TOM MIX, Hollywood’s first Western Megastar .

A legend in his own time...The highest paid Star at Fox... until Talkies made Tom Mix' future uncertain.

Tom Mix did his own stunts long before there were stuntmen and doubles handling the dangerous stuff. His silents for Fox were big box office and kept that studio solvent.

One of the top box office stars of the 1920s ...

Tom Mix has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  In 1958, he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. And at the 1987 Golden Boot program, Mix was the recipient of their In Memorial Award.

Tom Mix was a genuine Hollywood legend and his lavish lifestyle reflected that status, as his salary at Fox reached $17,500.00 ..... PER WEEK.

                     Click on video, to see a tribute to Tom Mix.

Tom Mix, loved fast automobiles, and drove them with accelerator to the floorboard.



Over the years, the ownership of the Mix death car has changed several times. In August, 2009, it was sold at a Bonhams auction and there's some info and photos at:http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=USA&screen=lotdetailsNoFlash&iSaleItemNo=4225432&iSaleNo=17327&iSaleSectionNo=2#

AUBURN CORD DUESENBERG

After all these years, the iconic star’s personal toy, the 1937 Cord 812, will now be out in the open again, at the Amelia Island Concours d’ Elegance in 2012. 

click for information.

When my grandfather, Preston Williams, met Tom Mix in Hollywood, in 1927, he called his brother Tom Lyle and told him he had to get to California and see Mix's car collection.  Tom Lyle and Emery not only took Preston's advice, they eventually moved to California, bought Rudolph Valentino's home in Hollywood and like Tom Mix, had this custom, 1940 Packard Victoria, made by Bowman and Schwartz.

 Here is Tom Lyle's Packard Victoria today, owned and restored by Bill Snyder in California.  Stay tuned as my cousin Chuck, aka, BB1, and I meet with Bill and his son, Steve Snyder of VAULTCARS, next week and view our great uncle's car.

Leaving Chicago, and heading to California in the late 1920's, changed Tom Lyle's life forever and this song, by Al Jolson, sums up the excitement and fun he must have felt as he packed up his car and headed, Out West. 

Thank you to my cousin, Linda Hughes, (Mabel Williams Hewes granddaughter,)  for another perfect song to go along with The Maybelline Docu-Blog's, Silent Film and concert series week.

Al Jolson - California Here I Come.mpg

In 1949, Al Jolson made a personal appearance tour to promote "Jolson Sings Again," the sequel to "The Jolson Story."

Sexiest Silent Film ever - The Son of the Sheik - Valentino and Banky, 1926

The on-screen chemistry between Valentino and Banky puts this Silent Film, in a category of it's own... Steaming!!

The premiere of, "The Son of the Sheik," opened at  Grauman's Million Dollar Theatre and was one of Hollywood's most glamorous affairs.

  A month later in New York City, Valentino died.

 I remember my grandmother, Evelyn, (Nana,)  refer to Valentino as...an exotic, adventurous romantic, handsome, hot-blooded Italian-born,

 Latin lover.  In today's terms, that means,

The Sexiest Man Alive.

 The Son of the Sheik, was so popular, because it had everything going for it... Romance, humor, action, adventure and especially a happy ever after ending.

I have to say, for a sizzling 1920's romantic Silent Film, this has to be the best ever made.  But that's just my opinion.  Check the video below, and see for yourself what I'm talking about.

Notes about the making of "Son of the Sheik" from Motion Picture magazine January, 1927:



"The 'sudden' death of Rudolph Valentino, idol of millions of motion picture fans, shocked America and Europe.  Yet we in Hollywood who knew him from the 'Four Horsemen' days onward were not so shocked.

In five years, he changed from a blithe, happy youth to a weary man, his heavily shadowed eyes showing every indication of some serious illness. It is not difficult for us to believe that he paid for 'Son of the Sheik' with his life, that he had not the physical resistance to throw off the strain of his last location trip which took him into the bitter wastes of the Arizona desert.

Click on video to watch the most exotic love scene in Silent Film history.

The Son of The Sheik (1926) Rudolph Valentino

Controvers​ial "rape" scene from Son of the Sheik starring Rudolph Valentino and Vilma Banky.

