Hilarious Old Hollywood Glamour at the Brown Derby in Beverly Hills, 1940...

Tom Lyle and his custom Packard Victoria

My 16 year father, Bill Williams along with his uncle Tom Lyle Williams and Emery Shaver, pulled up to the valet at the famous Brown Derby in Beverly Hills in TL's new 1940 Packard Victoria,

 just as Mae West and W.C. Fields pulled up in a flashy white Rolls Royce. 

West and Fields, dressed in full regalia for publicity shots, posed for photographers before entering the restaurant, while Tom Lyle and Bill turned in time to see Starstruck Emery slam into a pole and land flat on his rear.

To embarrassed to go back, they sauntered into the Derby, trying not to laugh and waited for Emery to pull himself together and meet them at  the booth.  It was a true W.C. Fields pratfall and one they never let 
Emery forget.

Tom Lyle and Emery at The Villa Valentino

Read more about Tom Lyle and Emery, during Old Hollywood's Glamorous Heyday, in The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.  

Hollywood - Where dreams really did come ture.

Tom Lyle Williams and Emery Shaver, found true happiness in Hollywood, for over 35 years.

Tom Lyle and Emery at the entrance to the Villa Valentino, with TL's niece's,
 Salle Allen and (Noel's daughter,) Annette Williams, 1946.

Together for over 25 years by 1946, Tom Lyle and Emery continued to be the driving force behind Maybelline's spectacular advertisements.  While TL's brother Noel, handled the day to day, running of the Maybelline Company, and Rag's Ragland steered the Marketing division in Chicago, TL and Emery contracted Hollywood stars to appear in full color, glossy ads, in Hollywood. 

Though Tom Lyle was never enamored by stardom, Emery loved every inch of it.  My father once told me a funny story about Emery and his fascination with Hollywood celebrities.

TL, Emery and 13 year old Bill pulled up in front of the famous Brown Derby, got out of the Packard, and headed into the restaurant.  Just then, Mae West and W.C. Fields pulled up behind them in a Rolls Royce, dressed in full regalia for publicity shots.  TL and Bill turned around to see what all the excitement was about, just in time to see starstruck Emery, head straight into a poll, bump his head and fall right on his butt.  A true W.C. Fields pratfall, and one they never let Emery forget.

Mae West and W. C. Fields.

Read more about Tom Lyle and Emery, during Hollywood's heyday, in The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It. 

Be sure to order signed copies for the Holiday's at http://www.maybellinebook.com/.