Cosmetic King, Tom Lyle Williams, 1940 Packard Victoria.

Maybelline owner, Tom Lyle Williams, King of the road, during Hollywood's Glamour Heyday!

Tom Lyle Williams at the Villa Valentino,
posing next to his 1940 Packard Victoria.

Check out past posts about Tom Lyle's custom, Packard Victoria, below.

http://www.maybellinebook.com/2012/01/1940-packard-victoria-by-bohman.html

http://www.maybellinebook.com/2012/01/1940-packard-vctorias-hood-ornament-is.html

http://www.maybellinebook.com/2012/01/toasting-tom-lyle-williams-116th.html


My presentation at the Pacific Book Club, in Newport Beach, last night, was a smashing success.  I will be posting pictures tomorrow.

My Cousin Chuck Williams, aka, BB1 and I will be visiting Bill and Steve Snyder of VAULTCARS, next week to view, Tom Lyle's 1940 Packard, be sure to check in to see pictures and a video. 

Old Hollywood means, The Maybelline Story.

              

California

Whitley Heights

Gorgeous men

Glamor

                                                            Beauty

Packard, Convertibles

Valentino

Fashion

                                           Tom Lyle Williams

                                              and Maybelline.


If you love old Hollywood, with it's style, glamor and Panache, you have to get a signed copy of The Maybelline Story at http://www.maybellinestory.com/.

Maybelline Story brings Romance back to life.

Rudolph Valentino was every woman's Romantic Idol, in the 1920's and even more so after his untimely death in 1926.  Tom Lyle Williams, bought the Villa Valentino, around 1930 and like Valentino, loved beautiful automobiles, architecture and the exotic Hollywood stars, who represented Maybelline.

Tom Lyle, at the Villa, with his new 1940 Packard, 

Rudolph Valentino and Natacha Rambova, lived in the Villa Valentino, while their home, Falcon Lair, was being built. 

The Villa Valentino.

Maybelline model and Hollywood star,  Gloria Swanson, and Valentino

.

"The Romance."

Tom Lyle and Emery Shaver, with Tom Lyle's new 1934, Packard, Victoria.

Tom Lyle and Emery Shaver, lived together at the Villa Valentino, and were together for over 50 years.

Read more about Tom Lyle and Emery's life together at the Villa Valentino, in The Maybelline Story.

Rudolph Valentino's Aspiration, sets the tone for positive thinking.

Rudolph Valentino's Aspiration, still inspires the Williams family to always look up.

Here is a picture of my father Bill Williams with his cousin Noel A. standing next to Aspiration.

Aspiration (Rudolph Valentino)

1930. Roger Noble Burnham. Marble and bronze statue, 36' x 16' x 16. De Longpre Park, 1350 North Cherokee Street, Hollywood, California. Plaque reads: Erected in memory of Rudolph Valentino, 1895-1926. Presented by his friends and admirers from every walk of life in all parts of the world in appreciation of the happiness brought to them by his cinema portrayals.

The Villa Valentino, with Aspiration overlooking the pool.  Bottom right, Bill, Tom Lyle and Evelyn Williams.

Aspiration at the Villa Valentino, Tom Lyle's home in the Hollywood Hills.  I believe Tom Lyle, was a major contributor, paying for the statue to be set in De Longpre Park, in 1930.  He bought the Villa, placed a copy of Aspiration in a fountain and called his home, The Villa Valentino.   Aspiration is still in our family and we love his inspiration to aspire up and never look down.

Rudolph Valentino's pool tile, 1940.

Tom Lyle gave this piece of tile to his sister Eva, who used it as a hot plate for years before passing it on to her daughter Marilyn, who eventually gave it to her first born son Richard Gerald, who is still using it as a hot plate today.  Just a little fun trivia from the Maybelline Family.

Eva (Williams) and Chester Haines, 45th Wedding Anniversary, 1969 and the family.

Front row L to R, Marilyn, Jackie, Peter Haines, Cindy Gary, Mathew Haines, Eva & Chester
Next row, Richard Gerald, John Gary, Bob Haines, Chris Haines, Jay Haines, Bob Westhouse, Steve Haines, Dave Westhouse & Kathy Gary, Mitch Haines & Lori Gary on the staircase.

More Maybelline Vintage ads and family lore tomorrow.  If you want to know more about this amazing family and the company they helped launch in 1915, be sure to order a signed copy at http://www.maybellinestory.com/.  Also Tama Bags are available for purchase with a copy of The Maybelline Story now.

Maybelline's Soldier Boy, Bill Williams, 1945.

Like his father, William Preston Williams, a WW1 Vet - my father William Preston Williams Jr. served his country fighting in the Philippines during WW11. 

Bill was working as an apprentice artist at MGM painting back drops - hoping to work his way into a career at the studio - when he was drafted into the Army in 1944.

A Sad Sack - Bill wasn't exactly happy leaving West Los Angeles, the beach and MGM - for Fort Riley Kansas in Jan of 1945.

After all that meant saying goodbye to his sweetheart Pauline Mac Donald.

and his Car-Guy buddies, (Bill is second on the right.)

His uncle Tom Lyle Williams.

His mother Evelyn Williams and his 36 Ford.

His life at The Villa Valentino with his uncle Tom Lyle, his mother and Pauline.

So he married his childhood sweetheart Pauline Mac Donald and shipped off to the Philippians in March of 1945 not knowing if he'd ever return to California and those he loved so much.

While Bill was overseas his uncle Tom Lyle Williams created War Time Maybelline Advertisements like this one to sell U.S. War Bonds.

Bill in the Philippians working on a reconnaissance plane.  The war ended in August of 1945, but not without leaving it's mark on him.  He came home with a scar on the back of his head from shrapnel which could have easily killed him.  The amazing thing is, after living a long life, he died at 82 from a head injury.  I guess my father like so many Vets who came back to America to create the Baby Boom were actually on borrowed time until they finished their work on earth.  Maybe that's way they were called "The Greatest Generation."

If you want to read more about Bill and his adventures overseas during WW11, his life in the Maybelline family and the Hay-Day after the sale of the company, please pick up a copy of The Maybelline Story from Amazon, Barnes and Noble or buy a signed copy from me from this www.maybellinebook.com.  Stay tuned for Noel Allen Williams story tomorrow.  We're in the Navy now!