A forgotten member of the Maybelline Family can at last Rest in Peace.

If you've read my book The Maybelline Story, you may remember the story about my father's half brother Tony who was killed in a motorcycle accident on his 21st Birthday.  Well for 63 years his grave has remained unmarked and his memory almost forgotten until now.

Marilyn (Diddy) Williams/Haines and Tony Williams/Shaver

Like a miracle we have found Tony's unmarked grave and I'm happy to say that several members of the Maybelline family, including the Noel James Williams family, the Mabel Williams/Hewes family, the Eva Williams/Haines Family and of course my family, the Preston Williams family, have come together to honor our lost angel by ordering a marker and finally acknowledging him as a beloved member of our family. 

After an hour of searching for Tony Williams-Shaver's grave my sister Donna, my cousin Ann Louise and I found it tucked under a beautiful Pine Tree in the old section of Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Culver City.  It was without a doubt the coldest, windiest day I can remember in California and I believe Tony's Spirit was dancing with Joy in the wind, as his long lost relatives not only visited him, but now honor his memory and hold him dear in their hearts. 

If you'd like to see Tony's spot just click on the video.  The marker will be placed hopefully by Christmas Eve and at that point we will visit Tony again and document his beautiful memory plaque. 

If you want to know more about my uncle Tony and why his grave remained unmarked for 63 years, you'll have to read my book!!!

Thank you for following The Maybelline Book Blog....

Tony's marker was placed November 15, shortly after our first visit and yes he was buried under the big Pine tree.

My sister Donna corrects my faux Pas!!!  Sorry about that.

View from Tony's grave at twilight in Culver City California.

                                          

Unfailing Prayer to Saint Anthony

Here is a typical petition, as found on the back of a Saint Anthony holy card:

Unfailing Prayer to Saint Anthony Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints.  O Holy St. Anthony, gentlest of Saints, your love for God and Charity for His creatures made you worthy, when on earth, to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited on your word, which you were ever ready to speak for those in trouble or anxiety.

Encouraged by this thought, I implore of you to obtain for me (request). The answer to my prayer may require a miracle. Even so, you are the saint of Miracles.

O gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the Sweet Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms, and the gratitude of my heart will ever be yours.

Amen. (Say 13 Paters, Aves, and Glorias)

Meet Make-Up Artist Donna Mee and see pictures of my Maybelline Story Presentation for the Laguna Playhouse.

DONNA MEE is a successful entrepreneur, and Beauty Expert that has over 30 years of experience to her credit. She currently owns and operates numerous beauty related businesses in Orange County, California. Her career as a professional Makeup Artist led her to work with celebrities, fashion designers, magazines and TV.

www.DonnaMeeInc.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2Z3gndTpiU 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Donna-Me … 2292293522 

Donna Mee Inc. Makeup Artisry Academy/Agency/Studio/Products

Published: Sept. 25, 2012 Updated: 10:43 a.m

For O.C. cosmetics expert, makeup's history forms foundation

Makeup, including a historical collection dating back hundreds of years, is part of the foundation of Donna Mee's life.

My Maybelline Story Presentation for the Laguna Playhouse Women,   was a stunning event at the Pacific  Club in Newport Beach California. Here I am signing a book for the Playhouse Director City Council member and past Laguna Beach Mayor, Elizabeth Pearson.  I was thrilled to sign over 40 books and met some of Orange County's leading women.  One lovely lady, make-up artist, Donna Mee, came to meet me and learn more about Maybelline's history.  She has an extensive make-up collection dating back 100 years and is an authority on it's history.  Check her website and the article she just did for the Orange County Register linked under her beautiful picture.  I will be meeting up with Donna and making a video of her collection this month, so stay tuned as two make-up enthusiasts go wild with memories of Maybelline!

Lunch at the Pacific Club.

A view of my Maybelline Story Presentation.

I was so excited about the success of my Newport Beach splash, that I ran to Costco and bought myself a new car....  Just kidding....but I did have a great time and want to thank everyone who attended and supported the Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.  Keep your fingers crossed, as my Publisher, Bettie Youngs is meeting with a Producer today to discuss a possible movie.  See you all soon as I head down the highway!!

JOAN CRAWFORD - MILDRED PIERCE - HEDY LAMARR - PAUL HESSE HOLLYWOOD - 1945 ACADEMY AWARDS

I'm very excited to show you this private letter from Maybelline ad man, Emery Shaver (Tom Lyle Williams partner for over 50 years) - written from the Villa Valentino, to his sister Elizabeth Shaver, and graciously shared with me by his nephew Floyd Shaver-Welles.  I think you'll enjoy its significant value, especially if you love Vintage Hollywood and pure Advertising genius...... 

1923, from the left, Tom Lyle Williams, Elizabeth Shaver and her brother
  Emery Shaver seated.

April 14, 1946.

Life goes on rather calmly here, as usual.  We had a slight flurry of activity here last week in working on an assignment with Hedy Lamarr for a new ad.  She is a rather temperamental woman, although much more beautiful than she appears on the screen, and it was with some difficulty that we were finally able to pin her down to an appointment with Paul Hesse, Hollywood's leading Photographer, for a color portrait, and then get her to write her promised autographed testimonial.  All this took some diplomacy, but it was finally accomplished.  And from the first black and white proofs, it would appear we are going to have perhaps the most beautiful of all  of our growing list of color ads.  Presume you saw the one we have of Joan Crawford, which is now running currently for us in most of the magazines.  It was most fortunate for us that Miss Crawford was awarded the Academy Award for the Best Actress of 1945 for her picture "Mildred Pierce," just as our ad was first appearing.  Our ad created quite a sensation in the Advertising world and has been generally admired, so now many other Motion Picture Celebrities are eager to have the enormous benefit of such beautiful color ads, and we have more offers than we care to take advantage of.  Nothing succeeds, like success, they say, and this instance proves it. Hope the Lamarr ad gets as much attention and I think it will.

