Episode 32: The Deb's Delight
After Doris Duke is one of 17 Americans to bow and curtsey to King George V and Queen Mary at Buckingham Palace, Doris enjoys an increase in popularity before her debut. Meeting up with the Van Alen brothers, Doris spots David, the eligible Prince of Wales, with his married lover at London’s elite Embassy Club, which features jazz.
Archival music provided by Past Perfect Vintage Music, www.pastperfect.com.
Extra links:
New York Adventure Club www.nyadventureclub.com
Publish Date: May 27, 2021
Length: 20:30
Opening Music: My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Billy Cotton, Album The Great British Dance Bands
Section 1 Music: On The Air by Carroll Gibbons, Albums More Sophistication & Tea Dance 2
Section 2 Music: Got To Dance My Way To Heaven by Henry Hall, Albums The Great British Dance Bands & Tea Dance 2
Section 3 Music: Palais De Danse by Sid Phillips, Albums The Great British Dance Bands & Tea Dance 2
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 032 – The Deb’s Delight
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.
00:31
Story Recap
While Barbara Hutton’s aunts plan her big debut, Doris Duke scores the ultimate debutante activity curtseying before the King and Queen at Buckingham Palace, but is she ready for all that comes with it.
00:46
Now back to AS THE MONEY BURNS
Title
The Deb’s Delight
Episode Tag
00:49
A royal debut comes with more attention and activities. The most awkward and least likely debutante is on her way to becoming the most celebrated of this season.
01:01
[Music – On The Air by Carroll Gibbons, Albums More Sophistication & Tea Dance 2]
Section 1 – Story
[Music fade out]
01:16
Exiting the throne room at the Court of St. James, tall and awkward teenage heiress Doris Duke walks through Buckingham Palace onto the next event.
An evening of parties and dances and endless celebrations. A whirl of fun and play. Queen Charlotte’s Ball which was originally part of the court presentation is held this year 2 weeks later on May 31st.
And the press? Back home, Doris is in all the papers announcing her court presentation, speculating on her sizable fortune, and often including her photo. The mail is piling up.
01:51
Thrilled at the influx of potential offers, her mother Nanaline Duke closely guards her daughter to make sure she doesn’t fall for the wrong man or cause some other social blunder to ruin her newfound popularity. Every fortune hunter will now be in full force coming after Doris.
All the attention and somewhat acceptance is a very heady experience and somewhat soul crushing for Doris. Rounds and rounds of socializing in dull and restrictive environments. So rarely a break from proper etiquette and protocols. Nanaline loves it all, while Doris can barely tolerate it.
However even with all the social functions, Doris manages to fit in music lessons, taking advantage of different set of teachers to expand her abilities. She never performs for others like some other debs do. She is far too shy to share her deepest passion that way.
02:44
Nanaline hovers around a bit like the cat that ate the canary, completely smug and satisfied over her social coup. Of course, this now means she will need to throw Doris an adequately lavish debutante ball – really a complete waste of money for what should go to her son Walker. The price of success.
In the heady rush of the London Season, Doris runs across her last summer companions from Newport. Meeting up with the Van Alens is a thrill as Henry Van Alen advises her on all the best jazz clubs in the London area. Their mutual love of music always a bridge of connection, and his approval carries weight in this aristocratic world.
03:21
The newly married Henry with his wife move about in the highest circles along with brother Sam Van Alen who seems smitten with Elizabeth “Betty” Kent, the daughter of radio magnate Atwater Kent from Philadelphia who also bowed at court the day before Doris. They invite Doris to join them for an evening at the Embassy Club, a spot so hot that it is harder to get in than being presented at court.
Henry charmingly explains to the hesitant Nanaline, “It’s the most exclusive club in town, a favorite of the smart set, and the Prince frequents regularly.”
Nanaline scowls at the thought of Doris dancing with that playboy Russian Prince Alexis Mdivani.
Henry winks at his brother Sam, “Any girl spotted dancing with the Prince of Wales becomes instantly popular.” Sam nods in agreement.
Nanaline isn’t quite sure what he means. Henry teases Doris could end up a princess by the end of the season, and Nanaline’s face lightens up considerably. What a wonderful idea, as long as it is a true prince.
