when a kind word could make a
career of anyone in the movie
business, and a well-chosen word
could destroy a movie icon. The
general public got pretty much all of
their "behind the scenes" knowledge
from newspapers. Louella Parsons, (and her contemporaries
such as Hedda Hopper and Walter Winchell) were followed and
respected by the world. But some close to her in the busines
despised her, her word could and did break careers of many
actors of her day, so Parsons (along with the fact that she was
employed by, and a personal friend of William Randolf
Hearst...one of the most powerful people in the world let alone
Hollywood) was one of the most powerful voices in movies AND
journalism. In fact, Louella was a pioneer for women in
journalism, one of the first women to have her own bi-line in a
business at the time, run by men. Magazines, newspapers, and
theater owners were careful not to infuriate her, less her ire was
passed on to the reading public and the offending parties loose
circulation and patrons.
From 1915 to 1960, Parsons was the "word" in movie gossip
and news. Small town America's primary source of who was who,
what movies were worth watching, and which were best labeled a
waste of film! Who deserved the world's second chance, and
who would be yesterday’s garbage.
Louella Rose (Oettinger) Parsons was not born in Burlington,
she was in fact born in Freeport, IL and was raised about 150
mile northeast of us in Dixon, IL. Louella was only a part of our
city from the years 1905 to 1910. Louella had recently married
John Parsons, and they moved to Burlington soon after the
wedding where John was to be the manager of a housing
development called the Parsons Block. Louella despised the
town. She referred to Burlington as "drab grayness, as though it
were an outpost of darkest Siberia." She describes her time in
Burlington as the most unhappiest time of her life. Her new
husband was described as a cold and arrogant man who never
spent any time with her, but soon had taken up with another
woman that worked with him at his office. Louella was
abandoned, but not before she gave birth to their only child
Harriet Oettinger Parsons on August 23, 1906. Louella was
homesick and felt she had no friends, she was never accepted
into the community. John and Louella had rented a home in
North Hill district next to the Grand Opera House, but after a
dispute with neighbors, was evicted from the home by the city.
Her only happy memories were the various opera houses and
vaudeville theaters in Burlington, she was nurturing an
admiration of the performing arts. It was during this time, motion
pictures was just coming into public view, known as "flickers."
These novelties were shown between vaudeville acts at the
Garrick Theater on Third Street near Valley Street.
In fairness, Louella did say this of her dislike of Burlington, "I
am sure it was-and-is no different from any other small town, but
we remember places by the happiness or unhappiness we have
felt there. I was young and homesick for my family in Dixon, and
it is the memory of my misery that persists, not the reality."
In September of 1910, her beloved opera house, The Grand,
was vandalized with dynamite. With one less thing to love in
town, Louella and daughter Harriet left Burlington behind, she
was 29 years old.
Orson Wells and prevent it's release. The negative publicity was a constant battle for
Wells doing business in Hollywood. "Citizen Kane" is about the life of Charles Foster
Kane, a giant among publishers and about how he became that way, including
unscrupulous behaviors leading to this success. Coincidently, Louella's employer and
friend, William Randolf Hearst was a "giant" among publishers, implicated in the
murder of Thomas Ince, and accused of using his newspapers to control the way
America would receive information (and what information would be heard).
This story was told in the 1999 HBO Film: "RKO 281." (Louella was portrayed by
Brenda Blethyn)
Louealla was also portrayed in the 2001 film by Peter Bogdanovich, called
"The Cats Meow" (This time she was played by Jennifer Tilly). This film is about her
alleged cover up involvement of Thomas Ince's murder.
A 1972 biography by George Eells called "Hedda and Louella" was made into a
television movie in 1985 called "Mallice in Wonderland", where Louella was portrayed
by Elizabeth Taylor.
