Glesca Marshall
Encyclopedia
Glesca Marshall was an actress and theatrical benefactor who was known primarily as the most enduring lover of Alla Nazimova
, silent screen actress and a legend of her time. Glesca met Nazimova when both were cast in a production at the Civic Repertory Theater.
Glesca lived with the silent screen legend in her Sunset Boulevard property, known as the Garden of Allah, until her death in 1945.
When her success waned, Nazimova sold the property and it became a residential hotel named The Garden of Allah, where many Hollywood celebrities (including Nazimova and Marhsall) lived. In spite of its notoriety and landmark status among the architecture of West Hollywood, it was torn down in 1959 and replaced with a pink strip mall housing a McDonald's, a Subway Sandwich Shop and a pizza place. This was later bulldozed to provide space for parking. The property is referenced in the 1970 song, "Big Yellow Taxi
" by Joni Mitchell
.
Glesca was also the longtime companion of Emily Woodruff, theatrical benefactor and main patron of the Springer Opera House in Columbus, Georgia. Emily was married to Hume Cronyn
, though they never lived together and Emily insisted the marriage remain a secret.
Alla Nazimova
Alla Nazimova , was a Russian American film and theatre actress, a screenwriter and film producer. She is perhaps best known as simply Nazimova, but also went under the name Alia Nasimoff.-Early life:...
, silent screen actress and a legend of her time. Glesca met Nazimova when both were cast in a production at the Civic Repertory Theater.
Glesca lived with the silent screen legend in her Sunset Boulevard property, known as the Garden of Allah, until her death in 1945.
When her success waned, Nazimova sold the property and it became a residential hotel named The Garden of Allah, where many Hollywood celebrities (including Nazimova and Marhsall) lived. In spite of its notoriety and landmark status among the architecture of West Hollywood, it was torn down in 1959 and replaced with a pink strip mall housing a McDonald's, a Subway Sandwich Shop and a pizza place. This was later bulldozed to provide space for parking. The property is referenced in the 1970 song, "Big Yellow Taxi
Big Yellow Taxi
"Big Yellow Taxi" is a song written and originally performed by Joni Mitchell in 1970. It was a big hit in her native Canada as well as Australia and the UK...
" by Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell, CC is a Canadian musician, singer songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in her native Saskatchewan and Western Canada and then busking in the streets and dives of Toronto...
.
Glesca was also the longtime companion of Emily Woodruff, theatrical benefactor and main patron of the Springer Opera House in Columbus, Georgia. Emily was married to Hume Cronyn
Hume Cronyn
Hume Blake Cronyn, OC was a Canadian actor of stage and screen, who enjoyed a long career, often appearing professionally alongside his second wife, Jessica Tandy.-Early life:...
, though they never lived together and Emily insisted the marriage remain a secret.
External links
- IBDB
- movielanddirectory.com
- The Gay & Lesbian Theatrical Legacy by Billy J. Harbin, Kim Marra, Robert A. Schanke
- latimes.com
- nndb.com
- nytimes.com
- theolddyke.co.uk
- tcm.com
- camprehoboth.com
- gardenofallah.com/