Garages of the Rich and Famous Including Maybelline Heirs

Maybelline Heir, Chuck Williams/BB1's, garages in Montecito, California.

Maybelline Heir, Bill Williams, garages at his Casa De Guillermos Estate, in Palm Springs California.

Maybelline founder and owner, Tom Lyle Williams, garages in Bel Air California. during the 1960's.

http://www.horizonstructures.com/infographic.asp
http://www.maybellinebook.com/2013/07/maybelline-heir-bill-williams-1977.html




celebrity garages

Visit my SAFFRONS RULE BLOG, taken directly from my 1964, High School Diary. 

Maybelline Heir Bill Williams 1961 Cadillac Limo, at Casa De Guillermo's, in Palm Spring California.

Sharrie with her daughter Georgia and her brother Preston Williams at Casa De Guillermo's

One of the most fun car's in my dad's collection was his 1961 Cadillac Limousine - he said had belonged to President Ford - a Palm Springs resident himself.  The Limo had holes to put two little American Flags on the hood, so on Memorial Day and the 4th of July, Dad had the flags flying, while we cruised out of the gates of Casa De Guillermo's and downtown to Palm Canyon to celebrate with the crowds.

Happy 4th of July to all my followers from around the would.

Check out Bill's 1977 Series 1, number 13 on Clenet Corner.
http://clenetcorner.com/

Casa de Guillermo's, Timeless, Ageless and now Gone with the Wind - Maybelline Heir, Bill Williams, Palm Springs Estate,

The tour continues around the romantic grounds of the Casa

Built in 1929 for Silent Film Star Marie Dressler, my father, Bill Williams, bought this 2 acre estate in Palms Springs in 1973 and spent 2 years landscaping the grounds - while building a Guest House, tennis court, Koy Fish Pond, 5 hole chipping green, a stream that ran through the length of the property, and an extra garage to store is cars. The property was sold in  2006 for 3.5 million.  The new owner demolished the home and grounds and let the Koy Fish die after 30 years of lovingly being cared for. 

Bill and Gloria Williams Master Suite on the second floor included an office, a built in Mexican tiled bar, marble and mirrored bathroom with a sunken tub, a terrace and a 35 foot deck overlooking the property. 

Coming from a cosmetic family, my father created and ambiance of overwhelming beauty.

The deck overlooking the property and the chipping green are seen here, as well as the 4 car open garage.   

My father drew out his Guest House on a cocktail napkin while sitting at the bar, explaining to the builder what he wanted included.... A Master Suite, fully mirrored bathroom and shower that led outside to it's own private sunning patio. A playroom with slot machines, pinball machine, pool table, card table, plush sitting area, gourmet kitchen, weight lifting room, steam bath, bar b que pit and a second mirrored bathroom for guests using the pool.

Designed to look like a 1930's Old Hollywood movie set,
 the wrought iron patio furniture and intimate seating
 areas created the perfect party atmosphere.
   Stereo speakers hidden in the rocks
 played Frank Sinatra's music day and night 

Detail and perfection exploded everywhere with exquisite color, succulent smells and romantic sounds that captivated your soul and lifted your Spirits.

Like his uncle, Maybelline founder, Tom Lyle Williams, Bill placed Rudolph Valentino's memorial statue, ASPIRATION, in the garden next to the stream and chipping green.

Here is a better view of the stream with ASPIRATION.

This magnificent walkway led from the pool,
 past the classic cars and chipping green to
 the Koy Fish Pond. At night the entire property
 was lit up to look like a fantasy land. 

The only words to describe Casa de Guillermo's magical wonderland is Old Hollywood Glamour.  We were so lucky to have spent 30 years here before my father's health declined and he sold the estate, the cars and all it's belongings in an estate sale, before moving to Lido Isle, in Newport Beach California, in 2004.  He died in 2006.

Stop back tomorrow and see the rest of the tour through Casa de Guillermo's

Maybelline Heir, Bill Williams, Palm Springs Estate, Casa de Guillermo's, was the backdrop for many movies and TV shows in the 1970s

My father, wanted an estate where he could retreat from the world and gracefully grow old with Gloria.  Casa de Guillermo's was the ultimate Sanctuary in the desert.
Here are a few pictures of its stunning pool.

The city of Palm Springs chose Casa de Guillermo's
for their map - a Tourist's first impression. 

