The Times We Had : Life with William Randolph Hearst

I came to this book after intensive study of the Movie Citizen Kane that involved not just watching the movie at least three times but reading a considerable amount of ancillary material. As many know the main character in Citizen Kane was patterned, to some degree, after William Randolph Hearst and the castle in the movie, Xanadu, had significant resemblance to the Hearst Castle San Simeon. Many people equate the character of Kane's second wife with the real person Marion Davies and the movie paints a very unflattering picture of that character. After reading "The times we had" it is clear that Marion Davies does not resemble Susan Kane and Xanadu is not San Simeon. What a relief!! The Marion Davies that comes through in her remanences is alive and joyous and San Simeon is a place of gaiety, parties and joy. The book was fun to read. The descriptions are vivid. Davies is a big "name dropper" but it seems as if she had contact with many of the major figures of her era including entertainers, politicians and business people. I couldn't put it down once I started reading it and have even bought several of her movies as a consequence of reading this book.

Marion Davies (b. 1905, d. 1961) initially lived in an enormous house in Brooklyn - burned to the ground soon after she arrived thanks to brother Charlie playing with matches. Marion stuttered and no school wanted her - thus, Marion's mother put her into a convent, but it didn't work out so Marion ended up in ballet school. Then it was work as a model, and then a Ziegfeld girl in 1916. She first met W.R. after he had his car stop to help her after a bicycle accident. Her first feature film was the 1917 'Runaway Romany,' which she wrote herself. At the beginning, Davies was paid $50/film; Hearst gave her a contract for $500/week for a year. Playing mainly light comic roles, she soon became a personality appearing with major male stars. 'Cecilia of the Pink Roses' in 1918 was her first film backed by Hearst. Davies stuttered and feared 'the talkies,' but managed to succeed there as well.When Davies began her attachment to Hearst, she was 16 and he was 58 and had been separated from his wife for about 20 years. One of his early actions was giving her jewelry to not go to a Vanderbilt party for the Prince of Wales - he was afraid she'd fall for the prince.By the mid-1920, her career became overshadowed by her relationship with Hearst, lasting 32 years. During that time lived like a princess. She became a major American film star of the 1920s - helped by Hearst. During her career she made 45 films and became the richest actress of her time. Hearst preferred Marion to be in dramatic roles, she preferred comedy. The affair ended in 1951 with his death - she was 54, and then went on to dabbling in real estate (building her fortune to about $20 million), then wavering between charity work and drinking.Marion Davies became the hostess at Hearst's San Simeon Hearst Castle. There were 60 guest bedrooms and a constant flow of people arriving and departing. Daytime diversions included pools, tennis courts, the beach, a zoo, and cocktail hour with Marion. Meals were served at a monastery table 300 years old, with Marion and W.R. sitting opposite each other at the middle of the long table. Guests there, or at other Hearst properties included Valentino, Crosby, Cooper, Chaplin, Garbo, Coolidge, Lindbergh, Hughes, Gloria Swanson, and Churchill. No salaciousness or exposes - aided by Hearst's dislike of drinking and bad conduct. Cross words (rather mild at that) only written about Dr. Hutchins (President of the University of Chicago - he called her 'stupid' several times for using a word that she didn't know the meaning of) and George Bernard Shaw (also quite ill-mannered). Throughout the book, Davies comments about herself were almost always self-effacing, and usually a bit humorous. The 'bad news' is that the book inadvertently makes clear that Hearst was not good at managing money, and the Hollywood types lived a life full of 'empty' parties.Davies quit doing movies when Hearst was 78.Marion wrote that Hearst was usually a bore, and not a great lover either. However, he gave her the feeling that she was worth something to him. When Hearst was suffering financial problems in the late 1930s, Davies bailed him out by writing a check for $1 million - the origin of the funds is still debated. Later it was estimated that she had a $400,000/year income from real estate, some from her father and grandfather.Eleven weeks after Hearst's death, Davies married Horace Brown in Las Vegas - supposedly because he looked like Hearst. Davies twice filed for divorce, but neither was finalized. She died of stomach cancer in 1961.

The book was difficult to read because the printing was so poor. Not good quality at all. Worst than poor newspaper print. Really do not recommend.

