Maybelline Story Media tour from Hollywood to Manhattan Beach to Desert Classic.

Several events last week kept me running around Southern California at record pace.  Thank you to all who showed up in Hollywood to hear me speak about The Maybelline Story and show Vintage Ads and pictures.  I learned just how much my audience loved nostalgic photographs of old Hollywood and am considering doing a one woman show in the near future.  The romance of vintage Hollywood is a lost art today and one that is sadly missed.

If you love the excitement of West Hollywood, with it's Comedy Store, Whisky A Go Go and Cinerama Dome as, well as coffee houses on every corner filled with interesting people you will love Book Soup.

Set in the midst of all the action, Book Soup offered the perfect venue for my Hollywood debut.  I was thrilled with the diversified group of beautiful people curious to hear  never before told stories from a romantic era in Hollywood that no longer exists.   I think a stunning piece of nostalgic history would be well received today and maybe it's time I take my act on the road and show what it was like when there was still a bit of romantic imagination left in the world. 

The next evening found me sitting in an ultra cozy little book store in Manhattan Beach called Pages a Book Store, surrounded by some of the best books about Hollywood out there today.  The Maybelline Story fit well in a coastal book store because a good portion of the story takes place in beach communities along Southern California's gold coast, including;  San Clemente, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach and Santa Monica.  I gave an intimate discussion about the Maybelline Company's birth and rise to glory as well as the aftermath of inheriting overnight millions and the tragedies that ensued.  All in all I came away with a warm feeling of gratitude for surviving it all and now able to share my story with others.

 Here I am at Pages with a couple of readers enjoying some of the wonderful pictures in the Maybelline Story.

Book Soup and Pages was a heartfelt experience but my two day event at the Concourse d'Elegance took the cake!  My siblings and I showed our fathers 1977 Clenet "Series One," at the Desert Classic where Alain Clenet the designer and owner of Clenet Coachworks of Santa Barbara, was present to sign the car while a camera crew taped him being interviewed.  It touched our hearts to hear Alain Clenet tell stories about out father and # 13 out of 250 original first edition Clenet's,  from over 30 years ago.  I was also interviewed and will post the video next month when it is officially ready to be aired.  But for now here are a few pictures of Bill the Clenet at it's debut after being in storage for 5 years.  Bill won second place in the neoclassic category.

Here I am with my sister Donna Williams at the wheel, at the Concourse d'Elegance.

My Sister Billee Williams taking a break while sitting on her daddy's car.

Bill The Clenet going through the Judges Stand with Steve Kouracous at the wheel and Donna in the passenger seat.

Here I am on the left with my brother Preston holding Bills silver cup for second place in the neoclassic category with Billee and Donna.  Now we shoot for first place at the Santa Barbara Concourse Oct 30TH!

Preston Williams, Alain Clenet, Steve Kouracos,  (who fabricated the car 33 years ago and made this spectacular event possible,) and Donna and Sharrie Williams .

Alain Clenet's signature on Bill The Clenet.

Tomorrow I will post some of the action on video we took during the signing of the car by Alain Clenet as well as some more fun pictures of the event.  I ended my 8 day media tour with a book club luncheon in my honor yesterday in Paradise Valley Arizona, at a lovely home where 18 ladies came to hear more inside stores about the book they all seemed to love love love!  Stay tuned this week for more posts and pictures I'm sure will be most interesting as well as fun to see.

Video of Clenet in the winner circle with driver, Steve Kouracos and owner, Donna Williams - click to view
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGfV1V8eVXE

Remodeled Villa Valentino becomes a showplace in the Hollywood Hills.



Remodeled Villa Valentino in 1945.

Aspiration over looking the pool.

Valentino's sudden death at 31 from a ruptured ulcer caused worldwide hysteria, several suicides, and riots at his funeral. These same crowds of women haunted the Villa Valentino in Whitley Heights for many years.   Even after Tom Lyle bought the Villa Valentino, he had to keep the looky loo's at bay.

