Evelyn, Billy and Preston Williams in Chicago, 1925. On Nov. 26, 1923, though Preston and Evelyn were unprepared for a Child, their son William Preston Williams Jr., Billy, was born. Preston was crazy about the child that brought sunshine back into his soul, and not since the Great War had he felt a desire to "make something of himself."
However, when the pressure of daily responsibilities became too oppressive for him he once again turned to alcohol for self medication as the torture of Post Traumatic Stress disorder clouded his thinking.
Like so many men from the "Lost Generation" his fear of cheating death and survivors guilt caused great anxiety and a need to run away from those he loved the most.
Read more about Preston Williams and his struggle to survive in a changing world that he felt, "left him behind."
It was a freezing cold February morning in Chicago when the Bride arrived at the church soon to be wed to Maybelline Company's Vice President Noel James Williams son Noel Allen. Jean Kilroy and Allen met in High School and now 7 years later the wedding of the year was finally taking place
The Bride assisted by her her parents.
200 guests waited patiently for the Bride to make her appearance as the Groom watched with quiet excitement next to his brother, and Best Man, Dick Williams.
Jean was a stunning Bride and it proved to be worth the wait to see the beautiful gown she chose to wear.
This was a true love match and Jean and Noel Allen remained married until his death in 1994.
Read more details about the never before told story of the family behind the Maybelline Company and about Noel Allen and Jean's life together in The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.
Noel Allen and Jean on the way to their reception
The Bride and Groom with their parents and bridesmaids.
Jean and Noel Williams were the parents of Chuck, Nancy and Jim Williams and the grandparents of John, Darren, Steven and Matthew Williams-Clark
Happy Birthday aunt Jean, I will hold your memory in my heart forever. Jean and I may have clashed when I was a teenager, because she didn't approve of my bleached blond hair and short skirts, but over the years I matured and she mellowed to the point of admitted I was a good kid. I was with the family at her death and was deeply touched when she kissed me goodbye and said I love you. She was a stickler on Etiquette and will always be remembered for her quick wit and the undying love for her husband Noel A Williams and her family.
This picture of Tom Lyle with his niece, Neppy Williams-Corbett and his nephew, Noel A. Williams wife, Jean, was taken in Tom Lyle's home in Bel Air in 1968, right after the Maybelline company was sold to Plough Inc. Notice the 24K gold plated beams between the plate glass window. Here is a story about Tom Lyle's generosity, given to me by his great niece and Mabel and Chet's granddaughter, Linda Hughes.
When Maybelline was sold, each employee was given $1,000 for each year they worked for the company. Even those who hadn't been there a full year got $1,000. Tom Lyle's secretary Dorothy (aka Ducky) ended up with $35,000 as did another secretary called Jimmie. Jimmie called Mabel, to ask her to relay to TL how grateful she was that she could retire after she got her $30,000 check. At the time my parents had a bookstore and a former employee came in and told them he was bowled over to receive $8,000. ( Dorothy also received one million dollars from her percentage in stock as well.)
Read more about Tom Lyle Williams, a secret American Icon and the great things he accomplished during his lifetime, in The Maybelline Story.
A cute story about Emery Shaver, Tom Lyle's lifetime partner of 50 years, given to me be his niece, Joyce Dennehy, (Mabel and Chet's, daughter.)
When my family drove from Chicago, to California, to visit Uncle Lyle, when we were kids: One day it was rainy and my brother Tom was grumbling a bit about having nothing to do. He said to Emery, "don't you have an indoor swimming pool?" Emery's response was "no but I have an ingrown toenail."
Happy Birthday to my Great uncle, Tom Lyle Williams
Maybelline Advertising Genius Ties Civil Rights and Women's Rights together in 1964.
Maybelline was the first Cosmetic Company to feature an African American face, in 1959, Je'Taun Taylor.
