Frances Hayward continues Big Edie's love of animals

Our heroine Frances Hayward continues Big Edie Beale's love of animals by hosting a benefit to raise money for the Humane Society.

From Papermag, by Rebecca Suhrawardi Austin, on 31 July 2008

About Last Night...Frances Hayward Hosts Dinner for Russell Simmons and Wayne Pacelle at Grey Gardens

Not sure what the city was like on Sunday, but the East End was like a scene from the Wizard of Oz. Imagine live power lines laying across Montauk Highway, the wooden fence around my pool swept to the ground, tree limbs, flooding, and danger -- oh my! But that did not stop me, and countless others, from braving the elements and finding our way to Grey Gardens to fete Russell Simmons. A small gathering of about 30 thrown by hostess extraordinaire Frances Hayward for the hip-hop impresario Simmons and Wayne Pacelle, the president of the Humane Society. The event was called "Art for Animals," combining two of Frances' most beloved passions. Our host and the chief guests talked a bit about the importance of the plight against animal cruelty while we nibbled on a light, vegan dinner.

Ann Dexter-Jones (my new favorite person!) showed off her self-designed jewelry pieces and I talked a lot with the University of Illinois student who started the infamous blog, Park Avenue Peerage. I shut down the party, yes, typically a social faux pas, but this time it was for a great reason because Robert Wilson showed up towards the end. So Frances, he, I, and four others chatted in the living room of the famed residence. Wilson, who had just thrown his own party at the Watermill Center the night before, talked about his early work with dogs and using them in a hospital setting, and being one of the first to do so. But I loved his anecdotes about Pierre Cardin best, who he said always spoke in the third person! "Why does Pierre's dog hate him so," recalled Wilson. We couldn't help but laugh as he recollected and impersonated, lovingly, the fashion icon.

When it was time to go, we gave our air kisses good-bye, promised Frances we would fight against animal cruelty, and made our way back in to the eye of the storm.

Update

Eva Beale was also at the event.

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Video of Lois Wright interviewed about Grey Gardens

A very cute interview with Lois Wright on her time at Grey Gardens. I love the part when she lists a few of the cats' names! I almost don't mind the obvious promotion of her own book!

From YouTube

Artist Lois Wright reflects on Grey Gardens

Rebecca Cooper from The Gallery in Sag Harbor interviews Lois Wright about her life and art.

Photos of Edie Beale in the New York Times

Thanks to the anonymous contributor who sent this in!

From New York Times, by Karin Nelson, on 27 July 2008

Pulse

A Look at Edith Bouvier Beale Through Her Scrapbooks

Edith Bouvier Beale, best known as Little Edie in the 1975 documentary "Grey Gardens," died in 2002, but the public's fascination with her endures: "Grey Gardens," the Broadway musical, earned 10 Tony nominations in 2007; John Galliano cited her as an inspiration for his spring collection; HBO is amid production on a biopic starring Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore; and now comes the release of "Edith Bouvier Beale of Grey Gardens: A Life in Pictures."

Conceived by Eva Marie Beale (the wife of Edie's nephew, Bouvier Beale Jr.), the book is filled with photographs, letters, drawings and sundry scrapbook items (J.F.K. and Jackie's wedding invitation, a letter from Macy's encouraging her to model) culled from Edie's overstuffed and truly inspiring archives.

"Should one try to sum up all this phantasmagoria — the full bouquet of Edie's memories and everything else," Peter Beard, a family friend, wrote in the book's foreword, "it would have to be called something like BEYOND WORDS."

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Grey Gardens has yet another celebrity fan: Adam McKay, director of Step Brothers

So we recently learned that Diablo Cody and Erin O'Connor are fans of Grey Gardens. Now we learn that Adam McKay is as well, although he may not be as much of a fan as this raccoon is!

From Premiere, by Jenni Miller

Exclusive: 'Step Brothers' Director Adam McKay

'Step Brothers' director Adam McKay talks about his new movie, his love of 'Grey Gardens,' viral video, and why Bush's bio should be an 'E! True Hollywood Story.'