04:26
Not like that Russian Prince Alexis Mdivani, who is already too close to home with his Van Alen affiliations. Either Van Alen brother are acceptable of course. Alas Henry is now married, but younger brother Sam would do nicely as well. However their perpetual penniless houseguest is completely undesirable – a title with no fortune is completely useless in Nanaline’s eyes. And now there is an even bigger glut of such destitute former royalty.
Such a funny disposition being that Nanaline so overly prides herself as descending from Southern slave plantation owners who also ended up penniless after the Civil War only she later married into extreme wealth from basically redneck hicks. When it comes down to it, Nanaline is first and foremost about money then rank.
05:16
While Nanaline would normally abhor Doris going to any nightclub, the social climbing mother could hardly allow Doris to miss out on the opportunity to mingle amongst royalty. It is the premiere exclusive nightspot for London’s highest echelons, with an extremely limited guest list and far too pricey for poorer aristocrats.
Out of earshot from Nanaline, Henry conspiratorially assures Doris. “You’ve got that the same glassy eyed dread Louise gets when she’s had too much stuffy socializing. Don’t worry this will be marvelous. What’s your deb’s delight?”
05:54
The deb’s delight – the British slang for a good looking unmarried young man from similar desirable social background. The best debutantes have a choice of men vying for marriage. Now with her royal presentation, Doris has definitely upped her social and therefore marital profile. It seems often amongst wealthy, that the fortune hunted often become title hunters. Could she really now have her pick of any young man?
“I hope you know the foxtrot. Prince David loves American jazz. Has his own collection with a phonograph in Buckingham Palace. His brothers the Duke of York, the Duke of Gloucester (Gloster), and Prince George also enjoy jazz and the Embassy Club.”
06:37
The Embassy Club after all is a jazz club favoring American musicians, and the Prince of Wales favors it himself. The club is indeed exclusive only 250 tables with a grand orchestra band and a large dance floor. It is paradise for those wanting to rub elbows with the elitist of the elite with no rift raft so to speak, okay some starlets get in too. The only experience missing is Luigi, the beloved Italian maître d’ who suddenly passed away only a few weeks earlier.
The music and band plays on. On the dance floor, ruggedly handsome Russian Prince Alexis Mdivani makes his rounds stringing along several potential heiresses. Though he seems to favor a spicy blonde, who in actuality is his true love Silvia. Louise Van Alen would be furious and Barbara Hutton elated if they saw the pair dancing.
07:31
Though all other eyes are firmly more curious about another pair in attendance that evening. The charming and most wanted bachelor in the world – David, the Prince of Wales, who almost became King of England last year upon his father’s grave illness rushing back from an African safari to be on the ready.
Shortly after the last annual Sandringham Christmas holiday, the Prince of Wales took off again on a three month long big game hunting expedition to resume the one previously interrupted. This trip was well documented by the camera but one detail was not so prominent. He was not truly alone, as he had accompanying him Thelma Furness, his married lover. She had thrown his going away party in London at her Grosvenor (Grove – nor) Place home, then joined him a month later.
08:19
Tonight again, Thelma is with her suntanned prince. It is clear his adoration for her. It is quite a scandal really, but he hardly cares. He pulls her out onto the dance floor for a foxtrot. The Prince of Wales is indeed a fine dancer.
The warm and friendly debutante Betty reveals, “He’s into wildlife conservation. His recent trip was a first of its kind – a photo safari. Instead of bringing back dead animal pelts, he’s brought back photos and footage of live ones.”
Sam watches the other lesser Prince, his close friend Alexis on the dance floor. “Fortune, title, power. What’s the point of the first two when you don’t have the last?”
09:02
Betty sadly sighs, “There is a huge difference, because one day Prince David will have power. For now, he’s wanted for the promise of what will be. Never for himself only. A trophy to be collected like those wild beasts.”
Doris takes it all in. She has all the money in the world, and yet very little power to make important decisions at least not for several more years. Instead, Doris is a pawn in Nanaline’s social game to help Walker. For the moment, Doris is desperately trying to win her mother’s approval. Only Doris is also strong willed and slightly rebellious. Her newfound celebrity might make her bolder.