The estate was used in 1975 for the film Goodbye
 Norma Jean

Most of the time it was a quiet Sanctuary, a retreat
 where my father and Gloria relaxed.

The view stepping out of the Casa, facing the pool
 and guesthouse.

View of the Casa, from the Guest House.

Bill and Gloria relaxing by the pool, with a view of the
 5 hole chipping green, tennis court and koy fish pond.

A slight view of the chipping green ad tennis court.

view from the tennis court.

The beautiful San Jacinto Mountains. 

view of the bar-b-que Pit and one of the many seating
 areas around the pool. 

Bill and Gloria Williams, relaxing at Casa de Guillermo's.

Stay tuned tomorrow as I walk around the grounds of
 Casa de Guillermo's.

Maybelline Kids: "To Thine Own Self Be True, in the 1970's."

Plough Inc. merged with Schering and became Schering-Plough in 1971 and the stock doubled for all the Maybelline stockholders.  By June of 1972,  it was my generation's turn to get a taste of honey, with or without our parents blessings. 

Bill Williams and Sharrie, June, 1972.

By 1972, my parents were divorced and my dad was about to marry Linda, against our wishes - so to soften the blow he showered us with gifts to keep us preoccupied.  Here I am on my 25th Birthday with a hand full of hundred dollar bills, meant to pay for a summer in Europe.  He figured that while my sister Donna and I were out of town, he'd sell our house on Lido Isle and buy an estate in Palm Springs, right next door to the famous pianist, Liberace.  He wanted to start a new life with Linda, her three kids and my little sister Billee and brother Preston.  All I wanted to do was marry my boyfriend, Gene Dorney and start a new life myself.

                 My sister Donna, in Barcelona Spain. 

She was supposed to hook up with me for the summer, but decided to take off on her own with friends she'd run into in Paris.  She didn't contact us at all and my uncle Tom Lyle, insisted my dad call the American Embassy and send out a search party.  She finally surfaced after driving us to the brink of fearing the worst.  She'd been shopping all over Paris and London and came home with a suitcase full of the latest 70's fashions.  Looking like a Vogue model, and living in Los Angeles she hoped to break into the film industry someday. 

Sharrie, Tom Lyle, Donna, 1972.

Unk Ile, called my dad and said he wanted to make sure Donna was home safe, so, invited us up for the day.  He was so happy to see my sister, that he hugged her so tight, he thought he broke a rib.  With the same wonderful sense of humor, he was known for, he joked about how funny it would sound to his doctor, when he explained he cracked a rib hugging his niece. 

The Hay Day for the Williams cousins was just beginning as we all came of age in the 1970's.  The quest  to live out our fantasies was in constant conflict with our parents expectations -

and like by dad always said, "I live by the Golden Rule -  The guy who has the gold rules."

Be sure to get your signed copy of The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It.
Thank you for following my Maybelline Blog and reading about my American - Dream Family.

Stay tuned tomorrow for pictures and stories about my cousin Chuck Williams, The Beach Boys and his friendship with Mike Love, that began in 1970.  His dream is still playing out today!!!

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.

Author Sharrie Williams, Bill's daughter and Tom Lyle Williams great niece at her fathers estate in Palm Springs 1975.

Bill Williams at his estate in Palms Springs during the filming of the movie Goodbye Norma Jean, 1975

A scene from the film Goodbye Norma Jean, shot at Bill Williams estate, 1975.

Filming the movie, Goodbye Norma Jean at Bill Williams Estate in Palms Springs. Excerpt from Sharrie Williams Diary.

The next morning, old classic cars, brought in on flat bed

trucks arrived at the estate, and the camera crew, producer, director, costume designer, set designer, and the producers wife and mistress. were all on the  set. Dad started freaking out, when he saw all the cables, strung across his manicured lawns, and I kept assuring him that any damage would be taken care of. I had some great old costumes, I'd collected over the years, and we all got our make up and hair done, then dressed for our parts.  We had no speaking parts, we were just background dressing for Norma Jean Bakers Scenes, but we added the feeling of wealth, and status, the director was looking for.  The scenes got a little steamy, with nude bath tub shots, and obvious sexual scenes that made the future Marilyn Monroe, look like a whore, but it didn't bother anyone of us.

Read more about the wild ride after the Maybelline Company sells and the family lives out their fantasies in Sharrie Williams book The Maybelline Story.