1940 Packard Vctoria's hood ornament is a Horse's Head.

\Horse's head represents the power Maybelline had over all other cosmetic brands.

One thing that makes Tom Lyle's Packard Victoria, so unique, besides the extra long hood, was the hood ornament.  It's a horse's, head!!  Maybelline was ahead of the pack, as far as competition was concerned and the Packard out-horsepowered any other car on the road. The King of Advertising, equated the powerful symbol, with Maybelline's super-power, in the cosmetic industry.

Speaking of Horses, and period films, you have to see "War Horse."

Storyline



Dartmoor,1914: To his wife's dismay farmer Narracott buys a thoroughbred horse rather than a plough animal but his teenaged son Albert trains the horse and calls him Joey,the two becoming inseparable. When his harvest fails the farmer has to sell Joey to the British cavalry and he is shipped to France where,after a disastrous offensive he is captured by the Germans and changes hands twice more before he is found,caught in the barbed wire in No Man's Land four years later and freed,due to a bizarre truce. He is returned behind British lines where Albert,now a private,has been temporarily blinded by gas but still recognises his beloved Joey. However as the Armistice is declared Joey is set to be auctioned off. After all they have been through will Albert and Joey return home together?
Written by don @ minifie-1

Thank you for following The Maybelline
Vintage Docu-Blog.

Trailer for War Horse.  Click on video.

1940 Packard Victoria by Bohman & Schwartz, ready for it's close up!

Tom Lyle Williams 1940 convertible, Packard Victoria, ready to come out of the Vault

Tom Lyle's 16 year old nephew, Dick Williams in the driver's seat of his uncle's 1940 Packard Victoria. The extra long, 20 foot, bumper to bumper body, made it one of a kind. Picture shot at The Villa Valentino, 1947.

Tom Lyle's Packard Victoria, built by Bohman & Schwartz, is now part of Bill Snyder's collection, in Southern California.  My cousin Chuck Williams, aka, BB1, and I met up with Bill's son, Steve Snyder of VAULTCARS, at Barrett Jackson Classic Car Auction, this week and discussed making a documentary on this very rare automobile. I will post it sometime in March, so stay tuned for stories and facts that have been in the Vault for 60 years.

On the hunt for TL Williams 1934 Packard Dietrich Vee Windshield,.

Tom Lyle Williams loved his family, the Maybelline Company and his Packards.

Tom Lyle with his brother Preston, his sister in law, Evelyn and his nephew Bill Williams top left.  Below he poses with his son Tom Lyle Jr.  Right, Tom Lyle with his 1934 Packard Dietrich Vee Windshield, one of only 4 made.

I recieved this letter about Tom Lyle's 1934 Vee Windshield Dietrich Packard and thought it might be interesting to my Car-Guy readers.   I

Dear Sharrie,


My name is Matthew Kilkenny, a Packard auto historian, and I'm currently writing a book about Custom Packards from the early 1930s including Dietrich custom bodied Packards. Tom Lyle had superb taste in cars as his car is only one of about four ever built in 1934. The goal of my book, because these cars are so rare and beautiful, is to as best I can document the history of each car including the original owner.  Like a Monet or Rembrandt, people a generation or a century from now will want to know the history of these rolling scullptures. I'm trying to document the stories of each of these rare cars such as Tom Lyle's in a definitive book before the stories get lost. The stories are starting to get lost because people that owned rare Dietrich Packards early in their life for example are dying off.


We owe it to future generations to document these beautiful cars as best as possible.  I saw the pictures of the car on your website and I have actually been trying to find more info on this car! I have a photo of Tom Lyle taking the keys to this car from a Packard Salesman. As part of my documentation and figuring out for example, which of the four cars existing today belonged to Tom, I need the "VIN" numbers off of the car. In Tom's archives does he have any sales invoices, registration documents, fireewall plate or other pictures of this car bill of sale who he sold it to and when? This will allow me to figure out which of these cars was Tom's.


As you know it takes so much work to track down leads and do research for a book, but I have moments like this where I personally, or through help of another, get pointed to things such as this and you feel like you make progress! My Dad owns a 1934 Dietrich Conv Sedan similar to Tom's and we have written an article on Dietrichs for the world famous Pebble Beach concours program. I have attached this article. Tom Lyle is in company of Al Jolson and Gene Sarazen, the famous golfer, who also owned rare Vee Windshield Dietrich Packards.


 Best Regards,


Matt Kilkenny


Stay tuned tomorrow for update on Tom Lyle Williams 1940 Packard Victoria, one of two ever made and found at last.

Two Car-Guy's on the same page, at Barrett Jackson.

