Stunt Queen, Pearl White - a box office sensation in 1914..

The Perils of Pauline was an enormous box-office success, and made Pearl White a major celebrity; she was soon earning — in those times — the astronomical sum of $3,000 a week.

Released in 1914, The Perils of Pauline consisted of twenty episodes that used the heroine-in-jeopardy storyline to great success.  It is considered by some to be the most famous suspense serial in cinema history.

In the serials, week after week, Pauline evaded attempts on her life.  She fought pirates, Indians, gypsies, rats, sharks, and her dastardly guardian. 

The unresolved, heroine-in-danger endings left audiences wondering what would happen in the next chapter, and kept them coming back for more.  In the series, White performed many of her own stunts, and became known as the “stunt queen” of the silent film era

She was a daring, athletic, and active star, often placed in risky situations — sent aloft in a runaway balloon, trapped in a burning house, or left hanging from the side of a cliff - thus she was credited with generating the new phrase “cliffhanger.”)

At the same time, a little family living on a modest farm in Morganfield Kentucky,  watched The Perils of Pauline, at the Nickelodeon and had no idea how Hollywood film Stars, like Pearl White, would one day impact their lives. 

Mabel Williams, on the top left, with her mother Anna, seated, her sister Eva Kaye, on the ground, and two elderly aunts, pose for a picture in 1914, on..... 
                     the old Homestead in Kentucky. 

For the rest of her life, Mabel, couldn't help but cry every time she listened to, "My Old Kentucky Home."


While The Peril's of Pauline,  remained a box office smash in 1914, and My Old Kentucky Home, continued to bring tears, to Southern men and women's eyes - a young boy, named Tom Lyle Williams moved into a boarding house in Chicago with his brother Noel James, and worked for $8.50 a week at Montgomery Ward.  On the side, he sold joke gifts and risque postcards through the classifieds and dreamed of someday having his own mail order business. 

His sister Mabel arrived in Chicago, in 1915, to help with the little catalogue business and while there, concocted a mixture of coal dust and Vaseline, to enhance the color of her lashes and brows and help make them grow.  Soon, Lash-Brow-Ine, was born and a year later, it was  renamed Maybelline in Mabel Williams honor.

My cousin, Linda Hughes.....
(Mabel's grandaughter,) helped create, today's Silent Film and Concert Series post.  We are working together this week, to bring lost Silent Film history, back to life.  We hope you enjoy it and are inspired by.....

                  The Artist winning Best Picture,
           after 83 years, since Silent Film's demise.

Al Jolson - My Old Kentucky Home - A Note: He left out the word darkies, that was in the original Foster lyrics.


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Sexiest Silent Film ever - The Son of the Sheik - Valentino and Banky, 1926

The on-screen chemistry between Valentino and Banky puts this Silent Film, in a category of it's own... Steaming!!

The premiere of, "The Son of the Sheik," opened at  Grauman's Million Dollar Theatre and was one of Hollywood's most glamorous affairs.

  A month later in New York City, Valentino died.

 I remember my grandmother, Evelyn, (Nana,)  refer to Valentino as...an exotic, adventurous romantic, handsome, hot-blooded Italian-born,

 Latin lover.  In today's terms, that means,

The Sexiest Man Alive.

 The Son of the Sheik, was so popular, because it had everything going for it... Romance, humor, action, adventure and especially a happy ever after ending.

I have to say, for a sizzling 1920's romantic Silent Film, this has to be the best ever made.  But that's just my opinion.  Check the video below, and see for yourself what I'm talking about.

Notes about the making of "Son of the Sheik" from Motion Picture magazine January, 1927:



"The 'sudden' death of Rudolph Valentino, idol of millions of motion picture fans, shocked America and Europe.  Yet we in Hollywood who knew him from the 'Four Horsemen' days onward were not so shocked.

In five years, he changed from a blithe, happy youth to a weary man, his heavily shadowed eyes showing every indication of some serious illness. It is not difficult for us to believe that he paid for 'Son of the Sheik' with his life, that he had not the physical resistance to throw off the strain of his last location trip which took him into the bitter wastes of the Arizona desert.

Click on video to watch the most exotic love scene in Silent Film history.

The Son of The Sheik (1926) Rudolph Valentino

Controvers​ial "rape" scene from Son of the Sheik starring Rudolph Valentino and Vilma Banky.

