Despite being mostly forgotten today, actress
Lilyan Tashman was a powerful figure in Precode era America. Her popular film
and stage performances were eclipsed only by her fabulous lifestyle and
reputation as the "best dressed woman in Hollywood".
She was the
reigning Queen of Glamour in the late 20s and early 30s taking over from the
silent mega-star Gloria Swanson. Her marriage to actor, Edmund Lowe which
lasted until her death was dubbed 'perfect' by fan magazines with their house
Lilowe reaching an equal level of design perfection with opulent furnishings
and architecture.
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| Edmund and Lilyan during a 'private' moment |
Tashman's wardrobe received even more public interest and
press attention with her glamourous and stylish outfits and accessories
creating envy from women all over the world. Like so many other stars on
the top, Tashman's life was cut short when in 1934 aged only 37, she died of
cancer. (For more information about Tashman's life and career see this great
article from Shadows and Satin blog.)
However, another side of Tashman's private and
public life shows the woman was not a person to start a fight with. Feuds
between the actress and other Hollywood figures became fodder for fan magazines
and newspapers. In these incidents, Tashman rarely came out second best. She
always fought hard for her reputation and her integrity and didn't pull any
punches. For five of her best feuds see below:
5) Eleanor Boardman
Like most of Tashman's public feuds, her little
tiff with silent actress Eleanor Boardman was about fashion. According to
reports, there had been a "coolness" between the actresses who at the
time were both employed by Paramount.
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| Eleanor Boardman |
The magazine reported that a comment of
Tashman's about Boardman's dress sense started the argument. This was continued when Tashman
believed Boardman had copied the interior design of her red and white themed
house by using green and white as base colours. Although, it turned out costume
designer, Adrian, was responsible for the decorating, the similarity between
both didn't help the tension between the women. The magazine continued that this "coolness" was resolved after a chance meeting and:
"Lilyan dashed right up to Eleanor and
said graciously,
"Your house is lovely!"
Eleanor smiled. "I hope you like
it better than my dresses-"
Lilyan laughed gaily. "Now,
Eleanor-"
And being two intelligent women all
was forgotten and they're as chummy as before."
4) Lupe Velez
Nothing represented the public's view of the
unrestrained, egotistical Hollywood elite of the late 20s and early 30s more
than the feud and reported cat-fight between Tashman and passionate, voluptuous
actress, Lupe Velez.
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| Lupe Velez |
The extent of the conflict and the events leading up to
their supposed 'tussle' is unclear; however, author of Lupe Velez: The Life and Career of Hollywood's Mexican Spitfire,
Michelle Vogel, believes the tension had been mounting for some time before it
became public knowledge. She explained the rivalry in her book:
"One
time, while Lupe was dining at the Embassy club, she spotted Lilyan Tashman
from across the room. Lilyan was wearing long white gloves, so Lupe proceeded
to wrap napkins around her arms and make fun of her for all to see. People
snickered at Lupe's impromptu show but Lilyan wasn't laughing. On that
occasion, both ladies were retrained before a physical altercation could
happen. But sarcastic, bitchy remarks flew back and forth between Lupe and
Lilyan for ages. Then came the culmination of years of pent-up frustration and
the feisty pair came to blows on the power room floor in the Montemarte Cafe in
Hollywood. They clawed, punched and kicked each other and by all accounts, Lupe
won a clear decision."
3) Hedda Hopper
The public fight between Hedda Hopper
and Lilyan Tashman proved that some leading figures of Precode Hollywood just
didn't care bad publicity.
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| Hedda Hopper |
These two press staples didn't hold back when a feud
started over who was a better authority on the current fashion. It all began when
Hopper wrote a piece on Tashman's wardrobe commenting that she "wears the
theatre on her back" and that her over-the-top outfits were both excessive
and gaudy. These statements didn't go down well with Tashman who fired back at
Hopper's clothing and even making remarks about the columnist and former
actresses age. It was followed by a heavily reported incident when both Lilyan
and Hopper were invited to judge an Easter fashion show at the Agua Caliente
Casino. Both refused taking the opportunity to continue to attack each other's
fashion knowledge in a very passive and hilarious way. But don't just take it
from me, it's best to read conflict in the words of both ladies:
Lilyan said:
“If she were an
authority on clothes, I would pay some attention to her criticism. But, of
course, it’s really too absurd. One is either smart – or one
simply isn’t smart. One is chic – or one is not chic. Unfortunately, Miss
Hopper is not noted for her chic. I am very fond of Hedda and I think she looks
quite nice in her things. One would place her as a very respectable aunt from
the Middle West. But chic? No. She simply does not have an affinity for
clothes. And, of course, I would be foolish to pay the slightest attention to
her remarks on a subject which she is so ignorant.”
