Here is what made my Father's Casa de Guillermo, the most beautiful estate in Palm Springs

The entire hardscape of the Estate was covered in thousands of  Mexican Pavers. 

Creating a Romantic 1930's Atmosphere the moment you drove through the electric gates.

The only problem was the expensive maintenance over the 30 years he owned Casa de Guillermo.

I bet if my Father had the chance to do it over, he'd have used Travertine Pavers. Take a look at the benefits for yourself.

The Benefits of Travertine Pavers Infographic

If you’re looking for a new flooring option for your home or a new type of paver for your outdoor patio, driveway or pool deck, travertine is one choice you should surely consider. It’s a 100% natural earth product that is formed when water passes through limestone, depositing calcium and releasing carbon dioxide. Travertine pavers have a variety of benefits making them ideal for pool decks. Here is an infographic explaining why you may want to install travertine flooring in your home.

It’s Long Lasting

If you need proof of how long travertine can stay gorgeous and hold up to daily wear and tear, just ask the Romans. Many of their construction projects, most notably the Colosseum, were made out of travertine and are still magnificent architectural features today.

It Has a Non-Slip Surface

Other types of pavers can be slippery when they’re wet, which can be problematic around pool areas. Travertine, however, has a porous texture, which provides a naturally non-slip surface. This makes travertine pavers an ideal choice for pool decks and patios.

It’s Heat Resistant

There’s nothing worse than scorching hot pavers when you’re walking around your yard or patio barefoot. But travertine pavers don’t get hot, so your feet will stay cool no matter how high the mercury climbs.

It’s Easy to Install Yourself

If you’re the DIY type, you’ll love how simple it is to install travertine pavers. Pavers can either be wet-set over an existing solid surface like concrete or dry-set using sand over gravel or lime rock. Travertine paver installation is easy. Next time you’re ready to jump into a home makeover, ask yourself if travertine can get the job done. Chances are, it can!

Call  Travertine Mart  (800) 556-9720 

http://www.travertinemart.com/the-benefits-of-travertine-pavers-infographic

The Benefits of Travertine – An infographic by the team at Travertine Mart

http://www.travertinemart.com/the-benefits-of-travertine-pavers-infographic

Be sure to visit my hilarious Saffrons Rule Blog at

http://saffronsrule.com/

Never before seen photos of Maybelline Heir, Bill Williams, Palm Springs Estate, Casa de Guillermo

Marie Dressler

My father, Bill Williams, beautiful Estate Casa de Guillermo, was built for Silent Film Star Marie Dressler in 1929. It was a showplace where stars like Jean Harlow and others, stayed during Palm Springs Hollywood Hay Day, in the 1930's. My father bought the 2 acre property in 1973 and planted 50 Palm Trees, fruit trees and lush green foliage to create a spectacular Garden of Eden Sanctuary.  The property was hailed as Palm Springs most Beautiful Estate and featured on Palm Springs map of the city.  The film Goodbye Norma Jean was filmed there in 1975, followed by several TV shows. George Hamilton, Kirk Douglas, Liberace and Elvis Presley were some of the neighbors living close by in Old Las Palmas. The home was also used for Political fundraisers in the 1970s.  By 1980 after my father married his 3rd wife, Gloria Rosan, the property was closed to the public so our family might enjoy 30 wonderful years making memories.  Sadly, because of my father's failing health, his estate was sold in 2004.  He passed away 18 months later.  The new owners didn't appreciate the historical value of the property and had it destroyed to rebuild a sprawling modern estate. Here is what the grounds looked like as you entered through the iron gates.

2002, Gloria meets guests at the gate with little
Maybelline in her arms.

As you drove through the gates, the smells of honey suckle and orange blossoms lifted you out of the city, while heavenly colors transported you back to 1930s Hollywood.

Mexican pavers added more color, drama and glamour while the overwhelming beauty captivated your soul.

A classic car enthusiast, Bill Williams, collected and stored 12 of his automobiles in two separate garages on the grounds.  This is one reason he bought the estate...
for the garage space.

The 1968 TR6, 69 Rolls Royce, 1961 Limo, and
 1915 Model-T truck.

