A Maybelline Family Valentine, the Dick and Ann Williams Love Story

Painted by Maria Pace Wynter.

Quote from ‘The Little Prince’:  “A single event can awaken within us a stranger totally unknown to us. To live is to be slowly born."  by author of The Little Prince,  Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Little Dick Williams parents, Noel J. and Frances Williams were quite surprised when Frances announced she was expecting at 42 years of age.  They were happy of course when their angel arrived and gave him everything a little Prince might expect.

Dick with his cousins, June and Marilyn Haines.

 He was so adorable, that all his little girl cousins fawned over him and  soon he realized he'd been born with a gift for charming the ladies.  Dick's parents were painfully aware of how special their boy was, and though strict by nature, were incapable of saying no to anything his heart desired.  When Dick discovered his love for wheels, (like most of the boy's in the Williams family,) he received a real motorcycle for his 16th Birthday, and our - James Dean - with movie star good looks was born. 

At 17, Dick was known for his Peter Lawford, charisma, style and cocky wit and was used to getting what ever he wanted, when he wanted it..... But, our Little Prince met his match when he fell in love with the most popular girl in school.  Beautiful, talented, flamboyant, Ann Flynn. 

Like all storybook Romances go, Our Prince and Princess, Dick and Ann Williams, were married in 1955 and lived happily ever after. But that's another story.

Dick Williams was surely born with it, and yes, it was Maybelline!!!!

Stay tuned for more Valentine's Day stories from The Maybelline Family Diaries

Maybelline's advertising strategy featured Romance while focusing on selling War Bonds during WWll

When petroleum was rationed during the War, Maybelline was ordered to stop making their products.  Tom Lyle told the Pentagon, "If women can't get their Maybelline, it will affect the moral of the men overseas."   Petroleum vats remained full and Maybelline's products expanded around the world.

read more about Maybelline's marketing and advertising strategy over the last 100 years in The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Behind it.

I hate to be pushy but if you Love Vintage, Romance and Nostalgia? Check this out

An award winning Toastmaster, professional speaker and Celebrity Columnist, author Sharrie Williams is available for Club Events, Fundraisers, Speaking Conferences, Conventions and Corporate Meetings.  Sharrie presents her inspirational Maybelline Story, as a Power Point, One Woman Show with vintage Maybelline ads priceless family photos and never before told stories... Contact Sharrie at maybellinebook@gmail.com

Love Vintage, Romance and Nostalgia? You will Love The Maybelline Story!

 From the Baby Boomer's tidal wave on the worlds markets

 Television in the 1950's became an explosive venue to for Maybelline,

The Maybelline Story covers nearly 100 years 

You won't want to miss these priceless vintage Photos, Maybelline Ads and never before told stories about our American history.

 Remember the good old days when style, glamour and confidence was the American way.

As well as remember those nostalgic Maybelline Ads from the 1960's,

back through the glamour years of World War ll, with the famous Movie Star Pin Ups.

order your copy signed copy of The Maybelline Story today.

Happy Romance Day!!!!

                 Happy Valentines Day!!!

    Hope you all find a bit of romance in your day!!!


Romance week continues tomorrow.....

                       Beach Boys - Good Vibrations.

Foo Fighters, "Walk" from Saturday Night Live.

Maybelline's Runaway Bride and Groom.

Once upon a time, in 1936, there was a young man named Tom Lyle Williams Jr., who was so shy, he'd rather cancel his Wedding and elope, than face all the drama.  So his beloved - Marquerite Neel - agreed, but not without a loophole.

Marquerite's mother had sent the invitations, the gifts were arriving and the Church was reserved.  Marquerite, had to save face, so when her dear father became seriously ill, the loophole was found.

The big Church Wedding was canceled, and a small intimate ceremony was set at the Brides home.  The Groom breathed a sigh of relief, and the Bride saved face.

Marquerite killed two birds with one stone.   She pleased her family and her new husband - and was forever remembered as a beautiful Bride.

And when the ceremony was over, Tom and Marquerite were out of there, as fast as their legs would carry them.. But the good news is,

 They Lived Happily Ever After.......

 Tom Lyle Williams, owner of the Maybelline Co. with his son Tom Lyle Williams Jr.


VALENTINES DAY -  IS ONLY TWO DAY'S AWAY.  STAY TUNED FOR MORE MAYBELLINE, ROMANCES, NEXT WEEK.

Maybelline's, "Little Prince".

There once was a Little Prince, named Richard Lyle Williams, who came into this world unexpectedly, but who's presence brought untold joy to everyone he touched in his lifetime..... 

Painted by Maria Pace Wynter.

Quote from ‘The Little Prince’:  “A single event can awaken within us a stranger totally unknown to us. To live is to be slowly born."  by author of The Little Prince,  Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Little Dick Williams parents, Noel J. and Frances Williams were quite surprised when Frances announced she was expecting at 42 years of age.  They were happy of course when their angel arrived and gave him everything a little Prince might expect in his lifetime.



Dick with his cousins, June and Marilyn Haines.



He was so adorable, that all his little girl cousins fawned over him and soon he realized he'd been born with a gift for charming the ladies.  Dick's parents were painfully aware of how special their boy was, and though strict by nature, were incapable of saying no to anything his heart desired.  When Dick discovered his love for wheels, (like most of the boy's in the Williams family,) he received a real motorcycle for his 16th Birthday, and our - James Dean - with movie star good looks was born. 

At 17, Dick was known for his Peter Lawford, charisma, style and cocky wit and was used to getting what ever he wanted, when he wanted it..... But, our Little Prince met his match when he fell in love with the most popular girl in school.  Beautiful, talented, feisty Ann Flynn. 