Tom Lyle purchased the Great Lover's heavily carved Italian lacquered desk and placed it in his office over looking Aspiration and the pool in the big bay window.  I'm happy to say the beautiful desk is still in our family after all these years - a treasured piece of nostalgic Hollywood history. 

Read more about the Villa Valentino in The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It. Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/rudolph-valentino#ixzz1F0y1jMUD

Valentino's death mourned at grave site by Lady in Black for over 50 years.

Tom Lyle's sister's Mabel and Eva with their husbands, Chet and Ches, on the veranda of Rudolph Valentino's Villa in the Hollywood Hills,  August, 1937 -  

Here's the earliest photograph I have of a Lady in Black (click,) mourning Rudolph Valentino, Aug. 23, 1937, 11 years after the movie star's death. In the first few years, memorial services were held on the anniversary, although the services eventually ceased and the large crowds dwindled to about 50 mourners.

Taken from LA Times, click highlighted Lady in Black to see pictures   Lady in Black 

Love sick women tear Rudolph Valentino's toilet apart.

This picture was taken from one side of the Villa Valentino. Tom Lyle Williams on the veranda with his sisters Mabel and Eva and their husbands Chet and Ches in 1937.

Another angle of the Villa Valentino before Tom Lyle landscaped it with tall trees to protect his privacy.

Even 10 years Rudolph Valentino's death in 1926 women were mad to have any kind of personal memento belonging to the Latin Lover.  When the Villa was being remodeled and vulnerable to the public, Tom Lyle hired a full time guard as lines of cars passed with Kodak's flashing and crying women throwing roses.  At one point throngs of love sick women crawled up the side of the hill  hoping to find anything touched by their their idol.  Even the toilets were crushed with sledge hammers as screaming women fought over the broken pieces, as if finding buried treasure.  Traffic cops at the bottom of the hill had to direct traffic so residents could come and go.  Once the Villa Valentino was finished Tom Lyle put a heavy rustic wooden gate and fortress like walls around it, as well as the 100 trees to protect his privacy.  Privacy was of utmost importance to him as he worked from the Villa, or Maybelline West as he sometimes referred it. When family in Chicago asked him why he put's up with the Hollywood madness he replied, "If I have to worry, I want to worry in Paradise." 

Read more about Tom Lyle, The Villa and why Tom Lyle sought privacy at all cost in The Maybelline Story.  You can now purchase an autographed copy from Tom Lyle's great niece author Sharrie Williams, just click on maybelline story.com.

The Latin Lovers Villa becomes the Maybelline King's private estate in the 1930"s.

Here is a picture of The Villa Valentino in the Hollywood Hills, owned by Rudolph Valentino when he was engaged to Natacha Rambova. They lived there while their home in Beverly Hills, Falcon Lair was being built. Sadly, Natacha divorced him shortly after he bought the property and he was forced to live the lifestyle of the rich and famous alone.  After Valentino's untimely death in 1926 Tom Lyle Williams, Maybelline's founder bought it and did a complete  renovation inside and out. 

The Villa Valentino was located in the Whitley Heights section of Hollywood at 6776 Wedgwood Place, but was eventually razed to make room for the Hollywood Freeway in 1949.  When Tom Lyle bought the Villa he loved it's old world feeling, but didn't like the lack of privacy, so hired a gardener who planted over a hundred Italian cypress, Palm trees and exotic tropical plants to hide the Villa from curious spectators.

An arrow points to the Villa exposed to the public and you can just imagine how a good pair of binoculars might cause gossipy neighbors to spread unwanted rumors.  Check out Tom Lyle's brand new 1937 Packard parked on the street where he shot this photograph with his Kodak.  What a life he must have had in Hollywood in the 1930's, working with major motion picture studios, preparing contracts with the biggest stars and entertaining at the Villa Valentino.

