AS THE MONEY BURNS

Podcast by Nicki Woodard

Episode 006 – The Sport of Kings

Series Tag

00:00

[Music – My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Billy Cotton, Album The Great British Dance Bands]

AS THE MONEY BURNS is an original podcast by Nicki Woodard, based on historical research.  This is a deep exploration into the lives of actual heirs and heiresses to some of America’s most famous fortunes and what happens when the Great Depression hits, as well the lingering connections into the modern day.

Each episode is comprised into three primary sections.  Section 1 is a narrative story told with some creative license to enhance the emotional and psychological situations.  Section 2 goes into the historical facts behind the scenario with occasional historiography to analyze sources and any biasness.  Section 3 focuses on contemporary, emotional, and personal connections that help make the story relevant to the current day.   

Now back to AS THE MONEY BURNS

Title

00:42

The Sport of Kings

[Music fade out]

Episode Tag

00:46

It’s polo week in Newport, thus games of love and fortunes are all in play.

Polo might be the sport of kings, but for our young heiresses the prize seems to be their hearts. 

00:56

[Music – Button Up Your Overcoat by Jack Hylton, Album Fascinating Rhythm – Great Hits of the 20s]

Section 1 – Story

[Music fade out]

01:06

Today, on the massive lush green lawn overlooking the cliffside, both young and old elites gather for another day of play.

A Newport summer is a very demanding schedule.  Almost every week has a designated activity and one of the first being polo.

The very well-dressed crowd in their semi-casual attire could be its own fashion show.  A colorful array of tea length dresses paired with fashionable hats, gloves, pocketbooks, and some even a parasol.  The men wear summer suits.  The players strut about in their jerseys and jodhpurs flirting with the ladies. 

In this hotbed of young heiresses, the right playboy could have his pick of beauties.  It is the perfect place for someone like visiting royal Prince Alexis Mdivani to parade his skills both on the field and off.  He maneuvers about with the reigning It Girl Louise Van Alen by his side.  The family friends make a striking pair in this rarefied world, though they are not an actual couple.

02:01

As the first game plays, the superrich casually sit picnic style on the grass.  To Louise and her brothers, the Prince provides commentary on different infractions.

Hovering within earshot, the budding teen fashionista Barbara Hutton jealously studies the Prince and Louise’s interactions while her awkward and fellow teen Doris Duke focuses on the actual game.

After the match, Prince Alexis politely excuses himself from the Van Alen clan and goes over to Barbara, who nearly faints when he inquires about her ever present poetry book.  He flips casually reading from a dog-eared page or two.  Now it is Louise who waits jealously and signals for him to return.  The Prince waves back then absent mindedly tucks the book under his arm and walks off in another direction towards the horses, thus leaving both adoring females confused.

02:54

Lunch is served.  Everyone meanders over to the large white tent for an elaborate buffet.  Louise, her two brothers, and their cousin Jakey Astor proceed into the line.  Barbara with her sidekick Doris are further back.  The Prince heads towards the Van Alens, only stopping to apologize and returns to Barbara her book.  As the Prince rejoins the Van Alens, Barbara discovers a small sealed envelope inside and jumps in excitement nearly knocking over Doris.

Barbara squeals, “I told you he loves Silvia.”

Doris in her baby whisper baffles, “Silvia who?”

Barbara gushes, “Silvia.  I spend part of every summer with her in France.  They’ve been dating for years.  This spring, her father forbade her from seeing Alexis since he’s a penniless prince.  I’m helping them get back together.  It’s true love.”

Doris doesn’t seem as convinced as she watches the Prince with Louise.  Doris fidgets, and her cowering draws Barbara’s ire until she spots the real problem.

03:54

Up ahead in the serving line, the talented opera singer and supreme society hostess Cobina Wright prepares plates for her family along with her Southern companion Nanaline Duke, whose social ambitions cause much of her daughter Doris’s discomfort.  Meanwhile Cobina delights over all the culinary choices – standard barbecue to fancier seafood delicacies.  Money sure does afford a great feast.

As they exit the line, Cobina notices an open space near Barbara’s clueless young stepmother Irene Hutton.  With a flare, Cobina makes her way when she suddenly freezes and nearly drops her plates. Her face changes from happiness to agony. 

With innate timing socialite and Louise’s mother Daisy Van Alen intervenes, she sets Cobina’s plates onto the table next to Irene then whisks her dear friend away, leaving Nanaline in a clenched smile with Irene, who delightedly accepts the company.

04:53

Without much choice, Barbara and Doris sit uncomfortably with their guardians.   Nanaline scans around and finally sees the problem.  Cobina’s charming stockbroker husband Bill Wright off to the side laughing and whispering a little too chummily into another socialite’s ear. 

At the end of the fanciful lunch, Louise introduces Prince Alexis to the reigning society queen and dowager Alice Vanderbilt.  Louise keeps tabs on Barbara’s whereabouts to avoid further interaction.

Without Daisy, Cobina returns a little more composed but still not the same.  Still forcing back tears, she adjusts her napkins and announces, “Daisy has generously offered to introduce Doris and Barbara to the Mrs. Alice Vanderbilt.” 

