Maybelline family honors Noel A. for his duty in the Navy - 1945.

In Memory of Noel Allen Williams for his service to his Country during WW11.

Born and raised in Chicago, the son of Maybelline Vice President Noel J. Williams, Noel A. Williams grew up in a sheltered world of comfort, stability and opportunity.  He and my father, Bill Williams were close first-cousins their entire life and when Bill moved to California with his mother Evelyn in 1936 to be near Tom Lyle, it was just a matter of time before Noel A. would follow.

Noel joined the Navy, left Chicago and headed to Southern California where he was stationed in San Diego, close enough to visit his uncle Tom Lyle at the Villa Valentino and Bill of Course.

Noel A. at the Villa Valentino with his uncle Tom Lyle Williams and TL's private Secretary Dorothy Mullander.

Here is a picture of my father Bill in civilian clothes on the left standing next to Dorothy Mullander, Maybelline's executive secretary with Noel A. in his Navy uniform at Tom Lyle's Villa Valentino in the Hollywood Hills.

Noel J. visits California to say goodbye to his 18 year old son before he ships overseas.  Dad looks forward to Noel A. returning home safely, going College and taking a position in the Maybelline Company. 

"Not so fast dad," as Noel A. has other plans which might include a girl he's leaving behind and maybe moving to California.  But for now status-quo is the word.

The girl he leaves behind is his 17 year old childhood sweetheart, Jean Kilroy. 

While Noel A. is overseas his uncle Tom Lyle creates this beautiful Maybelline advertisement targeting young women like Jean who are waiting for their men to return.  Noel A. does return home but not before being wounded by shrapnel on his thigh.  He was one of the lucky ones. 





Noel A. Williams 1925 -1994.

If you'd like to know more about Noel A. and why he gave

 up an opportunity to take over his father's position

in the Maybelline Company - for a life in California - pick up your copy of The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It and walk through the 20Th Century with the family who put the first

 eye beautifier on the market in 1915 to 1967. 

Thank you for following The Maybelline Blog and be sure to tell your friends!!!       

PS: Noel Allen Willliams is Chuck, Nancy and Jim Williams father.                                                                                                          

Maybelline's Soldier Boy, Bill Williams, 1945.

Like his father, William Preston Williams, a WW1 Vet - my father William Preston Williams Jr. served his country fighting in the Philippines during WW11. 

Bill was working as an apprentice artist at MGM painting back drops - hoping to work his way into a career at the studio - when he was drafted into the Army in 1944.

A Sad Sack - Bill wasn't exactly happy leaving West Los Angeles, the beach and MGM - for Fort Riley Kansas in Jan of 1945.

After all that meant saying goodbye to his sweetheart Pauline Mac Donald.

and his Car-Guy buddies, (Bill is second on the right.)

His uncle Tom Lyle Williams.

His mother Evelyn Williams and his 36 Ford.

His life at The Villa Valentino with his uncle Tom Lyle, his mother and Pauline.

So he married his childhood sweetheart Pauline Mac Donald and shipped off to the Philippians in March of 1945 not knowing if he'd ever return to California and those he loved so much.

While Bill was overseas his uncle Tom Lyle Williams created War Time Maybelline Advertisements like this one to sell U.S. War Bonds.

Bill in the Philippians working on a reconnaissance plane.  The war ended in August of 1945, but not without leaving it's mark on him.  He came home with a scar on the back of his head from shrapnel which could have easily killed him.  The amazing thing is, after living a long life, he died at 82 from a head injury.  I guess my father like so many Vets who came back to America to create the Baby Boom were actually on borrowed time until they finished their work on earth.  Maybe that's way they were called "The Greatest Generation."

If you want to read more about Bill and his adventures overseas during WW11, his life in the Maybelline family and the Hay-Day after the sale of the company, please pick up a copy of The Maybelline Story from Amazon, Barnes and Noble or buy a signed copy from me from this www.maybellinebook.com.  Stay tuned for Noel Allen Williams story tomorrow.  We're in the Navy now!

Maybelline family Veteran William Preston Williams, WW1.

This Memorial Day marked the 5TH anniversary of my father's death and brought to mind the War Heroes in the Maybelline Family.  Here are a few pictures of my grandfather Williams Preston Williams as he prepared to leave his home and family and fight for our Country during World War l.

This is what Chicago looked like when my grandfather William Preston Williams joined the Navy in 1917.  He was just 18 years old with visions of being a War Hero.  Like so many boy's from the Lost Generation he imagined the war would quickly end and he'd return unscathed by the ravages of battle - only to be greatly disillusioned with a broken spirit.

