René Silvin: Marjorie Merriweather Post

An American Empress, Marjorie Merriweather Post was an American businesswoman, socialite, and philanthropist. A matriarch of Palm Beach history, Marjorie built the famous Mar-a-Lago and is renowned for her immeasurable contributions to the area. Mrs. Post had two daughters with her first husband, Edward Bennett Close, whom she divorced after 14 years to marry the “love-of-her-life,” E.F. Hutton, the creator of retail stock brokerage. Their only daughter, Dina Merrill, grew up to be a glamorous Hollywood star.

She was the daughter of C. W. Post and the owner of General Foods Corporation. Marjorie successfully overcame the societal barriers of a woman running a large American company. Marjorie had a passion for art, lavish living and enormous charitable contributions. She never abandoned her father’s philosophies, including a healthy lifestyle in search of art and beauty, and “giving back” to less fortunate people.

Using numerous classic pictures and videos, Silvin will bring to life her extravagant entertainment style and explore why her biographer Nancy Rubin accurately referred to her as “a symbol of a fabulous era.”