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Frank
Battaglia Photography
Featuring
exclusive, never-before seen photographs of Edith Bouvier
Beale, "Little Edie," just prior to her leaving
Grey Gardens Estate in 1979.
The
windswept shores of Georgica Beach along East Hampton's is
a posh neighborhood in Long Island, New York. It gave birth
to Grey Gardens; a once stately 26-room mansion. It employed
up to 12 servants, and the family name made it to the top
end of the social register. The residents, Edith Bouvier,
first blood cousin to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and her
mother of same namesake occupied the home unsupported financially
except for a $60,000 trust fund left by her estranged father
and prominent lawyer. I surmised that Edith's mothers eccentricity
was the cause, in part, of her father leaving.
As
a result, the once stately mansion became an eyesore; the
neighbors became increasingly unfriendly and hoped that some
day it would be torn down. Edie and her mom did the best they
could under the circumstances, but as the years flew by, the
estate looked more and more like a weather-beaten barn.
Raccoons
soon occupied the attic space and as many as forty cats ruled
the estate, leaving cat litter strewn about the landscape.
Jackie
Onassis Kennedy, who once rode her horses on the estate, sometimes
acknowledged Edith and her mother's existence in small ways
by helping with utility bills etc., but it was rare for her
to visit the estate.
I
became interested in knowing Edith after seeing her on a talk
show -- She also appeared in a documentary appropriately called
Grey Gardens. I felt I had to meet this woman and do an in-depth
photographic study of her. Being a photographer with an interest
in character shots, I felt I had quite an unusual subject
with incredibly interesting personality. I gave her a call,
and with some careful introductions and convincing, I managed
to get invited to her estate, 150 miles from me by commuter
train. Being very reclusive, she was reserved and somewhat
paranoid about our meeting. Upon opening her torn screen entry
door, she stood inside with her hands clasped tightly upon
the door. After my introduction she came outside and we talked
a bit. At this point she would not let me into the estate,
but it did not take long to understand why.
Her
only friends through the years were her animal friends. They
were the only ones she seemed to trust -- they were allowed
free reign in her home. At this time of her life, Edith was
living alone since her mom passed away shortly before my visit.
Her mother was her best friend, a person to converse with
and share thoughts through the years. Living with her mother
presented an opportunity for Edith to have freedom in her
life that she so much wanted through the years. After her
dad divorced her mom, Edith stayed with her aging mother,
whose health was poor. Edith felt an obligation to take care
of her mom despite her dreams of returning to her main interest
in life -- show business. She shared with me many regrets
about her unfound dreams and expectations of her life. This
was a woman who once was courted by J. Paul Getty, and even
Howard Hughes!
Edith
was an intelligent woman with paralegal training, among other
things. She expressed her political views to me and talked
openly about the Kennedy family.
On
at least one of my trips, she refused to see me. This was
typical of Edith. She would go through periods of time when
she wanted no visitors, even if they traveled many miles to
see her, as I did. It was frustrating, but I knew of her reclusive
nature and felt fortunate to be able to talk to her, let alone
photograph her. Later, Edith sent me a letter after seeing
the pictures I took. (Edith's
Letter to Me)
One
time while eating lunch, consisting of a can of chicken spread
and a domestic beer, we talked of her plans to some day sell
Grey Gardens and the possibilities thereafter. She exhibited
a lot of fear and apprehension about such futures. She realized
her loneliness and lack of career direction would force her
to make some decisions in her life.
Edith
was a sweet woman with a sense of humor. I thoroughly enjoyed
my visits and talks with her. She confided with me that upon
her death she would give her financial holdings to an animal
society of her choice. This again was further proof of her
love for her animal friends and her lack of trust for others
in her life.
All
the photographs I took of Edith depicted a sad and lonely
woman. However, the portrait I took of her in the living room
showed a woman of strong character and principal and inner
beauty once apparent, although now hidden by scarves covering
her once beautiful hair.
The
resulting photographs, although appearing rather sequential,
captured a part of Edith I was trying to convey about her
quiet, yet reclusive nature and her lonely existence in Grey
Gardens. These photos reveal something rarely seen in the
well known documentary "GREY GARDENS".
Today,
the once stately mansion with a unique and beautiful Italian
imported marble garden, 26 rooms, gala parties, and dignitaries
that once graced the beautiful estate are long gone. Grey
Gardens was finally sold and the new owners renovated it.
Gone also are her feline friends, and the ever present breeze
from Georgica Beach.
The
neighbors are, of course, happy about the fixing up of the
"eyesore." Of course, they are ignorant of what
Grey Gardens represented to the life and times of this wonderful,
talented lonely woman we called "Little Edie".
These
photographs were taken in 1979, which were the last photos
taken of Edie in her estate.
IN
LASTING AND LOVING MEMORY OF "LITTLE EDIE" DECEASED
JANUARY 2002
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