Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Notes on April 1927 issue...

...and there are some good ones.

-On page 5 is a recap of the opening night party for the Gaylord from 1924 and the following anniversary parties up to 1927. These folks partied late into the night!
-On page 6, photo of the lovely Marie E. Wells, playwright, stage star, film actress and Gaylord guest. Ms. Wells was in 34 film titles from 1915-1939 and starred with such notables as Myrna Loy and Ann Sothern.
-On page 7, the story of the very first occupants of the Gaylord, Dr. & Mrs. H.S. Chapman. Arriving weeks before the Gaylord officially opened, they had to walk over planks to enter the building since the lobby was not yet complete.
-On page 13, mention of Mr. & Mrs. George H. Mayr having wintered at the Gaylord. George H. Mayr was labeled a quack by the American Medical Association for his Mayr's 'Wonderful Stomach Remedy' ('snake oil' as they say). Though he was a curious character he left quite a respectable & lasting legacy. Mr. Mayr made most of his fortune through real estate investments in California and to this day his George H. Mayr Foundation awards scholarships to California university students.
-On page 17, Miss Kay Hammond is noted for appearing in the stage production of 'The Patsy' at the Morosco Theater, downtown at 744 So. Broadway. Miss Hammond had been a resident of the Gaylord for some time. Not just a stage actress, but she appeared in 25 titles in film and television between 1930-1961. Most notably, with Rex Harrison in 1945's 'Blithe Spirit" where she played the role of the ghost of the first wife to Rex Harrison's character.
-On page 22, Fay Bainter's stay at the Gaylord is mentioned as she was headlining on stage at the Orpheum. Fay was nominated multiple times for the Academy Awards. In 1938, she was nominated in two categories for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. As Best Actress in 'White Banners', but she was beat out by Bette Davis for the film 'Jezebel.' Fay won the award in the supporting category for 'Jezebel.' She appeared in more than 60 titles between 1934-1965 and was again nominated for an Oscar, in 1961, for her supporting role in 'The Children's Hour' which starred Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine.
-On page 22, George S. Dougherty and his wife are wintering at the Gaylord. Dougherty was the former Chief of Detectives for the City of New York. He helped in the introduction of modern day fingerprinting and in 1914 was featured in two silent films as 'himself.'
-On page 23, the departure from the Gaylord of Miss Flobelle Fairbanks, niece of Douglas Fairbanks. She herself was featured in 33 films between 1918-1946 and starred with Gloria Swanson in 1927's 'The Love of Sunya.'

The Gaylord had quite the roster of guests back in the day and continues to do so today.