When Doris and Nanaline eventually board the Mauretania to return to the States at the end of June, they are both counting a big change in Doris’s profile.
09:59
[Music – Got To Dance My Way To Heaven by Henry Hall, Albums The Great British Dance Bands & Tea Dance 2]
Section 2 – History & Historiography
[Music fade out]
10:11
Back in the States, a lot of press covered the Buckingham Palace event where 17 Americans were presented to the King and Queen of England. All over details came out, and the North Carolina newspapers proudly featured their very own Doris Duke’s triumph. Details even mention about the limo creeping in the mall, but they didn’t point out that it was actually Doris.
Doris had always been the subject of news since her birth announcing her as the richest baby. By age 10, she started receiving marriage proposals – at least a dozen or more a month. Most would be drawn and repelled by her significant fortune. Her lower social status impeded certain more elitist matches as desired by Nanaline, who wanted a marriage that would establish both status and fortune. If Doris married well, then she wouldn’t need her inheritance which could then be transferred to non-Duke heir Walker. Yes, Nanaline plotted against her daughter for that very reason. Doris was always an obstacle and splinter in her mother’s eyes.
11:13
Now with such a boost in profile, those who would have snubbed Doris for lack of status might overcome their hesitancy after the Crash hurt if not completely took out several fortunes. The damage to Doris’s own was merely a bump as her father Buck Duke had made more stable investments across multiple trusts.
With everyone reeling from their losses and economic fears, the public became even more fascinated in the lives of the rich. Now with this rarest of honors, Doris Duke is front and center during her debutante season.
11:45
From the announcement of Court of St. James presentation on April 29th, 1930 through her appearance on May 15th and the following day, endless news articles feature the story as well as refer in future ones about her. Now other ladies including and naturally Atlanta Constitution publisher Mrs. Clark Howell received her own press coverage. She skipped out on an important publishing event when she received word that she would receive one of the few select spots.
12:15
Over 300 Americans applied for the honor, of which only 17 were chosen. How? A comic that appeared along with Will Roger’s syndicated article on the event blatantly stated it was the size of their bank accounts that gained admission – you can it see via @asthemoneyburns on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
In his article, Will Rogers discusses the young ladies who were presented and the pride it must be for their dynastic families.
12:42
He points out their appearances like almost of an ad for their affiliated companies and industries involved: Campbell Soup metallic cans for Charlotte Dorrance, the radio Elizabeth “Betty” Kent, cigarettes Doris Duke, and Atlanta has representation though not for Coca Cola. Rogers seemed incensed that merit and achievement had nothing to do with the selection requirements but merely money. He mocks that all these girls do is curtsey to the Queen who doesn’t even speak to them, thus the whole event is completely pointless while the men wear odd silly costumes.
13:16
Doris will end up with an even bigger problem. Now everyone is looking at her, and the debutante activity is meant to help solicit marriage proposals – which she will in abundance from all sorts of sources. It does and doesn’t help that news articles with her often mention her sizable fortune estimating anywhere from $50-100 million and the label “Richest Girl in the World.” The inclusion of her photo and mention of her fortune could be simultaneously considered a for sale sign, a wanted poster, or worse a target.
13:49
At the tender age of 12, Doris had already learned shortly after her beloved father’s death that she received a lot of mail. A vast majority were pleas for money and telling of hard times, enough hurled accusations and threats of bodily harm or kidnapping, and several included actual death threats. That was during the plethora and good times of the Roaring Twenties. Can you imagine what might come in now during the Great Depression?
With new technology, they had newsreels and photographs, so anonymity was fleeting. Doris might survive a few days maybe a couple of weeks, but inevitably her true identity would be exposed.
14:29
Still for the good press, Doris relished some of the attention no matter how much she claimed otherwise. Secretly, she kept a series of scrapbooks of press clippings, even more she kept one with press on Barbara Hutton to compare how they both fared. For the time being, Doris seems to be winning.
