Bohman and Schwartz creates one of a kind masterpiece in this 1940 Packard Victoria, originally owned by Maybelline founder, Tom Lyle Williams

Excerpt from Maybelline founder, Tom Lyle Williams Niece, Jane Allen's diary

 June, 1940

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

When Tom Lyle Williams requested an extra 18 inches added to the hood of his Packard, Bohman Schwartz accommodated him by purchasing a 20 foot Limousine, tearing it down to the chassis and building a custom made body on it. It's truly a remarkable piece of art.

So, when it came time to give my cousin Jeff Welles a great Birthday gift, I arranged for him and his brother Floyd Shaver-Welles, to visit the Snyder's, and take a ride in their uncle, Tom Lyle Williams car. (Jeff and Floyd are Tom Lyle Williams partner, Emery Shaver's, nephews.)  Here I am ready to cruise, with Jeff and Floyd's wives, Maryann Welles and Patty Shaver-Welles.

Our cousin, Ann (Williams-Corbett) Carneros, joined the Birthday party (Ann is Tom Lyle Williams, brother Noel James Williams, granddaughter,) 

Right to left, Ann (Williams-Corbett) Carneros, Sharrie Williams, Floyd Shaver-Welles and Jeff Welles. 

As it turned out we celebrated two special Birthdays, Jeff Welles and Bill Snyder...  Seated left to right bottom row, Jeff Welles, Steve Snyder, Maryann Welles, Sharrie Williams, Bill Snyder, Jo Snyder. Top row, Floyd Shaver-Welles, Patty Shaver-Welles, Ann (Williams-Corbett) Carneros.

Enjoy two versions of a slideshow video with the Williams, the Shaver-Welles and Snyder's.

Steve Snyder with his father, Bill Snyder at the Vault Classic Car Showroom, 714-401-1047.

Steve Snyder is owner of Vault Classic Cars and now has a beautiful Showroom in Fullerton, California, where you can visit and purchase some of the most incredible vintage cars in the world.

More about Steve Snyder, Vault Classic Cars and Tom Lyle Williams 1940 Packard Victoria click on links.

Maybelline's spectacular one of a kind classic car.

Mar 26, 2012

Maybelline's spectacular one of a kind classic car. Meeting with Packard historian, and owner of VAULT CARS, Steve Snyder, was a real eye opener!!! Steve brought out a thick folder, documenting the history of my great uncle ...

THE MAYBELLINE STORY : OLD HOLLYWOOD, comes ...

Mar 29, 2012

Chuck Williams aka BB1, of Reeeeel Convertibles, Steve Snyder of Vault Classic Cars, Sharrie Williams, author of the Maybelline Story, and her sister, Donna Williams, spend an afternoon, viewing and discussing the history ...

THE MAYBELLINE STORY : 1940 PACKARD VICTORIA ...

Jun 14, 2012

Stay tuned for an article on the car written by Steve Snyder, of VAULT CARS, for the Antique Automobile Club of America . These Classic Roman Horses represented the power of Rome. I was amazed to see how similar they ...

THE MAYBELLINE STORY : View video of Maybelline ...

Mar 24, 2012

In 1971, the 1940 Packard Victoria was published in Old Cars Weekly in Kahoka Missouri. Bill Snyder ... Labels: 1971 Cadillac Coupe deVille, maybellinebookblog, Vault Cars. classic cars, video of 1940 Packard Victoria ...

t.l.williams 1917 paige detroit and 1934 packard dietrich.

Jun 18, 2012

Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest. Labels: 1934 Vee Windshield Dietrich Packard, antique automobile club of america, Paige Detroit., Steve Snyder, Tom Lyle Williams, Vault Cars. classic cars ...

1917 Paige Detroit,"the most beautiful car in America."

Mar 12, 2012

My cousin, Chuck Williams, aka, BBI, and I met with Steve Snyder, of Vault Cars, at Barrett Jackson's Classic Car Auction, in Scottsdale Arizona....We discussed our great uncle's, 1940 Packard Victoria.... which has been in ...

an eye-popping statement of beauty and luxury.

Apr 01, 2012

Tom Lyle Williams, had an eye for exquisite motor cars and purchased cars that are today considered some of the best of the classic era. Tom Lyle Williams, 1939 Packard Super 8 Convertible coupe, with bumper guards and ...

IMAGE - The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Mar 31, 2012

Click for dates. THANK YOU TO STEVE SNYDER OF VAULT CLASSIC CARS FOR MAKING THIS PHOTO SHOOT POSSIBLE.... Posted by Sharrie Williams at 9:42 AM · Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest.

THE MAYBELLINE STORY : 1940 Packard Victoria by ...

