AS THE MONEY BURNS

Podcast by Nicki Woodard

Episode 117 – Most Eligible

Outline
Honeymoon

Eligible bachelor

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 have a big wedding in Paris, while his brothers get served divorce papers.

Now back to AS THE MONEY BURNS

Title

00:45

Most Eligible

[Music Fade Out]

Episode Tag

While one honeymoon falls apart, another set of bachelors appear on the matrimonial market.

01:00

[Music – If This Is Only The Beginning by Billy Ternent, Album Elegance]

Section 1 – Story

[Music Fade Out]

01:22

June to July 1933, many are in route to their summer destinations and all the possibilities. 

At the Villa d’Este, royal newlyweds honeymoon at a magnificent country house at a large estate with two golf courses, tennis courts, and swimming pools. From Scotland, a horseshoe of heather is flown to Paris then delivered to the flower filled suite among 37 other bouquets.  13 trunks follow the bride for her alone, with over 50 pieces total for the whole entourage.  The budding fashionista, slightly chubby heiress Barbara Hutton now Princess Mdivani begins her life as a married woman in turmoil.

02:05

A not-so erotic ending after a very romantic and fairytale day.  The big church wedding was one better than she could ever imagine or hoped for, and it is the most photographed wedding to date.  Readers knew everything except the final detail over whether her wedding night lingerie had the Mdivani coronet or not.

Publicly, the orchidaceous Barbara is lauded for her taste, sophistication, and fashion sense. Such a contrast to her reality… 

02:35

Over the next days and weeks, the ruggedly handsome no longer impoverished Russian Prince Alexis Mdivani continues his disparaging remarks about his new wife’s less than svelte figure.  Her breasts, her stomach, her unappealing physique…  The Prince wooed her heavily up until the night of their wedding, then as the train headed out for their honeymoon his complaints began.

03:02

Now as serene lakes surround Barbara, she frets away worrying about her weight.  Traveling with a lighter entourage, her faithful companion and surrogate mother Germaine “Ticki” Touquet listens to the young bride’s already marital woes. 

Alas, they consider different options to help Barbara lose some sudden weight.  Her Rubenesque figure in a world and time that favors the ultra slim silhouette.  Roughly, she is about 5’ 4” and 148 pounds.  Barbara engages in what she terms a Gandhi diet, meaning practical starvation comprised mainly of coffee for three weeks at a time.  She quickly whittles away the excess fat she has never been able to shed before.

03:45

Furthermore, Barbara faces criticism from her family, mostly her plump white haired Aunt Helena Woolworth McCann detests the constant press attention.  It spills over not only from the infamous Marrying Mdivani clan but to the Woolworths as well.  Ironically, even the disapproval gets noted and registered in the headlines.

04:06

Sunday, June 25^th, 1933

Also trying to avoid publicity, camera shy former Society It Girl heiress Louise Van Alen secretly boards the Italian ocean liner Rex two minutes before leaving dock.  The photographers snap a glance of the former Princess Mdivani later staring out of a porthole as the ship takes off.

A week later…

04:34

Monday, July 3^rd, 1933

Another fake royal Prince Michael Romanoff is released from prison after serving his 90 day jail sentence due to his last “accidental stowaway” trip and unlawful entry into the United States.  His outfit will be the same in which he entered – all brown, brown checked suit, brown felt hat, Nazi shirt, and tan oxfords.  He is under 3 years strict probation, and if found in violation will serve 3 to 10 years or more in detention.

05:08

Wednesday, July 5^th, 1933

Aunt Jessie Woolworth Donahue heads back to the United States with her sons Woolworth “Woolly” Donahue and James “Jeem” Donahue.  The latter who seemingly won’t be joining cousin Barbara in Venice as hoped, and she probably could use his uplifting humor right now.  Instead, Jessie plans to head to Saratoga and Southampton for the summer and return to Wooldon Manor for the first time since the death of her husband James Donahue back in 1931.  Many renovations have been done recently to the property including a new jetty on the beach front and water system for the swimming pool. 

Franklyn Hutton and his wife Irene Hutton head to Biarritz likely to eventually meet up with the newlyweds.

