Living the Dream in the 1950's when Maybelline commercials first appeared on television

Sharrie,  Donna and Billee Williams, Easter 1956.

As children, my sister's and I lived an average middle class life,

 while at the same time, our Great uncle, Tom Lyle Williams, advertised his beautiful Maybelline commercials on television for the first time  In 1956 Maybelline sponsored Princess Grace and Prince Rainier lll's, Wedding, as well as The Miss America Contest, The Perry Como Show and The Loretta Young Show.

But for us kids and all our cousins, it was playing in the backyard as usual, while waiting for the Easter Bunny to bring us baskets filled with chocolate Easter Eggs  and maybe a live bunny or chick

Read more about the 1950's and how Tom Lyle Williams steered the Maybelline Company to the moon and back, when televisions appeared  household's around the globe. You'll love my memoir, The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty behind it. Now on Audible books. 

1956, with Sharrie Williams, author of The Maybelline Story

Just middle class little kids in 1956, we had no idea our great uncle Tom Lyle Williams, was involved with such high profile stars that year.  We still believed in the Easter Bunny, colored Easter Eggs, and hoped for Baskets, filled to the breaking point, with Chocolate See's candy.

Sharrie, holding a stuffed Easter Bunny,  Donna and Billee Williams, Easter, 1956.


As children, we were quite sheltered, in Parochial  school, living average lives within our family and playing in the backyard.  At the same time, Maybelline commercials were being shown on all the network stations and our parents went bonkers every time one came on the TV.

That year uncle Lyle, as we called him, was involved  with The Princess Grace, Prince Rainier lll, Wedding, The Miss America Contest, Chuck Berry's single, Maybellene, The Perry Como Show, The Loretta Young Show, and Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher's splash in all the movie magazines.  But for us kids and all our cousins, it was playing as usual, and waiting for the Easter Bunny to bring us live bunnies, chicks and Easter Eggs.

Read all about my life, in the 1950's, in The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.

THE PERRY COMO SHOW, SPONSORED BY MAYBELLINE IN 1956.

1956, was a banner year for Maybelline.....

  It Sponsored the Grace Kelly,

Prince Prince Rainier lll, Wedding,

The Miss America Contest, The Perry Como Show and Chuck Berry came out with the hit single, Maybellene,

 This is from his Saturday night show in the late '50s. "THE PERRY COMO SHOW," which had several sponsors during the hour- including, Maybelline and Polaroid.

On September 15, 1956, the season premiere of The Perry Como Show was broadcast from NBC's new color television studios at the New York Ziegfeld Theatre, making it one of the first weekly color TV shows. In addition to this season premiere as a color television show, there was also a royal visit from Prince Rainier of Monaco and his bride of six months, Grace Kelly.

Perry Como with Eddie Fisher - 1956, Perry Como and Eddie Fisher team up to sing "Maybe" in this 1956 clip.. Forty years later, Maybelline New York, would coin the phrase, "Maybe She's Born With It, Maybe It's Maybelline.

The Perry Como Show, telecast, one of the first, special effect, Maybelline commercials, depicting a "before and after" technique..... transforming, plain eyes, into glamorous, sparkling Maybelline eyes.  This was magic in 1956.  Also Maybelline's, Good Housekeeping seal of approval. represented purity and made it acceptable for family TV.

Read all about Maybelline's television sponsorship, in the 1950's, in my book, The Maybelline Story.

Princess Grace of Monaco - the most beautiful Royal Woman of all times.

Maybelline won the bid for sponsoring
the first telecasted Royal Wedding in 1956.....Princess Grace Kelly, and Prince Rainier lll of Monaco.

During the 1950's, Grace Kelly's cool, sophisticated, glamorus image, represented what Maybelline was all about.

Maybelline model..... inspired by Grace Kelly..... with an air of sophistication..... an EXOTIC image..... and  new branding, for 1950's.

Princess Grace Kelly waves to cheering crowds lining the road as she rides in an open car with Prince Rainier III following their wedding ceremony in the Monaco Cathedral. (AP)

•The people of Monaco gave Grace and Rainier a cream and black Rolls Royce convertible as a wedding gift. After the religious wedding ceremony, the couple drove through the streets of Monaco in it.

Maybelline was there..... and is still here today. The number one mascara in the world.  Be sure to read all about Grace Kelly and Maybelline in..... The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.