Jan 21, 2012

My cousin Chuck Williams, aka, BB1, and I met up with Bill's son, Steve Snyder of VAULTCARS, at Barrett Jackson Classic Car Auction, this week and discussed making a documentary on this very rare automobile. I will post it sometime in March, so stay tuned for stories and facts that have been in the Vault for 60 years. Posted by Sharrie Williams at 1:55 PM · Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest. Labels: 1940 Packard Victoria, Barrett Jackson ...

THE MAYBELLINE STORY : Maybelline founder's 1940 ...

Mar 28, 2012

My interview with Steve Snyder, owner of Vault Classic Cars... and the son of Bill and Jo Ellen Snyder, owners of this beautiful, custom, 1940 Packard Victoria... once owned by, Maybelline founder and owner, Tom Lyle ...

Be sure to visit my Hilarious 1964 High School Diary Blog...Saffrons Rule at saffronsrule.com

Maybelline founder Tom Lyle Williams and his partner Emery Shaver, together for 50 years.

Part of the Tom Lyle Williams and Emery Shaver family, having lunch at  Damon's Steak House in Glendale California, before visiting Forest Lawn, and the tomb of
 their great uncles.



Anxious to see uncle Lyle and uncle Emery's, final resting place, our two families hurried to their Mausoleum.

I was mesmerized at the size of Elizabeth Taylor's monument, by far the largest of anyone at Forest Lawn.

Tom Lyle Williams and his lifetime partner, Emery Shaver, are entombed together in a crypt, in this beautiful Sanctuary.



Unable to be open with their relationship while alive,
 Tom Lyle and Emery are together eternally, in death. 




Ann Williams Corbett, Sharrie Williams, Donna Williams and  Floyd Shaver-Welles, honoring their great uncle's by placing two white roses on their crypt.  We believe our great uncle's, were instrumental in bringing our two families together 40 years after their deaths.

Ann Louise Williams-Corbett, placed 5 roses on the
 Shaver crypt, while their family beheld the sacred act.

We were all struck by this touching inscription: "O For One Hour Of Youthful Joy!  Give Back My Seventh Spring!  I'd Rather Laugh A Bright Haired Boy, Than Reign, A Gray - Beard King."

Upper left,  Mary Ann Welles, Floyd and Patty
 Shaver-Welles, Jeff Welles.
Below left, Ann Louise Williams-Corbett, Sharrie
 and Donna Williams.

The Williams and Shaver-Welles Family at Tam O' Shanter Restaurant in Los Angeles, celebrating Floyd Shaver-Welles Birthday... After a day of visiting our families at Forest Lawn Cemetery. We sincerely believe the Joy in our Spirit brought our loved one's Spirit's, back to life that night.

Some of the original Williams and Shaver's in 1922.  Left to Right...Tom Lyle Williams, Elizabeth Shaver, Bud Shaver, Emery Shaver seated, (unidentified) Ches Haines and Eva Williams (TL's sister.)

In honor of Tom Lyle and Emery, we, as their families, now consider ourselves one family and officially cousins.

Read all about Tom Lyle and Emery and their tremendous contribution to women developing their own identities in the 20th Century.....in The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.

http://youtu.be/OzJWGL-YB8I   View of Forest Lawn.

The Williams Shaver-Welles first meeting.....http://www.maybellinebook.com/2013/05/celebrating-cinco-de-mayo-2013-with.html

Thank you Jeff for making this memorable day possible.

Vintage Hollywood lives on through The Maybelline Story

Tom Lyle Williams and Emery Shaver, standing in front of TL's 
1934 Packard Victoria, parked in front of the Villa Valentino.

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo and remembering our generous and kind uncles, Tom Lyle  Williams and Emery Shaver...Left side, Jeff Welles, Donna Williams, Patty Welles.  Right side, Mary Ann Welles, Floyd Welles, Sharrie Williams.

1960s.  Uncle Emery at Christmas handing gifts.  Floyd and Jeff Welles right hand side of picture.

1960s. Family Christmas with Uncle Emery Shaver at the head of the table.

Excerpt from a letter written by Emery Shaver to his sister Betty during WW ll.

Villa Valentino

6776 Wedgewood Place

Hollywood, 28, California

Friday, Dec. 3, 1943

Dear Betty

Your plans for Christmas sound very practical, however, you must be sure that there are a lot of little, inexpensive games, books, toys, etc. to make the children feel that it is really Christmas.  It is difficult for them to properly appreciate the necessity for budgeting  especially at Christmas time and while I know they will be proud of any new clothes that they may get, yet the heart of childhood is in play, and the most absurdly cheap little distractions mean so much to them.  I am enclosing a check for one hundred dollars, which covers your allowance and my Christmas gift to you and the children.  May I suggest that you take one day to shop in town without the children and with someone who can help you with the packages, getting lots of little inexpensive trifles to please the Children.  Hope you can have a tree and the trimmings.  Remember how much joy we had as children on so little, but with the Spirit of Christmas strong and bright in keeping up the traditions.  It is high time that the children began to realize the true significance of Christmas, and I would impress on the religious meaning of the day, too.  Would it not be a good idea to let each of them have a little money with which to get a few little presents, so that they, too, can share in the joy of giving.

