Talk:Tallulah Bankhead

Text lifted from website
An alarming amount of text in this article has been lifted from another website. http://home.hiwaay.net/~oliver/tbbiography4.htm The website, as of today, was cited in footnote 11, but only for quotes. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Star-lists (talk • contribs) 19:09, 16 February 2010 (UTC)

quote
My favorite quote of hers: "Noboby can be exactly like me. Even I have trouble doing it!" sb0474@yahoo.com


 * we've got to put her cocaine quote in!

I totally agree with the above. In fact i've been bold and put it in. Please do not delete it and rather rework it elswhere if you don't like my style. Thanks. SRL. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.1.250.8 (talk) 19:48, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

Well that was quick. If we can't put that cocaine quote in perhaps you could say why? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.1.250.8 (talk) 19:57, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

I believe my edit was construtive. SRL 82.1.250.8 (talk) 20:03, 1 June 2008 (UTC)


 * Constructive or not, it was unsourced, not to mention out of context. Pleas don't add material unless you can find (and include) a reference to back it up. Also, even if she did make that quote, so what? What's the context? What do we learn about her from the quote? In other words, not only should you find a source, but you should also find a place in the article where you can insert the quote, so that it smoothly illustrates some aspect of her life. Very few quotes are notable enough to stand on their own, as an inherently significant feature of the person's life. If you can find a source but not a good place to put the quote, then try Wikiquote instead. Cosmic Latte (talk) 23:49, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

As is clearly noted by someone else above she is known for her witty quotations so the solution should have been to expand the section not delete it. As for the quote not deserving to be there...well don't worry, i'm not going to bother putting it up again...I will simply suggest that you are joyless SRL82.1.250.8 (talk) 18:19, 3 June 2008 (UTC)

i think her quote "Cocaine isn't habit forming. I should know, I've been using it for years." quite clearly and seemlessly blends into the overall article. It illustrates her hedonistic lifestyle, and her cleverness. The opening line of the article describes her as a bon vivant. It is also a some-what famous line, and she should be credited for it. I think it is quite in context, and once I find a reliable source, I'm inserting it. And if someone deletes it, I'd like to have a better reason than the one given by Cosmic Latte. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.166.229.70 (talk) 06:47, 5 August 2008 (UTC)

Gay Icon Project
In my effort to merge the now-deleted list from the article Gay icon to the Gay icons category, I have added this page to the category. I engaged in this effort as a "human script", adding everyone from the list to the category, bypassing the fact-checking stage. That is what I am relying on you to do. Please check the article Gay icon and make a judgment as to whether this person or group fits the category. By distributing this task from the regular editors of one article to the regular editors of several articles, I believe that the task of fact-checking this information can be expedited. Thank you very much. Philwelch 20:05, 24 Mar 2005 (UTC)
 * Woah, this section is old. Anyway, she's definitely a gay icon. And a theatreophile icon. Worth a mention in "legacy". Sadly her gay iconhood was detrimental to her success in her later days - it unfortunately turned her early performances of A Streetcar Named Desire into camp. Helen Hayes never had that dilemma. I'm just concerned that she's a gay icon for her personality rather than her acting, which is dreadfully overlooked.--Monochrome  _ Monitor  02:11, 12 October 2015 (UTC)

Thomas Brockman
Tallulah was the great-granddaughter of James Henry Brockman (1822-1844), who was the father of Tallulah James Brockman (Bankhead). James Henry Brockman was the son of Thomas P. Brockman, a SC -- not US -- politician. It seems a fairly obscure detail to include in this article (I could fill up the article with her genealogy, but I don't think it is relevant).
 * Now that I take a closer look at this I think you may have some of the genealogy incorrect, but I think we should debate that offline. It *may* have a bit more relevance to the article.  I've read that she was particularly close to her grandmother and her godsons ended up being named Brockman and Brock, I believe, but I'll look for a citation for that.  Sandwich Eater 20:20, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

Early career
A couple of sites related to Somerville, Massachusetts claim that Bankhead started her acting career at the Somerville Theatre before moving to New York: Somerville Theatre Online,, Lost Theatres of Somerville This doesn't quite fit with the implication in our article that she started out in New York. I'm not sure what to make of this. FreplySpang (talk) 16:57, 30 March 2006 (UTC)

Bankhead proves that a woman can walk on the wild side
Bankhead is a Camille Paglia wet dream, the wildest woman I've ever heard of. Roll over, Madonna and Janis Joplin!

