Tom Lyle Williams and Emery Shaver, together in life and death.

Tom Lyle Williams and Emery Shaver..... Family men, and Entrepreneurs. 

Tom Lyle Williams, Emery Shaver's sister and brother, Emery Shaver sitting on the ground with the dog, another sister, Ches Haines and TL's sister, Eva Williams-Haines.
This picture of the Williams and Shaver's, was taken after Tom Lyle bought his new 1921 Packard.  The second outstanding automobile TL would own over his lifetime. 

TL's, first car, was the Paige Detroit, bought in 1916.  The reason he loved his new Packard so much, was because the entire family could squeeze into it for a Sunday drive. 

 I had a picture of my father, Bill Williams as a baby, with his parents, Preston and Evelyn and the whole Williams family, cruising in TL's big black Packard, and it looked a little like the picture below! 

(My picture was lost in the Laguna Beach firestorm, in 1993, when my home was burned to the ground.)

              The Memphis Police Department's 1921

TL's first custom made automobile was the Paige Detroit.  Known as the most beautiful car in the world.

Tom Lyle and Emery were together for nearly 50 years and are entombed together in death. 

Tom Lyle and Emery ran the advertising division of the Maybelline Company, at the Villa Valentino in the Hollywood Hills.  When the Villa was torn down to make room for the Hollywood freeway, in 1949, they moved to a modern stone and glass estate in Bel Air California.

After Emery's sudden death in 1964, Tom Lyle decided to sell the Maybelline Company.  Which he did in December, 1967. 

Read the whole story in The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It. 

Be sure to get your signed copies for Christmas gifts, at www.maybellinebook.com.

Maybelline's secret, revealed in Laguna Beach!

My Presentation of The Maybelline Story, for the American Association of University Women, was a smashing success.

In a casual, relaxed manner, surrounded by Laguna Beach locals, I was able to bring, The Maybelline Story, alive through 232 slides of vintage family pictures and Maybelline advertisements.

Giving my 45 minute presentation to a packed house.

Laguna Beach Books, was full of friends and family, as well as curious locals who enjoyed the article about The Maybelline Story in the Laguna Beach Magazine and Independent News Paper.

Friends I had not seen in several years showed up to buy my book and put a smile on my face.

Men and women of all ages said the presentation was fascinating and I was asked to do it again next year for the Laguna Beach Women's Club.

If you missed my presentation, you can still experience The Maybelline Story coming alive by reading it yourself.  It is an amazing story about a young entrepreneur, with a great idea, who set the cosmetic world on fire, yet hide from the public, to keep his secret from destroying the Maybelline Company, in the 20th Century.

Long time Laguna Beach friends, Donna Beam, Ceil Sharman, me and Sharrie Yamamoto.

My sister Donna Williams and childhood friend Cheryl Manbeck, both make an appearance in The Maybelline Story.

Watch this very short video and see how - so very simply, with the utmost respect -  I reveal my great uncle's secret.

The Maybelline story is available on Kindle and The Nook, as well as being available at Barnes and Nobel.  You can purchase a signed copy from me at 

The Maybelline Story makes great Holiday gifts for your Mother, Daughter, Sister, Aunts, and friends.  Men say they can't put it down as well.  After all it is the story of advertising in the 20th Century.

Stay tuned next week for more great posts on The Maybelline Blog.

In the Kitchen with Maybelline for the Holidays.

Auntie Frances' Chocolate Icebox Dessert

Part one of the Morning Scramble, on AZTV.

Part two of Sharrie, In the Kitchen with Tonya Mock and Lew Rees.

Click on video so see how this delightful 1930's dessert is made. 

The recipe is at the bottom of this web page.  It is truly out of this world, and nothing you can find anywhere.  Make it for Christmas, with crushed peppermint on top, for a festive, fun, unforgettable taste treat.

Speaking of Christmas, don't forget to order signed copies of The Maybelline Story at www.maybellinestory.com for all the special ladies in your life. 

Check back tomorrow for pictures at video of my presentation in Laguna Beach...

Happy Veterans Day

 On this special Veterans Day.....
God Bless the brave men and women past and present who put their lives on the line for us.

WASHINGTON — Before the United States was born, there was a Marine Corps. For the last 236 years Marines have fought tirelessly to preserve the freedom of the United States and the traditions of the Corps.

