A Maybelline Family Valentine's Day. The Shirley and Jim Hughes Love Story

So there was this boy, named Jim Hughes, and every time Shirley Hewes was with him she felt butterflies. Just about everything about him, made her smile.

Jim loved Shirley for her sweetness, her smile and the way she believed in his dreams. You see Jim loved the theatre, it was in his blood, he couldn't help it - being born with Movie Star, good looks - the likes of James Dean and Gregory Peck.  All he wanted, was to be recognized for what was inside him, so when he won a scholarship to the Goodman Theatre School in Chicago, Shirley couldn't have been more proud.

Jim quickly rose to the ranks of some of his classmates, who included, Harvey Korman and Tim Conway.  Jim especially loved directing and eventually taught acting at a college, where one of his favorite students was Karen Black.  Now you can see the quality of acting, Jim, possessed. 

  
Beautiful, sweet, Shirley, with the eyes of an angel, and the spirit of Juliet herself, met her Romeo, in 1945, when she was 18, and he was 20, fresh out of the Service, during WW11.  It just took one look and Shirley knew someday they'd be married. 

And so they were, in 1947. Jim didn't continue his acting career, instead  was welcomed into Shirley's family's business, De Luxe Mascara, (a branch of the Maybelline Company,)  but, he never gave up the same kind of heart and soul, he'd once put into his acting. 

  

  
Shirley's parents, Mabel and Chet Hewes, (if you've been following the Maybelline Blog, you know that Mabel is Tom Lyle Williams, sister and Maybelline's namesake) loved their son-in-law and appreciated everything he did to help make De Luxe a successful business.  
  
Valentines Day would have been Jim's 93rd Birthday.  If he were alive today, he'd want his three girls to know, how proud he is of them, and that they were the greatest joy of his life.

 

Romeo and Juliet.

Happy Birthday Jim, a true Romeo - who loved his Juliet with all his heart.

1920s Maybelline kids dress for the camera

 I've been a fan of silent films for over 30 years and never miss them on, Turner Classic Movies, Sunday nights.  One thing for sure is, kids and dogs are scene stealer's, when there isn't a lot of talking going on, and  Baby Peggy was one of the best.

Of course Jackie Coogan was killer cute with Charlie Chaplin in the 1921 film, The Kid.

Here is a tribute to some of the adorable children, form my Father, Bill Williams Generation.  First, my father, 1925. Children's fashion was so classy in the 1920's.

Bill Williams with his cousin, Arvis in 1928. Don't you love the double breasted coats and  military hats.

Two little car-guys, Bill Stroh and Bill Williams, 1927. Luckily Bill Stroh's dad owned the Edgewater Laundry in Chicago.  Everything was starched and pressed .

Bill Williams with his first set of wheel's 1927, on Christmas day. Hats were big with kids in the 1920's.

Bill Williams, with cousin,  Arvis and her brother Bill Stroh, 1927.  Kids were so proper back them. 

My dad, "THE KID," Bill Williams dressed meticulously everyday by his doting mother Evelyn Williams.

Bill Williams in short pants and knee socks, a double breasted coat and cap - right out of a silent film, from 1928.

Bill and Arvis Stroh.   Roller Skating in Chicago, dressed for a fashion layout, in 1929.

Bill and Arvis Stroh, looking like part of the cast from Our Gang, in 1929.

Well dressed,children,  Arvis and Bill Stroh are in this picture and the way they light up in front of the camera, in 1929.

Doesn't get much cuter than this.  Bill and Arvis Stroh, in 1927.

My dad's cousin's and Mabel and Chet Hewes daughter, Shirley and her little brother Tommy, in about 1932 - 33. Look at the gold bracelet and ring on little Shirley's hand. These children look like child Stars or Royalty by today's standards.  Parents took such pride in their children's fashion in the early half of the 20th Century.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY WITH MAYBELLINE'S ROMEO AND JULIET

So there was this boy, named Jim Hughes, and every time Shirley Hewes was with him she felt butterflies...... and just about everything about him, made her smile.

Jim loved Shirley for her sweetness, her smile and the way she believed in his dreams. You see Jim loved the theatre, it was in his blood, he couldn't help it - being born with Movie Star, good looks - the likes of James Dean and Gregory Peck.  All he wanted, was to be recognized for what was inside him, so when he won a scholarship to the Goodman Theatre School in Chicago, Shirley couldn't have been more proud.

Jim quickly rose to the ranks of some of his classmates, who included, Harvey Korman and Tim Conway.  Jim especially loved directing and eventually taught acting at a college, where one of his favorite students was Karen Black.  Now you can see the quality of acting, Jim, possessed. 

  
Beautiful, sweet, Shirley, with the eyes of an angel, and the spirit of Juliet herself, met her Romeo, in 1945, when she was 18, and he was 20, fresh out of the Service, during WW11.  It just took one look and Shirley knew - someday they'd be married. 

And so they were, in 1947. Jim didn't continue his acting career, instead  was welcomed into Shirley's family's business, De Luxe Mascara, (a branch of the Maybelline Company,)  but, he never gave up the same kind of heart and soul, he'd once put into his acting. 

  

  
Shirley's parents, Mabel and Chet Hewes, (if you've been following the Maybelline Blog, you know that Mabel is Tom Lyle Williams, sister and Maybelline's namesake) loved their son-in-law and appreciated everything he did to help make De Luxe a thriving business.  
  
Today would have been Jim's 90 th Birthday, and I know that if he were alive today, he'd want his three girls to know, how proud he is of them, and that they were the greatest joy of his life.

 

Romeo and Juliet.

Happy Birthday Jim, a true Romeo - who loved his Juliet with all his heart.

Maybelline "firsts": Movie Star Displays, Carded merchandise, improved self-serviced racks and three-step eye make-up...mascaras, pencils and shadows,

Excerpt from The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.  

 Tom Lyle Williams was onto something that had eluded him, something far more exciting than any horse race or radio show. Tom Lyle marveled with Emery over two recent photos of Merle Oberon who’d been in a terrible accident the year before that left her face badly scarred. One picture had been taken of her without her make-up, and the pits and indentations in her skin showed up. Yet here was another picture that made her skin look flawless in spite of the damage. Make-up and clever lighting obviously helped keep her image stunningly beautiful without detracting from her exotic eyes, but something else was going on here. This was the faultless look Tom Lyle had dreamed of, and the image appeared in the kind of vibrant jewel tones that could only be the unique tri-color process from Technicolor. The photo in his right hand was ground-breaking. Technicolor had never been accomplished outside of moving pictures. Someone had worked with a lab to create a still shot from a reel of movie film. Excitement sent Tom Lyle’s pulse racing.

Thank you to my cousins, Ann Carneros, Linda Hughes and Donna Hughes for sending me the picture of Merle Oberon's Maybelline Display.  The vintage, late 1930's Display, was found in a second-hand shop and bought as a gift for Donna and Linda's mother, Shirley Hughes, (Shirley is Maybelline's namesake, Mabel Williams, daughter and my cousin Ann, is Noel J. and Frances Williams granddaughter.)  Siblings, Tom Lyle, Noel J. and Mabel Williams, were the original founder's of the Maybelline Co. in 1915.

Visit my new website Sharrie Williams Author at /http://www.sharriewilliamsauthor.com/