Photograph was edited for publication purposes.; Title supplied by cataloger. Marion Davies (1897-1961), born Marion Cecilia Douras, was an American film actress who is best remembered for her relationship with newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst. Davies was signed on as a Ziegfeld girl in 1916 and later that year made her screen debut modeling gowns in a fashion newsreel. In 1917 she appeared in her first feature film, and starred in three more the following year playing light comedic roles. The first of her numerous films financed by Hearst was in 1918. During the next 10 years she appeared in 29 films - an average of three per year, and though she was considered an astute woman, Hearst's involvement in her film roles hampererd her career. He insisted she play dramatic parts, instead of the comedic roles that were her forte. Hearst and Davies lived as a couple for three and a half decades but were never able to marry since Hearst's wife refused to give him a divorce. Hearst died on August 14, 1951, and surprisingly, just 11 weeks and one day after his death, Davies married Horace Brown on October 31, 1951 in Las Vegas, though it was not a happy marriage. She filed for divorce twice, but never finalized either. In her later years, Davies became heavily involved with charity work, donating $1.9 million in 1952 to establish a children's clinic at UCLA and establishing the Marion Davies Foundation to help fight childhood diseases. In 1956 Davis suffered a minor stroke and was diagnosed with cancer of the jaw, which was successfully operated on. Davis' health continued to decline during that time, and on September 22, 1961 she succumbed to cancer. She left an estate estimated at more than $30 million. Curious side note: Patricia Lake (nee Van Cleeve) was always introduced as the niece of Marion Davies. After Patricia's death, her will revealed she was instead the child of Davies and her long-time love, Hearst. Photograph caption dated February 24, 1960 partially reads, "Former Actress Marion Davies today announced the sale of the Desert Inn Hotel, a landmark here, for a price in excess of $2,500,000, to George Alexander and Samuel Firks, land developers and builders. The purchase price includes the 32.7 acre site of the hotel, all buildings and facilities. Miss Davies will retain a financial interest and will serve as a special consultant. Parties to the transaction negotiated more than a month before concluding the deal involving one of the largest transactions in the history of Palm Springs." The hotel was razed in 1967, making way for the Desert Fashion Shopping Plaza.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;26 x 21 cm. Photographic prints
Davies, Marion,--1897-1961 Desert Inn (Palm Springs, Calif.) Hotels--California--Palm Springs Motion picture actors and actresses--United States Real estate developers--California--Palm Springs Real estate business--California--Palm Springs Palm Springs (Calif.) Herald-Examiner Collection photographs Group portraits
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