Cowboys, Indians, and the Old West, with the Maybelline family, in 1935.

Cowboy's visit an Indian Reservation, while traveling across the country in 1935.

 My grandparents, Evelyn and Preston Williams, dressed for their road trip, from Chicago to California.

 

 Cowboy Bill is finally going to see a real 

Indian Reservation.

 

Wow, after growing up in Chicago, Bill experienced what it was really like to live in a tent on the land.  (This picture was developed a year after their trip.)

 

 My dad and grandmother dressed for the part everyday, while sleeping in a tent.

 Nana, always a glamour girl, looked like a million bucks, even sitting on a dirty car.

Here she is posing as if she's going to be on the cover of Vogue Magazine.

Of Course my grandfather, did model for Lord and Taylor and knows all the right moves.

 Outside an old adobe building in either New Mexico, Colorado or Arizona.

Draped on the wheel of an old wagon, Evelyn Williams will go to any length for a good picture.

A little more relaxed with one of the women selling the turquoise jewelry she came home with.

You can't get more Old West than this.  I think this picture is actually reality-art.

Another amazing closeup, of life on a reservation in 1935.

Animal skins drying in the sun.  They were sold to travelers along with turquoise jewelry and hand woven baskets.  Nana loved it all and wore the jewelry her entire life.

A view of daily life on the Reservation, click the picture to get a bigger view.

If you have read The Maybelline Story, I'm sure you've enjoyed seeing these incredible pictures, that go along with the story.  If you haven't read my book, please purchase a signed copy of this most fascinating, stunning, piece of historical nostalgia. Books also available at Barnes and Noble and Amazon, and can be ordered from any bookstore around the world.

Stay tuned for Sheriff Thomas Jefferson Williams tomorrow and get ready next week for my over the top, depression era, deserts as I make them on AZTV, Arizona.

Miss Maybelline looking like a million bucks rocks the Wild West in 1935

                    Charm, Wit and Style
               Oh, Those Maybelline Days!

Bill and his Mother Evelyn.

A picture's worth a thousand words I hear. This picture was taken in 1935 while Preston, Evelyn and Bill were driving across the country from Chicago to California, on their way to see Tom Lyle and Emery at the Villa Valentino.  They had just stopped at an Indian Reservation where Evelyn bought two turquoise beaded wrist cuffs and a rawhide jacket with long fringed sleeves.   I can't imagine dressing up like that  on a road trip, can you?  They even slept in a pup tent once or twice and yet every morning they were up at the crack of dawn and my grandmother made up her face, styled her hair and dressed like a star.   This picture could easily be a scene from a movie, made on location in New Mexico... and how do you like that pose?  Forever the diva!!! 

Evelyn was a stickler for perfection and even altered her son Bill's shirts and pants if they didn't fit just right.  The two of them kept up that standard of style and panache until the day they died and if I faltered in any way or looked less than perfect - I'd have to hear about it.  How could anyone keep up that level of perfection on a daily basis?  you'd have a heart attack! - But the Williams were like that and always had "The Right Look," for every occasion. 

What happened to Glamour, Style and the Confidence to dress to the teeth?  I guess that's an American tradition that can only be enjoyed in vintage photos now.

I love this picture of my grandparents Evelyn and Preston Williams. You'd think they were Marlene Dietrich and Jimmy Stewart taking a break between scenes.   And they were on a long road trip for heaven sakes !  Today people wear t-shirts, shorts and flip-flops, no makeup and their hair going every which way, but in 1935 it was Showtime everyday and "People- Watching" was a national past-time, like the Macy's Day Parade.  Yes, those wonderful Maybelline Days when it was cool to look beautiful, dress with style and make-up those Maybelline Eyes.

The day my 82 year old father, Bill, fell and hit his head, having to have two brain surgeries and ultimately dying, he walked into the hospital looking like two million bucks and when the nurse said, "are you ready to go Mr. Williams," he simply winked at her and said, "OK BABY! 

Charm, Wit and Style right to the end.

I hope you're enjoying my posts - and will tell your friends to check them out as well.  Also don't forget to purchase an autographed copy of my book,

The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It  at http://www.maybellinestory.com/.