Stay tuned for more pictures of the Villa Valentino before the restoration and after. You can also read about Tom Lyle in Hollywood and the Maybelline company in my book The Maybelline Story.  Purchase an autographed copy from me at maybellinestory.com.   

Rudolph Valentino's Villa in 1936 in black and white photography.

Tom Lyle Williams, founder of The Maybelline Company at his Villa Valentino standing next to his sister Mabel and her husband Ches Hewes  
and his sister Eve and her husband Chet Haines all circling the art deco statue,Aspiration, in 1937 during Maybelline's Art Deco period.                              

This beautiful vintage picture was taken at the Villa Valentino in 1937 and truly is a nostalgic piece of Hollywood history.  Tom Lyle Williams sister Mabel standing next to him, is Maybelline's namesake.

Scroll down and enjoy some of Maybelline's amazing Art Deco advertisements from the 1930's, and further down you will find posts describing Rudolph Valentino's Villa in Whitley Heights after the "Great Lover's" death in 1926. 

I will be posting more views from the stunning Villa Valentino all this week, so stay tuned for captivating black and white photographs of Tom Lyle and his sisters Mabel and Eva on the veranda, in the garden and looking up to the Hollywood Hills from Hollywood Blvd. 

Please post a comment it would be much apprecitated.  Read more about Tom Lyle and The Maybelline Company in my book The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It. 

Maybelline was known as The Little Company That Could!!

Maybelline ad, 1936

As the Great Depression continued through the 1930's Maybelline cornered the market in eye cosmetics and money poured in from every direction. No other cosmetic company enjoyed more confidence and higher regard among the trade and had the envy among competitors as did Maybelline. Tom Lyle’s policy for perfection and his reputation for fairness set him apart and above all others in the field. Even his competitors agreed, there would never be another man like Tom Lyle Williams or a company like Maybelline. His sensitivity allowed him to see how women were affected by his advertising strategies. By 1939, Tom Lyle was at the top of his game. He was the most important executive in the cosmetic business. He never became selfish, egotistical, or self serving and his kindness and spirituality never ceased to exist.  Maybelline became known as "The Little Company that Could!"

The Maybelline Story is Fascinating, Stimulating, Gripping - makes you wanting for more!,

The Maybelline Story starts almost a century ago and takes you though the interesting life of founder Tom Lyle Williams and his fascinating family as he climbs his way to achieving the all American dream. Cross country it will take you from Chicago to Hollywood, mingling with the who's who in each era and location. Read how a fluke turned into a simple product, and how it turned into an international sensation and empire. Follow their lives and families lives for almost 80 years.        

The Maybelline Story is one that has left a lasting impression upon America, yet not many realize just how vital a role the cosmetic brand has played in shaping idealism today.  The obsession with perfection is widely seen throughout Hollywood, as it was nearly 100 years ago.  However, the obsession at that time did not reach the rest of society as it has today.  Early cosmetic developers, such as founder Tom Lyle Williams of the Maybelline Co. brought cosmetics to the everyday woman, pushing the idea that every woman, young and old, regardless of class, can obtain glamour and beauty with a simple swish of the eyes.  That’s where Maybelline got its start.  Developed in a time where women were breaking away from being modest and obedient housewives, and starting to seek their right as legal voters and equals in society.

The story captivates all audiences by its incredible survival through economic, social, and personal turmoil.  The Maybelline Story takes you on a journey through 20^th century America, and into the 21^st century where Maybelline thrives as a billion-dollar Icon, the world’s largest cosmetic brand.  For Tom Lyle, the journey was not easy, as the brand tears his family and their world apart, yet brings them together to re-discover what they had before they had millions.....each other. 

The Maybelline Story is a stunning piece of nostalgia and an invaluable historical treasure.



1933 Maybelline Ad.

Tom Llye Williams, Maybelline's founder believed that a woman’s greatest asset was her ability to capture a man’s imagination through her expressive eyes.

Empowered for the first time since the Victorian era, women discovered a passion for imitating stars who exuded sex appeal on the screen.

