CHARACTERS
HEIRS AND HEIRESSES:
Doris Duke (16) – Awkward, Tall, Shy, Formidable. Tomboy prefers overalls to dresses. Daddy’s girl without a daddy. Inherited voracious Duke sexual appetite but hasn’t experimented yet. Sole inheritor of major tobacco fortune. Raised with awareness of fortune and to be cautious. Lacks certain basic socialization skills. Colorblind and likes to mix with all races and common folk. Loves music and dancing, which is the only time she’s not self-conscious and inhibited. Secretly helps unfortunate. Episodes: 01, 02, 03, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 46, 47, 49, 51, 52, 58, 60, 65, 66, 70, 71, 72, 73, 77, 82, 83, 86, 88, 89, 92, 93, 94, 96, 97, 100, 102, 103, 104, 105, 107, 109
Barbara Hutton (16) – Insecure, Daydreamer, Fragile, Romantic. People pleaser. Chubby budding fashionista. Like Doris sole inheritor to major mercantile fortune, however Barbara is unaware until 18 her actual net worth. Complicated relationship with her stockbroker father Franklyn Hutton who nurtured her fortune better than her. Desires and covets glamour and beauty. Obsessed with movie stars and royalty. Escapes into fantasy world to avoid unpleasantness of life. Lavishes gifts to win approval. Continually seeking validation and love. Episodes: 02, 03, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 42, 43, 46, 47, 49, 51, 52, 57, 58, 59, 60, 63, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 76, 77, 80, 82, 83, 84, 86, 88, 89, 92, 93, 95, 96, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 107, 108, 109
Louise Astor Van Alen (19) – Stylish, Witty, Perfect. Debutante Trend Setter. Sizeable heiress to three fortunes, but still nowhere in the vicinity of Doris or Barbara. Has the world at her fingertips. Loving family. Active social life. Episodes: 02, 03, 06, 07, 09, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 37, 39, 46, 47, 48, 52, 54, 58, 59, 60, 63, 64, 68, 72, 73, 74, 78, 82, 88, 89, 92, 93, 95, 96, 98, 99, 100, 102, 103, 105, 107, 108, 109
John Jacob Astor VI, aka Jakey (16) – Spoiled, Envious, Resentful, Lost. Playboy in training. Unborn survivor of the Titanic, posthumously born son thus left with small tiny fraction of fortune. Hides fact not as rich as people think. Despises older half brother Vincent who controls the real family fortune. Waiting for control of his fortune and life of leisure. Cousin to Louise. Episodes: 02, 03, 06, 09, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 33, 34, 36, 38, 40, 43, 46, 47, 62, 63, 67, 68, 82, 86, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 98, 99, 102, 103, 105, 106, 109
Huntington Hartford (17) – Ambitious, Creative, Confused, Proud. Entrepreneur. Like Doris and Babs, a young sole heir to massive grocery fortune. Wants to be productive and make his own way, but continually fails. Doesn’t respect other heirs who don’t contribute or make things. Prefers common girls over Society girls. Playboy. Episodes: 13, 16, 17, 20, 21, 23, 24, 33, 34, 37, 40, 44, 46, 56, 60, 62, 63, 65, 66, 70, 82, 86, 88, 90, 92, 100, 102, 105
William May Wright, aka Bill (50s) – Stockbroker, schemer. Loves the good life and has built quite an enviable fortune in the stockmarket. Fixture on the social scene and quite cocky. Married to opera singer Cobina Wright, whose supreme hostess skills further build his profile. Episodes: 05, 06, 08, 09,11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 35, 43, 46, 48, 50, 52, 71, 72, 73, 96, 97, 98, 104
James HR Cromwell, aka Jimmy (34) – Handsome, Oblivious, Entitled. As an heir to two family fortunes, he is THE MOST ELIGIBLE bachelor and back on the market after his recent divorce from the Dodge heiress. Grew up in the plush and pampered lifestyle. Former lover of Cobina. Episodes: 09, 16, 17, 20, 21, 24, 27, 29, 35, 37, 38, 46, 48, 51, 52, 70, 72, 81, 84, 86, 87, 88, 94, 96, 97, 100, 102, 104, 105, 107
Vincent Astor (40s) – Rigid, Moody, Controlling, Dedicated. Social reformer. Became primary and nearly sole heir of Astor fortune upon death of his father on the Titanic. The first of his kind to be socially conscientious heir. Shocked when he learns family fortune is from being essentially slumlords then reformed structures and started philanthropy. Loves but has complicated relationship with sister Ava. Does not like nor trust younger half brother Jakey. Enjoys yachting and infantile practical jokes. Episodes: 10, 12, 15, 16, 19, 20, 24, 26, 33, 34, 36, 38, 40, 43, 48, 62, 63, 67, 68, 74, 84, 87, 89, 91, 92, 98, 99, 100, 105, 106
Ava Alice Astor, aka Ava (30s) – Dark beauty, Bohemian, Restless. As a female received a smaller portion of Astor fortune upon death of her father on the Titanic. She gets along with older brother Vincent and younger half-brother Jakey. Constantly on the move, Ava with her husband Prince Serge Obolensky and their young son Ivan. She is rumored to be the fourth person to enter King Tut’s tomb and believes she is a reincarnated Egyptian princess. Episodes: 04, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 24, 43, 48, 62, 63, 67, 74, 77, 91, 98, 99, 105, 106
