December 04

Lillian Russell's Birthday

Alice Faye as Lillian Russell and Edward Arnold as Diamond Jim Brady in Lillian Russell (1940)

Lillian Russell was America's first great musical comedy star and remained the toast of Broadway fran 1880 to 1910. Her star quality was reinforced by her image as America's first sex goddess. Her blond hair, voluptuous body, and unique sexual charisma made her the prototype of the American sex goddess, a tradition passed on to Jean Harlow; and Marilyn Monroe.

Like Harlow and Monroe, Lillian Russell was also marked with an extreme insecurity and vulnerability that resulted in a series of tragic marriages. Her second husband, Edward Solomon, conveniently forgot to tell her that he was already married. Her third husband, the soi-disant Italian Giovanni Perugini (who was in reality an American named Jack Chatterton),  was a homosexual tenor who not only never consummated the marriage but attempted to throw her cut of a seventh floor window.

Lillian was a close friend of "Diamond Jim" Brady  who adored her and tried on several occasions to have Lillian accept his marriage proposals, one of which was dramatized by dumping  one million dollars in $1,000.00 bills in her lap. However, Lillian always refused, claiming that marriage would only ruin their friendship. Lillian and her lover Jesse Lewisohn made a constant foursome with Brady and his mistress, Edna McCauley, whom Brady passed off as his "niece".  True to form, I.ewisohn eloped with McCauley leaving the two friends to drown their sorrows in an endless sea of food.

It was the mutual enjoyment of good food that bonded Brady's and Russell's long relationship. They both loved to pig out on what were the roost elaborate meals ever served at their favorite restaurants, Charlie Rector's and Delmonico's . Both restaurateurs created several recipes for their famous clients, including the legendary Mayonnaise of Lobster Russell, an extravagant combination of cold lobster, potatoes, and artichoke hearts. Enjoy it while watching Alice Faye portray Lillian in Lillian Russell (1940).

 

Mayonnaise of Lobster Russell

4&/2 cups diced lobster meat and coral
1/2 cup chipped pimento
2 cups diced cooked artichoke bottoms
1/4 cup minced shallots
2 cups diced cooked potatoes
1/2 cup dry white wine
 

6 TB olive oil
3 TB lemon juice
salt & freshly ground white pepper to taste
1 minced truffle
4 cups mayonnaise
8 lettuce hearts
 

1. Combine lobster meat, artichoke bottoms, potatoes, shallots, and pimentos in a large bowl.
2. Combine wine, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a separate bowl to make a marinade.
3. Toss lobster/artichoke/potatoes mixture in marinade and refrigerate 1 hour. Toss mixture again after 30 minutes.
4. Drain marinade from lobster mixture. Reserve marinade. Stir in mayonnaise and minced truffle. Mound mixture on lettuce hearts that have been dipped in reserved marinade.