Gloria's car parked at the doorway of
 Casa de Guillermo.  A nice feature for arriving guests,
 who never got caught in the rain while packing or unpacking their car.

There were 3 gates on the estate.  One leading in,
 one leadng out and one receiving guests who parked outside on the street.

From the garage, leading to the entrance of the home.

Little parking alcoves allowed guests to park,
 without interfering with the beauty of the landscape.

My dad bought his Clenet, # 13 for Gloria's Birthday in 1977 and after his death it has remained in our family for the last 7 years.  We had it cosmetically restored to it's original glory 2 years ago and have enjoyed showing it a the La Quinta and Santa Barbara Concours.

  The car is now up for sale and can be seen at
 http://www.automobile-catalog.com/article/clenet-series-i/10.html


Stay tuned this week as I walk you around Bill Williams Stunning Casa de Guillermo.

Gerald Ford's, 1961 Cadillac Fleetwood Limousine, part of Bill Williams collection.

Bill Williams moved to Old Las Palmas in Palm Springs, in 1972 and bought Silent Film Star Marie Dressler's, two acre estate so he could store his car collection.  One of my fathers most fun classic cars was this 1961 Limo, once owned by President Gerald Ford.

Bill Williams, Casa de Guillermo was a showplace in the 1970's and was featured on the cover of the Palm Springs, official Map-Brochure.  It was a flamboyant location, used for movies, TV shows and fundraising.  

By 1980, after Bill married Gloria, the gates of Casa de Guillermo, were closed to the public and became strictly a family compound.

Besides Maybelline heir, Bill Williams, Hollywood celebrities and former Presidents including, Kirk Douglas and Bob Hope, former President Gerald Ford, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Elvis Presley, made Palm Springs their home. 

Want to know the who's who, of Hollywood Stars, how owned Palm Springs Estates?   click here - http://www.palmspringscelebrityhomesforsale.com/

Bill may not have been a Movie Star, or even a celebrity, but he sure lived like one.  He bought Gerald Ford's, 1961 Cadillac Fleetwood Limousine in 1978, for it's history, luxurious interior, and the little holes on the hood, where he could place little American Flags, for special events. 

 It wasn't unusual for Bill and Gloria to cruise down Gerald Ford Drive, with their Dobermans in the back seat.   

Bill Williams, Father of the Bride, in 1998, waiting for his daughter, Billee and her bridesmaids, to to get in the car.

Guests arriving from the airport, for Billee's and Steve Killer's rehearsal dinner.

Chuck Williams aka, BB1 and Sharrie, on the right, yelling for Billee to hurry up, or she'll be late for her own wedding.

Chuck in the driver's seat, next to me, on the way to the reception in Newport Beach.

 Steve and Billee Killer on the way to their reception.

 Bill with his driver's hat on, picking up his cousins, at the Balboa Bay Club, in Newport Beach, and transporting them to Laguna Beach,  for Billee and Steve's rehearsal dinner.

Thank you for following The Maybelline Vintage Docu-Blog and reading The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.

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 Rowe, Ernie Quarantello, and his cousin Noel A. Williams.  Taken during the filming of Goodbye Norma Jean, at Bill's Palm Springs estate, Casa de Guillermo. 

Lot's more history on the filming of the movie in 1975 in earlier posts.  Several classic 1940 cars were brought in, to portray the era. 

Scroll down for never before seen, private family pictures, taken while shooting the film.

Look under my archives and Labels for more posts I've done on the film Goodbye Norma Jean. 

We'll Fun, Fun, Fun till Daddy takes the 911 Porsche away.

William Preston Williams lll, last Hurrah with the Porsche 911E, at  Casa Guillermo, in 1976.  Like father, like son!

Preston Williams in the middle, with his best friends, on his 16th Birthday.

Born to be CAR GUYS: Concluded:.
Story by Preston Williams.

Tom was pretty much my best friend, and I trusted his good sense, (well as much as a teenager could judge or have.)  He loved cars and was a good, safe driver, so when he said, "hey Press, I'd love to drive that little Porsche, and take it to the limit, but this time during the day, no hair pin turns," I thought, why not.