05:54

While Aunt Helena takes her own daughter Helena McCann back to London removing them from prying eyes.  Last year’s pretty debutante is notably heartfree but has caught the attention of Lord Poulett (*Earl of Poulett), a former admirer of Doris Duke and whose own sister Bridget Poulett is highly fashionable.  Could there be another pending wedding on the horizon?

Not far behind,…

06:20

Friday, July 14^th, 1933

Prince David Mdivani and Prince Serge Mdivani return to the United States with intentions of addressing their divorces from Mae Murray and Mary McCormic respectively.  With that agenda, they travel with their sister Princess Nina Mdivani Huberich and her star lawyer husband Charles Huberich, who adeptly handles all matrimonial legal endeavors for his in-laws.

At the same time, Prince Alexis and Barbara make their way to Venice and Lido, where Franklyn Hutton’s gift should soon arrive – the 60 foot motorboat Ali Baba, an abbreviation of Alexis and Barbara’s names.

07:02

Also heartfree and camera shy, the no longer awkward tall heiress Doris Duke too stays away from the press and seemingly without wedding plans or a marriage proposal for that matter. 

But while the Mdivani – Hutton marriage is having a rough start, many still hope to find love despite the more reluctant heiresses Doris, Louise, and Helena.  There are many potential bachelors appearing, whether returning or debuting, onto the marital market.

The anticipation of eligible bachelors is causing a bit of a flurry.  Hmmm, let’s see who they might be…

07:39

Thursday, July 20^th, 1933

Before the Newport season begins, those matrimonially minded ladies salivate over what has been for decades the unofficial engagement season.  With that agenda, the most eligible bachelor has been chosen —

The proud scion John Jacob Astor VI, aka Jakey, also known as the Titanic baby having survived the disaster in utero while his father John Jacob Astor IV, aka “Jack,” was the richest man to die while his teen bride and then pregnant Madeleine Talmage Force Astor survives.  Jakey was recently connected to Italian Princess Donna Cristina (Christiana – Christina) Torlonia and has since been affiliated with other potential socialites like LeBrun “Brunie” Rhinelander.  The press celebrates this heartfree bachelor who soon too will come into his fortune this August 1933. 

08:36

Normally, Jakey would revel in such a grand acknowledgement.  He is after all the grandson of former Society Gilded Age queen bee Caroline Astor, and as his older half-brother Vincent Astor has not fulfilled the proper Society gentlemanly role within the family Jakey plans to assert himself instead.  The brothers have an ongoing dispute over the vastly uneven fortune as well as Vincent hinting at Jakey’s potential illegitimacy.  Whatever the case or amount, Jakey turns 21 on his birthday this August and thus will inherit his fortune free from both Vincent and Madeleine’s supervision.  For Jakey, that alone cannot come soon enough.

09:20

Above all, Jakey like his grandmother Caroline detests scandal.  Especially as scandal has plagued him pre-birth and ever since more ongoing speculation, with another round once again due to his mother Madeleine.

Though now in her late 30s, Madeleine has retained enough of her youthful figure and definitely spirit.  Her love life remains problematic.  First marrying Jack when she was in her teens, then giving up her Astor inheritance and widowhood to marry for love her childhood sweetheart William Dick.  And now, divorcing Dick, for her hot younger lover Italian boxer Enzo Fiermonte nearly half her age.

10:03

Press reports back on June 17^th, 1933, that for the divorce Madeleine has taken residence in Reno, Nevada.  Rumors immediately hint that Enzo will be soon the future husband #3. 

During the current press flurry surrounding Jakey, he confirms the rumors about his mother are very likely to be true and that he himself has cut off contact and has no interest in participating or encouraging such reckless behavior. 

10:32

Jakey isn’t the only anticipated heir this summer.  Another young eligible blueblood bachelor is Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, Jr., who too will turn 21 and inherit what remains of the diminishing Vanderbilt fortune.  His father died upon the Lusitania spinning the fortune further out of control as it dissipated via multiple brothers / his uncles and grandmother Alice Vanderbilt.

10:57

Next over in Philadelphia, there is a return to grandeur as the ostentatious and lavish Stotesburys reopen Whitemarsh Hall after nearly a year away.  Eva Stotesbury hosts a book launch party for her son the obliviously handsome heir to two fortunes and still divorced James HR Cromwell, aka “Jimmy.”  Jimmy has just published his first book The Voice of Young America. 

