The Maybelline Story

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

By Sharrie Williams · Written January 2012 · 2 min read

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.


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

MGM Studio’s famous gates.

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

Louis B Mayer on the left with Paulette Goddard.

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

Paulette Goddard in an early 1940’s Maybelline ad.

Louis B Mayer, TL Williams and Emery Shaver at MGM.
The FACE of Maybelline, in the 1940s, Joan Crawford.


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



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

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

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

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

MGM Star, Hedy Lamarr and Maybelline model.

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

Exotic Merle Oberon.



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

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

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

Coming soon · Next from Sharrie Williams

Maybe She’s Born With It

The next chapter of the Maybelline family story. Get a text the day it’s out.

Where it began: The Maybelline Story — Amazon · Ebook · Signed copy