This is what was going on in the Maybelline Family at the same time.  Tom Lyle introduced Maybelline to the public as Silent Film became popular and Silent Film Stars were seen on screen with heavily made up eyes.

Theda Bara "THE VAMP" - 1917.  This is what was going on in Hollywood when WW1 broke out.  Women began to be conscious of the their eyes and buy Maybelline.  An interesting fact -  Maybelline was sent in an unmarked package insuring the buyer her privacy since Maybelline was so frowned upon at the time.

1917 Maybelline became available through mail order. 

Screen from the Silent Film WINGS.  This is what Preston was heading into.  He was a rear gunner on one of those Flying Sticks in the sky.




Preston with his parents Susan and TJ.  His mother was grief stricken after already losing her first son, Pearl to TB and the thought of losing another son to War was too much for her.  TJ on the other hand was proud his son was fighting for his Country like so many Patriots that went before him in the Williams Family.  He also thought the Navy might straighten his wild card son up a bit. 
                                                                               

Preston was leaving his family to go fight the enemy, an enemy he and so many young American boys thought would be easy to destroy.  It was far from easy, and Preston came home with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, never to be the same again.  Here he is with his little sister Eva on the left, Frances Allen, Tom Lyle Williams Noel James Williams and Bennie Gibbs.

Mabel Williams on the left with her brother Preston, Helen, one of the first Maybelline models, Frances Allen Williams, Bennie Gibbs and Tom Lyle Williams in front of his new "PAGE "Convertible in Chicago. 

Tom Lyle enlisted as well but was denyed service because he was the sole supporter of his entire family according to his draft card in 1917.  Noel was married to Frances and also supported the family managing the Maybelline Company. He might have been too old for service at the time. 

 If you have read The Maybelline Story these pictures will enhance the visual for you.  If you haven't purchased a signed copy yet just click on maybellinestory.com and one will be mailed to you directly.  I will continue with WWll Maybelline family Veterans tomorrow.  Stay tune for more wonderful pictures and stories.

Maybelline Family Glitz and Glamour in California, 1938.

For nearly a century, "Maybelline" has been synonymous with "eye cosmetics"-- yet little is known about how a tiny company offering a single product by mail order managed to grow into an international institution.

The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It,  aims to change that.  It could only be written by someone with insider knowledge. Sharrie Williams is the great-niece of Tom Lyle Williams, the charming and creative, yet remarkably secretive man who founded Maybelline along with his tight knit family, including his brothers and sisters -Noel, Preston, Mabel and Eva - catapulting a little mail order business in 1915 into the most successful and famous eye cosmetic company in the world.   

By digging through family documents, her own memories and the memories of the few remaining people intimately familiar with the founders of Maybelline, Sharrie slipped beneath the public facade of the company to reveal the amazing personalities at its heart. This is an exciting and thoughtful book, part memoir, part history, part family saga, that reveals the triumphs and tragedies behind the beautiful public face of Maybelline.

Chet and Mabel (Willliams) Hewes, and Ches and Eva (Williams) Haines, Hollywood, 1938.

Tom Lyle Williams with Mabel, Chet, Ches and Eva at The Villa Valentino - Hollywood, 1938.

Catalina California 1938 - left to right, My father Bill, great uncleTom Lyle, my Grandmother Evelyn and my auntie Eva, auntie Mabel and uncle Chet.

Read more about the founding of The Maybelline Company from 1915 to 1968 and beyond in The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.  Buy a signed copy from Sharrie Williams by clicking on www.maybellinestory.com.  Thank you for following the Maybelline Blog.

Maybelline Summer-Daze, 1922 - 2011

As summer approaches I can't help but think of those lazy crazy daze gone by when the Maybelline family got together in Chicago or California and made a few unforgettable memories - Here is a picture gallery of some my favorite summer pictures.

The Beach Boys 2011.

Click these links to hear some of our favorite Summer songs while you enjoy the pictures.
Frank Sinatra, A Summer Wind.
The Beach Boys, California Girls.
Beach Boys Surfin USA

My dad Bill Williams at  Lake Zurich, Chicago, 1925

The Maybelline Cousins in 1934 left to right, Bobby Williams-Haines, Dick Williams, Tommy Williams-Hewes, Marilyn Williams-Haines, Shirley Williams-Hewes, June Williams-Haines, Noel A. Williams, Bill Williams, Annette Williams, Helen Williams, Tom Lyle Williams Jr., Joyce Williams-Hewes in Tom Jr's arms.

Ches Haines with my grandfather Preston Williams on the fender. Lake Zurich, Chicago, 1922

Ches Haines and Preston Williams on Lake Zurich, Chicago, 1922

Tom Lyle Williams, at cabin on Lake Michigan, 1937.