Hedy Lamarr.

Joan Crawford.

The actual letter.

Merle Oberon followed in a Maybelline color ad by Paul Hesse Hollywood.

My Guest Blogger @KatesReads reviews The Maybelline Story

A Compelling True Story of Success
and Intrigue

By Kate Farrell of Kates Reads
www.katesreads.com
@KatesReads

“The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Dynasty Behind It”, by Sharrie Williams is a gripping memoir of the cosmetics company and her own family.  It is vintage Hollywood, with all of the glamour, greed, passion and intrigue you would expect.

Tom Lyle, the company’s founder and patriarch of the family, discovers the idea for mascara from an incident with his sister, Mabel.  He turns the idea into a business venture and begins a successful mail-order marketing campaign.  He names the company Maybelline in honor of his sister.  Over the years the business will grow and then reach the brink only to be brought back to success by Lyle’s business and marketing savvy.  He was truly an entrepreneur.

The extended family is filled with interesting and colorful personalities.  Most of them are involved in the company in some shape or form; or at least dependent on their share of the family fortune. How they interact with each other and get tangled up in drama makes for titillating reading.  The author does not seem to have left any skeletons in the closet or stones unturned.

This is a very engaging memoir.  Williams’ writing brings all the players to life and makes the reader anxious to know what happens to them next.  It has all the ingredients for a great piece of fiction but is even better when you realize it all really happened.  A great read!

Check out this great Vintage Hollywood Poster.....

Maybelline Headquarters at the Villa Valentino - Hollywood Hills in the 1930s.

During the 1930's and 40's, Tom Lyle, Emery Shaver and Arnold Anderson made up the West Coast branch of the Maybelline Co.  These three men handled the entire Advertising department and produced some of the most artistic photographs of movie stars ever seen. 

Tom Lyle worked with the major film studios, movie stars and ad agency who booked ads in magazines and newspapers seen around the world.  Emery wrote the copy for the ads and created Maybelline's famous slogans. Arnold a creative genius when it came to  touch-up and "before and after" shots, used technicolor to perfect his photos to Tom Lyle's satisfaction. 

 Their story is clearly spelled out in my book, The Maybelline Story, but in case you've already read the book and wished for more pictures of Maybelline West, The Villa Valentino and the three men who lived there, here are some rare vintage black and whites.
 

Portion of Tom Lyle Williams Villa Valentino's garden.

 

steps leading to the patio.

 

Tom Lyle and Emery on one of the patio's, with the Packard parked on the street.

Tom Lyle, Arnold and Emery with two of Tom Lyle's nieces in front of the Villa Valentino


 

Maybelline West, The Villa Valentino in
 the Hollywood Hills.



The statue Aspiration overlooking the pool.

I hate to be pushy but if you Love Vintage, Romance and Nostalgia? Check this out

An award winning Toastmaster, professional speaker and Celebrity Columnist, author Sharrie Williams is available for Club Events, Fundraisers, Speaking Conferences, Conventions and Corporate Meetings.  Sharrie presents her inspirational Maybelline Story, as a Power Point, One Woman Show with vintage Maybelline ads priceless family photos and never before told stories... Contact Sharrie at maybellinebook@gmail.com

Love Vintage, Romance and Nostalgia? You will Love The Maybelline Story!

 From the Baby Boomer's tidal wave on the worlds markets

 Television in the 1950's became an explosive venue to for Maybelline,

The Maybelline Story covers nearly 100 years 

You won't want to miss these priceless vintage Photos, Maybelline Ads and never before told stories about our American history.

 Remember the good old days when style, glamour and confidence was the American way.

As well as remember those nostalgic Maybelline Ads from the 1960's,

back through the glamour years of World War ll, with the famous Movie Star Pin Ups.

order your copy signed copy of The Maybelline Story today.

Congratulations Shelley Ollivier you are the winner of my Facebook giveaway.

Congratulations Shelley Ollivier of British Columbia, you are the winner of a copy of The Maybelline Stoy and a vintage Maybelline mini-make-up bag.  Shelley please contact me at maybellinebook@gmail.com.  Here is the original information on my Facebook giveaway.  http://www.maybellinebook.com/2012/10/im-giving-away-copy-of-maybelline-story.html

Dearest Sharrie: 

Omg! I am so excited! I cannot believe I have won a copy of your book, The Maybelline Story. I cannot wait to get my hands on it and read such a behind-the-scenes story of the Maybelline Dynasty.  Thank you!!! 

Also, the vintage mini-make-up bag is truly one of a kind. I will carry it with me when I attend cocktail parties, and it will truly be a conversation piece, plus such an accessory - considering it comes from Ms. Sharrie Williams, herself, I feel quite honored. 

I hope to chat with you soon, Sharrie, I have not been online and very little of Facebook these past few weeks..but I am certainly going to tell everyone on FB and Twitter that I have won!!!!

Thank you Shelley so nice to hear how excited you are about winning the book and bag. I just mailed them off to you today, so let me know when they arrive and when you read The Maybelline Story, please consider writing a review for my blog. Best always, Sharrie

Don't forget to call into Blog Talk Radio tonight at 8:00 EST live and ask me a question.....

  I would love to meet you. 
 http://www.blogtalkradio.com/letteschat/2012/10/26/sharrie-williams-and-the-maybelline-legacy                               

      

If you missed the show it is still available  just go to the blog talk radio  link.