80 years ago, Williams and Shavers in 1923..... Maybelline's founder and owner Tom Lyle Williams right, with the Shaver family, Betty, Bud and Emery. Left, friend, Ches Haines and Tom Lyle's sister, Eva Williams.

Tom Lyle Willams and Emery Shaver shared their lives together for close to 50 years. Read all about it in The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It. Written by original Maybelline family descendant Sharrie Williams.

Thank you to Floyd and Jeff Welles for sharing pictures and letters from thier uncle, Emery Shaver, with me.

OLD HOLLYWOOD pictures and letters from the Villa Valentino during the 1940s

Donna Williams, Floyd Welles, Jeff Welles,  Sharrie Williams

Meeting Emery Shaver's nephews, Floyd and Jeff Welles for the first time, was quite unexpected and pretty close to a miracle.  I had searched but could never find Emery's family, then out of the blue, Jeff Wells, heard I was presenting for the Laguna Beach Playhouse and contacted me.  The incredible coincidence was, he lived down the street from my father's home in Newport Beach.  Our meeting brought more stories, personal letters and pictures from the Villa Valentino.  Here are a few I'd like to share with you.  

Maybelline's Tom Lyle Williams at the entrance his Villa Valentino.in the early 1940s. If you look closely you'll see the words Villa Valentino written in the bricks with the 
address number 6776 

Tom Lyle Williams and Emery Shaver at the Villa Valentino in the Hollywood Hills

The Villa Valentino, named after the Silent Film Star Rudolph Valentino.


An excerpt from a letter written by Emery Shaver dated Tuesday, August 27, 1946 to his sister Betty Cardell.

The Villa is all spruced up and looks more beautiful than ever.  We have a new houseman now, a Swedish fellow, and he is very neat and clean, as well as a very good cook, so the future looks bright for a while.  Don't know how long we have to enjoy the Villa, as the highway I spoke of some time ago is now definitely set to come through our property, but whether this year or next is not yet revealed.  It seems such a pity when we have worked so hard to get everything here just as we like it.  Don't know where we will go, but possibly to Laguna Beach or La Jolla, towns south of here, on the sea.




Details on Tom Lyle Williams 1934 Packard featured on my opening page click here

JOAN CRAWFORD - MILDRED PIERCE - HEDY LAMARR - PAUL HESSE HOLLYWOOD - 1945 ACADEMY AWARDS

I'm very excited to show you this private letter from Maybelline ad man, Emery Shaver (Tom Lyle Williams partner for over 50 years) - written from the Villa Valentino, to his sister Elizabeth Shaver, and graciously shared with me by his nephew Floyd Shaver-Welles.  I think you'll enjoy its significant value, especially if you love Vintage Hollywood and pure Advertising genius...... 

1923, from the left, Tom Lyle Williams, Elizabeth Shaver and her brother
  Emery Shaver seated.

April 14, 1946.

Life goes on rather calmly here, as usual.  We had a slight flurry of activity here last week in working on an assignment with Hedy Lamarr for a new ad.  She is a rather temperamental woman, although much more beautiful than she appears on the screen, and it was with some difficulty that we were finally able to pin her down to an appointment with Paul Hesse, Hollywood's leading Photographer, for a color portrait, and then get her to write her promised autographed testimonial.  All this took some diplomacy, but it was finally accomplished.  And from the first black and white proofs, it would appear we are going to have perhaps the most beautiful of all  of our growing list of color ads.  Presume you saw the one we have of Joan Crawford, which is now running currently for us in most of the magazines.  It was most fortunate for us that Miss Crawford was awarded the Academy Award for the Best Actress of 1945 for her picture "Mildred Pierce," just as our ad was first appearing.  Our ad created quite a sensation in the Advertising world and has been generally admired, so now many other Motion Picture Celebrities are eager to have the enormous benefit of such beautiful color ads, and we have more offers than we care to take advantage of.  Nothing succeeds, like success, they say, and this instance proves it. Hope the Lamarr ad gets as much attention and I think it will.

Hedy Lamarr.

Joan Crawford.

The actual letter.

Merle Oberon followed in a Maybelline color ad by Paul Hesse Hollywood.