AS THE MONEY BURNS

Podcast by Nicki Woodard

Episode 039 – The Belle of Paris

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.   

00:27

Story Recap

While others hide their losses, Doris Duke is having a very successful and enviable debutante season.  That is until an injury sidelines her at her own debutante ball, but under the stars a new romance blossoms.

Now back to AS THE MONEY BURNS

Title

00:47

The Belle of Paris 

[Music Fade Out]

Episode Tag

00:50

While plans are underway for another big and fantastic ball, one heiress is more focused on affairs of the heart and reuniting forbidden lovers.  All the fun activity isn’t merely local, next up the beaches in France.

01:05

[Music – Did You Mean It? By Jack Hylton, Album The Great British Dance Bands]

Section 1 – Story

[Music Fade Out]

01:21

In bright and sunny Biarritz, France, another set of elites gather for the end of summer fun.  Here a select group of royalty mingle about with wealthy Americans.  A hotbed of more youthful passions and endless privilege.

Sitting at a vanity, teen heiress and chubby budding fashionista Barbara Hutton debates over today’s outfit.  In the mirror, she can see the lithe and petite beauty, one of her best friends Dona Ana Rosa Silvia Rodriguez de Rivas y Diaz de Erazo, daughter to the Spanish nobleman Count Castilleja de Guzman and a Columbian elite mother, and sister to the future Marquis, otherwise known as Silvia.

02:00

The Silvia – the Spanish Juliet to the handsomely rugged Romeo Russian Prince Alexis Mdivani.  The lovers have been separated by Silvia’s father unhappy to see his daughter cavorting with the penniless Prince.

Silvia is what our young heiresses are not.  The daughter of minor royalty with the most desirable connections and confident in both her physical beauty and charm.  She does not worry too much about her future prospects.  In fact, she is a notable Belle of Paris and such will has her choice of suitors, or so her family hopes.  Headstrong in her choices yet savvy enough to accept her circumstances.

Unfortunately, this beauty’s family were too casualties of the Crash and the subsequent Great Depression.  Their profitable royal connections limited as close family friends of the soon to be throneless King Alfonso XIII of Spain.  Silvia’s family’s poorer financial means mandates she marries well.  She understands the game and complies.  Biarritz is a great hunting ground to meet the appropriate prospective husband while all the cards seemingly remain in her favor.

03:06

Keeping the routine of annual late summers, the two friends have grown closer over the years.  Silvia introduces Barbara into her circle and makes her feel welcome.  The shy and timid Barbara wishes one day to transform like a butterfly into someone more like the free, sophisticated, and glamorous Silvia.

A devoted friend Barbara serves as the ongoing secret liaison to Silvia and Prince Alexis delivering love letters between the forbidden lovers.  It is the excitement of romance even one that is vicarious that keeps Barbara hooked if not more than the lovers.  Both Silvia and the Prince are sophisticated and practical enough to resign their circumstances of needing others’ funds to provide the lifestyle they desire and are accustomed.  In contrast, Barbara needs to know love wins above all else.

03:54

On the bed, the nubile Silvia giggles and coos reading another letter.  She rolls over in a dramatic fashion and sighs aloud remembering their last tryst.

She pronounces, “Louise, that dull plain girl cannot handle Alexis.  He’s passionate and sensitive.  She will crush his spirits with her boringness.”

“I know he loves you more,” Barbara chimes in.  “You will be together again.”

“He will always come back to me.  It will be all the sweeter when we reunite.  Forbidden fruit is the sweetest of all.”  Silvia glances back at the letter.  Her eyes full of lustful energy that needs channeling.

Of course, she will be with her secret lover again and again.  Marriage to others need not stop them.  She’s very European in a pragmatic yet sensual way. 

04:44

“He needs a fortune and so do I to survive.  Passion is intense but poverty will not serve our love well.”  Barbara scowls at the mention of money.  It soils everything.  Silvia looks at her friend with some compassion.  Surely her privileged friend may not be as physically desirable but a sizeable bank account improves one’s status considerably.  It takes a lot to fund these lavish lifestyles.  And who would ever want to give that up?  Besides the family pressure is surmounting, and Silvia needs to land an appropriate marriage fast.  Arrangements will soon be made.  Silvia sighs with the fear of whom it might bring. 

05:26

Silvia moves over the vanity and starts adjusting Barbara’s hair.  Silvia notices a stunning necklace in the jewelry box and picks it up.  Barbara might never have to worry about money.  She can be more impractical if she so likes.  Funny, how friends envy each other isn’t it?

“Barbara, you can have anyone you want.  You can be one of those American dollar princesses.”  Barbara cringes.  Silvia soothes, “Don’t worry, there are plenty to choose from and we will find the right one for you.”

Barbara lowers her eyes.  She so doesn’t believe in love for herself.  She did have some sweet suitors from Yale.  They would speak of poetry or literature, but alas their lesser circumstances eventually drove them away.  Silvia sashays around the room spots the books stuffed amongst Barbara’s things – odes to love and fantasy.  Silvia smiles to herself as she relishes her own dramatic love story. 

06:28

“American boys.”  Silvia tsks tsks.  “They may be cute and fun, but they will leave you for the office.  Take Sam Van Alen, fun when out but such a serious one with his studies.  His brother Henry now he’s more European than American.  But their sister Louise dull, dull, dull…  What?  I know them well from Alexis.”

06:55

Sylvia’s hands glide over the luxurious garments that would look good on almost anyone but sadly are not suited for Barbara’s physique.  Too bad they are not closer in size.  Her friend needs a little molding that is all.  A bit more awareness of what will work and what won’t for her body.  Instill the confidence and the rest will take care of itself.  Silvia throws on the stunning lavish necklace and grabs her friend.

“You need a sophisticated man of means and leisure.  And we are in the best area to meet plenty of those.”

07:28

Silvia takes Barbara to various cafes and clubs where they meet Silvia’s exclusive set of other carefree royals.  Teetotaler Barbara sips her tea or lemonade while the others drink champagne as Prohibition has no reach across the pond or on the Continent.  But the Jazz Age most certainly has.  Being extra flirtatious, Silvia laughs and dances with the other young, somewhat eligible men.  They are all enchanted by her more carefree ways.  They don’t quite understand her more hesitant American friend.

Silvia’s brother Felipe, the future family Marquis, offers to dance with the shy Barbara.  Barbara feels exceedingly self-conscious, not able to fully dance with abandon like the more colorful Silvia.

08:15

In the distance, she sees Silvia arguing with someone dark and mysterious.  There is an intense energy between them.  As Barbara and Felipe twirl around, Barbara eventually catches enough to realize the stranger is none other than Prince Alexis. 

The reignited chemistry is too much to deny.  The forbidden lovers slip out into the night.  Satisfied, Barbara brightens up.

Another secret rendezvous successful. 

08:42

The fiery lovers sneak back to Barbara’s for their tryst only to be busted by a detective and Silvia’s father before they reach the door.  A lot of passionate screaming and shouting occurs.  Her father pulls her away as Silvia is reduced to tears.  When Barbara returns with her escort Silvia’s brother Felipe, they find a torn and disheveled Prince Alexis outside.  Broken under the streetlights, a mixture of anger and self-pity.

Felipe graciously guides Barbara to the door and waves goodnight to Barbara’s governess and surrogate mother Ticki.  Felipe then aids Prince Alexis to his feet, and they head off back into the night to drown their sorrows.