It's a little bit like Grey Gardens.

Yeah. You know, I saw Grey Gardens years ago and said, "We should do this as a play," and I couldn't believe it when I saw someone did it. I was like, "Oh, my God!" I always thought that was a perfect stage show idea.

You know the woman from that movie actually came and did a variety show in Manhattan, the young one? Yeah, the daughter [Little Edie]. She actually came and did a cabaret show. There was a little bit of a happy ending to it.

People are fanatics about Grey Gardens. I couldn't watch it; it was too depressing.

It's a little questionable, that movie. I mean, they're mentally ill people and you're filming them like, "Oh, look at them." Still, even that said, I still loved it.

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Grey Gardens in Bust magazine

There is a short Grey Gardens feature in the August/September issue of Bust magazine. It includes some photos of Edie I hadn't even seen before!

From Bust magazine, on August/September 2008

The Garden of Edie

Thanks to Carla for sending this in!

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Video of rare Edie images from Christine Ebersole

Tony Award-winning actress who brought the Edies to life on stage in the Grey Gardens musical has posted up a new extended video of old photos of the Edies along with audio from the musical.

From Myspace, by Christine Ebersole, on 11 July 2008

New Extended Grey Gardens Video

Update

For some reason, it seems this video was removed, both from Ebersole's Myspace page and the server itself. If it resurfaces, please let me know, and I'll repost it!

Update

Another version of the video has surfaced, and I've updated this post to point at that one instead. Thank you to all who helped!

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Music inspired by Grey Gardens

I recently got an email from musician OZU-san about his song about Grey Gardens. You can listen to the song and download it for free at his MySpace page.

This email got me thinking about other music inspired by Grey Gardens. Of course, there's the musical and its soundtrack.

Grey Gardens the Musical
original Broadway cast recording CD

And I'm sure everyone is aware of the Rufus Wainwright song from his album Poses. Download just the song itself here.

Poses - Rufus Wainwright

But did you know that musician Jeremy James has an entire album titled "Grey Gardens"?

Grey Gardens - Jeremy James

The James album has a song titled "Grey Gardens", which can be downloaded here.

The band FCS North has a song titled "Grey Gardens" on their album Vocabulary. Download just the song itself here.

Vocabulary - FCS North

And Stars has a song called "The Woods" that uses a voice clip of Edie on their album Heart. Download just the song itself here.

Stars - Heart

Am I missing anything?

Update

Apparently I did miss something! There's a song called "I have to Think These Things up" by Eddie Orange Dasher. The song can be downloaded in the Files section of the Grey Gardens Yahoo Group.

Thanks to David/Kawika for sending this in!

Edie Beale's latest celebrity fan: Diablo Cody

Not only is supermodel Erin O'Connor a fan of Grey Gardens, but so is Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody (Juno). Here, she briefly promotes the showing of our favorite documentary at her "Mondo Diablo" film festival.

From YouTube, by hollywoodpsychic, on 17 July 2008

Diablo Cody introduces Grey Gardens - Mondo Diablo

July 16th, 2008 - Diablo Cody introduces Grey Gardens (1976) during her Mondo Diablo film festival at the New Beverly Cinema. Grey Gardens was directed by Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Ellen Hovde, and Muffie Meyer and features Edie Beale and Edith Bouvier Beale.

"Mondo Diablo" is a two week festival of Cody-programmed double features at the New Beverly Cinema. (07/11/08 - 07/24/08)

For more information, please visit: http://www.newbevcinema.com/

07/16/08
7:30 - Grey Gardens (1976)
9:25 - Gimme Shelter (1970)

Update

From Entertainment Weekly, on 12 September 2008, via Grey Gardens Yahoo! Group

Diablo Cody on Grey Gardens

The three women live with Hef at the Playboy Mansion, a glorious Gothic time capsule with its own arcade, movie theater, and mini-zoo. They follow a curfew, wear pigtails, and throw birthday parties for their dogs. This is transgressive television, people. 'The Girls Next Door' is 'Grey Gardens' with booty shorts."