Making contact with the family, who owns Tom Lyle Williams 1940 Packard Victoria,

My cousin Chuck Williams, (aka BB1,) of REEEEEL CONVERTIBLES, and I met up with Steve Snyder, of VAULTCARS, at  Barrett Jackson, to discuss making a documentary on Tom Lyle Williams, 1940 convertible Packard Victoria.

Steve Snyder is the go-to man, when it comes to vintage Packard's.  The difference between this 1939 Packard Victoria and Tom Lyle's, 1940 Packard Victoria are significant.

 Steve and Chuck, hit it off like Car-Guy's do!!!  They both agree, vintage Packard's were the car of the day!!

To be continued.   

Chuck Williams-BB1 with his car collection.

Noel A. Williams son, Chuck Williams, aka BB1, does a cosmetic restoration on his father's 1975 Rolls Royce, 12 years after his fathers death.

His fathers Rolls was untouched for 12 years.

unveiling of the Rolls.

Chuck makes the decision to bring the Rolls Royce, back to it's glory days.

1975 Rolls Royce, Silver Shadow, LWB.  Collage's of Chuck Williams car collection, by Charles Abrams Photography.

Chuck bought this 74 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce, new, in 1974 and still has it in his car collection today.  It has been shown several times, at the Concours Italiano and other venue's across the country.  The Alfa has won best Spider, and is known as the Pearl.  It is Chuck's personal favorite.


Chuck had this 1965 Factory 5 racing Cobra, with it's Roush 402R, 525 HP and 515 lbs of torque, built by Joe Cusumano and painted by Red Dog Jones.  The car has won numerous awards and goes 0 to 60 in 3.3 seconds. Also one of Chuck's personal favorites.





Stay tuned this week as my cousin, Chuck Williams of REEEEEL Convertibles and Steve Snyder, of http://www.vaultcars.com/http://www.vaultcars.com/ 
discuss Tom Lyle Williams, 1940 Packard Victoria, built by the custom body builders Bohman & Schwartz.  Steve Snyder's father,  is the owner of the car today. 

          

Downton Abbey claims Golden Globe

High class costume drama Downton Abbey wins Golden Globe for best television mini series.

The Primetime Emmy Award and Golden Globe, winning series from Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park) returns to Masterpiece classic Downton Abbey.  It is a hit saga - mini-series,  about the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants.

Click on video, for a one minute view into the Crawley's private lives.  Watch Masterpiece Theatre Sunday nights on PBS.  Downton Abbey, takes place in England during WW 1 and captures the period, with stunning costumes, outrageous cars and beautiful scenes inside and outside the Abbey.





Another vintage period piece, television show I love, is MadMen. A view into an advertising agency during the 1960s.  MadMen returns March 25th on AMC.



Click on Video and meet MadMen's, Don Draper.  If you love period pieces, check all the movies and TV shows I recommend. 


Also check the Maybelline Blog this week, as my cousin, Chuck Williams, aka, BB1, of the Beach Boy's, and I visit Barrett Jackson's Classic Car Auction, where we will meet the man who owns, Tom Lyle Williams, 1940, Convertible Packard Victoria.

Golden Globes 2012: 'Midnight in Paris' Wins Best Screenplay

The 1920's come alive in the most charming way in Midnight in Paris!! 

One night, Gil gets drunk and wanders the streets of Paris. At midnight, an antique car pulls up, and the passengers—dressed in 1920s clothing—urge Gil to join them. They go to a bar, where Gil comes to realize that he has been transported to the 1920s, an era he idolizes. He encounters Cole Porter, Josephine Baker, and Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, who take him to meet Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway agrees to show Gil's novel to Gertrude Stein, and Gil goes to fetch his manuscript from his hotel. However, as soon as he leaves the bar, he finds he has returned to 2010.

Veteran actor-turned-director Woody Allen successfully took home the Best Screenplay award for his work in "Midnight in Paris".

Midnight in Paris and The Artist get my vote for the most original and charming movies on the big screen.  Mildred Pierce and Boardwalk Empire  for vintage, TV dramas.

New York Film Critics and Golden Globe, name "The Artist" Best Picture

If you love Old Hollywood, the 1920's, Silent Films and vintage glamour, be sure to check out the trailer below, and watch the Academy Awards this year.  The Artist may take best picture.

Hollywood, 1927: As silent movie star George Valentin wonders if the arrival of talking pictures will cause him to fade into oblivion,

The Artist, behind the scenes. A black and white Silent Film that takes place in 1927 Hollywood, may become the first silent film to win the Oscar in oh, 83 years?

The Artist wins Golden Globe award tonight for, best actor in a motion picture comedy or musical, best motion picture comedy or musical and best original score.

                         Mildred Pierce click on Video

Actress in a TV miniseries/movie went to Emmy Award winner Kate Winslet, also a Globe nominee for Carnage, for her role in HBO's Mildred Pierce.

