The Innovative Businesswoman Was the STAR of the Movie Colony in Palm Springs

I'm winding down the 13-ish years of research about the most IMPORTANT woman you've never heard of. Folks should be teaching their kids how to spin poverty into gold, mansions, and good deeds for humanity like Tillie Lewis did (1896- 1977).

She was a woman, Jewish, poor with no rights at all save one: Tillie had the right attitude to let nothing stand in her way to living a life of plenty.

The book, Tillie Lewis: The Tomato Queen is available at Amazon & Kindle. History from Ziegfield Follies through both World Wars with Tillie smack-dab in the midst of making history herself.

I've enjoyed her two sumptuous Stockton mansions, the multi-acres of canneries, can plants, and agriculture that took her from penury to mega-profits that she shared with her people who gave back 10-fold in loyalty and good work, except one or two. (Ronald Meyers ended up in San Quentin admitting he embezzled from Tillie for years as well as his previous employers) Finally, this past Saturday, I got the invitation to see the estate Tillie called P.S. (Palm Springs). The place was actually named INVERNADA by the original owner, George Heigho in 1931, but Tillie Weisberg-Lewis called things as she saw them and did as she pleased.

The historical plaque on the front of the estate tells us George Heigho was an American Industrialist who built the home 1931. Then the plaque calls Tillie Lewis by her birth name MYRTLE, oh heck no, on all fronts.

Heighho (hey-ho) was a British lithographer living on the East coast who hoped his love of the game Cricket would take over in America. He didn't fit in with the avant-garde Hollywood crowd and spent little time at Invernada his Spanish Revival, 9 bedroom, 7 1/2 bath, 5000+ sq. ft. in the main house and 2500-ish sq. ft. in the guest houses and cottages.

The neighbors, as in across the street and next door were Gloria Swanson & Al Jolson. Dinah Shore was the neighbor behind Invernada. Cary Grant was down the street. Of course Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner were a few blocks over.

Tillie Weisberg bought Invernada for $92,500 in 1946 before she married Meyer Lewis. $18,000 of that $92,500 price included the furnishings, paintings, and other décor  left behind in the estate of the late-George Heigho. Besides, the stuff was built specifically for this house.

The central fountain with tiny Tillie in heeled sandals.

I'm walking toward that same fountain.

Tillie loved to swim and to whip everybody at table-tennis at P.S.

This is the portrait behind the great neices and nephews. It is of Tillie at her mansion on N. San Joaquin Street in Stockton painted in 1940 by Surrealist, Mordi Gassner. Tillie supported the arts and all the people she could during the tough years of the Great Depression and beyond.

Being the 1st Female Captain of Industry was paying off in a big way. Sharing the wealth was a joy to Tillie Lewis. Tillie was the BOSS but she was still very much part of the Flotill Products team, like everyone else who worked for her. The people loved her. I own this painting and it is for sale to a private party or for gifting to a permanent museum collection along with many other Tillie Lewis items, btw. Mrs. Lewis was the Baroness of Branding as well as the Tomato Queen. Her face and name were on EVERYTHING.

The grounds are SIX original lots. Nearly 2 landscaped acres with walkways and drives.

The gate behind me says Invernada, too.

I bid the lovely owner goodbye. I have loads of photos I'll share at my Tillie lectures or for those who ask. Check my website for performances and I'm excited to tell everyone about the REAL Wonder Woman, Tillie Weisberg-Lewis. https://kyleelizabethwood.com.

Coming soon, Historical MONTEREY (working title)