Revolutionary, Mother Darling

There is hardly a more interesting character that that of Edith “Little Edie” Beale. She lived for years as a semi-recluse with her mother in their decaying family estate in the Hamptons on Long Island. She was also the first cousin of Jackie O and Princess Lee Radizwill. Edie came to fame later in life after the Maysles' documentary film “Grey Gardens” about her and her mother “Big Edie” lives and their 28 room mansion Grey Gardens.

"I'm really a dancer, you know. When I was young, I stopped many a dance in New York City. I really stopped the whole room! I just adored to dance. I think I stopped a dance at Princeton once, too."  Edie was an original and reveled in her originality. Her sense of style has influenced fashion designers, drag queens and fashionistas. After the death of her mother Edie moved back to Manhattan and attempted to restart her singing career with a night club act.

The Beales came from what passes an aristocracy in the USA. The family travelled in the high society of New York in the early part of the 20^th century. Big Edie was a Bouvier. Her brother was the father of Jackie Kennedy. Little Edie’s father was a society lawyer. Edie had two younger brothers both lived lives in society one not far from the decaying Grey Gardens. Both Big and Little Edie had debutante balls and lived in a rarified stratum of society until Phelan Beale, Big Edie’s husband, divorced Big Edie in the 1940’s. He moved to his lodge and eventually got a “Mexican divorce” giving the house to Big Edie and meager child support but no alimony. Big Edie lived on in the house and in a rather shocking and bohemian lifestyle in the eyes of her long Island neighbors. “You can get arrested for wearing red shoes on a Thursday in East Hampton” claimed Little Edie. Big Edie had always wanted to be a singer and after her divorce she attempted a career. Not fitting into what was considered society she made her own way. "The family never cared for me and they hated my mother. She was a dancer and a singer with a terrific voice she'd inherited from her mother and the relatives hated her because she was magnificent.” said Little Edie about her mother.

Even though she lived in isolation Edie did know what was going on around her in the world. “I think [America] is a fabulous country and I’m crazy about Bill Clinton” Edie once said and she thought television was “great for national emergencies”. When asked if she thought her cousin Jackie married for money Edie relied, “Of course, wouldn’t anyone.”

It was Edie’s isolation that helped define her style. There was no money for shopping so she made her own clothing. Her hair loss was the reason for her signature head wraps. Edie was an individual. There will never be another Edie Beale. The Maysles’ film lead to an HBO film and eventually a Broadway musical. She will live in on.