Since 2012, the Santa Monica Conservancy of Santa Monica, CA, has thrown a large Marion Davies birthday party. It is held at the Annenberg Community Beach House, affectionately known as “the Beach House,” of which the Conservancy is the proud steward. The celebration is an opportunity for people to gather and pay tribute not only to Marion Davies, but the era in which she lived. Every year, I fly to Los Angeles to be a part of it.
The site is the former sprawling estate where Marion Davies and William Randolph Hearst lived and frequently hosted parties from 1927 to 1946. After it was sold to entrepreneur Joseph Drown, the Beach House became an upscale hotel and then the Sand and Sea Club, with the main house demolished in 1957 to make room for a parking lot. The Northridge earthquake rendered most of the rest of the structure uninhabitable. The only piece that remained was a relatively small adjoining house at the north end of the property. Ultimately, philanthropist Wallis Annenberg stepped in, remembering her childhood at the Sand and Sea Club, and donated the funds to have it restored to a community center for the residents of Santa Monica. It now operates as a lively, bustling hub of activity, where people of all ages can swim, attend classes, and play on the beach. The original pool, with its gold-flecked Art Deco design, remains a valued and respected part of what is now known as the Annenberg Community Beach House. The adjoining house at the north end of the property is now known as the Marion Davies Guest House, functioning as a small, makeshift Marion Davies museum.
On the last weekend of January, the docents of the Santa Monica Conservancy dress in 1920s attire and welcome guests for an afternoon of dance, music, birthday cupcakes, and a toast, celebrating the Beach House’s original owner. It is a wonderful way to engage the residents of Santa Monica and beyond, turning them on to the myriad offerings at this beautiful community center. Though Marion’s birthday is January 3, the Beach House is so popular as a wedding, reception, and business meeting event center, that it is usually booked on Marion’s actual birthday weekend. Thus, the last weekend in January has become a tradition.
In past years, before my book came out, I used to give a talk upstairs in the Guest House, answering questions about my research and the process of writing about Marion Davies. It was something I looked forward to every year. After a hiatus during the pandemic, Happy Birthday, Marion! returned, but it has been slow to recover to its pre-pandemic slate of activities. This year, it was a primarily outdoor event, with the Guest House open to visitors who wished to see it.
I sold books by the entrance, and was immediately reminded of why I love this event. Throngs of interested people came up to me with their questions about Marion Davies and the book, asking why I chose her and what I thought about various historical events related to Marion Davies. Los Angeles residents tend to be sophisticated in their knowledge of this subject, so I had many high-level discussions with attendees about intricate aspects of Marion’s life and work. People were so interested that I sold out of books!
As always, I flew into LAX for the occasion yesterday morning. But as successful as the event was, it was tinged with sadness. I normally stay with my good friend Cari Beauchamp, one of the great film scholars and a real mentor to me. Cari died in December, and this was my first trip to LA since her passing. In the early years of my research, she would come with me to the Beach House celebration, listen to my talks and help me hone my speaking skills, which have since become natural. She was pragmatic to the core, and would have been delighted that we sold out of books yesterday.
I expected to be emotional, but the reality was something more than raw emotion. I thought of her constantly yesterday, as though the air were filled with her presence. I realize now that LA will never be the same for me–Cari will always be there in spirit, but not in body. It was a hard thing to feel yesterday, for the first time, but I suspect it will become easier with time.
Here’s to another meaningful celebration, stellar book sales, and memories of friends who will always be with you.
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