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.

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.

Tribute to my childhood idol, Hollywood Legend Ester Williams - dead at 91

Ester Williams was second in box offices sales in the 1940's. However, while Grable sang and danced her way to the top of box office success...the pool and wartime pinup pictures of Williams in bathing suits, made her a Star.  The upswing in home swimming pools during the the 1950 was said to be because of Hollywood's Queen of the Water Ballet.

My parents nicknamed me Ester Williams, when out of the blue, I slid off my float and swam to the edge of the pool.  I was 3 years old and everyone made a big deal out of it. I was born with natural talent for swimming, everyone said.  As I grew older, I hoped to become a water ballet star at MGM, where my grandfather, Andy Mac Donald was head of the prop and construction department for over 50 years.   

"Ester Williams, Get out of the pool NOW!" became my parents mantra, because I'd stay in in the water until my fingers looked like prunes.

Still a Mermaid in 1968, right after the Maybelline Company sold. My dream was to live by the ocean.  It came true when we moved to Newport Beach, that year. 

As a little girl, I imagined being a Bride someday, dressed in a white bathing suit with a veil pinned to my sleeked back hair. I pictured my Groom and I diving to the bottom of the pool, saying a quick "I Do" and coming up a married couple.  All my guests dressed in bathing suits, would joyously jump in and congratulate us. What could be more fun, I thought!!!

I did get married, but not in the pool, of course.  Here I am with my best friend David Van Houten, in 1977, eating tuna sandwiches after a swim across the bay on Lido Isle, in Newport Beach, California.  You can hardly tell I'm pregnant, but, my baby girl, was born just one week after this picture was taken. She too grew up to be a water baby just like me.

1987 at my father's home in Palm Springs California.  Me, my brother Preston, my daughter Georgia and my dad, Bill Williams. After a day of swimming in his giant, Casa De Guillermo pool.

So as a born Mermaid myself, I'm very sad to hear of my swimming Idol, Ester Williams, passing on June 6th, at 91, in her sleep.  I imagine she's probably orchestrating a beautiful water ballet right now..... and when I join her, I hope she will cast me in one of her heavenly productions.

REST IN PEACE ESTER, YOU WILL BE MISSED.

                                 The Million Dollar Mermaid 

Original Beach Boys, Mike Love and Bruce Johnston are back on tour...and my cousin Chuck Williams, BB1, takes the stage

Want to know more about Chuck Williams, BB1? Just go to SEARCH THIS BLOG, on the right hand side of of this page and type in his name. Learn more about the Beach Boys and see Chuck Williams collection of Classic Cars.

BB1 on stage with the Beach Boys

Last Memorial Day I posted several pictures of BB1 with the Beach Boys, at the Santa Barbara Bowl,  while they were on their 50 year Anniversary World Tour, (Click on Post.) The tour is over, but Mike Love and Bruce Johnston are still delivering their "Good Vibrations," as their old friend, (Chuck Williams,) BB1, pops up on stage for a quick song. 

The Beach Boys on tour 2013 June 6 — Santa Ynez, CA (Chumash Casino Resort)

MIKE LOVE and BRUCE JOHNSTON are on tour with their backup band, which includes Randell Kirsch, John Cowsill, Tim Bonhomme, Christian Love, and Scott Totten.

My cousin, Jim Williams, also a long time Beach Boy fan, joined in at the Chumash Casino Resort concert and hung out back stage with his brother BB1 and the Boys.

I hear from BB1, that Mike Love has a lot of exciting top secret plans in the mix, and as soon as I get clearance from my cousin, I will post them right here on the
 Maybelline Book Blog.

Good Vibrations, 50th Anniversary Tour.

MAYBE IT'S WORTH IT... MAYBE IT'S MAYBELLINE...Worth over 2 Billion today...L'Oreal Bought Maybelline for $660 Million in 1996 :

Cosmetics: The French company, already the industry's largest, would get a much bigger share of the U.S. market.

In 1967 Williams sold Maybelline to Plough, Inc. (merged withSchering-Plough) in Memphis, TN. As a result, the company moved from Chicago to Memphis. In 1975, the company moved again to Little Rock, AK. In 1990, Schering Plough sold Maybelline to New York investmentfirm Wasserstein Perella. In 1996 company headquarters moved to New York. “Maybe She’s Born With It” became Maybelline’s advertisingslogan in 1991. The company was purchased by L’Oreal in 1996 and now also sells lipsticks, nail polish, and foundations.

Maybelline was acquired by L'Oréal in 1996. Acquiring Maybelline gave L'Oreal access to mass markets in cosmetics.

 L’Oreal also owns Garnier, Lancôme, Helena Rubinstein, BioMedic, Vichy, Biotherm, Shu Uemura, Kiehl’s, Soft Sheen-Carson, Redken, Matrix, Kerastase, Giorgio Armani, Inneov, Sanoflore, CCB Paris, Dermablend, The Body Shop, Skinceuticals, Ralph Lauren, La-Roche-Posay, and Yves Saint Laurent.

Today Maybelline New York is worth over two billion dollars.  It's truly incredible how a little company that started out with a $500 loan in 1915, is still the number one cosmetic company in the world.