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Grey Gardens has another celebrity fan: Erin O'Connor

Supermodel Erin O'Connor is a fan of Grey Gardens!

From Vogue.co.uk, by Erin O'Connor, on 9 July 2008

Icons of the Times

Today I'm lying in bed with a stinking cold and the weather is as soggy as my current mood state. I'm surrounded only by my own self-pity and a selection of many seen before movies.

My all time favourite and today's DVD-jour being Grey Gardens. A film about a mother and daughter battling to out do each other in a once glorious household now governed by smelly worn out cats.

The ladies adorn their once lavish wardrobes with aplomb, adapting for specific needs such as practicing for dance pageant routines and or singing opera in bed - why not wear a skirt as a hat with the help of an over sized safety pin? And when you cant find that favourite piece of fur then cuddle an obliging cat instead? You simply can't buy style.

This cult documentary is as original as any fashionista would aspire to be and has inspired everyone from Stephen Meisel in the pages of Vogue to the runway of Prada and beyond. Usually to be found in a bargain bin for £ 2.99 in HMV - iconic though I assure you!

Bearing icons in mind I had the pleasure of Stefano Pilati's company at the recent Yves Saint Laurent soiree at Dover Street Market. He was utterly charming and with his expert grip of the English language, he made even the best of the Brits around him sound like utter chavs! Big respect for wearing partially shaded though intensely cool sunnies indoors!

For the event I donned a beautiful (borrowed) navy suit and an unapologetic pair of towering spike stilettos that made me feel truly comfortable. Ironic really but the feeling of wearing a classic suit makes me feel so feminine - shame I don't get to wear them daily! So the two-piece was tailored to fit my exact body shape does that mean I....

Home this weekend - dad celebrated his 57th birthday with all of his daughters in tow. Wearing red converse, ray-bans, a grin and a Mr Grumpy T he sat on his throne (otherwise known as his favourite chair) with a whisky and then several more bemoaning the fact that after all these years he was still living in the minority of a predominantly female household!

Six hours later and I was still trying to navigate my way home - it would seem that the Sunday service is as slow and unwilling as my lack-lustre butt still trying to get out of its bed.

With love from a potential smelly cat owner!

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Rare image of Big Edie Beale with Baby Little Edie

How lovely this is!

From Grey Gardens Yahoo Group, by Countess Edith/David Crotty, on 4 July 2008

Big Edie & Baby Little Edie

The poster is none other than the genius behind the "Fake Mexican Brooches" and the Grey Gardens coloring books.

From Grey Gardens Yahoo Group, by Countess Edith, on 4 July 2008

Re: Calling countessedith...

Thank you Baby Africa,

You can thank Maysles Films for my acquiring this image. Muffie, Susan, Ellen, Al and David built the foundation upon which the Cult of Grey Gardens stands. The Deities of the Lines Between the Past and the Present. Without them there would be nothing here but an empty wasteland strewn with feline skeletons, and the house would probably have been torn down as well.

Your photos are lovely too.

-Countess Edith

Thank you for working with Maysles Films to release this rare image!

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Grey Gardens-themed fashion magazine

The entire current issue of under.the.influence magazine has Grey Gardens as its inspiration. Look at this wonderful image inspired by Edie and the film:

From Issuu.com, via here

And view the entire issue here!

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Eva Beale's book available for pre-order on Amazon.com

Those of us hesitant to order Eva Beale's book Edith Bouvier Beale of Grey Gardens: A Life in Pictures because it had no clear, stable release date and it required payment or a deposit up front, will be comforted to know that the book is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com. Pre-ordering on Amazon.com relieves this raccoon's concerns because Amazon does not charge your credit card for the order until it is shipped.

Amazon is selling the book for $47.25, a savings of $27.75 (37%) over the list price of the book.

Pre-order it now!

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