Episode 100: All This Fuss
With a large fortune in sight, a whole family gathers to determine the next set of moves. What is an heiress to do?
#BarbaraHutton, #Mdivani, #100, #romancescam, #fraud, #seduction, #romanticfraud
December 1932, the royal Mdivani siblings gather in Paris to determine how the newly divorced Prince Alexis Mdivani will woo and finally catch Barbara Hutton. Only Barbara’s family will thwart his efforts, but a Mdivani is never one to fully give up on such a large fortune at stake.
Other people and subjects include: Louise Van Alen – formerly Princess Louise Van Alen Mdivani, Princess Nina Mdivani Huberich, Charles Huberich, Princess Roussadana “Roussie” Mdivani Sert, Prince Serge Mdivani, Prince David Mdivani, Baroness Maud von Thyssen – Else Zarske, Baron von Thyssen, Countess Silvia de Rivas de Castellane, Franklyn Hutton, Irene Hutton, James “Jeem” Donahue, Germaine “Ticki” Touquet, Doris Duke, Nanaline Duke, James HR Cromwell aka “Jimmy,” Eva Stotesbury, E.T. Stotesbury, Evalyn Walsh McLean, Hope Diamond, social secretary, Yale beau, James Blakeley, Winston Guest, Cartier, Paris, New York, Savoy Plaza Hotel, Fifth Avenue townhome, Central Park, oceanliner Berengia, seduction, problematic love affair, fortune hunter, reporters, nature of Chesterton Fence Principle, historiography even for a podcast, parallel emotional connections, vulnerabilities, collective mindsets, recent thefts, lawlessness, Great Depression, Prohibition, gangsters, outlaws, Robin Hood, Salem Witch Trials, the Spanish Inquisition, social media, terrors of the mob, unknown future, fraud, love and romance scam, FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), wire transfers, cryptocurrency, input from listeners, interactions, online communities, Phil Plant, Batman & Robin tv series, Catwoman Julie Newmar, Danish grandmother heiress, Belle Baruch, Huntington Hartford, Henrietta Hartford, Titanic, John Jacob Astor IV aka “Jack,” Vincent Astor, James “Henry” Van Alen aka Jimmy, a female Mdivani cousin
Archival Music provided by Past Perfect Vintage Music, www.pastperfect.com.
Extra Notes / Call to Action:
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Publish Date: December 14th, 2023
Length: 23:24
Opening Music: My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Billy Cotton, Album The Great British Dance Bands
Section 1 Music: I Guess I Will Have To Change My Plans by Ambrose & His Orchestra, Album The Great British Dance Bands
Section 2 Music: These Foolish Things by Benny Carter, Album Perfect Blues
Section 3 Music: So Rare by Carroll Gibbons, Album Sophistication 3
End Music: My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Billy Cotton, Album The Great British Dance Bands
AS THE MONEY BURNS
Podcast by Nicki Woodard
Episode 100 – All This Fuss
Outline
Family gathering
Fortune hunters
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 what happened to a set of actual heirs and heiresses to some of America’s most famous fortunes when the Great Depression hits.
Each episode has three primary sections. Section 1 is a narrative story. Section 2 goes deeper into the historical facts. Section 3 focuses on contemporary, emotional, and personal connections.
00:30
Story Recap
Cobina Wright loses her home and moves into the Waldorf, while Louise Van Alen divorces her longtime love Prince Alexis Mdivani.
Now back to AS THE MONEY BURNS
Title
00:46
All This Fuss
[Music Fade Out]
Episode Tag
With a large fortune in sight, a whole family gathers to determine the next set of moves. What is an heiress to do?
01:02
[Music – I Guess I Will Have To Change My Plans by Ambrose & His Orchestra, Album The Great British Dance Bands]
Section 1 – Story
[Music Fade Out]
01:17
December 1932, Paris
Less than a week after Russian Prince Alexis Mdivani and Princess Louise Van Alen Mdivani’s divorce, the Mdivani clan of 5 siblings gather for a conference in Paris.