Veterans Day, formerly Armistice Day, is an annual United States holiday honoring military veterans. It is a federal holiday that is observed on November 11. It coincides with other holidays such as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, which are celebrated in other parts of the world and also mark the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War 1. 

Veterans Day has always had special for me, because my grandfather William Preston Williams fought overseas  for his country.  He returned with Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD,) a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma.

u

Maybelline's contribution during World War ll, included promoting War Bonds, raising moral and honoring all branches of the Service.

 This Maybelline ad says - Save your money the safest way - Buy U.S. War Bonds Regularly.

Read more about my grandfather, Preston and my father Bill, during the Wars, in The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It. 

This weekend I will be posting a video of my cooking segment at AZTV, making Frances' Depression Era, Chocolate Icebox Cake last month.

Also stay tuned for video and pictures of my Laguna Beach presentation at Laguna Beach Books hosted by the Association of American University Women last weekend.   

Clenet, the most elegant coach-built automobile ever produced.

The party's over, and Bill Williams classic # 13, Clenet, goes back home until next year!

Bill and Gloria at Casa Guillermo. This picture was used for advertising Clenet Coachworks in 1980.

click on video.

Sharrie Williams and Steve Kouracos, tuck Bill's Clenet back in it's spot, in the garage, until next year.

This particular Clenet is very rare because it was the last car built on a Lincoln Continental running gear and chassis.  After 1977 the running gear on the first series cars changed to a Mercury Cougar chassis with a smaller motor, transmission and suspension.  This particular Clenet has the 400 cubic inch engine with the C6 transmission, large breaks and suspension.  There were many Series 1 cars that were purchased by celebrities and used in filming movies and TV Shows.

After the Series 1 was completed, Clenet then designed and produced the Series ll - a four passenger - and went into production on his Series lll, The ASHA.

This car has 26,000 original miles and has been in storage for the past 6 years.  Recently it went through a preservation by Steve Kouracos.  Kouracos was one of the original craftsmen at Clenet Coachworks.  He set up and managed the body and paint division.  The car is 100% original, including the 35 year old lacquer paint job.  We hope you enjoy viewing this piece
 of automotive history as much as we love showing it.   

Specs:
400 cubic inch 2v v-8 engine
Select shift automatic transmission C6
Four-wheel power disc brakes
2.75 rear axle ratio

Questions, please call:
 Steve Kouracos
949-922-3013 

Read more about Bill Williams and the Maybelline family, in The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind it! 

Buy a signed copy from his daughter, and author, Sharrie Williams at http://www.maybellinestory.com/.   

Bill Williams memory lives on through his Clenet Automobile.

 Alain Clenet, refers to his American, coach-made, Clenet, as Driving Art. 

Alain Clenet was recognized for his contribution to Santa Barbara history, at the Concours d'Elegance.

Tom Pierpoint, President of The Clenet Cluster, with Alain Clenet.

These wonderful, limited edition automobiles were built in the late 70's and early 80's by Clenet Coachworks of Santa Barbara, CA. There has been a recent strong interest in these vehicles most probably due to the fact that they are becoming "classic neo-classics" as they all approach 30 years of age. We are probably a bit biased, but we think they are the most elegant automobiles ever produced.

The William P. Williams family, showed Bill's Classic Clenet, Series 1, number 13 at the Santa Barbara Concours, Oct 30th, as well as The La Quinta Concours d'Elegance, this year, where it won 2 place in the Neo-Classic, category.

Bill Williams Clenet, showed with 20 other Classic Clenet, owners, at Alain Clenet's, Coachworks, 35 Anniversary.

Steve Kourocas, (Clenet Coachworks original fabricator,) Alain Clenet, (designer and owner of Clenet Coachworks,) with Bill Williams daughter, Donna Williams.

Alain Clenet, sharing some memories of Bill Williams,  with his daughter, Donna Williams.

Steve Kourocas with Donna Williams.  Kourocas has many good stories about her father, Bill Williams during the fabricating, of number 13. 

Donna Williams with her cousin Ann Louise Williams-Corbett, enjoying the Concours.