Margaret “Daisy” Post Van Alen (late 50s) – Proper, Punctual, Sophisticated. Newport native returned to live year round after her husband dies. She is an heiress via the Colonial settlers the Posts as well in the future by her uncle by marriage Frederick Vanderbilt. Daisy will be one of the last reigning Society queens in Newport. Her children Henry, Sam, and Louise will keep her busy. Episodes: 05, 06, 07, 09, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 48, 58, 64, 72, 73, 77, 88, 89, 92, 93, 102, 103, 108
Van Alen Brothers
James “Jimmy” Henry Van Alen II, aka Henry (27) – Athletic, Stylish, Jazz Fan. Louise’s oldest brother is Newport royalty dedicated to tennis and jazz. Eventually, he develops the tiebreak system in tennis. Episodes: 02, 03, 06, 09, 12,13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 32, 37, 38, 39, 40, 46, 47, 48, 58, 61, 64, 65, 72, 77, 84, 88, 89, 90, 92, 93, 95, 96, 98, 99, 100, 102, 103, 108
William Van Alen, aka Sam (22) – Athletic, Studious, Future Architect. Louise and Henry’s middle brother Sam went to school with Prince Alexis at Eton, and they have remained friends ever since. Sam is also an avid tennis player. Episodes: 02, 03, 06, 07, 09, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 32, 37, 38, 39, 46, 47, 48, 52, 58, 61, 64, 65, 72, 76, 77, 88, 89, 90, 92, 93, 95, 96, 98, 99, 103, 108
COMPANIONS TO WEALTH:
Nanaline Duke (late 40s/50s) – Petite, Miserly, Vain, Cruel. Social climber & schemer. Loves her wardrobe and her older son Walker Inman (later addition in series) more than Doris (his younger half-sibling), whom she barely tolerates. Meticulously oversees all estate matters and will doing anything to build her own private fortune. Has secret affairs with the staff including Doris’s French governess. Episodes: 01, 02, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31, 32, 34, 37, 38, 40, 41, 47, 51, 65, 66, 70, 86, 88, 89, 92, 93, 94, 97, 100, 102, 105, 107
Prince Alexis Mdivani (mid-20s) – Russian, Cocky, Manipulative, Ruthless, Seductive. Prince and fortune hunter. Competitive athlete. Serial womanizer. Feigns fragility to woo an heiress. Gloats with absolute childish delight over presents. Never intends to work. Ambition to spend others’ fortunes. Enjoys polo, ponies, fast cars, and women galore. Episodes: 02, 03, 06, 09, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 32, 37, 39, 46, 47, 48, 52, 54, 58, 59, 60, 63, 64, 68, 72, 73, 74, 82, 88, 89, 92, 93, 95, 96, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 107, 108, 109
Cobina Wright (40s) – Warm, Talented, Ambitious. Social Climber, Opera Soprano, Famed Hostess, Queen of Conspicuous Consumption. If it is happening, Cobina knows about it. Rose up from her simple frontier roots by sheer force of willpower and ambition. Her exceptional coloratura soprano singing ability brought her fame eventually marrying stockbroker Bill Wright. Together they host the best and most elaborate celebrations. Will mentor the young heiresses on Society and love. Only her story is about to suffer an extreme twist of fate. Episodes: 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 29, 30, 35, 43, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 63, 71, 72, 73, 81, 82, 86, 94, 96, 97, 98, 102, 104, 105, 109
Frank Shields (19) – Tennis Champion, Movie Star Good Looks, Poor Irish Kid. The talented Frank is rising fast on the international tennis circuit, but this poor kid from the Lower East Side only wants to have a good time and has no interest in money. His good looks and easy demeanor make him popular with both males and females. Episodes: 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 33, 37, 46, 53, 60, 61, 63, 65, 77, 82, 90, 92, 109
Henrietta Hartford (mid-40s) – Overly Involved and Devoted Mother, Social Climber. The opposite of Nanaline, but that doesn’t necessarily mean better. She has covert incestuous relationship with pampered son Huntington. Episodes: 13, 16, 17, 23, 24, 33, 34, 37, 44, 56, 60, 63, 65, 66, 88, 92, 100, 102, 105
Franklyn Hutton (mid-late 40s) – Calculating, Reserved, Notorious womanizer. Stockbroker. Adeptly manages Barbara’s fortune and increases it. Hurt by lack of inclusion in society and doesn’t understand his daughter. Not opposed to living the high life as long as it comes on someone else’s dime. Draws ire from Bill for renting a Newport cottage and borrowing his brother’s super yacht rather than own one. Luxuries needn’t become fixed expenses. Episodes: 02, 05, 06, 08, 12, 16, 19, 20, 22, 24, 25, 46, 47, 51, 52, 57, 58, 59, 69, 77, 84, 88, 93, 100, 101, 103
Irene Hutton (late 30s/40s) – Striving, Insecure, Self-involved. Stepmother. Being from Detroit, lacks much of the sophistication needed to survive the Newport way of life. Tries so hard to fit in, but has a long way to go. Attempts to be like a big sister to Barbara, though deep down Irene really would rather be the young wealthy heiress. Anything Barbara gets, Irene ends up with one too. Episodes: 02, 05, 06, 07, 12, 19, 20, 25, 46, 47, 48, 51, 58, 59, 77, 84, 88, 93, 100, 103
Prince Serge Obolensky (40s) – Russian, Tall, Charming, Sophisticated. Decorated war hero of both World War I & II. Serge comes from one of the oldest Russian noble families but ran into trouble with the Bolsheviks during the Russian Revolution. He’s deeply in love with his wife Ava Astor and gets along with both her brothers Vincent and Jakey. Serge is welcomed everywhere he goes. Episodes: 04, 15, 16, 19, 20, 24, 43, 48, 63, 67, 68, 74, 99, 104, 105, 106