It was a Saturday and again Dad was out of town, so I agreed, only if I could drive his, quick little 289.  I knew it would never beat the 911E, but it was a fun car, so after he agreed we went back to the Tram road - but this time all the way to the base station, because he wanted to drive the windy road all the way down to Palm Canyon.

The Porsche was so fast, you could zip through the turns and then fly down the straight ways, and because it had great breaking ability, and the quick speedomatic transmission - shifting was awesome, just a fun car.


Tom drove to the base station (quickly!!) and than headed back down, and again since it was summer in the desert, the Tram was pretty much dead.  

Tom began the trip down the mountain, taking the turns at about 60, shifting through the turns and hitting about 75 through the straight ways, than, down shifting through the turns.  The car handled great!  However, about half way down the mountain, the road turns into big long S turn, and that's where he got up to 3rd gear, cursing about 80 through the long S turns.  

The last three miles straighten out, so he tapped the brake and down shifted into 2nd, than punched it!   unfortunately, there was a little dirt on the road, and  caught a little fishtail.  Tom quickly shifted into 3rd and luckily, it straightened out and we were gone!

120, 130 +, just coming out of that fishtail was  exhilarating, and the speed just laid you back in the seat as he hit 4th at 140, 150 +.  At 5th gear the guage was pegged and just flying, until the last mile, when the motor stalled, but we still had momentum, so kept going.

Tom pumped the brakes and we hit the curve onto Palm Canyon about 70 miles an hour, and she just hugged the turn, as we cruised into the North end gas station about a 1⁄4 mile down the road.

 I said to Tom,  "Dud what’s up? Every time you drive this car it dies?"


This time we had gas and the battery was charged, but we had two problems, the Porsche wouldn't start, and it was stuck in gear.

“What the F—k are we going to do?" I said,  "even if we get it home, my Dad will know that it's broken."


So not able to get it home , I had no choice but to call my Dads friend Carl, who owns a gas station or two, and would know what to do, Talking about biting the bullet!!


"Hello, Carl?, uh, this is Preston, you know Bill's son."

"Ya, ya , sure," he said, " Hey Press what’s up?"

"Carl, I have a problem," I said,  "and Dad's out of town, and I could use some help?"

"Okay, what type of help," he said,

"uh, car help,"  I said,

"Did you run out of gas?"

"Well no,"  I said,  "I, um, took the Porsche out and it won’t start?

"I’m sorry Press," he said in dismay,  "you what?  you took your Dad's car for a ride,"  he laughed,  "okay bud, where are you?  I'll come down and see what I can do.

"OK thank you Carl," I said, finally exhaling.


So I gave him the directions, and hung up.


Tom freaks out saying.  "Man you can not, tell your old man I was driving!!! - Not only will he be pissed at me, he'll call my Dad - and he'll kick my ass, and take my car for a month or more.   This is so not cool!

"Ya think?"  I said,"  I'm gonna get my ass kicked if
my Dad knows you were driving.   I may as well kiss my ass goodbye, well, it was fun while it lasted."


We looked over the car to see if we could figure it out? Tom says it could be vapor locked, being so hot outside, and maybe that locks up the transmission somehow,

"Well that would be cool," I said, "if it all fixes itself."


"Listen Tom," I said,  "I know Carl’s a cool guy, maybe he won't tell my Dad about this."

"When does your Dad get home," Tom said.

"Who knows, he said Monday?

"That's good," Tom said,  "then we have two days, to figure this out."

"yeah, well, these days, he always tells me later, and comes home sooner, hoping to catch me in the act?"  I said.

"Great!!  Were F**k*d."


About that time, a big white pickup truck pulls up. It's Carl,  "Hey boys, out for a joy ride?,"

"Yeah, you know just cruising." I said, laying low.

 "This car?"  Carl says,  "Sure, Cruising," he laughs, as he inspects the car.  "Press, all I can do is have it flatbeded back to the house, and Press you know; I will have to tell your Dad, you boy's will have to face the music for this one!"

"Yes I know.


So Carl had the car brought back to the house, and he said, "Press I would recommend that you tell your Dad first, okay kid."

"Yup, thanks Carl."

