THE PERRY COMO SHOW, SPONSORED BY MAYBELLINE IN 1956.

1956, was a banner year for Maybelline.....

  It Sponsored the Grace Kelly,

Prince Prince Rainier lll, Wedding,

The Miss America Contest, The Perry Como Show and Chuck Berry came out with the hit single, Maybellene,

 This is from his Saturday night show in the late '50s. "THE PERRY COMO SHOW," which had several sponsors during the hour- including, Maybelline and Polaroid.

On September 15, 1956, the season premiere of The Perry Como Show was broadcast from NBC's new color television studios at the New York Ziegfeld Theatre, making it one of the first weekly color TV shows. In addition to this season premiere as a color television show, there was also a royal visit from Prince Rainier of Monaco and his bride of six months, Grace Kelly.

Perry Como with Eddie Fisher - 1956, Perry Como and Eddie Fisher team up to sing "Maybe" in this 1956 clip.. Forty years later, Maybelline New York, would coin the phrase, "Maybe She's Born With It, Maybe It's Maybelline.

The Perry Como Show, telecast, one of the first, special effect, Maybelline commercials, depicting a "before and after" technique..... transforming, plain eyes, into glamorous, sparkling Maybelline eyes.  This was magic in 1956.  Also Maybelline's, Good Housekeeping seal of approval. represented purity and made it acceptable for family TV.

Read all about Maybelline's television sponsorship, in the 1950's, in my book, The Maybelline Story.

CHUCK BERRY'S, Maybellene shaped Rock & Roll in the 1950s.

Chuck Berry's Maybellene, ranked # 18, by Rolling Stone magazine's top 500 hits, and # 81 in all time rock and roll songs.

Berry's first single release and his first hit. "Maybellene" is considered one of the pioneering rock and roll singles: Rolling Stone magazine wrote, "Rock & roll guitar starts here."[2] The record is an early instance of the complete rock and roll package: youthful subject matter, small guitar-driven combo, clear diction, and an atmosphere of unrelenting excitement.

Spotting a mascara box on the floor of the studio, according to Berry’s partner Johnnie Johnson, Chess said, “Well, hell, let’s name the damn thing Maybellene” altering the spelling to avoid a suit by the cosmetic company.

 In 1988 "Maybellene" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for its influence as a rock and roll single.[8]

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included "Maybellene" in their list of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll list, as well as "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B. Goode".  In 1999, National Public Radio included it in the "NPR 100," the one hundred most important American musical works of the 20th century as chosen by NPR music editors.

 "Maybellene" is currently ranked as the 81st greatest song of all time, as well as the second best song of 1955, by Acclaimed Music.

Chuck Berry did ask Tom Lyle Williams, for permission to use the Maybelline name.  The spelling is often spelled the same as the mascara.  Read all about it in my book, The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.

MISS AMERICA 1955 brought to you by Maybelline.

In the 1950's, when the Miss America Contest, was telecast Nationwide, Maybelline was a sponsor.

Bert Parks was the official Host of Miss America from 1955 to 1979.

1955, swimwear competition.

1958, Miss America contestants prepare for the evening
gown competition.

San Francisco's Lee Meriwether was crowned, Miss America in 1955, when Bert Parks made his debut. "There She Is, Miss America" (the pageant theme song) was first introduced by singer Johnny Desmond on a Philco Playhouse production, which starred Lee Meriwether

Maybelline's  face of Miss America.....
in the 1950's.

click on video to see what a Maybelline Commerical looked like, during the Miss America Contest in the late 1950's.

Read all about Maybelline's sponsorship of the Miss America Contest in The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.

Watch a video of The Miss America contest, telecast on television, during the 1950's.

Princess Grace of Monaco - the most beautiful Royal Woman of all times.

Maybelline won the bid for sponsoring
the first telecasted Royal Wedding in 1956.....Princess Grace Kelly, and Prince Rainier lll of Monaco.

During the 1950's, Grace Kelly's cool, sophisticated, glamorus image, represented what Maybelline was all about.

