Watch for new London Musical, "Norma Jeane the Musical," The 1975 film, "Goodbye Norma Jean," was filmed at my father's home in Palm Springs California

After Tweeting about the 1975 film, Goodbye Norma Jean, filmed at my father, Bill Williams, Palm Springs Estate, I received a very interesting Tweet from Henry Köhler.

Henry is the son of Carl Kohler, the artist who created this fascinating picture of Marilyn Monroe.  After seeing the face of Monroe, I responded, by writing, "how perfect, since Monroe was so abstract herself.

 Henry Kohler granted permission to use 'Marilyn Monroe' by his father Carl Köhler as part of the official show poster.

For more information about this painting and others please go to :  http://www.carlkohler.com/

For more information on Norma Jeane the Musical http://www.normajeanethemusical.com/

"

Filming of Goodbye Norma Jean at Maybelline Heir's estate in Palm Springs, 1975.

Author Sharrie Williams on the left sitting next to her little sister Billee Williams with the rest of the extras during the filming of Goodbye Norma Jean, at their father Bill Williams estate Casa de Guillermo's in 1975.

 Excerpt from Author, Sharrie Williams' 1975 Diary.

By January of 1975, Billee, my little sister had gone on a cattle call, to be an extra in an independent film called "Good-Bye Norma Jean", and she said I should go up to Hollywood, and see if I could get in the movie as well. Gene thought it would be fun and went with me for the audition. We needed to generate some cash flow with Nana gone, and I hoped I might make it into the movie business 

      and keep the excitement in our marriage going.     

The casting director was a young guy about our age and thought I was beautiful, but seemed even more impressed that Gene was a lawyer with that California laid back confidence.  In other words, he liked us both and thought we were a cool couple.   

He gave us the scene layout for the movie and I pictured the whole thing being shot at my dad's estate in Palms Springs.  I showed him pictures of the grounds, and he said it looked like an old 1930's directors home:  with its circular drive-way, rows of tall palm trees, fountains, wrought iron electric gates, Olympic size swimming pool, tennis court, 5 hole chipping green, Koi pond and stream running through it, as well as a guest house, 12 vintage cars and completely private.  He was blown away and said he had to have it.  I told him I'd ask my dad and get back to him. 

The whole thing was such a high, that I never thought about Nana, Hot Springs, or the  fortune hunter she ran off with at 74.  After all, I was creating my own fantasy-life in which I was the star.

My Dad actually thought it would be fun, so after the contracts were signed -  and some money paid for the use of the grounds -  and he was assured that if any damage took place he'd be covered -  the gig was on!  We shot the movie at the end of February and it was the most fun, exciting thing that ever happened.  

The Director let me cast all my friends and family as extras and a two day nonstop party was on.  Twelve of my friends, cousin Chuck and Anne, plus Gene and I stayed at the estate we were married in, with it's 7 bedrooms and full time maid and cook, while my dad and his cousin Noel and Jean and girlfriend Ernie, stayed at the Casa.  My dad actually had two estates a few blocks apart and the extravagance was off the charts. 

More of the making Goodbye Norma Jean at the Casa tomorrow.  Also read more in the Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind it.   

Norma Jean Baker transforms into Marilyn Monroe at Casa Guillermo, 1975.

Scenes from Goodbye Norma Jean, from my father, Bill Williams, Casa Guillermo, 1975

In these scene's, Norma Jean, is being told she has what it takes, but must undergo some "Work," to transform her image. 

 Stay tuned next weekend when Norma Jean morphs into, Marilyn Monroe, and walks through the grounds of beautiful Casa Guillermo.

More scenes from the Casa, including the cars and the glamor will be posted, but you can read all about it, bigger than life, in The Maybelline Story, 

Filming of Goodbye Norma Jean at Maybelline Heir's estate ...

Jan 27, 2011

Author Sharrie Williams on the left sitting next to her little sister Billee Williams with the rest of the extras during the filming of Goodbye Norma Jean, at their father Bill Williams estate Casa de Guillermo's in 1975. Excerpt from ...

Goodbye Norma Jean, filmed at Casa Guillermo in 1975.

Aug 24, 2011

Nana moved to Hot Springs Arkansas with her new husband, while my husband, an attorney, put together a deal with the producer of Goodbye Norma Jean, to have the movie filmed at my father's Palm Springs estate, Casa ...

Scenes from Goodbye Norma Jean, filmed at my father's ...

Sep 18, 2011

A shot from inside Casa Guillermo. On the left side is Jean Williams, my dad's cousin. During the three day shooting of Goodbye Norma Jean, the director asked all of my friends and family to fill up the background in various ...