At the head is the eldest sibling Princess Nina Mdivani Huberich. Her husband Charles Huberich has successfully unentangled youngest sibling Alexis from his heiress first wife with a rumored $1 million dollar settlement (a little less than $22.5 million in 2023). This hefty settlement dwarfs all the other Mdivani prospects, but that isn’t going to stop them from wanting more.
01:55
Ever a playboy, Alexis is taking his time and likely a little lackadaisical as he also entertains the very beautiful Baroness Maud von Thyssen (Tee-sen), a young sexy lady born Else Zarske married recently to a much older gentleman Baron von Thyssen on August 29th, 1932. Their marriages didn’t prevent either the Prince nor the Baroness from cavorting around with each other.
Still the daring and ruggedly handsome Alexis and his calculating siblings have sights on an even bigger prize – the chubby budding fashionista Barbara Hutton. Her inheritance dwarfs Louise as nearly double in size, and Barbara will turn 21 later in 1933 making it all under the domain of her future husband.
02:43
Nina has always been the planner in the family involving logistics. While sister Princess Roussadana “Roussie” Sert Mdivani is better at the seduction and manipulation. Roussie has been entertaining and learning every bit of Barbara’s vulnerabilities and knows exactly how to win her over. Brothers Prince Serge Mdivani and Prince David Mdivani are semi-obedient soldiers who have added mystique and intrigue to the family name and earning the moniker “the Marrying Mdivanis” as they seduce and marry wealthy entertainers, whose coffers deplete rather quickly and unexpectedly under the Mdivani’s largesse needs. Funny how once impoverished beggars expect and demand such lavish lifestyles.
03:25
But now Alexis has a chance at the big prize. A big dame hunter in his own right, Alexis is going after the biggest prize of all – the only relatively close and larger heiress is none other than the tall and now less awkward Doris Duke. Only Doris seems somewhat immune to Mdivani charms and is very much monitored by her mother Nanaline Duke. Besides another admirer James HR Cromwell, aka “Jimmy,” is staking his claim on her, and his uber rich mother Eva Stotesbury and stepfather E.T. Stotesbury along with Hope Diamond owner Evalyn Walsh McLean are colluding in that pursuit. Ironically, unknown to virtually everyone, the depleting Stotesbury fortune has made Doris a much needed target of seduction by that family too.
04:16
Meanwhile, the Mdivanis plan a full on seductive assault on Barbara, playing to her interests, insecurities, and vulnerabilities. Already, Alexis and Barbara have been exchanging letters for years, revealing personal details. He knows her intimate fears and frustrations. She already sees him as her best friend and closest confidante.
By mid-December 1932, Alexis promptly boards the oceanliner Berengia and arrives a few days later in New York City after Barbara’s arrival and his divorce. As he descends the gangplank, he is greeted by Barbara’s social secretary who informs him that he will not be seeing Barbara on this trip. He will stay at the Savoy Plaza Hotel.
Relentess and unwilling to be thwarted, every day at 6 o’clock sharp, Alexis appears on the Fifth Avenue (*1020 Fifth Avenue) doorstep of the Hutton townhome only to be refused entry or access to Barbara.
05:12
Inside the townhome with views of Central Park, Barbara faces down her father Franklyn Hutton and stepmother Irene Hutton. Franklyn is determined not to let the immense fortune he has nearly doubled to be wasted by a spendthrift Mdivani. Franklyn and Irene do not understand Barbara’s obsession with royalty and in particular this set that seems so trashy.
Barbara herself has been sporting a large ruby ring on her finger. One that everyone notices and suspects might be an engagement ring. She dismisses their concerns. She offers to take Irene shopping on another jewelry expedition to Cartier’s. Barbara regularly buys Irene expensive gifts as she has learned that is the best way to get along or otherwise will get the silent treatment. Delightedly, Irene expects this weekly ritual with greedy salivatory anticipation. Irene is more like an envious stepsister than a motherly figure, always keeping track tit for tat whatever Barbara gets she must have too or otherwise feels unfairly deprived.
