Eye’s on the Stars, while Tom Lyle slips away.

My dad bought a designer dress store in posh, Fashion Island, Newport Beach California, called ann Folger, and being the most eligible bachelor on Lido Isle, he had his choice of models. He chose Gloria Rosan, shown with him in front of the store in 1976.

I too had the benefit of ann Folgers and the model’s when I produced a fashion show, using several of the crew from Goodbye Norma Jean to help with sound and lighting. Here is a picture of the girls getting ready to walk the runway, as Mistress of ceremony, I put on Vogue 76, for a sold out audience.

When I called Unk lie and told him what I’d done, he laughed and was flattered the new company knocked themselves out for me just by using his name. I invited him to the show, but his health was very bad and he was so weak he could hardly get out of bed. But he said he’d be there in spirit, and I was grateful – not knowing it was the last time I’d ever hear his voice.


I had been so distracted with my friend, David Van Houten and his connection with Barry Diller of Paramount Studios and Diane von Furstenberg, a young designer with her own line clothes, that time sped by, as my beloved Unk Ile had only months to live. All I thought about was designing my one line of clothes for Ann Folgers, and taking David’s advice on how to produce the Fashion Show. He believed my multi-media production would make a great Broadway production and invited me to New York to meet his friends Paramount Studios where he was a young executive. 


Did I go? Pick up a copy of The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind it at Barnes and Nobel, Amazon or get a signed copy from me at www.maybellinestory.com.