Velma Banky, known as “The Hungarian Rhapsody,”  was exotic and beautiful enough to star with Rudolph Valentino, in The Son of the Sheik and the The Eagle. 

By the 1920s, Hollywood had created a hunger for Silent Films... a desire for beautiful eyes... and a need for romance... after decades of Victorian restraint.

Silent Film Stars, like, well respected,  Ethel Clayton, seen here in this Maybelline ad, made it okay to be seen in public with Velma Banky Eyes!!!!

Leon Redbone, singing "The Sheik of Araby."

Thank you, to my cousin, Linda Hughes, for another fantastic music choice for today's post.  Stay tuned for another classic tune tomorrow, from the,

 Silent Film Concert Series on The Maybelline Docu-Blog.

MAYBELLINE KID'S FASHION FROM THE 1920S AND 30'S

"The Artist," a black-and-white homage to the early days of Hollywood, was named best picture at the 84th Academy Awards.

“The Artist” is the first silent film to win best picture, since the first Academy Awards were held in 1929, and “Wings” won first place.

And for the first time in Academy Awards history, a French actor (Jean Dujardin) and a French filmmaker (Michel Hazanavicius) took the academy’s top acting and directing awards.

 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.

To celebrate the first Silent film in 83years, here is a tribute, showing adorable children, from my great aunt Bunny's 1920s, photo album.  First, my father, Bill Williams, in 1925, a real scene stealer all his life.

Bill Williams with his cousin, Arvis in 1928, check out the incredible clothes kid's wore in those days.

Two future little cousin, car-guy's, Bill Stroh and Bill Williams, 1927 in Chicago.

Bill Williams with his first set of wheel's 1927, on Christmas day.

Bill Williams, with cousin,  Arvis and her brother Bill Stroh, 1927.

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.

Look how amazingly well dressed, 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.

               Is this the most adorable picture ever.....

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 during the first half of the 20Th Century.  

I hope we see more Silent Films made, because they are not only classic, they allow you to have your own thoughts and not be so caught up in the special effects, we are so inundated with today. 

More fun, fun, fun tomorrow!!  Thank you for following the Vintage Maybelline Docu-Blog, the most extensive living documentary Blog on the Internet.

Harold Lloyd and Mildred Davis - Hollywood Royalty!

Comedian, Harold Lloyd and his leading Lady, on and off screen, Mildred Davis -known for having the longest  marriage in Hollywood.

Between 1919 and 1923, Lloyd and Davis made 14 films together.  She retired from Hollywood after their marriage, to raise a family.

One of the first residents of Whitley Heights, The Lloyd's remained friends with Tom Lyle Williams, also a Whitley Heights resident and automobile enthusiast.  Here is Harold and Mildred in 1924 with their new Buick.

Mildred Davis caught Tom Lyle's eye, when she appeared with Harold Lloyd, in the 1921 Silent Film, Grandma's Boy.  He was struck by her large, beautiful eyes and asked her to endorse Maybelline, shortly before her retirement.                                             

Mildred Davis endorses Maybelline in the early 1920's.

Stunning Maybelline Eyes.  Tom Lyle, used an illustration of Mildred Davis eyes inside Maybelline's, little red box.

Harold Lloyd ranks alongside Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton as one of the most popular and influential film comedians of the silent film era.  He is best known for his "Glasses Character", a resourceful, success-seeking go-getter who was perfectly in tune with 1920's.            

Lloyd's films frequently contained "thrill sequences" of extended chase scenes and daredevil physical feats, for which he is best remembered today.

Read more about sweetheart, Mildred Davis in The Maybelline Story!  Buy a signed copy from the author, Sharrie Williams at http://www.maybellinestory.com/.

Maybelline Story helps young girls in Mali, Africa, gain an education.

Here I am with my friends Paul Chandler and Tama Walley, the founders of Instruments 4 Africa, looking at a few vintage pictures of old Hollywood in The Maybelline Story.  Tama and Paul head back to Mali, West Africa in a couple of weeks after spending the Summer raising money for their charity.  Paul plans to film a documentary on tribal instruments and Mallian music, that is on the verge of being lost forever.  I will keep you posted on his progress.  A portion of the Maybelline Story goes to help young girls in Mali gain an education and study their cultural arts.