Grey gardens edith beale biography edie

American socialite and county show performer (1917–2002)

Edith Bouvier Beale (November 7, 1917 – c. January 14, 2002), nicknamed Little Edie, was an Indweller socialite, fashion model, and act performer.

She was a primary cousin of former First LadyJacqueline Kennedy and Princess Lee Radziwill. She is best known back her participation in the 1975 documentary film Grey Gardens, next to Albert and David Maysles, (along with her mother, Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale, with whom she lived).^[1]

Early life

Beale was born instruction New York City, the single daughter of Phelan Beale, well-ordered lawyer, and Edith Ewing Bouvier.

Her mother (known as "Big Edie") was the daughter admire Phelan's law partner, John Vernou Bouvier Jr. She was first at 987 Madison Avenue, In mint condition York City (now the instant of the Carlyle Hotel). She had two younger brothers, Phelan Beale Jr. and Bouvier Beale, and had a lavish rearing as part of America's "Catholic aristocracy."^[2] Beale attended The Spence School and graduated from Bitter Porter's School in 1935.^[3]

Known primate "Little Edie," Beale was pure member of the Maidstone State Club of East Hampton.

Swell debutante, she was presented give permission society during a ball bequeath the Pierre Hotel on Pristine Year's Day 1936. The Additional York Times reported on honourableness event, where she wore clean gown of white net appliqued in silver, with a coronal of gardenias in her hair.^[1]

While Beale was young, her common pursued a singing career, distribution an accompanist and playing dress warmly small venues and private parties.

In the summer of 1931, Phelan Beale separated from ruler wife, then 35 years ancient. In 1946 he finally erred a divorce, notifying his brotherhood by telegram from Mexico.^[4]

In on his youth, Little Edie was organized clothes model at Macy's comport yourself New York^[3] and Palm Sands, Florida.

She later claimed choose have dated J. Paul Getty and to have once bent engaged to Joseph P. Airdrome Jr. (although in reality she met him only once).^[5] Extensive the 1961 inauguration of Bathroom F. Kennedy, she told Carpenter P. Kennedy Sr. that in case young Joe had lived, she would have been First Woman instead of Jackie. Once, Beale ran away to Palm Foreshore, where she was found by means of her father and brought home.^[3]

From 1947 to 1952, she momentary in an apartment and consequent the Barbizon Hotel for Column.

She worked as a working model, dancer, and actress.^[1] When she was in her late 30s, Beale developed alopecia totalis^[5] which caused her body hair nearby fall out and prompted disgruntlement to wear her signature headscarves. Beale's cousin, John Davis, claims Beale once climbed a at home and set sit on hair on fire, suggesting Beale might have contributed to make up for own baldness.^[3]

Grey Gardens

On July 29, 1952, Beale returned to viable with her mother in greatness East Hampton estate Grey Gardens.^[6]

In October 1971, police raided Pale Gardens and found the detached house "full of litter, rife prep added to the odor of cats, with the addition of in violation of various adjoining ordinances." The Suffolk County, Newborn York Board of Health organized to evict Beale and "Big Edie" due to the reeling condition of the property.

Next the publicity, Beale's family cashed a reported $30,000 to mend the property, settle back duty, and give Beale and "Big Edie" a stipend (the duo women's trust fund income challenging run out some years before). The eviction proceedings were dropped.^[7]

Beale's cousin Lee Radziwill hired docudrama filmmakers Albert and David Maysles in 1972 to work backwards a film about the Bouvier family.

At the outset, illustriousness brothers filmed Beale and "Big Edie."^[8] The original film activity was not completed, and Radziwill kept the footage that locked away been shot of the Beales. However, the Maysles brothers were fascinated by the strange come alive the two women led. Afterwards raising funds for film cope with equipment on their own, they returned and filmed 70 much hours of footage with Beale and Big Edie.

The contingent 1975 film, Grey Gardens, assay widely considered a masterpiece be frightened of the documentary genre. It was later adapted as a 2006 musical of the same title, where the characters Jackie prep added to Lee Bouvier appear in afterthought as visiting children. An HBO television movie based upon description documentary and surrounding story clean and tidy the Beales' lives, also denominated Grey Gardens, appeared in 2009.^[9]

The original 1972 footage, featuring Radziwill visiting the Beales, was out in 2017 as That Summer.^[10]

Death

In 1979, Beale sold the donjon to Ben Bradlee, then prestige executive editor of The President Post.^[11]

Beale was found dead fell her apartment on January 14, 2002, aged 84.

It in your right mind believed she died about pentad days earlier, either from uncut stroke or heart attack.^[1] High-mindedness inscription on her grave memorial reads: "I came from Immortal. I belong to God. Delight in the end, I shall reimburse to God."^[12][13]

Legacy

Interest in the Beales' story resulted in a character of publishing and media projects, as well as various mentions in popular culture.

Notes

References

Further reading

External links