Boardwalk Empire didn't win a golden Globe, but it is still a stunning piece of nostalgia from the 1920s.

Like HBO's Boardwalk Empire and Mildred Pierce, The Artist, sets a background, with scenery, costumes, cars, and homes, much like The Maybelline Story. It seems the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s are making a big comeback.

A rich man, with a humble spirit, devoted to family first.

No matter how big Maybelline became, Tom Lyle Williams remained devoted to his Son and nieces and nephews, who loved and adored him all their lives.

Left to right - Bob (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 Jr. Williams holding baby, Joyce (Williams) Hewes.

Tom Lyle, The King of Advertising, was just Unk Ile, to the kid's who loved him.  Always humble, kind, generous and devoted - his love of family, remained constant,  all his life.

Parents were, Tom Lyle Williams and (Bennie Gibes,) Noel J. and Frances Williams, Mabel and Chet Hewes, Evelyn and Preston Williams and Eva and Ches Haines.

Read all about Tom Lyle and his family in The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.

Louis B Mayer, TL Williams and Emery Shaver at MGM.

Tom Lyle Williams and his partner, Emery Shaver, conducted business on a regular basis at MGM.  Negotiating Maybelline contracts, with some of Louis B. Mayer's,  most beautiful Stars.

                                          MGM Studio's famous gates.

          Louis B Mayer on the left with Paulette Goddard.

Paulette Goddard in an early 1940's Maybelline ad.

The FACE of Maybelline, in the 1940s, Joan Crawford.

MGM Star Joan Crawford, also Tom Lyle's personal friend.

One of the most beautiful women in the world,
Hedy Lamarr

                    MGM Star, Hedy Lamarr and Maybelline model.

                                                 Exotic Merle Oberon.

Merle Oberon made pictures at MGM for Samuel Goldwyn Productions, and was a Maybelline model.

My father Bill Williams and his mother Evelyn with uncle, Tom Lyle and Emery Shaver, (seated.)  Standing next to TL's 1934 Packard Victoria with the extra long hood.

To be Continued:

Read all about Maybelline and Old Hollywood in
                        The Maybelline Story.


Tom Lyle and Emery were bi-coastal, between Chicago and Hollywood in the 1930's and though Tom Lyle was a Hollywood mogul, contracting the biggest Stars in the world, he remained the Godfather for his family throughout his entire life. 

MGM - Louis B. Mayer - Maybelline - in the 1930s.

Louis B. Mayer, the Godfather of The Hollywood Star System, created Super Stars out of starlets. But not without the help of Tom Lyle Williams and Maybelline.

The star system was the method of creating, promoting and exploiting movie stars in Classical Hollywood cinema.

MGM was one of the most powerful and most prestigious of all the major motion picture studios.

Studios would select promising young actresses and glamorise and create personas for them, often inventing new names and even new backgrounds.

Louis B. Mayer, the most powerful , highest paid man in Hollywood, created the Hollywood myth, "that anything is possible, regardless of class or money."  He didn't want real life scandals to tarnish that dream, and diminish his audiences. 

The star system put an emphasis on the image rather than the acting. Women were expected to behave like ladies, and were never to leave the house without makeup and stylish clothes.

Part of creating the ideal image of emerging stars, was to promote them in Maybelline ads,

Jean Harlow on the cover of Picture Play, would also appear in a Maybelline ad inside the magazine.

Tom Lyle Williams kept his private life hidden from public scrutiny, to protect Maybelline's image.  However, he was as big, if not bigger, than any Hollywood Studio head and like Louis B. Mayer,  created Super Stars, by  grooming and promoting them in Maybelline advertisements.  

Jean Harlow, illustrated in a Maybelline ad, appeared in all the popular gossip, Hollywood movie magazines, in the early 1930s.

TO BE CONTINUED:

The whole exciting saga unfolds in my book, The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.

Glamour during the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Maybelline was synonymous with Hollywood Glamour in the 1930s.

Before and After Maybelline ad, with Paulette Goddard.

Carole Lombard, one of Tom Lyle's favorites.

Betty Grable, Maybelline Star.

Paulette Goddard, a personal friend of T L Williams.

Gloria Swanson, a Maybelline model from the 1920s.

Jean Harlow, another Maybelline model, Tom Llye, helped groom.

Marion Valle' brought fashion and Maybelline together.

Maybelline box, in the 1930s.

Black and white Maybelline ads, appeared in all the Hollywood gossip magazines.

Typical Maybelline ad found in Photoplay.

Tom Lyle Williams, with his son Tom Lyle Jr in 1934.

Read all about the Golden Age of Hollywood in The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.