AS THE MONEY BURNS

Podcast by Nicki Woodard

 

Episode 115 – All That Matters, Part 1 of 2

 

Outline
Civil ceremony

Royal marriages & protests

 

 

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 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.   

 

00:29

Story Recap

 

Barbara Hutton and Prince Alexis Mdivani are officially engaged, and tennis sensation Frank Shields goes missing only to be found out to sea.

 

Now back to AS THE MONEY BURNS

 

Title

 

00:44

All That Matters, Part 1 of 2

 

[Music Fade Out]

 

 

This episode is dedicated to my mother… 

 

Episode Tag

 

A royal wedding draws a large crowd, but could the honeymoon be over already?

 

01:06

[Music – Eyes Of The World by Louis Levy, Album The Great British Dance Bands]

 

Section 1 – Story

 

[Music Fade Out]

 

01:24

PART 1

 

Plenty of excitement surrounds the wedding of the next American dollar princess to another semi-impoverished royal, semi only due to a recent very lucrative divorce settlement. 

 

Young heiress, the fashionista and slightly chubby Barbara Hutton is heading to the altar with the ruggedly handsome, newly divorced Russian Prince Alexis Mdivani.

 

She has been dreaming about this day – her wedding and him, since she was a young teen.  Never daring to really dream he would actually be hers.  Though she claims he is her best friend, her feelings run far deeper for this lonely poor little rich girl.

 

He too has stars in his eyes, but that might come more from her sparkling fortune and jewels than her per se.

 

02:26

Much like with his first marriage to socialite It-Girl heiress Louise Van Alen, Alexis becomes more and more royal as he gets closer to Barbara’s substantial fortune.  Since marriage in France requires a civil ceremony, he does not want a religious ceremony, but Barbara wants to set her wedding apart and incorporate some exotic rites, in this situation Eastern Orthodox Christian of the Russian imperial and Byzantine dynasties.  To accomplish this simpler task than a prolonged Catholic confirmation, Alexis converts within the leading months by attending several religious lectures on better living to Barbara’s amusement.

The later location for the religious ceremony will be located in the 8^th Arrondissement in Paris at the Russian Orthodox church officially known as the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, or more colloquially sometimes referred as L’Eglise Russe translated as the Russian Church.

 

The invitations sent out included a description of the location as “the official church of the exiled Russian nobility since the Revolution.” 

 

03:23

Therein lies the rub for many dispossessed Russian nobility and aristocracy who relocated to Paris after the Bolshevik Revolution.  Many decry the Georgian based Mdivani clan are not actually royals or nobility of the now lost empire.  First, the Georgian princes must be from the ruling royal family Bagriotinis, who joined the Russian Empire while keeping their titles intact.  Secondly, they cite the Mdivani name is excluded from the 1850 Imperial Decree of 50 Georgian princes nor are they listed among the 700 families in 1892 by the Russian Imperial government Department of Heraldry.  They do however acknowledge General Zakhari Mdivani’s service to the last Czar / Tsar Nicholas II Romanov and with that would accept a claim to potential aristocracy just not royalty.  Pesky arguments for sure.

 

One ardent dissenter the former Marshal of Nobility in Georgia Nicholas Dadiani claims that most actual noble and aristocratic exiles will not attend the wedding in protest of this phony prince and his press grabbing siblings.  And right now, the press is in a flurry of all things Mdivani.

 

Only they aren’t the only ones in protest.  But the next two might be a shocker for some.

 

04:46

It never fails as love blossoms for one, it withers for another.  The same vine might have dying and blooming flowers, but eventually all things go away…

 

Inevitably.

 

Because as one marriage ends, another begins.  Or could it be as one marriage begins another ends… 

 

Or in this case several ending…

 

05:09

Friday, June 9^th, 1933, Los Angeles

 

Actress and dancer “Girl with the Bee Stung Lips” Mae Murray files for divorce from Prince David Mdivani.  She charges him with unreasonable jealousy.  This is their second divorce attempt.  One was thwarted many years earlier in August 1931.  They share a son Koran.

 

Then only five days later…

 

05:39

Wednesday, June 14^th, 1933, Los Angeles

 

Through an attorney, opera singer Mary McCormic announces her intention to begin legal action for separation and potential divorce from Prince Serge Mdivani.  The couple has been separated for two months.  Among the allegations, Serge struck Mary with his fist back in October 1932 and more recently locked her in her room to prevent her from keeping social engagements.  She also would like restitution of a $40k loan she made to him for which he has only repaid $500 (that would be the equivalent of $966k loan with only $12k repaid in 2024).  Supposedly they have joint community property of $100k (or $2.41 million in 2024).  And she is requesting a $600 monthly spousal support plus reimbursement of her $7500 attorney’s fees (today’s equivalent of $14.5k monthly support and $181k for attorney).