Marion Davies left much of her personal relationship out of this book but it is very interesting. It is apparent that she loved Hearst and protected him in this book, also probably worried about the Hearst family coming after her. Very good read, although she embellishes quite a lot, and when they catch her out and out 'stretching', a 'disclaimer' is offered. Enjoyed the entire story.

This is a light but informative book about Hollywood, wealth, journalism, and the high life in America written by Hearst's mistress. It is engaging and provides insights that more serious books do not offer.

There are not many books I pick up again and again but this is one. I have read it cover to cover twice and I think a third time is near at hand. An inside look at many of the great Hollywood stars of the 20s and 30s, this book will let you know what they were really like when they were with their friends. Some were kind, others shy and awkward, but all are interesting. After this book you will feel that you know them, have eaten dinner with them and shared their triumphs and scandals.

I read this book years ago and because of my ongoing interest in WR Hearst and Marion Davies read it again. Marion made some recordings shortly after her long time (30+years) lover W.R. Hearst died in 1951. She then did nothing with them and died in 1961. Two editors in 1975 took these tapes, edited them and the book appeared in 1975. This book is a time capsule of her years with Hearst and the people she met from Carole Lombard to a young Jack Kennedy.What to know what Charles Limbergh was like personally? G. B. Shaw? What really happened the night Thomas Ince died?Marion has come back to this world and invites you to sit with her while she tells you how it all was...Want to know what Orson Wells thought of the comparison of her and Citizen Kane? It is in his forward...All I can say about this book is WOW.

As a paperback the quality was expected. Shipped quickly. Read once and left for another person to read.

I am someone who is fascinated by the Hearst Castle at San Simeon, the building of it and the social life that went on there. If you are unfamiliar with it a quick search for some images of it will reveal a very large Spanish styled house with opulent interiors. The house is surrounded by the best swimming pool ever, wonderful gardens and guest houses - all of which overlooks the blue pacific on northern California's rugged coast.My interest in the castle leads on to an interest in W R Hearst (known to his employees and associates as "The Chief") and how he came to amass so much money to build it. I am also interested in the people around him while the project was going on - such as architect and designer Julia Morgan. Such a shame that Morgan not only never wrote a memoir, but systematically destroyed all of her papers before she died!As W R Hearst's live-in mistress, Marion Davies was central to WR all through the castle build and to the end of WR's life in 1951. Consequently, this book is interesting for the considerable amount of detail it adds to my knowledge of the Castle and how it was built and used.The book is highly episodic though, transcribed from random recollections and then partly cast into some loosely organised order by someone else (presumably the named editors). It is thus a book for dipping into rather than reading from end to end. Lots of great stuff in here about those days and the people around WR.Movie stars, politicians, media people, statesmen, royalty all visited the castle during those days - they all get a mention in this book - sometimes none too flatteringly! However, I have to say that Marion portrays herself as a not always sympathetic character and even sometimes you feel may be revelling in coming off as a classic bimbo. Nevertheless a thread of integrity comes through it all and I think I would have liked her had I met her - by all accounts almost everyone did.Orson Welles introduction is an interesting thing. As is well known, it was widely assumed that he based Charles Foster Kane (Citizen Kane in the movie) on W R Hearst, though he denied it to his dying day and expresses regret that people saw Kane's lover Susan Alexander as a literal portrayal of Marion. Welles himself never visited San Simeon, though the other two people who had a hand in the Kane screenplay, John Houseman and Herman Mankiewicz, certainly did, the latter at least was a guest there many times. I think that the main content of this book should underline to the kane-familar reader that Susan was - in most ways - a different beast to Marion.If you have an interest in this era and these people's stories, or in the Hearst Castle itself, this book contains a lot that may delight you.

After reading some of the previous reviews left by other readers, I must admit I was expecting more of a love story. Personally, I found it read more like a "Who's Who", so slightly disappointing for me. There were some brilliant photographs though and it was written in an easy manner.

excellent book about a forgotten star of the silent and early sound picture business. I could not put this book down, what a personality. The girlfriend of the most powerful press baron in America and a very important movie star. What a fascinating life.

Excellent book. Great photos.

Very good book if you are interested in old Hollywood film stars and how they lived. I would recommend it.