natalie Moorhead. They read:
-"It's Easy now to have Bewitching Eyes!" 
- "Alluring eyes may be instantly yours by the magic of Maybelline. 
- "Only genuine Maybelline can give you truly alluring eyes." 
- "Your eyes should be your most alluring feature."     

Another ad in the 30’s read "Old as ancient Egypt New as modern Paris," and had an illustration of Cleopatra on one half of the page and a modern 1930’s beauty on the other.

      
By the 1940’s Maybelline’s slogan became "Isn't She, or Isn't She," with before and after photography and, the most famous slogan for several decades,  "Quality Yet Sensibly Priced."  These ads featured full page colored, glossy photographs of Pin up girls like Betty Grable, Rita Haworth, Hedy Lamaar and Elyse Knox, bombshells of the WW11 era. 
       
By the 1950’s, TV slogans became more international and reached a new type of woman, the independent modern woman.  The catch word became "Exotic," and the new slogan became "Achieve the new Exotic eye make up with Maybelline."  Tom Lyle was the first to do "before and after" ads using the slogans:  
- "What a difference Maybelline makes." 
- "Be Fashion-wise accent your eyes with Maybelline." -Maybelline was now about fashion, being smart and accenting your beautiful eyes. "Preferred By Smart Women The World Over"
      
In 1964, Emery Shaver, the genius wordsmith who fashioned every Maybelline slogan from 1915 to 1964, died from a massive heart attack.  His last slogan for Tom Lyle's prized, Ultra Lash launched that year was, "Maybelline the most prized eye cosmetics in the world".  And never forget his famous,  "A woman's most prized possession is a man's imagination."  So, I guess the answer to "What's in a slogan?" was and still is today,  SEX APPEAL!

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Blog on the Internet.