 

Oh, Mary doesn’t truly understand a Mdivani.  Mdivanis spend fortunes, not make them.  This songbird hasn’t been singing the best tune after her longtime friend and advisor Sam Insull fled the States after his energy empire Ponzi scheme imploded, leading to more financial hardship.

 

Could the Mdivani spell finally be broken?

 

07:08

Leading up to the ceremony, both to be former Princesses Mdivanis directly warn Barbara about the troubles of marrying a Mdivani to no avail.

 

No one is going to detour Barbara from marrying her prince.  She is in the flurry of multiple receptions and plans and details.  Days before her wedding, future sister-in-law the mesmerizing Princess Roussadana “Roussie” Mdivani Sert hosts a reception for dear Barbara.

 

Barbara’s family and friends arrive aboard the German ocean liner Bremen.  Prince Serge and Prince David arrived a little earlier for their father General Zakhari Mdivani’s funeral and stayed for the wedding.

 

07:46

Somewhere former Mdivani sister-in-law Louise Van Alen’s heart must be breaking.  She stays out of site, and the only Mdivani Princess not to openly use the title nor speak about her relationship.  Yet, Louise is mentioned constantly in comparison, and now not so favorably as attention turns towards Barbara, who has become a more glamorous prospect.  Even down to the description of their engagement rings – Louise’s conventional and unworldly large square cut diamond platinum ring to Barbara’s unique sophisticated and exotic black pearl ring.

 

Giddily caught up in all the excitement, Barbara even willingly gets interviewed and quoted by various reporters.  She is finally turning into a glorious swan.

 

08:36

Tuesday, June 20^th, 1933, Paris

 

3:00pm Civil Ceremony at 16^th Arrondissement

 

The crowd is less than anticipated with only 20 spectators to watch the comings and goings.  But almost 200 reporters and 18 cameras provide more fervor.

 

In a gray limousine, Barbara arrives with her father Franklyn Hutton.  Barbara emerges wearing a pearl gray print suit with cape by Coco Chanel and tops it with a pictured hat with organdie.  Her only jewels present that day are a jade necklace and that black pearl engagement ring set in platinum.  She wears a mink scarf.  Appropriately and tastefully chic.

 

Anywhere from 30 and some say 50 family members are also noted in attendance. 

 

Entering the building, Aunt Jessie Woolworth Donahue is amazed at all the flashing cameras and comments, “Hollywood at its best!”

 

09:37

Prince Alexis looks a bit overdone wearing formal attire of a morning coat with white spats, & silk hat.  Accompanying him, is the Georgian Minister in Paris Araki Tchenkeli.  The Prince holds a post through the Georgian delegation, which mainly involves answering questions about his actual lineage while he also enjoys having a diplomatic passport and special parking privileges. 

 

Inside, cameras click away at each and every tedious step.

 

Assistant Mayor of Paris Daniel Marin performs the actual ceremony and gives a flattering speech about the beauty and prosperity of their merger.  Like a good disaffected noble, Alexis dozes off briefly during the section referring to his ancient nobility and Barbara’s modern industrial aristocracy.

 

10:26

At the end of the ceremony, they do not share a kiss, holding that off for the bigger ceremony.

 

As Alexis scribbles his signature with a gold pen, he remarks, “I’ll sign any papers blindfolded because I love Barbara and that’s all that matters.” 

 

Official witnesses for Barbara are her father Franklyn Hutton and Aunt Jessie, while the Prince’s witnesses are his brother-in-law Spanish painter Josep Maria Sert – and by differing accounts either sister Princess “Roussie” or the Georgian Minister Tchenkeli.

 

As is customary, the bridal couple makes a donation for the poor of 25,000 francs or $1210 USD (which is the equivalent of $29k today).

 

11:13

Once the ceremony is over, the newlyweds part ways.  Barbara goes back to the Ritz Carlton and will not see Alexis again for 2 days until their official church ceremony.  This evening, the bride hosts a party for her friends despite the fact Barbara is noted not to smoke nor drink.  Separately, the bridegroom will have his own bachelor party. 

 

The press is in overdrive covering every aspect of the upcoming wedding and honeymoon with details pouring out even days before and after the actual events.