06:16
For solace, Barbara seeks in private her longtime French governess and surrogate mother Germaine “Ticki” Touquet. To Ticki, Barbara confesses all, and they will regularly re-read Alexis’s letters and dissect them. The only other true confidante allowed into the townhome is Barbara’s cousin James “Jeem” Donahue, slightly younger and gay. Jeem gladly indulges Barbara in her fantasies, but he also warns her about the Mdivani’s penchant for overspending. Jeem also encourages Barbara to have fun with other males.
06:48
Back in the states and with so much scandal surrounding the newly divorced Prince Alexis, Barbara hopes to have a less problematic love affair. She reaches out to her former Yale beau, but he is still reluctant to marry into wealth and would rather scrape by on his scholarship. Another friend Winston Guest to whom she gifted a bejeweled cigarette case regularly appears at her events. Then there is the charming and handsome James Blakeley. This Park Avenue lad is definitely fun, attentive, and so devoted to her. She even bought him a nice pair of diamond evening studs, but alas Barbara doesn’t feel the pull of undeniable attraction. She has by now tasted the Mdivani seduction, and it is so hard to settle for less.
07:32
Though Barbara is fully aware, her chubby figure is no match for the lithe Silvia, her best friend and Alexis’s true and forbidden love. However Barbara fears people will only want her for her money, so she entertains the notion that Alexis is at least a dear friend and would give her an exciting and adventurous life.
As Barbara goes about, her limousine is swarmed from place to place. Reporters constantly approach her and ask her about Alexis.
She brushes them off and replies, “Oh, dear no, I was afraid all this fuss about an engagement would come up again if he came to New York. That’s why I telephoned him before he left Europe! These men!”
08:12
After a few weeks and several more attempts, Alexis has to accept that this courtship for the moment is a no-go. He packs up and sails back to Paris.
But don’t think the fight is over. Nope, there just has to be a change in tactics.
First up, he calls his former wife Louise Van Alen. Ooh yes, still in love desperately with Alexis, Louise is all too vulnerable to his pleas. Even worse, she has never closed their joint bank account, and Alexis is dipping into it heavily in his focus to woo Barbara.
The course of love never does run smooth. Not even gold, diamonds, or large bank accounts will ever change that.
09:02
[Music – These Foolish Things by Benny Carter, Album Perfect Blues]
Section 2 – History & Historiography
[Music Fade Out]
09:21
The purpose in studying history is to learn from the past. An important method of understanding how our world is shaped and the why’s behind it. This is ever more important in that history often repeats itself. Much of human behavior is constant and relative, and thus patterns and their outcomes can be foreseen within some predictable range. While events might never be exact replicas, there are important lessons to be learned and applied today.
09:52
The Chesterton Fence Principle presents that it is important that reform or change should not be made until the reason behind a current state is understood. Otherwise so doing would unleash unintended consequences that were being prevented. In essence such as a decision to remove what might seem like an arbitrary fence should not be made unless the reason for the fence has been ascertained.
This concept or principle can also be applied to the importance of learning history, and especially the importance in not overcorrecting or re-interpreting history to suit current political and social rules.
10:28
Now naturally, anytime we revisit a historical topic we will be influenced by our modern circumstances. Even this podcast is now becoming part of a historical record, and as such historiography could be applied to it as well. Historiography is the practice of reviewing the source of a historical writing with its biases whether intentional or not.
10:50
This podcast was developed by an individual, me, who has a deep love of social history combined with a personal life that felt very parallel to certain situations I or those around me had experienced. Mainly dealing with the nature of death and its impact on young and burgeoning adults. As well, the perpetual search for love and meaning and purpose, and how that search leads to many roadblocks and heartbreak. The examination of perception and misperception, especially when it comes to envy.
I have tried heavily to study history in hopes of somewhat predicting the future from the past and therefore prepared for the random trials of life. But in this story, I find another connection. One to my own feelings and parallel experiences. It’s not so much as a warning as a need to understand and relate. Of course, I embellish the tales and people as to how I perceive similar instances and occurrences to get down to the emotional dynamics where we all become vulnerable. Where we are all likely to repeat the same mistakes.
