Villa Valentino, nestled at 6776 Wedgewood Place in the Hollywood Hills, was a Mediterranean-style estate that became a cornerstone of Tom Lyle Williams’ life and the Maybelline legacy.

Originally built in 1925 by architect Lester G. Scherer for silent film star Rudolph Valentino and his wife, Natacha Rambova. Its stucco walls, tiled roof, and lush landscaping—complete with palm trees, rose gardens, and a stone fountain—evoked Old Hollywood glamour. Valentino lived there briefly before his sudden death in 1926 at age 31, after which the property hit the market.

Tom Lyle Williams, flush with Maybelline’s growing success, bought Villa Valentino in late 1926 or early 1927 for $57,500—about $1 million in today’s dollars. For Tom Lyle, a discreet gay man who avoided the spotlight, the secluded estate offered both privacy and prestige. He moved in with his partner, Emery Shaver, and turned the villa into a personal sanctuary and occasional business hub. The garage housed his prized custom Packards, including a 1939 Packard 120 Convertible Victoria, while the interior—featuring hardwood floors, arched windows, and a grand staircase—hosted family gatherings and quiet retreats. His nephew, Bill Williams, spent significant time there, soaking in the opulence and car culture.

A hidden room, possibly Valentino’s old love nest, doubled as a safe for Maybelline’s secrets. The estate’s commanding views of Los Angeles, from downtown to the ocean, made it a coveted spot, yet Tom Lyle kept it low-key, avoiding the lavish parties typical of Hollywood elite.

The Villa Valentino stands as a testament to Tom Lyle’s quiet empire-building and the Maybelline dynasty’s Hollywood roots.

Old Hollywood's Heyday was born in Whitley Heights during the Silent Film Era

                 Off of Camrose south of the Hollywood Bowl.

Before there was Beverly Hills, during the silent film days, Whitley Heights was where the famous stars of Hollywood lived. Francis X. Bushman had a large, opulent house, with the first swimming pool built in the area and Rudolph Valentino lived off Wedgwood Place. 
  
  

  
Villa Valentino, 6776 Wedgewood Place, Whitley Heights, built in 1922, this was the site of the home Valentino shared with Natacha Rambova in upscale Whitley Heights just north of Hollywood. In 1951 the state of California paid Tom Lyle Williams, $90,000, intending to demolish it to make way for the Hollywood Freeway. The foundation of the home survives and can still be seen from the freeway.The foundation to the home is still visible from the freeway.

 During the Jazz Age, life was a party, and Whitley Heights was Party Central for the Hollywood set.

 Issue: Issue Spring 2010 Whitley Heights click here.

By: DH 
Traveling along Franklin Avenue, the east/west thoroughfare north of Hollywood Blvd., you might not notice the most historic enclave of 1920s residences from the Golden Era of silent films and speakeasies, aka The Roaring Twenties, rising above Franklin Avenue. And roar they did in those days of high living, laughter and a new industry that seemed to have no bounds. Ethel Barrymore, Charlie Chaplin, Marion Davies, W.C. Fields, Harold Lloyd, Carole Lombard, Rudolph Valentino and many others lived and held legendary parties that marked an era and the early Hollywood film industry. 

Today the Hollywood Freeway runs through what was once the toast of the Hollywood, in it's Heyday. 

 Before the Hollywood Freeway took Whitley Heights, it was an oasis,of gorgeous landscaping and Italian architecture.

 The arrow points to Tom Lyle Williams, Villa Valentino, in 1935.

 Tom Lyle remodeled the Villa Valentino in 1937.

Tom Lyle Williams on the left, followed by his sister Mabel, her husband Chet Hewes, and his sister Eva and her husband Ches Haines.  Notice the statue, Aspiration in the background.

Read more about Tom Lyle Williams and his love affair with the Villa Valentino, in The Maybelline Story, buy a signed copy today atwww.maybelliestory.com.  

Rudolph Valentino, Silent Films greatest Latin Lover

just happened to watch this movie on TCM lately and though it really didn't follow Rudolph Valentino's life story, I still enjoyed Anthony Dexter in the role.

I also loved the close up of this Preview Card, with a comment about Valentino's film, the Sheik... having the most thrilling love scenes ever seen on the screen.

Here is Anthony Dexter as the Sheik in the 1951 film.

and here is Rudolph Valentino as the Sheik, in the 1921 film.  There is no comparison in the passion and sexuality Valentino exudes on camera.

Anthony Dexter looked like Valentino at certain angles, especially while dancing the Tango, but his perfect English and diction ruined it for me...  I'm sure the real Valentino spoke with broken English and was a little more rough.  I did however, love the costumes and Valentino style.  

I was thrilled to see this close up of an invitation from Valentino, including the address of the Villa Valentino in Whitley Heights.  The real Villa, however, was actually located at 6776 Wedgewood Place, Whitley Heights.

Valentino was one of the first residents to build a Mediterranean Villa in Whitley Heights. Soon after making the Sheik and The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, in 1921.

My great uncle Tom Lyle Williams, founder of the Maybelline Company, with his lifetime partner, Emery Shaver.  Tom Lyle bought the Villa after Valentino's death in 1926.

 ASPIRATION, overlooking the pool at the Villa...in honor of Rudolph Valentino.

