05/04/2010 12:00 am
Culture
A Window Into Tallulah Bankhead, Introduction by Liz Smith
The late actress' godchild, Brook Ashley, on growing up in the glorious tumult of the star's household.
Photos by Dare Wright
Recently, on Broadway there was a short-lived play titled "Looped," starring Valerie Harper as a fading Tallulah Bankhead. Some people liked it; some people didn’t.
Among the offended was Tallulah Bankhead’s real-life godchild, Brook Ashley. Ms. Ashley starred on Broadway at age seven and played dimpled moppets through the golden era of TV. Her mother, Eugenia Rawls, had portrayed Tallulah’s daughter on stage in "The Little Foxes." Her father, Donald Seawell, was Tallulah’s confidant and lawyer.
Brook is now writing a bio of her "other" famous godmother, Dare Wright, the author of The Lonely Doll children’s books. As heir to Wright’s estate, she is sifting through photos and art created by the enchantingly fey Wright.
In the meantime, here is Brook’s alternative vision of someone famous who she also knew and loved well. This is an unusual tribute to a larger-than-life woman, and wOw is grateful for this exclusive other look at the phenomenon that was Tallulah Bankhead, an international legend in theater who died in 1968. — Liz Smith
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| A Tallulah doll would have needed batteries to move around as much as she did. She could talk, smoke, drink, and hug me all at the same time. |
Thoughts of Home: Tallulah’s House, By Brook Ashley
Brook Ashley and Tallulah Bankhead at "Windows." Tallulah is telling Brook that she has tiny feet, too.
My godmother was the actress Tallulah Bankhead. To the public and press she was a wild and unpredictable force of nature. Outspoken and outrageous, she had never settled down in conventional fashion. In fact, the apocryphal tales of her lovers and escapades were often outmatched by the truth, but by the 1950’s, Tallulah was ready for a change.
Tallulah’s familiar world had begun to shift. Always a renowned beauty, she would no longer be hired for her looks alone. Many of her great loves had died or otherwise departed. Some had been reclaimed by their wives. Politically, it was the era of post-war conservatism and reprisals from Senator McCarthy. Liberal opinions were best left unvoiced. Married couples slept in twin beds. Television was the new entertainment medium, but no one was certain where it would lead. It was time to retrench and examine priorities. It was time to bring family together.
For three decades, she had camped in hotel rooms and rented lodgings — a townhouse off Berkeley Square in London, The Garden of Allah in Hollywood, New York’s Algonquin and Elysee Hotels. She was already in her forties when she bought her first home an hour from New York City in the charming town of Bedford Village.
Tallulah was born at the beginning of the 20th century, and I in the middle. Her mother died at her birth, so she had no maternal figure after whom she could pattern herself. Why at mid-life did she decide that she wanted a child and a permanent address? It cannot have been regrets over a lifetime of excesses — not in a woman who proclaimed, "If I had my life to live over, I would have made the same mistakes, only sooner!"
I arrived at Tallulah’s as a four year old from a tiny Manhattan apartment. Although her home was sunk deep into Westchester County bedrock, in my young eyes it appeared to be an ocean liner riding on a sea of daffodils. I had never seen a home of that scale, and my only frame of reference was that of a ship’s illustration in a picture book. The building stretched out long and white, and countless chimneys punctuated the spring sky like smokestacks.
My mother had played Tallulah’s daughter in "The Little Foxes" long before my arrival, and my father was Tallulah’s attorney. They were quite willing to lend me to her for extensive periods of surrogate mothering. Knowing that she was absolved from the ultimate responsibilities of child-rearing must have taken the burden off our time together. This freed her to introduce me to games such as "Let’s Kill Senator McCarthy".
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The article is filled with pathos. Did Tallulah stay too long at the fair? It would appear so. I loved her in Hitchcock’s Lifeboat and her pronunciation of the world "darling" is famous. She had presence. Brook Ashley does give a more realistic version of the movie star’s life … but still Talluah lived to excess, sad to say.
I thought she was the daughter of an important politician, a senator or house leader. Hmm .. will have to click over to wikipedia and read a bit more.
There was only one Tallulah … and as a child caught up in the attraction my family had for theatre, there was little I missed. I had a mother who I remember loving Tallu … and Oscar Levant … and Sophie Tucker … oh! there were more — but all seem to be what might be considered eccentric and more than a bit "out of the box".
And - so I saw Tallulah in Private Lives and - of course - we went backstage to meet her. I was a child — in awe — as I was in meeting celebrity after celebrity that my mother seemed to have no problems arranging. It was a wonderful time to grow up —- at least when you came from a household where "life was to be lived" as I did.
The writing about Tallulah today was fascinating — and when she left us, the mold was broken. But to me in memory, she is still alive … and I love it!! Joan
Dear Joan..It was a wonderful time to grow up—-atleast when you came from a household where "life was to be lived."
I just copied those words into one of my journals. Every family should inspire their children and themselves to live such a life.
It took me a long time to do so, but I finally did and my family is so delighted to be having fun again.
Tallulah was a legend in her time and beyond. I am glad you got to meet her. Mary
Mary … such a variety of topics make us feel "the rush" of the past coming at us. We stop and think - think back on another time. Perhaps in my family, the words were not said, but . . it was obvious that everyone lived life to the fullest, squeezing the most out of it. There were no "instructions". YOu are part of "family" and your outlook usually comes unbidden from those days. I look back and see no negatives, but I do see solid preparation for life taking place, along with independence given early. I realize more and more how blessed I was — and have been since.
How wonderful, Mary, that you have been able to turn things around. I know that you are a delight so I can see how you would be a magnet for all. How fortunate they all are!!! We must squeeze every moment out of every day and do our best to make them GREAT! Joan
Joan, You have made my day! Squeeze every moment into every day…awesome advice. Today is my birthday, so there is a lot to squeeze in, which I intend to do.
Mary
Mary … this was meant to be as I am absolutely overflowing with love and hopes for bless-ed moments for you — just not for today but for every day. May you stay forever young!!!
Joan
At least Bankhead was putting the pins into the right demon. The McCarthy era was a dark time and I think one needs to go back and read about that time because it was also a grotesque time. The question then should be what was there in him or in us, that made this country so vulnerable to his demagogy? This is not a question of dusty history since in this day and time we need to revisit times when lies and fabrications abound. A poll in January 1954 showed 50 percent of the Americans asked had a favorable view of McCarthy––50 percent! Again and again in our history times of stress produced morbid fear and scapegoating repression.
Am glad Brook’s memories are what they are. Always good to have those.