Maybelline model..... inspired by Grace Kelly..... with an air of sophistication..... an EXOTIC image..... and  new branding, for 1950's.

Princess Grace Kelly waves to cheering crowds lining the road as she rides in an open car with Prince Rainier III following their wedding ceremony in the Monaco Cathedral. (AP)

•The people of Monaco gave Grace and Rainier a cream and black Rolls Royce convertible as a wedding gift. After the religious wedding ceremony, the couple drove through the streets of Monaco in it.

Maybelline was there..... and is still here today. The number one mascara in the world.  Be sure to read all about Grace Kelly and Maybelline in..... The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.

AN EYE-POPPING STATEMENT OF BEAUTY AND LUXURY.

Tom Lyle Williams, had an eye for exquisite motor cars and purchased cars that are today considered some of the best of the classic era.

Tom Lyle Williams, 1939 Packard Super 8 Convertible coupe, with bumper guards and driving lights.

Tom Lyle's car's (pictured below in earlier posts) include..... a 1916 Paige Detroit roadster..... a 1926 Kissel Gold Bug Speedster..... a 1934 Packard Individual Custom Dietrich V-windshield V-12 Sport Sedan..... a 1939 Packard Super 8 Convertible coupe..... and the 1940 Packard Bohman & Schwartz Convertible Victoria we see today.

So ends my 10 day, mini- documentary, on Tom Lyle Williams and his extraordinary, gorgeous, custom automobiles..... hope you enjoyed the ride with us. 

Stay tuned tomorrow for more fun, fascinating stories from The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behindt It.

IMAGE - The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. ....

Step into my world and cruise with me.

Packard's, Sexy Body Parts - Bumpers, Fenders, Headlights and Hood, equaled more than the sum of its parts, it equaled an emotional appeal that spelled image.

When it came to branding, Tom Lyle Williams Considered the image of .....

            The Maybelline  company..... 

including everything from advertising styles, stationery, company colours and even the car he chose to be seen in.  Because Image and style said it all.

Photographs by Chuck Williams aka BB1, founder and owner of REEEEEL CONVERTIBLES..... and deemed by Mike Love, as BB1.....The # 1 Beach Boy FAN.

                THE BEACH BOYS - I GET AROUND.

Be sure to see The Beach Boys on their 50 year Anniversary Tour this year. Click for dates.


THANK YOU TO STEVE SNYDER OF VAULT CLASSIC CARS FOR MAKING THIS PHOTO SHOOT POSSIBLE....

VINTAGE MAYBELLINE HISTORY DETECTIVES on the hunt for "What ever happened to TL's 1940 Packard Victoria.

Just like real life History Detectives, we set out to discover the truth about, what happened to the Packard Victoria, after it left our great uncle's hands in 1952.

Meeting the present day owner's, Bill and Jo Ellen Snyder and their son, Steve Snyder of VAULTCARS.....Chuck Williams aka BB1, Sharrie and Donna Williams, set out on a REEEEEL, Treasure Hunt..... that made all the pieces of the puzzle, at last, come together for us.

Bill Snyder, now in his 90's has been an avid Duisenberg and Packard collector for over 60 years and still owns his mother's, perfectly preserved, 1946 Packard.

Jo Ellen Snyder, is quite a collector of original moving art, herself, and has been a jewelry designer, for as long as her husband has been collecting 

Duisburg's and Packard's. 

The Snyder's home is a virtual museum of American memorabilia.....I asked Bill if he still collects....."no," he said, in a serious tone,  "we ran out of room"....  I looked around and there really wasn't a vacant spot to display one more item.....We all sat the the table and Steve brought out a giant file of records, for the the 1940 Packard Victoria...I remarked at how thick it was...and he looked straight at me and said..."This is only the tip of the iceberg."  That's a real historian. 

After studying all the records and pictures of the car, Steve Snyder and my cousin Chuck Williams aka BB1, owner of  REEEEEL CONVERTIBLES, proceeded to capture gorgeous photo's of the car.  Chuck was especially drawn to the Horse Head, hood ornament, claiming he had bookends that belonged to his grandfather, Noel J. Williams that were similar. 