In 1964, Great Lash Mascarawas born and featured a beautiful young Black Model, who spoke in code, to the growing liberated female market. The genius in this Ad was connecting Civil Rights with Women's Rights. 1964 was the year that changed America, both Culturally and Politically. Be sure to see the new PBS Documentary called 1964.
At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement. Martin Luther King Jr. was the driving force behind the the March on Washington, which helped bring about the Civil Rights Act of 1964. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 and is remembered each year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a U.S. federal holiday since 1986.
Our diverse group of spokesmodels come from all over the world—representing the positive spirit, cosmopolitan energy, and stylish edge of the Maybelline brand. They are all gorgeous, yet relatable. “Born With It,”as some might say
Maybelline President,David Greenberg
Maybelline has always represented a stylish cutting edge image throughout the decades. Original Maybelline family descendant, Sharrie Williams
Maybelline's new Great Lash Real Impact mascara came out December, 2014...this is cutting edge.
In the beginning it was called Lash Brow Ine...Tom Lyle Williams, changed the name in 1916 to Maybelline in honor of his sister Mabel who gave him the idea for the product.
Maybelline in the 1920's took off when Flappers were seen in public flaunting their beautiful eyes with Maybelline mascara in the little red box.
In the 1930's Maybelline introduced eye shadow and pencil for sophisticated ladies to carry in their handbags.
Maybeline in the 1940's, continued marketing their "Before and After" advertisements with a modern look and new line of products for the girl waiting for her Soldier to return during WW11.
Maybelline in the 1950s represented fashion as well as beautiful eyes after TV commercials give the
products new dimension.
Maybelline in 1964, introduced it's first wand-mascara,
Ultra-Lash. The teen market takes the Maybelline
Brand Global.
Maybelline in the 1970's now owned by Schering Plough Inc, introduces "Blooming Colors" to the market and creates more choices for fashionable ladies.
Linda Carter, Wonder Woman becomes spokeswoman during the 1980s, giving the face of Maybelline a more full body presentation.
The face of Maybelline, Kirstin Davis in the 1990s, introduces the Slogan, Maybe She's Born with it, Maybe it's Maybelline.
L'Oreal buys Maybelline in 1996 and changes it's name to Maybelline New York.
Maybelline today, is the biggest cosmetic brand in the world, starting 100 years ago by Tom Lyle Williams, a 19 year old entrepreneur from Chicago, with the help of his his sister Mabel and his brother Noel J.
Billee Williams will take her visitors on little trips around the Palm Desert area and any place she might be wandering with her photographer/videographer, Mike. She will always be glamorously dressed and ready for her closeup. It's a fun blog and I think you'll get a kick out of Billee's surprisingly addictive personality. Take a look and see if you too, can't wait for her next post.
just click on the link and hit like....Thanks so much everyone
I'm the girl on the right, in this picture in the newspaper, January 14, 1965. One of the lead players in my High School Play, "Home Sweet Homicide." I was in the drama department at Culver City High School and my dream was to be discovered have a Film career. But, that didn't happen. Here's why... follow my new blog, Postcards to my Fairy Godmother for another hilarious adventure http://docu-blog.blogspot.com/2015/01/postcards-to-my-fairy-godmotheris-nana.html
Can you imagine the time it took to dress up everyday.
I lost my High School Year Book in the 1993 Firestorm that destroyed my home in Laguna Beach and haven't seen it since. For Valentines Day a friend sent me these pictures from my Culver City High School Olympian and I'm so happy to finally have a missing piece of my past back.
I hope you have something special happen for you as well...
Making up for the Senior Play, looking the same as always.
I was very proud to be a National Thespian and part of the Theatre community. I wanted to be an actress and a Maybelline model and was very involved in my aspirations.
Always had to stand out. I'm the blond in the double breasted coat,
in the picture on the left.
I always wanted my name on the Marquee!!!
Here is the cast from Home Sweet Homicide. Can you pick me out of the lineup.
My 1964 High School Diary is now a blog called Saffrons Rule come visit me when I was 17 at saffronsrule.com
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