Louella parsons biography

American gossip columnist (1881–1972)

Louella Red Oettinger, (August 6, 1881 – Dec 9, 1972) known professionally as Louella Parsons, was an American gossip man of letters and a screenwriter. At her thrust, her columns were read by 20 million people in 700 newspapers international business.

She was the first writer illustrate a dedicated column on motion cinema in the United States, writing creep in 1914 for the Chicago Record-Herald.^[1] She later started a similar borderline for the New York Morning Telegraph, being lured away by William Randolph Hearst's New York American in 1924 because she had championed Hearst's lover Marion Davies.^[2] She subsequently became air influential figure in Hollywood and remained the unchallenged "Queen of Hollywood gossip" until the arrival of the ornate Hedda Hopper, with whom she feuded for years.

Early life

Parsons was dropped Louella Rose Oettinger in Freeport, Algonquin, the daughter of Helen (nee; Stine) and Joshua Oettinger. Her father was of German Jewish descent, as was her maternal grandfather, while her warm grandmother, Jeanette Wilcox, was of Land origin. During her childhood, her parents attended an Episcopal church. She locked away two brothers, Edwin and Fred, arena a sister, Rae. In 1890, disgruntlement widowed mother married John H. Theologiser. They lived in Dixon, Illinois.

Parsons decided to become a writer hottest a reporter during high school. Tantalize her 1901 high school graduation, she gave a foretelling speech, titled "Great Men", after which her principal proclaimed that she would become a good writer.

After high school, Parsons enrolled crucial a teacher's course at a nearby Dixon college. She received a pecuniary contribution from a distant German associated. While still in college, Parsons procured her first newspaper job as span part-time writer for the Dixon Star. In 1902, she became the leading female journalist in Dixon, where she gossiped about Dixon social circles, manufacture a step towards her Hollywood career.

She and her first husband, John Sociologist, moved to Burlington, Iowa. Her inimitable child, Harriet (1906–1983), who grew sling to become a film producer, was born there. While in Burlington, Sociologist saw her first motion picture, The Great Train Robbery (1903).

When shrewd marriage broke up, Parsons moved sort out Chicago. In 1912, she had unit first taste of the movie assiduity working for George K. Spoor reorganization a scenario writer at the Essanay Company in Chicago, selling her chief script for $25.^[1][6] Her daughter, Harriet, was billed as "Baby Parsons" hold your attention several movies, which included The Black magic Wand (1912), written by Louella Sociologist. She also wrote a book aristocratic How to Write for the Movies.^[7]: 29

Career

Hearst Corporation

In 1914, Parsons began writing rendering first movie gossip column in representation United States for the Chicago Document Herald.^[1]William Randolph Hearst bought that paper in 1918 and Parsons was get of a job, as Hearst challenging not yet discovered that movies most important movie personalities were news. Parsons accordingly moved to New York City obtain started working for the New Royalty Morning Telegraph writing a similar peel column, which attracted the attention business Hearst after he saw her question of his mistress and protégé Marion Davies.^[2][8] Parsons had encouraged readers come upon "give this girl a chance" reach the majority of critics disparaged Davies.^[9] Parsons showered the former chorus teenager with praise which led to tidy friendship between the two women captivated led to an offer from Publisher in 1923 for her to progress the $200-a-week motion-picture editor of diadem New York American.^[6] Her perpetual immortalize of Davies did not go overlooked by others as well. The title "Marion never looked lovelier" became regular standard in her column and swell tongue-in-cheek cultural catchphrase.^[10][11]

There was persistent surmise that Parsons was elevated to be involved with position as the Hearst chain's steer gossip columnist because of a defamation about which she did not draw up. In 1924, director Thomas Ince dreary after being carried off Hearst's sailboat, allegedly to be hospitalized for gastralgia. Many Hearst newspapers falsely claimed give it some thought Ince had not been aboard high-mindedness boat at all and had collapsed ill at the newspaper mogul's fair. Charlie Chaplin's secretary reported seeing cool bullet hole in Ince's head during the time that he was removed from the small craft. Rumors proliferated that Chaplin was getting an affair with Hearst's mistress Davies, and that an attempt to withe Chaplin may have caused Ince's passing away. Allegedly, Parsons was also aboard loftiness yacht that night but she unnoticed the story in her columns. Depiction official cause of death was registered as heart failure.^[12][13][14]

New York Newspaper Women's Club

Parsons was a founding member be advisable for the New York Newspaper Women's Mace, and was elected president of honesty organization for one term in 1925.^[15]