Goodbye Norma Jean, scenes from Casa De Guillermo's.

Sep 12, 2011

Here are some views of Casa Guillermo, inside and out. Read all about the filming of the movie at the Casa w

misty rowe starring in goodbye norma jean 1976

Dec 28, 2011

MISTY ROWE STARRING IN GOODBYE NORMA JEAN 1976. Misty Rowe as Marilyn Monroe. filmed at my father Bill Williams home in 1975, at Casa de Guillermo, Palm Springs California. My father, Bill Williams with Misty ...

Maybelline cousins featured in Goodbye Norma Jean in 1975

Feb 01, 2011

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 ...

Maybelline family films the movie Goodbye Norma Jean, at ...

Jan 19, 2011

Maybelline family films the movie Goodbye Norma Jean, at their estate in Palms Springs,. Noel Williams, Tom Lyle Williams nephew at his cousin Bill Williams estate in Palms Springs, 1975 in front of a 1934 Packard.

Photo's of Misty Roe as Marilyn Monroe in Goodbye Norma ...

Oct 02, 2011

Click on video, to see the final scenes from the 1976 film, Goodbye Norma Jean, filmed at my father's estate, Casa de Guillermo, in Palm Springs California. If you'd like to receive The Mabelline Blog daily, please sign up by ...

Photo's of Misty Roe as Marilyn Monroe in Goodbye Norma ...

Oct 02, 2011

Click on video, to see the final scenes from the 1976 film, Goodbye Norma Jean, filmed at my father's estate, Casa de Guillermo, in Palm Springs California. If you'd like to receive The Mabelline Blog daily, please sign up by ...

THE MAYBELLINE STORY : Norma Jean Baker transforms ...

Sep 25, 2011

Norma Jean Baker transforms into Marilyn Monroe at Casa Guillermo, 1975. Scenes from Goodbye Norma Jean, from my father, Bill Williams, Casa Guillermo, 1975. In these scene's, Norma Jean, is being told she has what it ...

http://www.maybellinebook.com/

THE MAYBELLINE STORY : Two fabulous photos of Misty ...

Feb 02, 2011

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 ...

Sharrie Williams appearance on Good Morning Arizona talks about her book and her family

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYltl0D_zvA

'The Maybelline Story' by Sharrie Williams

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1932 Art Deco Maybelline Ad

1938 Maybelline ad by Zoe Mozart artist

Good Morning Arizona celebrates the origins of an iconic American brand, chronicling the rise of a multi-billion dollar business from it's grass roots in Morganfield Kentucky.

Author Sharrie Williams, whose great uncle launched Maybelline in 1915, sat down with Tara Hitchcook to talk about her book, whack is as much a family memoir as it is a business success story

Maybelline Story now published in Poland

Joan Crawford 1946

First Maybelline box 1917

Lash-Brow-Ine, came before Maybelline in 1915

First Black Maybelline Model, 1959

Sharrie Williams standing next to her great uncle, Tom Lyle Williams, 1940 Packard Victoria

Mabel Williams, Maybelline's namesake

Silent Film Star, Viola Dana, endorses Maybelline in 1920

Visit my website at www.sharriewilliamsauthor.com 

Merle Oberon, Maybelline display, 1940


Thank You for following my Maybelline Book Blog

Maybelline Horror Story... October, 1920...HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Happy Halloween!!  Speaking of scary nightmare stories, here is one that actually turned out to be the best thing that ever happened for Tom Lyle Williams and Maybelline.
 There was one tiny little problem with the Williams copyright. A St. Louis man by the name of Benjamin Ansehl had started a company called Lashbrow Laboratories in 1912 and was already marketing a similar product. Williams sued for copyright infringement by Ansehl and a counter suit immediately ensued.

The case of ANSEHL v. WILLIAMS was heard in the Circuit Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, St. Louis, Missouri, July 15, 1920. You can read the entire decision, but here is a little background of the case as recorded in The Federal Reporter: 

In September, 1915, appellee [Williams], under the name of Maybell Laboratories, commenced selling at Chicago, Ill., a preparation for promoting and stimulating the growth of eyebrows and lashes, under the tradename of Lash-Brow-Ine. The name was suggested by preparations of a similar character then on the market under the names of Eye-BrowIne and Lashneen. The suffix "ine" was used, because the principal ingredient contained in appellee's preparation was chiefly petrolatum, a form of vaseline. Appellee commenced to advertise his preparation in October, 1915, and since then has advertised in over 50 different magazines, and had paid for advertising at the time of trial $67,084.19; the monthly expense for advertising having increased to about $3,000 per month. The preparation, sold directly to consumers at 50 cents per box, had amounted to 149,000 mail orders since the business was started. Sales were also made in gross to about 3,000 dealers, located in every state of the Union. Appellee testified that he never heard of Lashbrow, or Lashbrow Laboratories, until about September 1, 1918. About November 1, 1918, appellee caused appellant [Ansehl] to be notified to cease infringing appellee's trade-mark. Appellant refusing so to do, this suit was commenced December 17, 1918.