05:40

While most girls fawn over the players, introverted Doris hides from view drawn more to the company of animals over Society and her mother Nanaline.  Doris strokes the nose of one magnificent stallion wishing she could take him home.

Her private tranquil moment is interrupted by the non-couple strolling up.

The Prince laments, “Being one with the horse is essential, that’s why I need my very own string of ponies.  This constant switching is nonsense.”  Louise throws a fake sympathy pout, and the Prince teasingly pokes her ribs.

06:13

A horn announces the beginning of the next match. 

The Prince pries the rather large encumbering purse out of Louise’s resistant and clinging hands and gives it to Doris.  Then he adeptly lifts Louise onto a horse, so intimate and flirty that Doris blushes.  The Prince gives Louise a large white ball then mounts his own steed and takes the mallot from the stable attendant.  The non-couple rides onto the middle of the field greeting the other players.

Shyly, Louise rolls the game ball in her hands – it’s closer to a baseball in size but hard like a cricket ball.  Overwhelmingly, the crowd stares at her from the sidelines.

The umpire also on horseback motions to see if she is ready.  Alexis nods his assurance.  With all her might, she tosses the ball out onto the field. 

It’s a fairly weak throw but enough to get the game in gear.

07:06

Immediately, the players lunge forward into combat mode.  Frightened both Louise and her horse instinctively pull back.  Another umpire nudges her off the field.  She gallops away.

Intensely, the players trounce up and down the field, swinging their mallots, near collisions, smashing against each other…

The game of polo is like most team sports using balls.  A long field with goal posts on both ends.  Offense, defense, and goal keeping. 

Alexis plays the lead striker position.  Coming from Russian horse country, he truly reigns on the polo field.  His dexterity and flexibility combined with a driven need for speed and danger.

Ladies swoon, and the men cheer.

07:47

Back in safety, Louise finds her brothers and cousin Jakey sitting with Doris and Barbara.  A panic takes over Louise until Doris politely hands over the large purse. 

Alexis’s hotheaded temper provides much amusement to the Van Alen brothers.  When the opposing team cuts off the Prince’s line of movement and nearly hits him in the head, Alexis lets out a stream of obscenities punctuated with a few emphatic gestures.

Whenever he passes by the Van Alen entourage, he smiles or winks at Louise.  She nearly jumps out of her skin cheering him on.

On the field, his counter is equally hotheaded and won’t stand for the chastisement.  They ride rough up and down the field.  The opponent drives the ball hard but over calculates and sends the ball and horses into the sidelines –

Landing on top of the Van Alen crew.

08:35

Everyone scurries.  Alexis hurriedly charges and cuts the opponent’s horse off from trampling Louise and Barbara.  Alexis yells at his rival to get back on the field and then at the umpire to take better charge.  The Prince glances at the visibly shaken Louise, who nods she will be okay.

After the commotion, they resettle.  Louise’s knocked over purse has spilled its secret contents.  Barbara notices a batch of familiar envelopes as she goes to pick one up.  Louise quickly snatches it and urges the girls to watch the match.

09:06

The call for the divot stomping breaks the tension.  As everyone heads out, Louise is grateful for the distraction.  Alexis checks in again with Louise, who remains flushed whether from the game activities, his attention, or Barbara’s.

Through the next 2 chukkas – as the rounds or periods are called in polo.  Barbara watches Louise closely. 

Horse sweat permeates the air.  Clomping, hitting, sharp turns, near misses,… –

09:32

Then one big collision.

Alexis’s steed bucks and crashes on top of him. 

The horses screech, as the players halt nearly trampling him.

Once safe from the horses, he lies motionless on the ground.

From the sidelines, everyone is silent.  Louise screams out then runs onto the field.  Her brothers chase and grab her before she can get to the body.

The umpire clears the area as the doctor runs up. 

Barbara and Doris come up next to the Van Alens.  In deep fear, Barbara unconsciously grabs Louise’s hand as they wait for a better sign.

10:06

Prince Alexis struggles to move and raises up his right hand.  He’s badly injured his left shoulder.  The doctor motions for a gurney. 

They carry the Prince off the field, and the teens trail behind.  As others watch the final moments of the match, the girls stay on vigil until he emerges.

10:26

[Music – In the Mood for Love by by Freddy Gardner, Album Elegance]

The day ends with a large fancy dinner and the requisite dance.  Now with left arm in a sling, Prince Alexis is not one to miss further festivities.  Louise remains faithfully and attentively at his side.  He insists on dancing.  She declines, but he promises to keep it slow.  He winces every few steps and holds her closer for balance. 

Others too enjoy the enchanting moment.  Cobina clings tightly to her husband, trying to quell her fears of another woman.  Doris enjoys the orchestra and notices that the piano player seems familiar.

Off to the side, Barbara sneaks over and finds Louise’s purse.  When no one is looking, she opens it to see the stash of familiar envelopes and takes one.

As the sky darkens, little flashes of light float and drift.  Louise places her head on Alexis’s good shoulder as they slowly dance.  The night takes over as fireflies fill the air.

[Music fade out]