12:00
We all share many of the same struggles, maybe at different times and in different ways, but still at the core we as humans strive for something more and better. It’s hardwired into us. It’s so easy to think that money is the solution to everything. And oh, it definitely can help a lot – especially if you are staring at a mortgage, car repair, or something else where dollars or another currency is needed. However that attitude overlooks where money can’t help. It won’t quell insecurities, it won’t give you the mental fortitude to do physical and emotional challenges. In fact, often those with money might be very weak in those areas.
This podcast examines those similarities, those differences, and their challenges.
12:46
As well effecting the writing and interpretations, we are collectively going through a world altering time much like the Great Depression itself. We live in an era of hard struggle and survival. How this evolved is still a bit confusing. I can look back at other eras, and I am still puzzled by the breadth of societal issues colliding all at once. However the broad range of problems also leaves us all vulnerable and hopefully a little more ready to empathize where we once were a little too insular.
I, myself, am really wanting to re-explore familiar older topics and other areas to understand the psychology more behind the Salem Witch Trials, the Inquisition, and other long ranging hysterias in wanting to find a way out of our current collective mindsets. The current streak in thefts and other lawlessness harkens back to the Prohibition gangster era and the outlaws of the Great Depression, only are we going to lionize and Robin Hood them as well?
13:43
The wealth in the story provides for fun and beautiful settings, ups the stakes in some circumstances, alleviates the trivial and petty issues in others, and well as always there was enough public obsession that things were heavily documented. We have a strong collection of information into a group to provide decent insight and conjecture. Additionally, their whole life story played out before I ever learned of each individual. The gift of hindsight being 20/20. Many of these fortunes being told have unenviable endings. A stark reminder that what appears from a distant surface is not the same up close.
14:21
Today, we also experience things differently. Our social media and modern life with so much photographed and videoed we are exposed to many more perspectives and in seemingly real time. We understand the horrors and terrors of a mob, and we really know how much farther it can go. And yet, we haven’t seen the full cycle in our own lives. We have no idea how long or how much worse things will get before it comes to an end. And things will change inevitably, but when is yet to be determined. So it helps to have a roadmap for hope, even it doesn’t mark the path and destination clearly it can still guide us to better times.
15:03
Much of what we learn in this podcast is going to be the opposite. The prevalent mindsets, how or why certain choices are made, the unintended consequences, the failure to adapt, how things don’t work out, how things do go wrong, and hopefully by that we can learn what not to do or at least have some compassion when we or those close to us fall into the same pits.
This is the intention and purpose of these tales. Highly personal. Lives retold from a distant past, but relevant to us today. Even for myself, I have experienced and re-experienced many of the themes in our story and while telling this story. Deaths, heartbreak, financial insecurity,… It’s making my life a bit of a struggle but also reinvigorates my desire to tell these tales. These tales were always born from my own broken heart and dreams as I try to forge ahead to an unknown and not sure ever guaranteed better times.
16:04
Which brings us back to love, relationships, personal dreams, and ambitions. The core of who we all are at our most basic human desires.
And if you still think it is trivial. It should be noted wealthy or not – it is the heart that can leave us vulnerable one way or another.
The number one fraud committed today is the love and romance scam, in all its many splendid forms. Probably dwarfs the others because what is known is only the tip of the iceberg. The internet makes this type of scam even far more prevalent. According to a preliminary crime report by the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, it is reported that $739,030,292 in USD were lost to romance scammers in 2022. The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) estimates $1.3 billion in USD as the likely cost for 70,000 people. In 2022, people report paying the scammers via bank transfers 14%, cryptocurrency 15%, and via gift cards 24%. 60% of the amount paid to these scams happening mostly over bank transfers and cryptocurrency being a bigger target.
So it is not only the wealthy who are vulnerable to those who target wallets through the heart.
17:27
I hope you enjoy the journey. We are only halfway into our story and so much more to go. Yes, that means at least 100+ more episodes if I keep this pace with the timeline. Over the years, I mapped out key points then continue the discovery and side trips along the way to flesh out a time, place, world, and people so that we don’t just know their lives but experience a taste of it too.
We might not know where our own lives are heading in the present, but here is a past that provides clear warnings of darker times and then as time moves on the hope that this too shall pass.