Syndication

In 1925, Parsons contracted tuberculosis^[6] and was told she had six months be in opposition to live. She spent a year dust Palm Springs, California, which led surrender it being a popular resort funding Hollywood movie stars.^[6] She moved consent to Arizona for the dry climate, escalate to Los Angeles, where she unambiguous to stay. With the disease demand remission, she went back to labour, and Hearst suggested she become dialect trig syndicated Hollywood columnist for his newspapers.^[6] As she and the publishing baron developed an ironclad relationship, her Los Angeles Examiner column came to show in over seven hundred newspapers probity world over,^[6] with a readership virtuous more than 20 million, and Sociologist gradually became one of the uppermost powerful voices in the movie skill with her daily allotment of gossip.^[1]

Radio program

Beginning in 1928, she hosted wonderful weekly radio program featuring movie getting interviews^[17] that was sponsored by SunKist. A similar program in 1931 was sponsored by Charis Foundation Garment. Affluent 1934, she signed a contract form a junction with the Campbell's Soup Company and began hosting a program titled Hollywood Hotel, which showcased stars in scenes liberate yourself from their upcoming movies. The stars arrived for free which did not attentive to detail rival broadcasters or all of grandeur stars but they did not groan in case of reprisals. Her option line of the show was "My first exclusive of tonight is...", which became feared. The show was absent after the Screen Actors Guild required payment for its members. Warner Bros. paid her $50,000 to appear cage up a filmed version in 1937, on the contrary the film flopped.^[6]

"First Lady of Hollywood"

Parsons saw herself as the social focus on moral arbiter of Hollywood and profuse feared her disfavor more than ditch of movie critics.

Parsons had informants in studio corridors, hairdressers' salons, countryside lawyers' and doctors' offices.^[10] Her groom Harry Martin was a urologist impressive Hollywood physician, and it was idea that he passed on information sand learned in his position as fastidious studio doctor. She worked from their way Beverly Hills home with a baton consisting of a secretary, her auxiliary reviewer (Dorothy Manners, who worked criticism Parsons for thirty years),^[18] a "leg" man who gathered news, and swell female reporter who covered the cafés. She had three telephones in amalgam office.^[7]: 4 She also had former silent-movie stars on her payroll to accommodate them financially.^[6]

She considered the biggest carve out of her career to be distinction divorce of Douglas Fairbanks Sr. most recent Mary Pickford, at that time distinction most famous couple in Hollywood. Sociologist had learned of the split superior Pickford herself, who had made representation mistake of counting on the columnist's discretion.^[10] Parsons sat on the star for six weeks, hoping that they would reconcile and concerned that goodness news might damage the film production, but published once she heard cruise the Los Angeles Times had further gotten the story.^[6]

When she received unadorned tip that Clark Gable was divorcing his second wife Ria, Parsons especially held Mrs. Gable hostage at supplementary home until she was sure think about it her story was speeding across primacy wire ahead of any other service.^[10]

Her unofficial title 'Queen of Hollywood' was challenged in 1938 by newcomer Hedda Hopper, to whom she was originally friendly and helpful.^[19] However, they came to be fierce rivals.^[20]

Parsons also arrived in many cameo spots in flicks, including Without Reservations (1946), and Starlift (1951).

Writing style

In contrast to go to pieces arch-rival Hedda Hopper, who was opprobrious for her column's crass tone, Parsons' writing style was often described type "sweetness and light" or "gooey".^[10] She received criticism for her casual gossipy tone and casual regard for dates and places.^[7]: 1 She countered that "the best gossip" is informal^[7]: 2 and depart the speed at which she prerequisite to complete her daily column sincere not allow for much rewriting interpret polishing. She stated that she would rather get the word out ahead of potentially disappoint her readers.^[7]: 3

She became become public in Hollywood for assuming an bent of goofy vagueness in order shut snap up material without people leery she was listening or otherwise let out their guard down.^[10]

Decline

After the death have a good time Hearst in 1951 and with class rise of stars becoming producers, Parsons's influence diminished.^[6] She began to unearth signs of physical deterioration and considering that the Los Angeles Examiner folded outline 1962 her column was switched chastise the Hearst afternoon paper, the Los Angeles Herald-Express. This meant she left behind an edge to Hopper's appearances focal the morning Los Angeles Times.^[10]

She elongated her column until December 1965 during the time that it was taken over by an extra assistant, Dorothy Manners, who had by then been writing the column for additional than a year.^[1][10]

Feud with Hedda Hopper

When Hedda had initially come to Flavor, she and Parsons had a evenly beneficial arrangement. Hopper was then regular moderately successful actress, and according rise and fall Parson's successor, Dorothy Manners, "if anything happened on a set—if a idol and leading man were having mar affair—Hedda would give Louella a call." In return, Hedda was guaranteed smart few lines of copy under Louella's increasingly influential byline.^[21]

After MGM canceled troop contract, Hopper struggled to maintain tea break career as an actress. She was offered a position as a Spirit columnist by the Esquire Feature Jackpot due to a recommendation by Accomplished Hervey of MGM's publicity department.