Clénet is an automobile series with old retro styling, mixed with modern technology.  Each limited-production model was conceived, designed, and produced by a small team of men and women in Santa Barbara County, California in the 1970s and 1980s. The automobile's distinctive styling was based on the high-end automobiles of the 1930s. Despite their retro looks, Clénets used modern drive trains and suspension systems.   

My father, Bill Williams, the ultimate Gatsby...

William Preston Williams lll, and his father Bill Williams.

Why does Bill's son Preston, want to keep his dad's memory alive, through the Clenet, # 13? 

Bill Williams Casa Guillermo, with his 1955 Jaguar MkVII M. parked at the entrance.

This is the  same model of the 55 Jag, Bill Williams had in his collection, and one his teenage son Preston had the keys to.  Bill finally had to take the keys away, after so many reckless joy-rides Preston, and his friends took without permission.

Preston and his dad, Bill Williams.

Here is Preston's story of another wild ride in the 911E Porsche.

The word got around that there was this fast little unassuming 911, I'd raced many school mates, that thought they had the fastest car in Auto Shop;  You know the motor head types!

The thing I found about these great American Muscle Cars, was that they have tons of power, but lack traction and would spin their tires.  The little Porsche, however, would grab and throw the car like a sling shot, Bing bang Gone!!!.

So my friend John, had a friend, who was actually much older, a lawyer, who was also a armature racer, who had a beautiful Red 1985 911S with all of the hood scoops and air dams.   He loved to brag about how it was built and that it had a blower etc, and it was quite fast!

He'd taken me for a ride, and was a much more experienced driver than I was.  His little S was fast, but it did not have the force, that threw you back in your seat, and I knew I could spit him out my exhaust.

I said,  "wow! this is an amazing car, I know you don’t think much of my little E, but I would just like to see if I could keep up with your car."

"I'm sure you could," he said,  "well, until the blower kicks in - then I am gone!!!"

"Cool," I said.

"Press," he said,  "I only race this on the track, as the special gas I use is expensive and the wear and tear it puts on my car is brutal."

"Sure," I said, with a straight face.

"So I will tell you what, lets’ make it a challenge, I'll bet you $200.00 that I'll beat you.   If I win you pay me, and if you win, I'll pay you."

"Sounds good," I said, knowing he thought his $200 bucks was a shoe-in.

"Otherwise," he said arrogantly,  "you can just figure, you have a cute little 911E."

My only concern was not the 911E, of course, but more so my ability.  Maybe I was crazy, but  I just couldn't miss the chance to shut his big fat mouth, and a for only  $200.00, it was worth it.   So I shook his hand and set the date, for that Saturday, as my Dad would be out of town that Friday and I'd have one day to practice my shifting skills.

The race was so cool!  We went to my favorite place, The Tram road and marked off a two mile stretch.  My buddy Tom drove with me and my other bud, John drove with my challenger.  I was on the right side and my challanger, was on the left.  John counted down.  With our windows open, he put his right arm up and counted down 5,4,3,2,1, and then threw his arm down. 
 
We both punched it, 1st gear I was gone, I was ahead by at least 60 feet, 2nd gear his blower kicked in and he zoomed up behind me and edged past me, 3rd gear I caught him at 130+, and started walking away, 4th gear 150 and going, Tom and I were laughing as he waived good buy in the rear view mirror, 5th gear the gauge was pegged and still going.  We past the 2 mile mark, and I took my foot off of the accelerator and eventually pulled off the side of the road, and the S pulled in behind me. We all got out, and John and the Guy walked towards us, John was smiling - as he expected me to win, but the lawyer was shaking his head.
 
"I can’t’ believe it," he said,  "I want to do it again."
 
"Well we can," I said,  "But it'll cost you - I can’t do this for free!  You know, the gas, wear and tear and all. 
 
He got so worked up over the deal, he actually said he wanted to have my car put on the dyno, as it seemed a bit rough,.
 
"Well,"  I said, "I just wanted to see if I could keep up with you. What do you think of my little E. now?"
 
"He smiled and gave me the $200.00, and we all went out to eat.
 
That too was a good day.
 
One more story from Preston to come.  Shocking and heartbreaking.  You won't want to miss it. 
 
Keep checking this week for more pictures of Bill's Clenet at the Santa Barbara Concouse with Alain Clenet.  I think you now understand why the car is so special to us and why we want to keep Bill's memory alive through it. 
 

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!