Hedda said:
“Understand, any
remarks that I make about Lilyan’s clothes are not a reflection on her
personally. I like Lil. I adore her. . . . She wears very beautiful
clothes. She dresses in the latest style – often far ahead of it, in fact! I
wish I could afford clothes like hers. I wish I could have as many clothes as
she has – but if I did, I certainly would not try to wear them all at the same
time!
"Lil has a flair
for the spectacular. She pays simply appalling prices for very simple little
tailored suits that are the last word in chic - and then spoils the effect with
jewellery. I wish, my dear, that you could have seen Lil as she arrived from
one of her New York trips. She wore a tailored suit and four diamond clips on
the lapel of her jacket. Four clips, mind you. Imagine that, if you can! I have
always been taught that it is - well - not the best taste.”
Lilyan said:
"At least, my
diamond clips are set with real diamonds!"
Hedda said:
"I'm really
astonished that Lil should be hurt or angry at what I've said. In criticising
her dress, I certainly would not have her think I am criticising her
personally. She is very witty and so amusing! The fact that she overdresses is
really not of terrific importance. What if she does wear such charming little
suits and then drapes her neck with six or seven strands of pearls…?"
Lilyan said:
"I really do not
care to discuss Miss Hopper. I consider that I have been very kind and given
her all the publicity that even she could want. Knowing how badly she needs
publicity. I have been very tolerant but of course there is a limit."
Like all Tashman's feuds, the fire
cooled but both women never returned to a cordial relationship before the
actress’s early death.
2) Constance Bennett
Although, I suspect most of what is written in
the public forum is at the least exaggerated, it is not difficult to see where
this feud between Constance Bennett and Tashman started.
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| Constance Bennett |
In the early 30's both women were in the running for the coveted
title of 'best dressed woman in Hollywood'. A 1931 Photoplay identified this as
the key to the contempt between the women with Tashman fearing the arrival of
the glamorous Bennett in Hollywood would take over her position:
"And
then Connie Bennett slithered upon the scene of action. Connie with her fine European
ways, her fascinating background, her last-word clothes, threw everybody into a
dither. Connie got talked about. Connie got quoted. And Lilyan didn't like
that. Lilyan didn't like that and a lot of other things that we can't go into
here."
The article continues with a 'passive argument'
between the pair at the Embassy Club where, when seeing Tashman enter, Bennett
and her friends blatantly left, one-by-one in disgust. A February 1933 Picture
Play article supported the claims, saying:
"Constance
Bennett does not like Lilyan Tashman and Lil holds for Constance about the same
affection. They almost came to blows a year or so ago, according to the
grapevine telegraph from Malibu. They will not appear together in a
picture."
Even more shocking and - what I consider to be -
a completely fabricated, over-the-top account is one from biographer Darwin
Porter in his book 'The Secret Life of Humphrey Bogart'. He describes a scene
at a party hosted by Basil Rathbone and his wife Ouida Bergere in (I believe)
August 1929. As it was a dress-up affair Tashman
was dressed as Lady Diana Mayo from The Shiek and Bennett as Maid Marian
from Robin Hood. The book argues that Bergère deliberately instigated a
conflict by placing both simultaneously in front of press cameras.
Despite wild rumours and strange,
outlandish accounts from some authors, it is clear Tashman and Bennett did not
get on. Whether they actually came to blows will never truly be known.
1) Alona Marlowe
The only one of Tashman's conflicts to reach the
courts was her notorious alleged 'cat fight' between herself and Alona Marlowe
(sister of actress, June Marlowe).
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| Alona Marlowe |
Marlowe brought forward battery charges on
May 9, 1931 after an incident which supposedly occurred at the studio offices
of Tashman's husband, Edmund Lowe. She alleges that she called in to Lowe's
office and that, "Miss Tashman found her there and struck and scratched
her. Lowe was not present." Lowe and Tashman both denied ever knowing
Marlowe. Lowe was even reported as commenting that, "it is a most
fantastic tale". Two days later newspapers announced the case had been
dropped but the affair still remained in the minds of film-lovers and the pages
of fan magazines.
Marlowe later said that the case was dropped -
not because it lacked truth - but because the parties had made an out-of-court
settlement. Her attorney said the agreement was made before the court date and
that Marlowe, "had received a fair amount of damages for injuries she suffered".
The opposing attorney came out against this remark saying, "only a nominal
amount was paid. Such a trifling amount as to be insignificant". The
settlement signalled the end of the conflict. Despite this the story has
continued through history with the usual factual problems and exaggerations.
One major problem that even made its way into reputable newspapers was that it
was June not Alona who was involved in the incident.