18:05
[Music – So Rare by Carroll Gibbons, Album Sophistication 3]
Section 3 – Contemporary & Personal Relevance
[Music Fade Out]
18:24
This is episode #100!!! Can you believe we made it this far? And guess what, there is at least 100 more episodes to go. Yes, that’s right I have just as much story left to tell as I have already told. That means more seduction, betrayal, and bad behavior to come. It hasn’t just been fun for me to tell this story, but I immensely enjoy those who reach out and contribute their observations, experiences, and curiosities.
18:53
Previously, we learned Barbara’s early suitor the dangerous playboy Phil Plant disfigured a chorus girl, who so happened as one listener pointed out to be the mother of the Batman and Robin original tv series Catwoman Julie Newmar. Well, our story has another Batman tie – the handsome Park Avenue lad James Blakeley will work as editor for that tv series and eventually become an established television producer in due time.
19:18
Over the years, a few listeners have reached out to tell me some of their own stories. One explained how listening to an episode on a family vacation led to an exploration into his family history as his Danish grandmother was an heiress who befriended another American heiress Belle Baruch, whose brother and father recur in the periphery of our story.
Another recent listener has reached out from the Middle East and recounted his own personal history and the rise and fall and rise again in a family fortune. As well as an amusing interaction he had on a vacation when he met a Mdivani female cousin who did not speak too highly of her distant relations, even labeling them as selfish.
19:57
Through several online communities, I have met and been told about interactions with those featured in our stories. One pointed out Huntington Hartford and his contributions and efforts after I sounded a little too harsh in my evaluation – my actual intention was criticizing his mother’s haughty superior attitude. On a different discussion, an Astor descendant confirmed one of my comments and observation on a thread about Titanic casualty John Jacob Astor IV and his son Vincent Astor. Then there was another who got interested in a tennis episode and relayed how as a young man he once had drinks with James “Henry” Van Alen, more popularly known as Jimmy.
20:33
Others have reached out as they explore the various people and topics I cover. James “Jeem” Donahue, also known in his day as Jimmy, also brought another to this podcast. Some have sought advice on books for better exploration. Other opportunities brought me to other podcasts to discuss the wealth, the Great Depression, and the history and lessons involved.
20:54
I love the overlaps both with actual people related to the story and in general. We are in some way connected more than we realize. Even if not directly, then in spirit, nature, and overall humanity. I hope this podcast encourages that feeling of connection.
Thanks for being on this journey with me, and let’s see where our world will go as we continue these tales.
21:20
Once again on this road to 100, the one constant companion has been Past Perfect Vintage Music, a wonderful digitally restored music collection from the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. Albums feature music from Duke Ellington, Noel Coward, Glenn Miller, and so much more. I can’t imagine having this series without the music elements for each section. Want to hear something even more exciting – Past Perfect Vintage Radio channel can come directly to your home. The daily schedule (based in the UK time zone) is Vintage Mornings, Long Lunch, an hour long with World War II songs, followed by All That Jazz, a Tea Time Show, Noel’s Nightly Interlude with Noel Coward, then Showtime from musicals and movies with lots of Fred Astaire, lastly Love Songs, then Vintage Music After Dark…
It can be as simple as asking Amazon’s Alexa to turn on Past Perfect Vintage Radio. Also available on TuneIn Radio and myTunerRadio apps.
For more information check out:
https://www.pastperfect.com/radio/
www.pastperfect.com
Links in the notes and transcript.
If you enjoy As The Money Burns, then please share, like, & subscribe.
Hook
22:35
[Music – My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Billy Cotton, Album The Great British Dance Bands]
Next when we return to AS THE MONEY BURNS…
An heiress receives a special award for all her efforts to help the less fortunate, but her good deeds aren’t as helpful for her marriage.
Until then…
Credits
22:53
AS THE MONEY BURNS is an original podcast written, produced, and voiced by Nicki Woodard, based on historical research. Archival music has been provided by Past Perfect Vintage Music, check out their website at www.pastperfect.com.
Please come visit us at As The Money Burns via Goodpods, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook or now Meta, and/or Instagram. Transcripts, timeline, episode guide, and character bios are available at asthemoneyburns.com.
23:24
THE END.