So like all storybook Romances go, Our Prince and Princess, Dick and Ann Williams, were married in 1955 and lived happily ever after. But that's another story!!!!

So in Dick Williams case, he was surely born with it, and yes, it was Maybelline!!!!

Stay tuned all this week for more fairytale romances, from The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It...

Maybelline's "Sleeping Beauty.".

A Romantic day dream, is transformed into a magical reality, with Maybelline. 

Every little wallflower, dreams of becoming a Princess someday, according to this 1945 Maybelline ad.

Annette, Noel A. and Helen Williams, 1929.

Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Helen, who dreamed of being a Princess, waiting for her handsome Prince Charming to come along and  sweep her away on his white horse.  

Ten years later, sweet Helen - no longer a portrait of a wall flower - evolved into a Princess, with the most beautiful, Maybelline Eyes. 

 "Maybe she was born with it - Maybe it's Maybelline,"  certainly applied to Helen Williams, who, not only was born into the Maybelline family - (her parents being Noel J. and Frances Williams,) but was as beautiful as any Star in a Maybelline ad. 

So Helen, lived the storybook dream - married her childhood sweetheart, George, aka, "Cook," Huber, had seven children and lived happily ever after.  Here they are at Helen's brother, Noel A. and Jean Williams Wedding, with their son, John, in 1949.

Cook and Helen (Williams,) Huber, looking like Royalty, in a Romantic Novel, at Helen's baby brother, Dick and Ann (Flynn) Williams Wedding, in 1955. 

Stay tuned for Maybelline Romance week, as storybook weddings within the family unfold.

"Two basic elements comprise every romance novel: a central love story and an emotionally - satisfying and optimistic ending."

Rita Hayworth, Maybelline's sexiest model, ever.

During the filming of GILDA, Rita Hayworth appeared in this Maybelline ad.  She was such a big hit that her dress, her glove, her pose became an icon

She was the leading lady to the world's leading men - She danced with Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly - acted with Tracy, Grant, Cagney and Cooper - she was married to Orson Welles and Aly Khan.

 Rita Hayworth was America's favorite pin-up girl - she was the folly, grandeur, romance and beauty of Hollywood in it's prime - when it dazzled not only America, but the entire world. She was the incomparable Rita Hayworth.

Rita Hayworth: Portrait of a Love Godess - by John Kobal - 1983 Biography of America's Fave Pin-Up Girl.

4 used copies available on Amazon.

Rita Hayworth, magazine covers, with Frank Sinatra singing "I've Got You Under My Skin."

Two days left to bid on Hedy Lamarr, vintage makeup bag.  Ebay

Maybelline Story - what people are saying about it today!

I will continue to bring you more exciting excerpts from my book, as well as vintage Maybelline ads, family pictures throughout the decades, car stories and videos from future Concourse d'Elegance, "Nana's beauty secrets,"  excerpts from letters - and family history going back to the 16th century. 

My blog is not just to sell my book, which of course I hope to do, but, it is also for entertainment.  I plan to publish it after a year of posting and offer it as a coffee table book - since it can be opened at any point - and fascinate the reader with fun trivia and beautiful pictures.  But for now, here are some of the reviews over the last six months.  So far everyone, including book clubs, love it.  I hope you read my book and if you have any questions about the characters or the story, please email me at maybellinebook@gmail.com or leave a comment under my post for the day.  Thank you to the 11,267 people who have checked into blog to date.    Sharrie Williams

This story is fascinating from beginning to end. It covers multiple generations of a family that came to Hollywood to share a beauty discovery that changed the industry, and offers the reader a first-hand glimpse into the ups and downs of a world based on appearance, ambition and competition to reach and stay on top. The photos provide unique shots of some of the lead characters. The book concludes with valuable insight on how to live with fame and fortune and still retain individual spirit and character. Definitely worth the read.

This is the most interesting book I've read in a long time. It's all about the Maybelline family along with it's founder Tom Lyle. You come to know the Maybelline family and fall in love with some of them, despise some of them, and just feel for others. I couldn't put the book down once I started it. It's a love story and a mystery. You don't want to miss this one. I feel there will definitely be a movie coming soon!!!!!

Sharrie Williams tells it all in this efficient, fast paced ride through the 20 century. The reader feels like they're getting an inside view of her life within the Maybelline Family. This is a never before been told story about a private man, Tom Lyle Williams the founder of the Maybelline company and his wild and crazy family. The Maybelline Company provides a powerful background as the characters play out their drama center stage. My only complaint is I wanted more more more and was bumbed it ended. I hope Sharrie Williams comes out with part two and brings us up to date with her unbelievable family. If she never told her story it would have been lost for ever, an American institution now owned by L'Oreal Paris. You will be shocked by the ending.

...This is amazing for your first, and I hope not your last, memoir. I've read this book a couple of times and enjoyed it more with each read. It is a peek at a way of life many of us can only imagine. The book was written so well, so descriptive, that I could picture Tom Lyle and the rest of his devoted family.  I hope Ms Williams writes a sequel...would be interesting to know about the generations that came after. I would also love to see this novel become a movie.  Now that I know this story I feel a deeper connection to my Maybelline mascara!! Great back story for the brand and a fun read!! Great gift book.  Hands down the best memoir I read.

This was a wonderful treat in so many ways...strong characters, romance, mystery, glamour. An inspiring story of 'making it in America' that you just can't put down. I looked forward to curling up with this book and was sad when it ended. I hope the author, Sharrie Williams, fills us in with another book soon! And I can't wait to see this book made into a movie!