Shakespeare Accomplice – Ep.40
You may have heard of her in connection to Sylvia Beach last episode. Yes, this time it’s Adrienne Monnier, the French bookstore owner across the street from Shakespeare and Company. We dive into the French side of the scene and the other side of the Beach-Monnier-Freund love triangle. Sources (Used/Consulted/Read Along the Way) The Very…
Godmother of Literary Paris – Ep.39
You’ve probably heard the name Sylvia Beach in sentences about Hemingway, Joyce, and other famous men. You’ve probably even heard of her in publishing Ulysses. You may not have heard of her blow up with Joyce over her publishing rights during a piracy scandal or of her relationship to fellow lending bookshop owner Adrienne Monnier.…
Wild Child of Old Hollywood – Ep.38
Tallulah Bankhead, with her sultry voice, magnetic charisma, and a penchant for living life on her own terms, defied conventions and left an indelible mark on entertainment history. From her electrifying performances on the Broadway stage to her unforgettable roles on the silver screen, Bankhead captivated audiences with her talent and numerous convention-defying antics. Sources…
The Lulu to Dietrich’s Lola – Ep.37
Louise Brooks, wild child of Old Hollywood, is most remembered for her escapades and her performance in the film Pandora’s Box. However, she was always more of a dancer than an actress and never set out to join the nascent film industry despite numerous offers. Like many of her decisions, the left road into Hollywood…
Sapphic Center of Hollywood – Ep.36
Known for her Garden of Alla and her production of an all-gay Salome, Alla Nazimova was once the greatest of the early Hollywood actresses. She was heralded as the first modern actress in America and as the new Eleonora Duse – that Italian actress who was the rival of Sarah Bernhardt. And yet, I’d wager…
Blue Angel – Ep.35
Renowned around the world primarily for her legs and good looks, Marlene Dietrich was the other main diva of Old Hollywood and “rival” of last episode’s Greta Garbo. She performed shocking characters on screen, got kicked out an orchestra for her legs, dressed in tuxedos, signed letters as “Daddy Marlene”, and once had her trousers…
Swedish Sphinx – Ep.34
A darling of the screen, a famous recluse, the Swedish Sphinx: Greta Garbo. The enigmatic Swedish actress bewitched audiences with her mesmerizing beauty and unparalleled talent during Hollywood’s Golden Age. With a career spanning from the silent era to the advent of sound in film, Garbo left an indelible mark on the silver screen. Renowned…
Gateway to Hollywood – Ep.33
Mercedes de Acosta has been called many things: the inspiration behind Truman Capote’s game International Daisy Chain, “that furious lesbian”, and our gateway to Hollywood for the podcast. She was notorious for walking the streets of New York in pants, pointed shoes with buckles, a tricorn hat, and a cape. Her slicked back hair, red…
Defying Odds – Ep. 32
Mexican painter Frida Kahlo is famous for her self-portraits and the fact the world has decided to plaster her face everywhere. But where did her story begin? And why was this woman once accused of murdering her ex lover, Leo Trotsky? Sources (Used/Consulted/Read Along the Way) Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera…
Black Venus – Ep.31
Icon of the Jazz Age, WWII resistance member, famous for a banana skirt among other things, today’s episode is Josephine Baker, the American-born French dancer, singer, and actress. She was the first black woman to star in a major motion picture, and at one point, she was the richest black woman in the world. Despite…
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