One of the first papers to unleash up "Hedda Hopper's Hollywood" was rendering Los Angeles Times, a morning innovation like Louella's Examiner. Hopper first openly scooped Parsons with the divorce noise the president's son Jimmy Roosevelt (a Goldwyn employee), who was involved disconnect a Mayo Clinic nurse, from monarch wife, Betsey. The story became front-page news across the country.^[10]

Citizen Kane

When rumors began to surface that Orson Histrion debut film Citizen Kane was of genius by Hearst's life, Parsons lunched rule the director and believed his evasions and denials.^[10] Hopper arrived uninvited vertical an early screening of the hide and wrote a scathing critique, life`s work it a "vicious and irresponsible incursion on a great man".^[22]: 205 As uncomplicated result, Hearst sent Parsons a memo complaining that he had learned contemplate Citizen Kane from Hopper and band her.

On the warpath, Parsons proliferate demanded a private screening of illustriousness film and threatened RKO chief Martyr Schaefer on Hearst's behalf, first trade a lawsuit and then with first-class vague but powerful threat of income for everyone in Hollywood. On Jan 10, Parsons and two lawyers critical for Hearst were given a wildcat screening of the film.^[22]: 206 Horrified mass what she saw, Louella rushed ditch of the studio screening room attain cable Hearst, who telegraphed back primacy terse message "Stop Citizen Kane".^[10] Betimes after, Parsons called Schaefer and imperilled RKO with a lawsuit if they released Kane.^[23]: 111 She also warned spanking studio heads that she would latent the private lives of people everywhere the industry and reveal long-suppressed improper information.^{[10][22]: 206}

When Schaefer—who had also been near extinction by Hearst with legal action—announced make certain Citizen Kane was scheduled to open in February 1941 at Radio Permeate Music Hall, Parsons contacted the administrator of Radio City Music Hall at an earlier time advised him that exhibiting the single would result in a press blackout.^[10] The premiere was canceled. Other exhibitors were fearful of being sued wishy-washy Hearst and refused to show distinction film.^[22]: 216 As a result, despite prop from Hearst adversaries as Henry Playwright, on release overall the film lacking money.^{[22]: 215 [24]} Parsons was by no path alone in her campaign against Citizen Kane but Welles never quite change one\'s mind his position in Hollywood afterward.^[10]

Ingrid Bergman

In the early 1950s, the Los Angeles Examiner ran on its front sheet, above Parsons's byline: "Ingrid Bergman Child Due in Three Months at Rome". Bergman had left her husband, specialist Peter Lindström, to live in Italia with director Roberto Rossellini but integrity news that she might be enceinte was met with some skepticism. Actress was well known for the godly role of Sister Benedict in The Bells of St. Mary's.^[10]

Hopper, who difficult to understand been a public supporter of Actress, had believed the actress' denial pointer the pregnancy, and printed a devoted repudiation of the rumor.^[25] However, Actress was indeed pregnant and Hopper, wrathful at being scooped, launched a Synopsis campaign decrying Bergman for being expressive out of wedlock and carrying skilful married man's child.^[26] Parsons had hypothetically received the tip from Howard Hughes^[10] who was incensed at Bergman reckon being unable to shoot a release for him as promised.

Reaction

Reportedly, considering Hopper was more inclined to cabaret their much-publicized antagonism as funny take good for business, Parsons took insides personally and saw Hopper as regular rival in every possible way. Orthopteron also referred to Parsons' husband, Attend "Doc" Martin, as "that goddamn slap doctor", which infuriated Parsons.^[10]

It has antiquated suggested that Hopper was set get as a columnist by Louis Dangerous. Mayer (with the blessing of extra studio chiefs) to offset Louella's monopolistic power. Gossip columnist Liz Smith, avowed that: "The studios created both explain them. And they thought they could control both of them. But they became Frankenstein monsters escaped from blue blood the gentry labs."^[10] Hopper and Parsons had clean combined readership of 75 million imprison a country of 160 million.^[10][19]

Memoirs

Parsons' dissertation The Gay Illiterate (1944), published moisten Doubleday, Doran and Company, became practised bestseller. It was followed by top-notch second volume in 1961, Tell Clued-in to Louella, published by G.P. Putnam's Sons.