Maybelline provided an inexpensive eye beautifier that enhanced a woman's sex-appeal while movies mirrored  celluloid forgeries professing  nonconformity with old world standards.  As Movie stars became models for America's changing values, Tom Lyle threw Maybelline in the dime stores in 1933 and as little cosmetic companies fell by the wayside or were bought out by Maybelline, The Maybelline Company went on to be the undisputed giant in its field during the Great Depression.

Please leave a comment, I'd love to hear your take on my post.  Also check my events on the right of this page, and come meet me at Book Soup in Hollywood Feb 23 at 7pm or at Pages a Book Store in Manhattan Beach, Feb 24th at 7pm. 

If you love nostalgia, history and a stunning American treasure of vintage pictures and Maybelline ads, buy an autographed copy of the Maybelline Story from me for $14.99 at maybellinestory.com.

Maybelline always represented quality yet sensibly priced in drugstores everywhere.

My great uncle Tom Lyle Williams, founder of the Maybelline Co never stopped believing in himself and his aspirations.  I was taught to never give up on my dreams no matter what kind obstacle life threw in my path.  The great depression actually presented Tom Lyle with many opportunities that eventually made Maybelline a household word around the world. 

The economy  forced Tom Lyle to let go of marketing Maybelline through mail order and instead place it in drug stores where young women could purchase it at an affordable price.  The Movie Industry as well in the 1930's became a contributing factor towards Tom Lyle's success, as more and more people sought escape through the golden age of films.  The timing of sound mixed with glamours larger than life movie stars, enhanced a desire for personal image and a fascination with beautiful eyes.  This new passion for personal identity brought swarms of women into drug stores, ready to shell out a dime for a little red and gold box of Maybelline, which always represented

                 "quality yet sensibly priced."  

 Please comment on this as I would love hear your ideas and memories as well.  

Advertising was the secret to Maybelline's success in the 1930's and still is today.

When most companies were sinking 1n 1931 during the Great Depression Maybelline continued to endure.  Tom Lyle concentrated on Advertising as the power head of Maybelline's expansion.  He found that even during the worst economical times women spent money on Maybelline rather than putting meat on the table - just to have longer, darker more luxurious lashes. 

During Maybelline's Art Deco period, Tom Lyle used artist illustrations to produce sleek, modern, sophisticated images women emulated to appear as alluring as their favorite film stars.  His instincts were right and that target market of independent woman carried Maybelline through the depths of financial insecurity to the heights of world success.

Woman were hooked on glamour, style and beauty, refusing to ever be plain Jane's again.  Even today when luxuries are tossed by the wayside to survive, cosmetics  endure and steal the Lyon's share of the market.

If you'd like to comment please do, I'd love to hear how your great grandmother, grandmother, mother and even yourself and daughter can relate to what Tom Lyle did to bring women out of the shadows and into the light of confidence and Panache.

Maybelline Story author, Sharrie Williams believes giving back, is the answer to peace.

This is Tama Walley, one of the founders of Instruments 4 Africa.  She has a unique perspective as to why her non profit benefits the children of Mali.  She told author

of The Maybelline Story, Sharrie Williams, that providing programs for the children of Mali to connect with their culture through their own music, dance and the arts,  keeps them grounded and secure from being influenced by negative extremist views, that ultimately end in destruction.  Tama believes that children who connect with the love and passion of their own culture have a strong foundation to focus on positive goals and this gives them a chance to thrive.  Instruments 4 Africa's mission statement is to protect the children of Mali, as well as children all over the world, by helping eliminate poverty mentality through expansion of the mind through creativity.  The money from her charity funds academic scholarships, mentoring and training in the traditional arts of Mali.  The kids are engaged in learning and off the streets.  Watch a video of the kids  participating in traditional African dance and music by clicking on the palm trees to the right  of this page.  A portion of the Maybelline Story goes to Instruments 4 Africa.  

