Hedda Hopper c. 1946 | Popperfoto/Getty Images
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World War II begins to reveal the gulf between Louella’s conservative but essentially business-minded politics, and Hedda Hopper’s virulent right-wing fervor. These differences — and the glee with which Hopper would destroy lives to shore up political power and further her ideology — come through loud and clear in the stories of two controversies: the casting of Gone with the Wind, and the paternity trial of Charlie Chaplin. Meanwhile, Louella shows her devotion to Hearst by using her power to cripple Citizen Kane.
Lana Turner and Louella Parsons Radio Broadcast c. 1940s
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:
“Joan Barry: The Most (In)famous Actress to Never Appear on Screen” by Matthew Mandarano, https://notesonafilm.com/
“Age of Consent Laws” by Stephen Robertson, University Of Sydney, Australia, https://chnm.gmu.edu/
“Louella Parsons and Hedda Hopper Rivalry Ruined the Revelry” Time Magazine, 1941, https://time.com/
“How Leni Riefenstahl shaped the way we see the Olympics” by Nicholas Barber, August 2016, https://www.bbc.com/
“That Old Feeling: Leni's Triumph” by Richard Corliss Aug. 22, 2002, http://content.time.com/
“How 'America First' Got Its Nationalistic Edge” by Eric Rauchway, May 6, 2016, https://www.theatlantic.com/
“The Long History Behind Donald Trump's 'America First' Foreign Policy” by Lily Rothman, March 28, 2016, https://time.com/
“CRIME: Mann & Woman” Apr. 03, 1944, http://content.time.com/
The “Good” Conscientious Objector Lew Ayres by Joseph Connor, February, 2018, https://www.historynet.com/
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:
"The Bus at Dawn" by Holyoke
"Talltell" by Flatlands
"Pacing" by TinyTiny Trio
"House of Grendel" by Lemuel
"Levanger" by Lillehammer
"Laser Focus" by TinyTiny Trio
"The Crisper" by Confectionery
"Passages Interlude" by Demalion
"Line Exchange" by Marble Run
"Three Stories" by Skittle
"Cobalt Blue" by Marble Run
"Tarte Tatin" by Confectionery
Credits:
This episode was written, narrated and produced by Karina Longworth.
Special thanks to Cole Escola who played Hedda Hopper. Cole can be seen on Search Party and At Home with Amy Sedaris and their self-produced special Help I’m Stuck.
Our editor this season is Evan Viola.
Research and production assistant: Lindsey D. Schoenholtz.
Social media assistant: Brendan Whalen.
Logo design: Teddy Blanks.