Birthday party for WR Hearst, Louella Parsons 2nd from right | Photo from the Los Angeles Herald Examiner Photo Collection via the Los Angeles Public Library
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In 1923, Louella Parsons signed a contract with William Randolph Hearst for nationwide syndication of the first major Hollywood gossip column. Parsons quickly built a brand based on protecting (and whitewashing) Hollywood’s interests, as well as Hearst’s, relentlessly promoting — and spying on — Hearst’s mistress, Marion Davies.
Louella Parsons c. 1920’s
SHOW NOTES:
Sources for entire season:
Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood: Celebrity Gossip and American Conservatism by Jennifer Frost
The First Lady of Hollywood: A Biography of Louella Parsons by Samantha Barbas
The Whole Truth and Nothing But by Hedda Hopper
From Under My Hat by Hedda Hopper
Tell it to Louella by Louella Parsons
The Powers That Be by David Halberstam
Hearst Over Hollywood: Power, Passion, and Propaganda in the Movies by Louis Pizzitola
The Chief: The Life of William Randolph Hearst by David Nasaw
Dish by Jeannette Walls
Privileged Son: Otis Chandler And The Rise And Fall Of The L.A. Times Dynasty by Dennis Mcdougal
Hedda and Louella: A Dual biography of Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons by George Eells
Sources specific to this episode:
Don’t Get Me Wrong -- I Love Hollywood by Sidney Skolsky
Winchell: Gossip, Power and the Culture of Celebrity by Neal Gabler
Music:
The music used in this episode, with the exception of the intro, was sourced from royalty-free music libraries and licensed music collections. The intro includes a clip from the film Casablanca.
Excerpts from the following songs were used throughout the episode:
"Myrian" by Arc and Crecent
"FasterFaster Brighter" by Ray Catcher
"Vernouillet" by The Sweet Hots
"Jeramiah's Suit" by Rayling
"Capering" by Calumet
"The Silver Hatch" by Rayling
"Pastel de Nata" by Orange Cat
"Unfolding Plot" by Ray Catcher
"Floating Whist" by Aeronaut
"Pavement Hack" by Arc and Crecent
"Chase and We Follow" by Ray Catcher
"Dirty Wallpaper" by Lemuel
"Norvik" by Lillehammer
Gloria Swanson, Louella Parsons, and Mary Pickford
Credits:
This episode was written, narrated and produced by Karina Longworth.
Special thanks to our special guests. Julie Klausner played Louella Parsons. Julie wrote, created and starred in Difficult People, which you can watch on Hulu. She and Tom Scharpling also have a podcast, Double Threat, which you can and should find wherever you get your podcasts.
Thanks to writer Rachel Syme who spoke to Karina about Sheila Graham.
Our editor this season is Evan Viola.
Research and production assistant: Lindsey D. Schoenholtz.
Social media assistant: Brendan Whalen.
Logo design: Teddy Blanks.
