Alla Nazimova

The margaritas have kicked in as the gal-pals let their geek flags fly and talk about movie universes they would love to be in before rooting for syphilis to take out an abusive father. Bonnie’s 1 Cool LGBT Thing is about actress Alla Nazimova who was paid more than Mary Pickford, had a theater and hotel named after her and had a large number of female relationships that spanned the silver screen to the presidency.

YouTube Version

Show Notes & Extras:

• Looking for our other gal’s 1 Cool LGBT thing? Check out Leah’s on comedian Moms Mabley, and Katie’s on the idea of two moms.
• Get-to-know-you question: What game or movie universe would you most like to live in?
• We let our geek flags fly and wonder if any of our universe picks would put Bonnie’s art skills to use? How much does Disney want our geek money?
• Bonnie’s 1 Cool LGBT Thing is Alla Nazimova: actress in theater and early film.
• “My ambition is not to make my audience laugh or cry, I want to feel that when they go away I have made them think.” – Alla Nazimova
• Book Nazimova by Gavin Lambert

• Her father wanted to make a pill to replace food. Katie is not onboard!
• Her father was horrible and even broke her arm over a report card.
• Her parents finally get divorced but she’s sent to her aunt and uncle.
• How can you tell a woman is a city whore?
• Dad comes back with a new wife and new step-siblings.
• Maybe it’s Syphilis.
• Alla’s sent to a boarding school the students call her the “anti-Christ” and ironically she school burns down.
• Alla joins a theater school where she has relationships with women but to pay the bills, she’s dabbling in prostitution.
• “I vote for Syphilis!” -Leah (T-shirt coming soon)
• Joins a theater company
• “You remind me of my first love” the only English words you need to know.
• Affairs and murders.
• Signs a contract with Shubert brothers
• Great success in Henrik Ibsen plays.
• CORRECTION: In trying to land on Sarah Bernhardt’s name Clara Bow (not Clara Barton) was a silent-film star “It Girl”.
• She has a theater named after her.

 

•  She marries Charles Brant but probably still married to a guy in Russia. 
• She has an affair with Mercedes de Acosta.
• She starts in film with War Brides
• Was a member of the National Women’s Suffrage Association.
• She has ties to Nancy Regan’s mom.
• Alla was paid more than Mary Pickford.
• Her house on Sunset Boulevard was called “The Garden of Alla” and was eventually turned into a hotel renamed Garden of Allah Hotel.

• She’s created with the term “sewing circle” meaning lesbian and bisexual actresses.
• She (and many Hollywood ladies) were open about their same-sex relationships in a time when you could say “pregnant” in the mail.
• The book is on the Library wishlist! If you would like to buy the book and have it sent to the Gal’s Guide library click here.
• Leah doesn’t bury the lead on her Charlie Chaplin knowledge.

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