As a member of a family who grew up in America with so much opportunity and choice, Sharrie feels it's her responsibility to give back by helping children connect to their God given voice,  natural talent and creativity and hopes you might feel the same way too!

The Maybelline Story would make a great Valentine's day gift as well as a donation to a worthy charity.

Maybelline founder Tom Lyle Williams love of beauty lives on through his family.

After 5 years of being in storage since Bill Williams passing  in 2006, his 1977 Series 1 Clenet roadster, is back on the road, heading for the Desert Classic, Concourse d' Elegance. with the original fabricator Steve Kouracos at the wheel. 

"Bill the Clenet" as you can see in the picture, represents glamour on the road and always arrives in style. Just as Maybelline represented the American ideal in eye fashion - beautiful automobiles with their flashing headlights represented a beautiful woman's face to founder Tom Lyle Williams and his love for both endured until his death in 1976.

 His nephew Bill Williams, carried that image and confidence with him his entire life - with a love of flashy convertibles, beautiful women and state of the art design.

Growing up, It was hard seperating Maybelline from the Williams family because the Williams family was Maybelline and though it's no longer an American owned company it will live in our family's hearts forever.  I think I can speak for the entire William's family when I say we still feel connected to our uncle, and great uncle Tom Lyle Williams and his love of beauty in any form. 

 Come meet author Sharrie Williams and her family and see her father's Clenet Roadster, at the Concourse d' Elegance on Feb 27th in Palm Desert, where Alain Clenet the original Clenet designer  will be signing Bill's Clenet number 13 of 250 in series one, in a special ceremony that will be filmed in his honor. 

Also read more about Tom Lyle Williams and the founding of Maybelline in 1915 to 1968 and the family behind it, in The Maybelline Story.


If you're curious about the cruising music, while Bill the Clenet heads down the highway, click on the video's below.

Maybelline, by Chuck Berry
Good Vibrations by the Beach Boys
My Way by Frank Sinatra

Hailed by Der Spiegel magazine as one of the "Top Ten Classic Car Shows in the World," the Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance returns in 2011 with the theme "100 Years of Indy Cars," marking the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500. The 4th Annual Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance, presented by La Quinta Resort & Club, will be held Sunday, February 27, in La Quinta, California. More than 200 rarely seen classic cars from museums and private collections will be exhibited for thousands of spectators.


Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/classic/auctions/1011_2011_desert_classic_concours_d_elegance_celebrate_indy_500/index.html#ixzz1DZvfag7X

Maybelline investigated for being a monopoly.

Actress Betty Grable, before and after ad, 1941.

Maybelline cake mascara, 1916

 1950, before and after ad with Loretta Young.

Excerpt from The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It. by author Sharrie Williams

Lash-Brow-Ine, 1915, and first liquid mascara and cake mascara 1917

Evelyn looked Tom Lyle straight in the eye. "TL, you're at the top of your game. Thanks to your ads, Maybelline girls have become the universal ideal of beauty and freedom. They've created a worldwide market for women who want to beautify themselves according to the American ideal. But it's only just starting; that's why it's imperative that you move quickly to capitalize on America’s new clout as a world economic power."

He simultaneously smiled and shook his head. "Why is it you're always able to convince me of anything?"
"Because I'm always right."

They pinged glasses in a toast, but then a shadow passed over his face. "There is one problem with all this."

"What's that?"

"Maybelline is already the major producer of women's cosmetics in the world. Everyone is watching us, and everyone wants a piece of us--including our own government. They're rumbling about breaking up monopolies."

To this Evelyn had no quick response. No wonder Tom Lyle was so reluctant to launch into international expansion. Maybelline was a family-owned business. If the government decided it was also a monopoly, they could break it to pieces.  And that would be the end of everything Tom Lyle had worked for.

Maybelline has always represented style, glamour, confidence as well as beauty.

                                 What ever happened to to style?

                           Bill Williams, Evelyn Williams and Maybelline founder, Tom Lyle Williams



                                Where's the Glamour?