 

11:47

Such as,… there is much discussion over her new trousseau eh-hem closet – both her day clothes as well as potential lingerie attire.  The costs, the colors, the outfits, the designers mostly Patou and Chanel.  The envy of a life of luxury when others are living under such meagre means.  Beach pajamas, tea and cocktail pajamas, tennis frocks, black velvet evening jacket with ermine sleeves, Chanel star prints in diaphanous afternoon frocks, one evening gown features a crisp organdie off shoulder drape embroidered with small flowers, another mousseline evening gown has red, green, violet, and yellow flowers and shoulder strap of red garnet velvet and dashing sash belt.  Plenty of hats.  And her going away outfit for the honeymoon will be – brown chantanel.

 

12:40

Somewhere there is a claim that Barbara likes to wear paste jewelry – do they actually know her at all?  Maybe she does, but her actual jewelry collection and the ones alone she will soon receive…

 

There is after all an extra room at the Ritz solely to hold the gifts with detectives protecting them.  Stepmother Irene Curley Hutton salivates and covets over all the extravagant and beautiful gifts already piling up.  No way will Irene will get an equivalent gift this time.  Only the bride gets all, even if she hardly needs or wants them.

 

13:19

Among the gifts so far detailed…

 

·       Groom receives Argentine polo ponies & pearl shirt studs from the bride

·       The groom gives his bride a rope of pearls

·       Father Franklyn Hutton – jade necklace for the bride and a motorboat Ali Baba for the groom

·       Princess Nina Mdivani Huberich – 2 extravagant embroidered Georgian ceremonial gowns for the bride

·       Prince David Mdivani – a diamond encrusted Cartier clock

·       Prince Serge Mdivani – gold vanity case for Barbara and gold cufflinks for Alexis

·       Princess Roussie & Sert – Sert painted a large landscape of the Spanish seacoast

·       Aunt Helena Woolworth McCann – ruby & diamond earrings

·       Aunt Jessie Woolworth Donahue – likely some pearls

·       Uncle E.F. Hutton and Aunt Marjorie Merriweather Post Hutton – a diamond brooch in the shape of a polo pony

 

Other gifts include:

·       Diamond bracelets

·       George III silverware

·       Silver tea service

·       Gold toilet sets

·       Baccarat crystal

·       Limoges porcelain

 

14:26

There is just so much to cover, and the press definitely kicks into hyperactivity covering all the Mdivani love matches leading up to the biggest marriage a fortune hunter might ever secure.  But as one series of articles point out, these aren’t the only royal matches to catch media attention.  Other actual former royal & commoner marriages catch some notice.

 

14:46

Earlier on June 3^rd, 1933 – Prince Wilhelm formerly of Prussia marries an Italian and Prussian aristocrat though not approved as royal blood, thus he loses any potential claim if the throne is ever restored.  This will also lead to him being disinherited despite being the favorite grandson of the deposed Prussian Kaiser Wilhelm II.  Though with no more power, the Kaiser retains enough wealth to still be one of the richest men in the world.  The Kaiser himself also considers himself to be a wonderful matchmaker but in the past was shocked and disappointed when his 61 year old sister remarried a waiter without his consent.

 

15:26

Wednesday, June 21^st, 1933

 

The Spanish Prince of Wales – the Prince of Asturias Infante Alfonso weds his beautiful commoner wife in Lausanne, Switzerland, then honeymoons in France.  Both Barbara and the Cuban brides’ wedding gowns are featured in an article with adjacent images.  While Barbara gets full focus, the Prince of Asturias gets much smaller mention.  As the latter heads off on his honeymoon, he sends an emissary to request a pardon from his father the deposed King Alfonso XIII of Spain, who still protests that marriage.  Meanwhile this new bride will spend the first day of her honeymoon confined to her hotel room with a fever after the fatigue and excitement.

 

16:13

Another notable marital prospects, Sweden and Romania too might have some errant royals.  But there is one royal – THE royal who doesn’t seem to be joining the matrimonial brigade.  The 39 year old perennial bachelor Prince of Wales – Prince David – future King Edward VIII – Duke of Windsor.  Secretly, he’s switching his married paramours from Viscountess Thelma Morgan Furness (the twin sister of Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt and aunt of young Gloria Vanderbilt) to Wallis Simpson – future Duchess of Windsor.

 

But nonetheless, the real attention grabber is the extravagant wedding ceremony still to happen. 

 

In less than 24 hours, Barbara will have the grand wedding of her dreams, but will it be all that she ever hoped for and more?

 

To be continued… in Part 2.