11:23

The polite and lovely 600 ladies fan themselves while sitting on the French chateau furnishings.  In diamonds and pearls, the resplendent Eva just before the speech asks the audience to “be patient with my new public speaker” who has opened her eyes and converted her to his views. 

Then dressed in all summer white, Mrs. Jock Whitney – formerly Bessie Dobson Altemus Eastman – introduces the speaker Jimmy. 

11:50

This Democrat author and new President Franklin Delano Roosevelt supporter shocks the members of the Republican Women’s Committee of Philadelphia with details of his view on America and economics. 

Working up in a fervor, Jimmy lashes out and warns these GOP ladies the younger generation is fed up with both parties and wanting new options.  He remarks the Constitution is outworn.  The government under both parties is corrupt, wasteful, and inefficient, with oppression coming from a few at the top.  The need to address starvation and misery in the richest nation of the world.  Eva nods along as he rails against —

12:26

“half-baked futile efforts of reformers – those well-meant but useless sprinklings of perfume upon a cesspool of graft and corruption.”

He also claims that “a new President, backed by aroused public opinion, asks and receives from a cowed Congress the role of super dictator.”

In front of a portrait of stepfather financier and ultra-conservative E.T. Stotesbury, Jimmy quotes Abraham Lincoln:

12:50

“ ‘This country with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it.  Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional rights of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember and overthrow it.’

“This is our authority, the shining sword with which we will cut the Gordian knot of antiquated government.   Our courage must not falter, nor must we doubt our ability to blaze a new trail.’ ”

13:19

Jimmy admits he is currently a Democrat as it is more liberal of the parties right now and derides the “old guard” Republicans. 

At the end, the applause is negligible, and there is a deal of head wagging and dismay.  The silent disapproval has little impact on Jimmy, as he intends to expose them to new ideas and hopes that eventually will assist in opening their minds. 

After the speech, the 600 women head for refreshment and wander around the enormous estate’s Versailles style gardens, where the ladies soak in the beauty while regaining their self-composure.

13:58

Meanwhile the rambunctious press explodes with a new revelation from Los Angeles – the popular Marrying Mdivanis Prince Serge Mdivani and Prince David Mdivani are making plans to invade Soviet Russia to re-establish the Russian and Georgian thrones. 

14:14

The allegation comes mostly from soon to be ex-wife opera singer Princess Mary McCormic Mdivani.  She claims that part of the $40k (eh-hem almost $968k in 2024) that her husband and eldest brother Prince Serge Mdivani borrowed from her was for the purpose of building and training an army.  At least 400 in Tinseltown with blue uniforms, and that she had been asked to sing and perform for the troops both as a morale booster and as a fundraiser.  Also soon to be ex-sister-in-law actress-singer-dancer “Girl with the Bee Stung Lips” Princess Mae Murray Mdivani confirms her husband middle brother Prince David Mdivani’s interest in restoring power. 

14:58

Mary refuses to participate and makes the condition of any potential reconciliation only likely if Serge gives up the intent to restore the royal throne, replicating Barbara’s own father Franklyn’s condition before approving the marriage to the youngest Mdivani brother prince.  Oh, and there is mention of the title Queen Barbara I of Georgia, but since when does a throne get shared 3 ways?   

15:23

Upon returning from Paris after their father’s funeral and brother’s wedding, the two older princely brothers arrive aboard the Europa with their sister Princess Nina Mdivani Huberich and her husband lawyer Charles Huberich.

Perfumed and dressed elegantly, the Mdivanis gladly greet the fanatical press.  They immediately identify themselves as –

Serge – “I’m Mary.”

David – “I’m Mae.”

Really, can one be surprised?  After all, David did once list his profession as “husband” on a speeding ticket in Santa Monica, California.

15:58

Then they point to Charles saying they are here to settle the divorce suits, and each brother implies they themselves will be seeking support from their formerly lucrative wives. They do however poo-poo the talk of an actual military campaign, stating they participate in a militia group for fun and camaraderie, nothing else.  They quite like the American lifestyle and are close to finalizing their American citizenship and plan to keep it that way.

16:25

Surely, Stalin is relieved.  Though highly unlikely the Soviet regime was shaking over these polo player playboys and their Hollywood troop, which now alleges was merely prepping for a film.

The Soviet Union might be safe, but the hearts of heiresses might not be…