Maybelline founder Tom Lyle Williams at his Villa Valentino, standing next to his 1940 Packard Victoria.


It wasn't too long ago America had it.  Looking like a million bucks was practically our birthright      

Emery Shaver seated, Bill Williams, Evelyn Williams and Maybelline founder Tom Lyle Williams next to Tom Lyle's 1934 Packard.

                 We didn't race from A to B we cruised. 
                 Going for a drive was a big deal.

Author Sharrie Williams cousin, Chuck Williams with his 1974 Alfa Romeo on the left, Cobra and 1975 Rolls Royce out of view.

It's time to get it back, regain the style, glamour, confidence

                          Author Sharrie Williams with her father Bill Williams 1977 Clenet Series One


                         It's time once again to arrive In Style.

                               Picture taken at Bill Williams estate in Palm Springs, 1975.


Read more about the style, glamour and confidence Tom Lyle Williams emanated throughout his life and how it reflected in Maybelline's image from 1915 to 1968 as well as his family through the decades,  in The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.

Maybelline Heir Chuck Williams with the Beach Boys at Reagan's 100 year Birthday celebration

Chuck Williams with The Beach Boy's at Ronald Reagan's 100th Birthday celebration, 2-5-11 at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley   -   Bruce Johnston, Chuck Williams, Al Jardine and Mike Love at Air Force One.

Chuck is Maybelline Founder Tom Lyle Williams's great nephew and Noel J. Williams grandson.  All I can say is it must be in his DNA - all the charisma and natural talent passed on to my cousin Chuck, giving him the ability to make things happen.

Along with his long list of accomplishments,  Chuck has been a part of the Beach Boy's, behind the scene for over 40 years and is one of Mike Love's most trusted friends and number one Beach Boy fan.  He never misses a Beach Boy concert and has kept perfect accounts of Beach Boy history since the early 1960's.  He has been asked many times to write his own book about his life in the Maybelline family as well as his life with "The Boy's,"  but is too modest to exploit himself and his many wonderful stories.  But who knows with enough encouragement we may have another memoir in the making if I have anything to say about it.

In the 1970's Chuck ran the Santa Barbara Bowl, where he produced not only Beach Boy concerts but some of the biggest bands in the industry.  Today he lives quietly in Santa Barbara where he collects classic cars and maintains a Beach Boy memorabilia room at his estate.

He is a local celebrity in Montecito and can be found each day surrounded by friends asking questions about his latest exciting adventure.  I'm sure he's busy today with incredible stories about his experience with the Beach Boy's and their concert at the Reagan Library. 
                                  
The Beach Boys
Check out the pre-show pictures below.
Mike Love
Al Jardine 
Bruce Johnston 
Christian Love

Christian Love, Chuck Williams aka BB1.

Al Jardine, Mike Love, Bruce Johnston

Mike Love, John Stamos

Bruce Johnston

Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, Mike Love

Al Jardine, Mike Love, Bruce Johnston

Mike Love

Al Jardine

Mikes son, Christian Love

Al Jardine and Mike Love

You can listen to Chuck and author Sharrie Williams being interviewed on the radio in Santa Barbara under Events, and also scroll down to view video's of Chuck and Sharrie at the Barrett Jackson Classic Car Auction in Jan. 

Read more about the Maybelline family roots and the company that became an American icon, in The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It, by author Sharrie Williams.

Two fabulous photos of Misty Rowe taken during the filming of Goodbye Norma Jean in 1975

Misty Rowe as Norma Jaen Baker

Misty Rowe as Marilyn Monroe with my father,
 Bill Williams, filmed at his Palm Springs Estate

Maybelline cousins featured in Goodbye Norma Jean in 1975

My cousin Chuck Williams at my dad's estate Casa De Guillermo's, talking to his wife Anne while I prepare for the next scene being shot for Goodbye Norma Jean.  Scroll down for more posts about Chuck and Sharrie and listen to The Chuck and Sharrie radio interview in Santa Barbara, under Events.