Since commencing the sale of his preparation appellee has done a business amounting to $111,759.73. The trade-mark Lash-Brow-Ine was registered in the United States Patent Office April 24, 1917. The main ingredients of the preparation sold by appellee were a superfine petrolatum and paraffine, a high-grade perfume, and other small ingredients. No reply was received by appellee to the notification above stated until November 11, 1918, when the receipt of the letter of appellee of November 1, 1918, was acknowledged with a statement that appellant had used the trade-mark "Lashbrow" much earlier than 1915, and a request that appellee desist from infringing the same, or suit would be brought by the appellant for an injunction and an accounting. No such suit was brought.There was introduced in evidence a large number of advertisements appearing in various publications. The evidence on the part of appellant showed that he conceived the idea of manufacturing and putting on the market a preparation for stimulating and promoting the growth of eyebrows and eyelashes in 1911; that the formula for this preparation was one used by his mother for her eyebrows and eyelashes when she was a girl. Appellant commenced selling his preparation in the spring of 1912, under the trade-mark of "Lashbrow," to a small drug store on Jefferson and Lafayette avenues in the city of St. Louis, Mo. This was followed by soliciting trade from all the large dealers and retail stores in St. Louis, where the preparation was offered for sale. Appellant then started a campaign of advertising which began on October 12, 1912, in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. This advertising brought him business from nearby states, such as Illinois and Indiana, and the entire Southwest. Appellant's business has been conducted since its commencement at 1755 Preston street, St. Louis, Mo., where he was doing business when enjoined in May, 1919. The stores referred to by appellant in his testimony were Wolf-Wilson, Judge & Dolph, Grand Leader, Famous & Barr, Nugent's, Hirsch's Hair Bazaar, and Schaper, being the leading stores in St. Louis. The preparation was sold through these stores in 1912. Appellant had printed 1,000 cardboard fliers and 1,000 transparent fliers, which were mailed to about 1,500 stores throughout the United States. A counter display card was also distributed throughout the country in 1913. A sample of appellant's preparation was mailed to the buyers of about 800 or 900 department stores throughout the country.

It's an interesting look at doing business in the early twentieth century and the birth of a mega corp.

In October, 1920 the decision was set down in favor of Benjamin Ansehl. Williams had to stop using the Lash-Brow-Ine name. From then on the ads, like the one at left featuring film star Phyllis Haver, featured only the Maybelline name. Williams had lost the battle. But a walk down any cosmetics aisle will tell you he clearly won the war. 

There was one tiny little problem with the Williams copyright. A St. Louis man by the name of Benjamin Ansehl had started a company called Lashbrow Laboratories in 1912 and was already marketing a similar product. Williams sued for copyright infringement by Ansehl and a counter suit immediately ensued.



The case of ANSEHL v. WILLIAMS was heard in the Circuit Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, St. Louis, Missouri, July 15, 1920. You can read the entire decision, but here is a little background of the case as recorded in The Federal Reporter: 




In September, 1915, appellee [Williams], under the name of Maybell Laboratories, commenced selling at Chicago, Ill., a preparation for promoting and stimulating the growth of eyebrows and lashes, under the tradename of Lash-Brow-Ine. The name was suggested by preparations of a similar character then on the market under the names of Eye-BrowIne and Lashneen. The suffix "ine" was used, because the principal ingredient contained in appellee's preparation was chiefly petrolatum, a form of vaseline. Appellee commenced to advertise his preparation in October, 1915, and since then has advertised in over 50 different magazines, and had paid for advertising at the time of trial $67,084.19; the monthly expense for advertising having increased to about $3,000 per month. The preparation, sold directly to consumers at 50 cents per box, had amounted to 149,000 mail orders since the business was started. Sales were also made in gross to about 3,000 dealers, located in every state of the Union. Appellee testified that he never heard of Lashbrow, or Lashbrow Laboratories, until about September 1, 1918. About November 1, 1918, appellee caused appellant [Ansehl] to be notified to cease infringing appellee's trade-mark. Appellant refusing so to do, this suit was commenced December 17, 1918.