Tom Lyle Williams with Sparkie at the cabin on Lake Michigan, 1937.

Tom Lyle Williams at his Villa Valentino, Hollywood Hills, 1940.

Tom Lyle Williams with his sister Eva Williams-Haines, Chet Hewes, his sister Mabel Williams Hewes, and Ches Haines, California 1938.

Evelyn Williams, my grandmother, with her brother in law Tom Lyle Williams, her son, (my dad,) Bill Williams and my mother Pauline Mac Donald Williams at the Villa Valentino in Hollywood Hills, 1942.

My grandmother, Evelyn Williams, West Los Angeles, California, 1938.

My mother Pauline Mac Donald-Williams, in West LA, California, 1944, 20 years of age.

My sister Donna Williams, California, Summer of Love, 1967 at 18 years old.

My Sister Billee Williams (in front,) 21 years old, with Jerry Marks at Zaca Lake in Santa Barbara, 1976.

Family Reunion, Virginia 1990, John Gary, Gloria Williams (my stepmother) Jackie Haines, Marilyn Williams-Haines-Gary, my father Bill Williams and Bob Williams-Haines. Cousins.

Sharrie and Donna Williams  at Crystal Cove in
 Laguna Beach, 2008.

My brother William Preston Williams lll, with my daughter Georgia in Palm Springs California, 1984.

Here I am (left)  with my friend and founder of Instruments for Africa, Tama Walley,
  Laguna Beach, 2008.

Cousin Chuck Williams with his sister Nancy Williams- Fesler and her husband EJ Fessler in
 Santa Barbara, 2006.

Part of the Maybelline Family at 1990 reunion.


Don't forget to buy your copy of The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind it from this      website for $14.00 Thank you for following my blog and stay tuned for more fun Maybelline posts tomorrow.

Maybelline Blog now has 50 countries following it

50 countries now following
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Maybelline Empire started in gangland Chicago.

The Maybelline Story opens the doors to a fascinating era in America's history during the 20th Century.

1943 - Executive Secretary to Noel and Tom Lyle Williams, Dorothy Mullander, stands in front of the Maybelline Company's famous Maybelline logo on the double doors leading into the Maybelline building.  The Maybelline building was two stories with a basement and three apartments for family members who just got married and were getting on their feet.  The packaging and distribution center was also located in the basement.  The first floor held offices for various secretaries and other workers and the walls were filled with pictures of movie stars who modeled for Maybelline in the pages of world wind magazines.  The second floor contained the executive offices for Noel, Tom Lyle, Tom Jr and Rags Ragland.  The Maybelline Building was located at 5900 Ridge Ave, at Ridge and Clark, in the heart of down town Chicago where much of  The Maybelline Story takes place during the gangster ridden era of prohibition.

Outside the Maybelline Building 1934.

When Maybelline was sold, each employee was given $1,000 for each year they worked at Maybelline. Even those who hadn't been there a full year got $1,000. Uncle Lyle's secretary Dorothy (aka Ducky) ended up with something like $35,000 as did another secretary called Jimmie. Jimmie called Mable to ask her to relay to TL how grateful 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.

Tom Lyle, Jr. inherited his father's shyness. Mable's daughter Shirley worked summers at Maybelline and she said every morning TL Jr. walked briskly to his private office, said a brief hello to everyone and no one saw him again until the end of the day. On the other hand, Noel kept up with all the employees' and their families. The women who worked there loved him dearly and called him Unky.

When Tom Lyle died, his niece Shirley got a phone call from TL, Jr.'s lawyer.  He said Tom Lyle Jr. was too shy to go downtown to meet with the executor and lawyers and asked Shirley to do it. She went downtown to explain all the family members and their relationships to the family. Good thing she had and still has an excellent memory.  (Memories from Mable's daughters, Shirley and Joyce, and her granddaughters, Donna and Linda, who still live in Chicago.

Tom Lyle Williams at his home in Bel Air, after the sale of his Maybelline Company in 1968



TL left a big portion of his estate to the Salvation Army. For many years he rented them space in the Maybelline building for $1 annually.


f you enjoyed BOARDWALK EMPIRE, about the Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City, the true story that inspired the HBO series you will love the Maybelline Story as well.  The same characters that kept you glued to your TV are alive and involved in Chicago's gangster era throughout my book.  Also if you loved HBO's Mildred Pierce with it's Hollywood era of the 1930's and 1940's, you will go nuts over The Maybelline Story as well.


Click Boardwalk Empire for a peak into the incredible series from the 1920's.