Chuck believes the Horse Head, held special meaning for Tom Lyle and his brother Noel J....perhaps pertaining to Horsepower, and Maybelline outrunning the competition.

Here are the Horse Head bookends that Chuck inherited from his grandfather Noel James Williams, Vice President of the Maybelline Company from 1915 to 1951.

Chuck's reflection in the Packard's door, as he shoots a picture of my sister Donna and I pretending to cruise down Hollywood Blvd.  We wanted to recreate the feeling, of what it was like to drive in Old Hollywood, luxury, from the 1940's.

Steve Snyder captures Donna in the drivers seat, while I ride shotgun.  We have special feelings for this car, because our dad, Bill Williams, was just a kid when he and his uncle Tom Lyle, drove it to the homes of Hollywood's biggest stars, to collect their signatures on Maybelline Contracts.

So here I am ready to interview the Snyder's for my mini- documentary, about their 1940 Packard Victoria..... that once belonged to our great uncle, Tom Lyle Williams, founder and owner of the Maybelline Company.

Photography by Chuck Williams aka BB1, owner of REEEEEL CONVERTIBLES.

Stay tuned this weekend, as I wrap up, Packard Victoria, week, on the Vintage Maybelline Docu-Blog..... featuring..... The Snyder's and The Williams and their history with this amazing American Classic.

Scroll down to view my interview, with Packard Historian, Steve Snyder.

OLD HOLLYWOOD, comes alive, while crusing in my great uncle's Packard Victoria

After two months of talking about my mini-documentary... showing Tom Lyle Williams, 1940 Packard Victoria... here is part 2, of my interview with Packard historian and owner of Vault Cars, Steve Snyder.

Sharrie Williams, author of the Maybelline Story and the Spirited family dynasty Behind it... slips into her great uncle's 1940 Packard Victoria, with Steve Snyder to talk about it's history.  click on video.

Click on video, of Steve Snyder and Sharrie Williams than click again for larger screen.

Chuck Williams aka BB1, of Reeeeel Convertibles,  Steve Snyder of Vault Classic Cars, Sharrie Williams, author of the Maybelline Story, and her sister, Donna Williams, spend an afternoon, viewing and discussing the history of Maybelline's, Tom Lyle Williams, 1940 custom made Packard Victoria.


To be continued tomorrow......

Maybelline founder's 1940 Packard Victoria...Interview with Packard historian, Steve Snyder.

My interview with Steve Snyder, owner of Vault Classic Cars... and  the son of Bill and Jo Ellen Snyder, owners of this beautiful, custom, 1940 Packard Victoria...
once owned by, Maybelline founder and owner, Tom Lyle Williams.  

Chuck Williams aka BB1, Sharrie Williams and Steve Snyder.

Click on the video and watch part 1, of my interview with the Snyder's and my cousin Chuck Williams aka BB1.

Check in tomorrow for part 2, when Steve and I sit in the Packard and get down to the real history, behind this spectacular classic showpiece.

Be sure to pick up a copy of The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It, on Amazon or Barnes & Noble in paperback, or for your Kindle and Nook,  or buy a signed copy from my site.

HARPER'S BAZAAR, BEST MASCARAS OF ALL TIME?

                Best mascaras of all time

                       By Kari Molvar,
                       Harper's Bazaar

Some women go to serious lengths to avoid leaving the house with bare lashes (and then only with dark sunglasses on). That all-important flick of mascara frames your face, pulling together your entire look in a few strokes.

So which trusty wands have inspired the most devotion among the lash pack? Here,

      BAZAAR reveals the definitive list.


        Maybelline Great Lash Mascara

          
                       Why we love it:
This classic drugstore mascara has been thickening lashes since the ‘70s with its signature, easy-to-handle narrow wand and clump-free formula that resists smudging but washes off in a cinch.

   Iconic status: completely deserved.


Check in tomorrow and view - part one - of my interview with Steve Snyder of Vault Cars.  We will be discussing, Maybelline Icon, founder, Tom Lyle Williams, classic, 1940 Packard Victoria.