War time rationing at the Villa Valentino in the Hollywood Hills

 

Maybelline Founder Tom Lyle Williams, at his Villa Valentino during the 1940s. Originally owned by Rudolph Valentino

Tom Lyle Williams with his nephew Bill Williams at the Villa Valentino

Bad-mitten Court at the Villa Valentino

Lush gardens surrounding the Pool at the Villa Valentino

Excerpt from a letter written by Emery Shaver to his sister Betty from the Villa Valentino, Hollywood, California, dated January 26, 1944

War time rationing at the Villa

We have been having a most usual cold spell, but it is not too severe, however, the heat, especially at night, feels very good.  Our garden had been coming along so well, many lovely roses and camellias now, and some azaleas.  Some of our citrus trees are bearing heavily, so we have plenty of oranges, grape-fruit and tangerines.  

Food is scarce and very high.  We just cannot manage to have all our meals at home, so we have to eat out often, however, tonight we are having Lyle's favorite, vegetable soup, a big pot of it, and we will make a meal from that, as there are plenty of vegetable and meat in it - well, maybe I exaggerate a bit - not so much meat.  With gooseberry pie for dessert, it should be a good meal.

Rudolph Valentino's Villa in the Hollywood Hills becomes "Maybelline West" headquarters

The Villa Valentino: a showplace in the Hollywood Hills.

The statue, Aspiration over looking the pool.

  Read more about Aspiration:  http://dispatches-from-hollywood.com/2011/12/the-sheik-of-de-longpre-park/

Valentino's sudden death at 31 from a ruptured ulcer caused worldwide hysteria, several suicides, and riots at his funeral. These same crowds of women haunted the Villa Valentino in Whitley Heights for many years.   Even after Tom Lyle bought the Villa Valentino, he had to keep grieving women at bay.

Read more about the Villa Valentino in The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.

The Villa Valentino: a showplace in the Hollywood Hills.

The statue, Aspiration over looking the pool.

  Read more about Aspiration:  http://dispatches-from-hollywood.com/2011/12/the-sheik-of-de-longpre-park/

Valentino's sudden death at 31 from a ruptured ulcer caused worldwide hysteria, several suicides, and riots at his funeral. These same crowds of women haunted the Villa Valentino in Whitley Heights for many years.   Even after Tom Lyle bought the Villa Valentino, he had to keep grieving women at bay.

Read more about the Villa Valentino in The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.

Old Hollywood Glamour at the Star Studded Premiere of... "All This and Heaven Too"

Tom Lyle Williams, Jane Allen, Emery Shaver, Annette Williams, Arnold Anderson, 1940 at the Villa Valentino.

Wednesday June 13, 1940

Excerpt from Jane Allen's diary while visiting her uncle at the Villa Valentino. 

This has been one grand day. Annette and I were up at a quarter of ten for an appointment at the hair dressers.

Emery picked us up in time for breakfast at one. At 4:14 we went toMax Factors for make-up. Glamour girls no less.

The big affair of attending the world premier of “All This and Heaven Too,” started about eight o'clock

when a limousine picked up Annette, Arnold, Emery, Tom Lyle and me, and drove over to get Emery's friend, Lona Woolsey.

The whole party were certainly dressed up, all the boys in tuxedos and the girls in formals.

The premiere was at Carthay Circle. The crowds simply jammed the streets as we arrived. The police, both on foot and mounted, were trying to hold the people back, but each person was trying to get a glimpse of the Stars.

The limousine stopped to let us out amid hundreds of lights and lots of cameramen. An announcer with a microphone was in front to announce the different stars as they arrive. They stared at us too, but we fooled them. We were just ordinary people. The long pass way from the front to the entrance of the theater seemed miles, with thousands of people staring, hoping each would be a Star. The walkway was lined with large gorgeous bouquets of flowers. These I didn't see as I walked in because I was so excited and nervous. 

After we were inside the theater, we stood around to see as many stars as possible. We saw Jimmy Stewart with Olivia de Haviland,

Jeffry Lynn,

Andrea Leeds,

Ann Miller,

Preston Foster,

Stewart Erwin,

and Don Ameche.

After walking around for a while we went into the Theater. Carthay Circle Theater is not very large but very beautiful. Furnished without consideration for cost. Carpet was beautiful red velvet and gold curtains.

At intermission we were in the lobby again.

Saw Ken Murray,

 Edgar Bergen,

Charles Boyer,

and more that I just can't remember now. The picture was very good. Was over about Twelve midnight. We had our long walk from the entrance to the driveway again, with lots of spectators looking for stars.

On our way out, we saw Gene Lockhart, 

Elsa Maxwell

and Hedda Hopper.

The announcer gave us a thrill calling Mr. TL Williams' car waiting. We were just like the big shots.

From Carthay Circle we drove to Ciros, the swankiest nightclub in Hollywood. Certainly couldn't have gotten into the place without reservations, as the club was jammed. Ciros is a beautiful place, very modern and very colorful.

Just as we entered we saw Robert Taylor,

Barbara Stanwick,

Jack Benny, Mary Livingston,

Edward Arnold and his wife,

Andrea Leeds and her husband,

Bette Davis and her party sat right next to our table. In fact her chair was bumped right up next to my chair.

Constance Bennett and her party was a table on the other side next to our table.

William Powell and his wife Diana Lewis, had a table behind us.

Across the way was Norma Shearer and her party.

Also saw Geraldine Fitzgerald,

George Jessel with his sixteen year old bride, Lois Andrew,

and Louise Fazenda.

 Most of the stars we saw at the Premiere were also at Circos. Never in my life have I ever seen, heard of or expected to attend such a gala affair It was the height of formality and considered the social occasion of the season in Hollywood. After several drinks, frosted daiquiris, we had something to eat and got home about 3:30 am. Believe our party was the last to leave Ciros. Don't think I ever enjoyed any activity so much in my life. The memory will be something to go over again and again.