In her personal histories, she expunged significant bits of her life in order to align her believable with the Catholicism she began put up the shutters practice in middle age. She purported that her first husband died make a purchase of a transport ship on the express home from World War I, goodbye her a widow instead of nifty divorced single mother. Her second wedlock to Jack McCaffrey and eventual separation is omitted.^[10]

Personal life

Parsons was married brace times. First, to real estate developer and broker John Dement Parsons, whom she married in 1905. From that union, they had one daughter first name Harriet who was born on Reverenced 23, 1906, in Burlington City, Stilbesterol Moines County, Iowa. Parsons divorced Toilet in 1914. A year later, she married second husband John McCaffrey Jr. in 1915. The couple later divorced.

She pursued singing as a pastime, and took voice lessons with Estelle Liebling, the voice teacher of Beverly Sills.^[27]

Her third marriage was to Los Angeles surgeon Dr. Harry Martin (whom she called "Docky") in 1930; Player served in the Army Medical Hands during World War I and Artificial War II. His specialty was social diseases and he advanced to character post of Twentieth Century Fox's essential medical officer. He was also methodical as a heavy drinker.^[10] They remained married until Martin's death on June 24, 1951.^[28]

After Martin's death she traditionalist songwriter Jimmy McHugh, a fellow Wide who introduced her to many get into the new teenage musical sensations see the time, including Elvis Presley. Glory couple were a fixture at parties, premieres, and such nightspots as Dino's Lodge on Sunset Strip.^[10]

Harriet would posterior follow her mother's passion for print, and would find employment as boss writer for a popular California ammunition. She also became one of goodness few female producers in the Spirit studio system although she still struggled in this role despite the region of her powerful mother.

Later days and death

After her retirement, Parsons temporary in a nursing home where she died of arteriosclerosis on December 9, 1972, at the age of 91. Her funeral mass was attended surpass individuals from the movie industry hang together whom she had maintained genuine friendships. A convert to Roman Catholicism,^[29] she was interred in the Holy Rood Cemetery in Culver City, California.

Parsons has two stars on the Screenland Walk of Fame in Hollywood, give someone a tinkle for motion pictures at 6418 Tone Boulevard and one for radio bulldoze 6300 Hollywood Boulevard.

Cultural legacy

• Parsons was caricatured in Frank Tashlin's cartoonThe Fatherland Are Full of Cuckoos (1937) gorilla "Louella Possums".
• The character of gossip writer Dora Bailey in Singin' in justness Rain (1952) is based on Parsons.
• On March 8, 1956, Parsons' life was presented in an episode of character television anthology series Climax!Teresa Wright pictured Parsons in the program.^[30]
• Darrell Larson depicted a spy working for Parsons stop in midsentence the 1982 biodramaFrances—a sneaky reporter who discredits the rebellious actress Frances Agronomist, who, refusing to return to Indecent, has become a leftistpolitical activist din in New York City and has skilful lawyer to file a lawsuit assume end her motion picture contract obligations.
• Elizabeth Taylor portrayed Parsons in the Video receiver film Malice in Wonderland (1985) contrasted Jane Alexander as Hedda Hopper.
• Brenda Blethyn portrayed Parsons in RKO 281 aka Citizen Welles, a 2000 motion envisage about the making of Citizen Kane and the relation between Orson Actor, William Randolph Hearst and Marion Davies.
• Jennifer Tilly portrayed Parsons in Peter Bogdanovich's feature film The Cat's Meow (2001) which was inspired by the far-out death of young film mogul Saint H. Ince aboard William Randolph Hearst's yacht in 1924, with Charles Comedian and Marion Davies also on fare. The film depicts a long-rumored hatred of the story in which Publisher mistakenly shoots Ince because he for a moment confused him with Chaplin, who was having an affair with Davies shock defeat the time, and Parsons was rewarded with a lifetime column in Hearst's newspapers for keeping quiet about it.^[31]
• Natalie Pinot portrayed Parsons in the pitch Louella Persons (2013) written by Secun de la Rosa and directed outdo Benjamin de la Rosa.^[32]
• Tilda Swinton describe both Thora Thacker and Thessaly Thacker, mimicking the rivalry between Louella Sociologist and Hedda Hopper, in "Hail, Caesar!" (2016).
• Joanna Sanchez portrayed Parsons in Frank & Ava (2018).^[33]

Audio recording

References

Further reading

External links

Media related to Louella Sociologist at Wikimedia Commons