"Alright Press. I will wait a week."

I had a lump in my throat the size of a grapefruit, when telling my Father what happened. He was so pissed, especially when the repair would cost $2,500.00, he took my car away for a month, and from that point forward when he went out of town, he'd either lock me out of the house and make me stay with friend, or he'd have the neighbors check in on me all of the time.   He also took the car keys with him, when he'd go - and that summer, he went to Europe for a month, and locked me out of the house.

However, the good news was, Dad, made arrangements for me to stay at my Girlfriend's house, but for a teenager that was more of a blessing then punishment!

I guess the good old times were over and it was time for me to grow up. At least for today.


The Last Hurrah!!
 
Check in tomorrow for another Porsche story, by William Preston Williams lll.
 
Check in Wed for the last pictures taken of Bill's Clenet, shown at the Santa Barbara Concours d' Elegance,  Oct 30, 2011.
 
Also this week I will be posting my cooking segment at AZTV, making Frances Chocolate Icebox dessert.
 
Pictures of my presentation in Laguna Beach taken last sat will be posted this week as well. 

My cousin, Bill Stroh's Porsche story, continued.

Bill, with two of his kids,  Billee and Preston, on Preston's 16th Birthday, the year Bill Stroh's, Porsche came to Casa Guillermo.

Preston's Story continued:

 Through the years I had many experiences with the 911. Being the kid I was, I'd take every advantage of my Dad being away, (as he often was.)  Whether it was having a  friends over, or an occasional full blown party- or my favorite thing - cruising the car's.

Over the years, there were many times of taking the 911 without permission, but three were memorable.  One time in particular, when Dad was out of town, I had my best friend Tom over, and we had been hanging at the house for most of the day, cursing down Palm Canyon and Las Palmas on the Mopeds, when I got a call from one of my friends, who invited us over, so rather than take my Camerro, I thought it would be fun to take the Porsche.

Well I am sure that tom gave me the moral support.  So we zoomed out the gates of the Casa, and headed over to Kenny’s.  After being there a few hours, drinking and getting high, we left feeling no pain, (with that liquid courage, or in this case stupid courage,) we raced around the windy streets, before taking it to a higher level.

I turned on the high beams, picked a long stretch of road, and was ready to roar, when Tom say’s "Dud can I give it a test drive," 

“Sure!!!” I said, so we traded positions, and buckled up for what would prove to be an extreme event in our lives. 

Tom put it in 1st and floored it, we were thrown back into our seats, you know the G-force thing... and Tom got through 1st, then 2nd and then 3rd we were going about a 130, when all of a sudden, we both screamed out ooooh Shitttt!!!!. As we saw a hair pin turn coming about 30 feet ahead, and Tom having some experience racing his 1965 Ford Mustang with a built 289, was aware that you don’t hit The brakes at that speed.  He just took his foot off of the accelerator, and cranked the steering wheel to the right - and I mean to tell you - I think we both saw our short little lives, flash before our eyes, as they were probably closed, and this car hugged the road and held tight all the way through the tight-ass turn.  

We just started laughing and crying, thanking God, that we were still alive!!  When the laughing stopped, we realized that the little 911 had also stopped.  We tried and tried to start the car, until the battery died, so we had to push it half a mile to a gas station to charge the battery and get a little gas.


After that frantic experience, being freaked out, yet glad to be alive, we didn’t think about the fuel level, but the fact was, if that is all it was, and we were safe - as the option of my fathers wrath over the car being wrecked, or worse dying, or crippled for life, being out of gas was a drop in the bucket.


After that we went back to the house and smoked a fatty, in celebration of our stunt, I think that day, I was glad that I let Tom drive, and also that my second cousin Bill Stroh had modified the suspension of that little 911 E, because that most likely saved our lives, and we both have had a great story to tell.

More stories from Preston Williams with the Porsche, to be continued.

Note from Bill Stroh's son John P. Stroh:

The Porsche that Bill bought was a street car for my mom. That engine had 906 cams, and titanium rods, and
cyclinder head's that were not of porsche. I helped rebuild that engine many time's, and know
if you had to service the car, porsche would say WHATS THIS!