Since commencing the sale of his preparation appellee has done a business amounting to $111,759.73. The trade-mark Lash-Brow-Ine was registered in the United States Patent Office April 24, 1917. The main ingredients of the preparation sold by appellee were a superfine petrolatum and paraffine, a high-grade perfume, and other small ingredients. No reply was received by appellee to the notification above stated until November 11, 1918, when the receipt of the letter of appellee of November 1, 1918, was acknowledged with a statement that appellant had used the trade-mark "Lashbrow" much earlier than 1915, and a request that appellee desist from infringing the same, or suit would be brought by the appellant for an injunction and an accounting. No such suit was brought.



There was introduced in evidence a large number of advertisements appearing in various publications. The evidence on the part of appellant showed that he conceived the idea of manufacturing and putting on the market a preparation for stimulating and promoting the growth of eyebrows and eyelashes in 1911; that the formula for this preparation was one used by his mother for her eyebrows and eyelashes when she was a girl. Appellant commenced selling his preparation in the spring of 1912, under the trade-mark of "Lashbrow," to a small drug store on Jefferson and Lafayette avenues in the city of St. Louis, Mo. This was followed by soliciting trade from all the large dealers and retail stores in St. Louis, where the preparation was offered for sale. Appellant then started a campaign of advertising which began on October 12, 1912, in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. This advertising brought him business from nearby states, such as Illinois and Indiana, and the entire Southwest. Appellant's business has been conducted since its commencement at 1755 Preston street, St. Louis, Mo., where he was doing business when enjoined in May, 1919. The stores referred to by appellant in his testimony were Wolf-Wilson, Judge & Dolph, Grand Leader, Famous & Barr, Nugent's, Hirsch's Hair Bazaar, and Schaper, being the leading stores in St. Louis. The preparation was sold through these stores in 1912. Appellant had printed 1,000 cardboard fliers and 1,000 transparent fliers, which were mailed to about 1,500 stores throughout the United States. A counter display card was also distributed throughout the country in 1913. A sample of appellant's preparation was mailed to the buyers of about 800 or 900 department stores throughout the country.

It's an interesting look at doing business in the early twentieth century and the birth of a mega corp.

In October, 1920 the decision was set down in favor of Benjamin Ansehl. Williams had to stop using the Lash-Brow-Ine name. From then on the ads, like the one at left featuring film star Phyllis Haver, featured only the Maybelline name. Williams had lost the battle. But a walk down any cosmetics aisle will tell you he clearly won the war. 
Posted by 
The Chicago History Journal
Chicago Law History by Joe Mathewson


Recommended reading:

Phyllis Haver: When Stars Burn Out (Tattered and Lost Ephemera)

Lash-Brow-Ine (Cosmetics and Skin)

21 year Anniversary of my home being destroyed in 1993 Laguna Beach Firestorm,

MY HOUSE BURNED DOWN IN THE LAGUNA BEACH FIRESTORM 1993,

         Laguna Beach, October 27, 1993.

As fierce wildfires fueled by 70 mph Santa Ana winds swept through the Laguna Canyon and hurtled towards their neighborhoods, people found themselves literally racing to escape the 200-feet-high flames. When it was over, the fire had claimed 366 homes.

Excerpt from my, 1993, Diary, unedited. Post - Oct 27.


I laid there, in my boiling hot room, and sorted out my day. The first thing I had to do was call Barbara - my neighbor across the street - and see if she put the copy of my William Morris book contract, in my mailbox... so I could take it to school, and go over it.  My Attorney had faxed it to her husband Mark's office and he was nice enough to bring it home for me.


I knew it was going to be a difficult day, because of the heat, and my back was still killing me.  My face too, was dry, itchy and pealing, because I'd just had another deep face peal, and  couldn't wear make-up again today. I wished I could stay home and hide, but I had to get the contract figured out and faxed back to David by the end of the day.  This time, I was determined... nothing would stand in the way, of me writing my book.


Before Georgia left the house for school, she turned on the T.V., and I heard the reporter say, Orange County was on fire.  I'd heard this before, but was never alarmed.....I figured we were safe here Laguna, tucked away from the rest of the county in a Lagoon..... but when I got up, and looked out the window, I was stunned by the amount of smoke in the air and how the sun looked like it had turned to blood.


Than I noticed Mark and Barbara's roofer's, working at 7:00 a.m., and worried about the hot tar blowing in my windows. I knew I couldn't stay in the house with the windows shut all day.  The heat would kill me.

The Santa Ana winds were out of control, blowing 90 miles an hour, or so it seemed, by the look of the palm trees swaying in the wind. I forced myself to get dressed, and get out of the town as soon as possible until it blew over.