Velma Banky, known as “The Hungarian Rhapsody,”  was exotic and beautiful enough to star with Rudolph Valentino, in The Son of the Sheik and the The Eagle. 

By the 1920s, Hollywood had created a hunger for Silent Films... a desire for beautiful eyes... and a need for romance... after decades of Victorian restraint.

Silent Film Stars, like, well respected,  Ethel Clayton, seen here in this Maybelline ad, made it okay to be seen in public with Velma Banky Eyes!!!!

Leon Redbone, singing "The Sheik of Araby."

Thank you, to my cousin, Linda Hughes, for another fantastic music choice for today's post.  Stay tuned for another classic tune tomorrow, from the,

 Silent Film Concert Series on The Maybelline Docu-Blog.

Theda Bara, Silent Film's original Vamp, promotes Maybelline in 1915.

Theda Bara was one of the most popular Stars, of her era, and one of cinema's earliest sex symbols.

The word “vamp,” originated from Theda’s nickname while filming a sultry vampire, in A Fool There Was.    

A 1915 silent film, inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s poem, “The Vampire." Theda's character simply known as “the Vampire."  was reduced to “vamp,” and the title stuck.

Theda Bara, the original Vampire. click here and on the video.

Just as Theda Bara, appeared as the Vamp, in

A Fool There Was in 1915 - Mabel Williams, inspired her brother, Tom Lyle Williams - to formulate an eye beautifying product, called Lash-Brow-Ine - that  became Maybelline, in 1916, and was named in her honor.

 

Lash-Brow-Ine and Maybelline, were the first eye beautifying products, in America, sold through mail order and eventually over the counter.  Silent Film Stars, like Theda Bara, made the public aware of the most forgotten feature on the face, "The Eyes."

Tom Lyle Williams, founder and owner of The Maybelline Company from 1915 - 1967.

Older brother Noel James Williams, also played a role in Maybelline's birth, when he loaned his brother Tom Lyle, $500. to launch Lash-Brow-Ine, in 1915.  He was Maybelline's Vice President from 1915 until his death in 1951.

Hollywood and Silent Films were a key ingredient in making Maybelline, the great company it became during the 20TH Century.  

Silent Film week, continues tomorrow.

This is a song by Leon Redbone, called Nobody's Sweetheart Now, written in 1924.  It's about becoming a vamp.  "You'd be out of place in your home town.  Walk down the avenue - they won't believe it's you.  Painted lips, painted eyes...all seems wrong somehow, cause you're nobodies sweetheart now."

Thank you to my cousin Linda Hughes, Mabel Williams granddaughter, for suggesting this song to me.  It says it all, about the era when, Maybelline and Silent Films, explooded onto the world stage.

MAYBELLINE KID'S FASHION FROM THE 1920S AND 30'S

"The Artist," a black-and-white homage to the early days of Hollywood, was named best picture at the 84th Academy Awards.

“The Artist” is the first silent film to win best picture, since the first Academy Awards were held in 1929, and “Wings” won first place.

And for the first time in Academy Awards history, a French actor (Jean Dujardin) and a French filmmaker (Michel Hazanavicius) took the academy’s top acting and directing awards.

 I've been a fan of silent films for over 30 years and never miss them on Turner Classic Movies, Sunday nights.  One thing for sure is, kids and dogs are scene stealer's, when there isn't a lot of talking going on, and Baby Peggy was one of the best.

Of course Jackie Coogan was killer cute with Charlie Chaplin in the 1921 film, The Kid.

To celebrate the first Silent film in 83years, here is a tribute, showing adorable children, from my great aunt Bunny's 1920s, photo album.  First, my father, Bill Williams, in 1925, a real scene stealer all his life.

Bill Williams with his cousin, Arvis in 1928, check out the incredible clothes kid's wore in those days.

Two future little cousin, car-guy's, Bill Stroh and Bill Williams, 1927 in Chicago.

Bill Williams with his first set of wheel's 1927, on Christmas day.

Bill Williams, with cousin,  Arvis and her brother Bill Stroh, 1927.

My dad, "THE KID," Bill Williams dressed meticulously everyday by his doting mother Evelyn Williams.