14:48
Then there is the ultimate trophy – a handsome prince in line for the throne. Prince David could have his pick of anyone, yet he prefers married women with ramifications rippling outwards. It is this scandal and more like that will soon cause huge troubles for current mistress Thelma Furness’s identical twin sister Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt, who will find herself in a bitter public custody battle over her daughter Gloria Vanderbilt, the sometime playmate of Lil Cobina Wright, Jr. Doris’s Newport neighbors the Vanderbilts are intent on keeping little Gloria away from her wayward mother, who often joins Aunt Thelma partying in Europe.
Furthermore when this Prince becomes King Edward VIII, he will cause an even greater scandal over the love of another married woman and end up exiled and impoverished only left with the title Duke of Windsor.
It can get all quite confusing as to who are the hunters and who are the hunted in this game of fortune and love.
15:52
[Music – Palais De Danse by Sid Phillips, Albums The Great British Dance Bands & Tea Dance 2]
Section 3 – Contemporary & Personal Relevance
[Music fade out]
16:10
I think this is a good moment to discuss the concept of celebrity back then and now. Doris Duke, Barbara Hutton, and other heirs and royalty were well documented by the press and with that praise, criticism, and scandal. While at first favorable, over time the elusive Doris would piss off select reporters. Can you really blame her if every time her name is mentioned they almost always say how much money she has? Especially during the Great Depression?
She was already the target of kidnapping and death threats before the Crash.
16:45
Today, we are more accustomed to the media cycle of adulation followed by destruction then redemption arcs that follows most celebrities. Of course, we have someone currently playing all the cards in trying to keep as much attention as possible.
That is of course Meghan Markle. She married Prince Harry with a slew of loving adulating press. He was after all like his great uncle, the most eligible bachelor, if a little further down the line of succession. After her wedding, the criticism began. Then the couple stepped down from royal duties, and it became a free for all. Were they oppressed and only trying to live their best lives? Or are they opportunists playing what celebrity cause du jour for money and attention? Time will tell.
17:34
Then there is a whole other matter of press and today’s social media circus. Once things are out there, can they really be truly left behind? Even after one is long gone?
Parallels to today’s former royals leaving have caused modern discussion and re-examination of Queen Elizabeth II’s uncle and Prince Harry’s great uncle King Edward VIII, the later Duke of Windsor. The latter of course was a far larger abdication as he was the reigning monarch, and his abdication paved the way for the current Queen’s reign and line of succession. However the Duke of Windsor and his American twice divorced wife Wallis Simpson would go on to live a more demure life of minor celebrities. Occasional press, always favorable to the reigning royals, though their exile was harsh in other senses. It was a difficult financial adjustment to live out.
18:25
And that was all pre-internet and Instagram / Facebook / YouTube with the barrage and bombardment of commentary and unfiltered news. Anyone can watch, review, and comment on the happenings. During the pandemic with a more concentrated and limited celebrity news due to lockdowns, there were nearly weekly or bi-weekly coverage of today’s former royals and every micro moves and blunders.
Makes one wonder what is truly newsworthy and sacred.
18:57
Want to hear more of the jazz and great band music of the 1920s and 1930s? You should visit Past Perfect Vintage Music. It has a large wonderful collection of digitally remastered music. Their collection was even featured in The King’s Speech – the Oscar winning film which covered the abdication crisis surrounding King Edward VIII and his stuttering brother and successor King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II’s father. Both kings and their brothers were fans of jazz and would know doubt love this collection. Maybe there could even be a royal fan inside the family today. Check out Past Perfect via their website www.pastperfect.com.
19:37
Speaking of the Duke of Windsor and the glory of music and entertaining come see how they connect with the first two Waldorf-Astoria hotels. My two webinars will be live Part 1 Wednesday June 16th and Part 2 June 17th at 5:30pm EST / 2:30pm PST. Replay available for one week. Links available at New York Adventure Club www.nyadventureclub.com and the event page at asthemoneyburns.com.
Hook
20:04
[Music – My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Billy Cotton, Album The Great British Dance Bands]
Next when we return to AS THE MONEY BURNS…
While heiresses contend with debuts, heirs must focus on school, graduation, and university. Will the pressures of exams cause one heir to crack?
Until then…
Credits
20:21
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 Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Transcripts, timeline, episode guide, and character bios are available at asthemoneyburns.com.
20:53
THE END