Before I left, I called Barbara and told her the roofer's had an actual fire going on her roof, but figured they must know what they were doing, so didn't worry too much about it.  We talked about the brand new Black Cherokee Jeep, she'd just gotten, and I remarked on how spoiled she was, having a rich husband, who buys her anything she wants.

"Oh, I know," she agreed, "isn't it terrible, how spoiled we both are," she laughed, throwing it right back to me.


"Well, I suppose you're right," I said, "I'm very lucky too, after all I  get to spend the day doing aerobics, Yoga and Tie Chi, than study my contract while eating lunch."


We both laughed, knowing that few people had a lifestyle as comfortable and as fun as ours.


"What do you think about the fires," I asked her, needing some reassurance before I headed out of town.


"I'm worried, of course," she confessed, "but it looks like they're pretty far North, don't you think?," she said.


"You're right," I said, "but doesn't it look like the end of the world? I've just got to get out of here."


"I'm so sorry," she said, "about the roof.  They were supposed to be done a week ago, but you know contractors, you can't depend of them."


"It's okay," I said, "I need to get to school anyway.  I've missed the last two days of exercise classes, because my back went out."


"Well, good luck with the book contract," she said, "I'm excited for you.  I know the project is going to be great, how can it miss, the story is phenomenal"


"Thanks Barb," I said, "and thank Mark for bringing the fax home."

I got off the phone and called David next to tell him everything was on schedule and that I'd call him in the afternoon when I got home. Than I threw on some old cotton shorts, a crummy t-shirt without shoulder pads, and some tennis shoes. The house looked neat, and clean.  Everything was in order.  My manuscript,
family pictures, and letters, all filed in boxes and stored under my desk next to the door. I walked out the front door and down the old red brick steps to my car, than hesitated for one second, wondering if I should bring the pictures with me to decide which one's would be best for the book. Than thought, "no, leave them, they're safer in the house and I wouldn't want to take any chances of losing them."

I pulled the car out of the garage, locked it tightly with the new pad lock I just bought and backed it out of the driveway.  Before I drove off down the hill, I looked back to admire the new paint job, and landscaping.  It was just darling and I was proud I'd restored it to it's rightful position in the neighborhood, after years of neglect during my long divorce. I dreamed about the day I could finally build a second story on it and have a perfect view.

As I drove through Laguna Canyon, at 11:15 a.m., I noticed police cars, than saw the police putting yellow cones in the highway, to stop traffic from coming into town, it concerned me, but not enough to turn around and go home.   

How strange, I thought, as I sped past them. I looked in my rear view mirror and vowed not to worry, I'll be home at 5:30, I said to myself, and everything will be fine.

While I got on on the 405 freeway, heading South.....
Georgia was dressing for P.E. and going out to play soft ball on the field, when she looked up at the sky towards our house, and noticed it was blue and purple, with scarlet clouds... too eerie to be beautiful, and yet amazingly hypnotic, she thought. The other kids were singing, "it's the end of the world as we know it"... even though, at that point they really didn't know a thing.  There was a scary tension in the air, but the P.E. coach kept everyone playing outside, in the horrible heat.

By lunch, it was clear there was a problem and out in the distance Georgia, could see a cloud of black smoke slowly getting bigger and bigger, right over the town. Reports of a fire in Emerald Bay, a few miles North, began to filter across the campus, and though nothing was confirmed until she got to her 5th period class..... she knew it wasn't good.


Finally the word came that Laguna was on fire......but not to panic.

FINDING MY ROOTS...DAR accepts General Jonathan Williams, nephew to Benjamin Franklin, as our family's great Patriot

After being rejected several times by the DAR, (Daughters of the Revolution,)  for lack of proof of our family's direct relation to the great Patriot of the American Revolution, General Jonathan Williams, we finally provided a letter written by General Jonathan Williams son, Josiah Williams, to his father, announcing the birth of his son, who would be named in honor of his grandfather, General Jonathan Williams.

General Jonathan Williams, grandmother, Anne Franklin Williams, was  the great American Patriot, Benjamin Franklin's half sister, making our family related through the Williams line.  General Jonathan Williams was one of the leaders of the Boston Tea Party and the first Superintendent 

of West Point.  

 In celebration of our Patriot General Jonathan Williams being acknowledged and our family's line established through his son, Josiah Williams and grandson Jonathan Williams, some of the members of our family met to honor and toast the special occasion.  Here is, Cooper Aston, Ann Carneros, Sharrie Williams, Kathy Dellaruso, Christine Goody and Antonio Carneros.

A special thanks to our cousin Karen Bowser for her relentless research and dedication to our family's genealogy and legacy.  Left to right, Cooper Aston, Ann Carneros, Jeff Welles, Karen and Max Bowser.