Bill Williams in short pants and knee socks, a double breasted coat and cap - right out of a silent film, from 1928.

Bill and Arvis Stroh, roller Skating in Chicago, dressed for a fashion layout, in 1929.

Bill and Arvis Stroh, looking like part of the cast from Our Gang, in 1929.

Look how amazingly well dressed, Arvis and Bill Stroh are in this picture and the way they light up in front of the camera, in 1929.

Doesn't get much cuter than this.  Bill and Arvis Stroh, in 1927.

               Is this the most adorable picture ever.....

My dad's cousin's and Mabel and Chet Hewes daughter, Shirley and her little brother Tommy, in about 1932 - 33.  Look at the gold bracelet and ring on little Shirley's hand. These children look like child Stars or Royalty by today's standards.  Parents took such pride in their children's fashion during the first half of the 20Th Century.  

I hope we see more Silent Films made, because they are not only classic, they allow you to have your own thoughts and not be so caught up in the special effects, we are so inundated with today. 

More fun, fun, fun tomorrow!!  Thank you for following the Vintage Maybelline Docu-Blog, the most extensive living documentary Blog on the Internet.

More Classic cars from the 1920, featured in The Maybelline Story

When I look through my grandmother's, sister Bunny's 1920s photo album, I can't help be caught up in the magic of the era. Here are a few more delightful pictures I want to share with Vintage-lovers. 

Bunny's husband, Harold Cotter, picture shot in 1923, Chicago.

The irrepressible, Bunny Boecher-Cotter.

Bunny and Harold were the automobile enthusiasts, in their family.  They never had kids, but adored their dog and their fun, racy cars.

Bunny, dressed from a scene right out of The Artist, looks like a Movie Star in this picture.

Harold, Cotter, was the perfect bookend for Bunny Boecher, always meticulously dressed and an absolutely dapper dude.

And, here is Bunny and Harold's Baby!!

I have my fingers crossed for The Artist, to win Best Picture at the Oscars, tonight!!!

Chick here and check out - The Artist,

 and it's fantastic soundtrack.

If you love Old Hollywood, Vintage Silent Films and stunning scenes and costumes from the 1920s,

The Artist,  "will warm the cockles of your heart." 

Don't forget Uggie the spunky dog, who stole every scene in the movie and was suggested for an Academy Award, but turned it down, because he was far too busy, check out this article, http://www.citypress.co.za/Entertainment/News/Uggie-the-dog-turns-down-Oscar-invitation-he-is-far-too-busy-20120225

See you tomorrow with the results.... PS, my second pick an Academy Award is, Midnight in Paris.

The Artist Featured on E! News!
Charlie Chaplin's Granddaugh​ters Interview/
​Uggie's Appearance on E! News! IN THEATERS NOW! www.theart​istmovie.n​et http

Vintage Maybelline Marcel Wave,

My grandmother, Evelyn, and her two sisters, Verona and Bunny, spent their whole lives decked-out from head to toe and learned the art of finger waving a Marcel Wave, in 1927.

Having the right tools, a lot of gel and strong fingers were the secret to having the perfect, Marcel Wave.

My great aunt Verona and Bunny were experts at finger waving each other's hair, into ideal Marcel Waves. 

Bunny, the youngest of the sisters, was a spitfire, with a personality that jumped right off the page, and

 was always head of the curve, when it came to

the latest fashion craze

Here are the three girls in 1929, all Maybellined up, with Marcel waves, and chic little hats, going to lunch at

 The Italian Village, a new restaurant that just opened

 in Chicago, in 1927.

Keeping up a fashionable appearance took a great deal of time and energy, not to mention expense, but for City Girls, it was second nature.  I grew up with my grandmother, Evelyn, (Nana,) teaching me to pin curl my hair when I was 6 years old.  I remember her scolding me when I complained, about how hard it was.  She'd say "It hurts to be beautiful darling."  I suppose she was right.  It was worth it to be beautiful, as I look back now. 

Here's Verona and Bunny walking State Street in Chicago, shopping for more, more, more fabulous shoes, hats, coats, dresses and of course Maybelline, as they head into the 1930's.