Would someone add, if true, a bit about Bankhead being in the front row when Joe Louis knocked out Max Schmeling in 1938, and her urging Louis on by yelling very choice Anglo-Saxon sexual metaphors at the top of her lungs?

About 20 years ago, I read a long interview with fellow Lifeboat cast member Hume Cronyn, who mentioned how Bankhead did not wear knickers during the entire production of the film, even though her part required her to lift her skirt quite a few times.

"Bankhead did not wear knickers during the entire production of the film (LIFEBOAT)", including all the times she was stretching to climb in and out of the boat. Yes. Director Hitchcock commented that the film's hairdresser should have received more recognition. Younggoldchip (talk) 12:16, 16 October 2018 (UTC)


 * Okay anonymous contributor, here's my response:

This isn't a page for hilarious apocryphal Bankhead anecdotes. She's hilarious, but she was also a phenomenal actress, which gets lost on most people who just see her as a personality. It's quite sad. In that vein this article needs work on balancing the anecdotes with actual substance. I added a lot to the lead and end, but it needs more in the middle. Her London career (where she attracted quite a cult following and was the most popular stage actress of the West End) is barely touched except for one anecdote about a turkey she was in. Regina and Sabina are not given their full due as among the most brilliant theatrical roles originated on the American stage, worthy of taking a time machine and creating the Tony award before 1947. Besides her career it's worth mentioning her assorted pets, hobbies, charity work, political activism, etc. She was huge in popular culture for a reason - her terrific acting - but unfortunately she is most remembered for her outrageous antics. --Monochrome _ Monitor  02:07, 11 October 2015 (UTC)
 * For my own memory, it's also worth mentioning among other things that Truman called her autobiography his favorite book, that she was the first white women to appear on ebony magazine, and one of the very few actresses to appear on TIME magazine, and the only broadway actress to appear on LIFE. She broke quite a few other barriers as well, like the controversy over when she kissed the black child who got the 60,000 dollar question correct. Also, it's worth mentioning in her legacy her huge part in bringing flapper culture to London in the 20s and her gay iconhood in the 50s. --Monochrome _ Monitor  02:47, 11 October 2015 (UTC)

Arrest in Marblehead, MA
"When high-flying actress Tallulah Bankhead was arrested on a drunk and disorderly charge in Marblehead, officers didn't have a jail cell for women. Instead, they incarcerated her in the women's bathroom, posting an armed guard outside the door for the night, recounts Lt. Dave Millet, who runs the Marblehead Police Museum. " Salem News, September 8, 2007

http://www.salemnews.com/punews/local_story_251120035?page=0 —Preceding unsigned comment added by Leonmartens (talk • contribs) 14:47, 10 September 2007 (UTC)

Algonquin Round Table proposal at WikiProject Council/Proposals, please vote!

 * Description : The focus of the project would be articles relating to the Algonquin Round Table, including its members and their literary works.


 * Interested Wikipedians (please add your name)
 * 1) Otto4711 17:42, 7 September 2007 (UTC)
 * 2) Chris 06:09, 8 September 2007 (UTC)

Wow, a project of depth, thought and lasting impact! Most cool, I'm in! Chris 06:09, 8 September 2007 (UTC)
 * Comments

bonne vivante
What the hell is a bonne vivante? -66.97.144.2 (talk) 19:02, 9 January 2008 (UTC)
 * a adopted French phrase for "a woman who lives the good life"--WPaulB (talk) 14:20, 20 January 2008 (UTC)

Lesbianism
Actress Patsy Kelly made a claim to author Boze Hadleigh, which he included in his 1996 book about lesbianism in Hollywood's early years, that she had a long lesbian affair with Bankhead. enjoyed .[4][8] Why is the word enjoyed present as an entire sentence with two footnotes?--WPaulB (talk) 14:20, 20 January 2008 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:Lifeboat2.jpg
Image:Lifeboat2.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to ensure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot (talk) 23:03, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

The "Young Man's" Identity
'Once, at a party, one of her friends brought along a young man who boldly told Bankhead that he wanted to make love to her that night. She didn't bat an eye and said, "And so you shall, you wonderful old-fashioned boy."'

According to a recent radio interview by Bob Costas with Dick Cavett the "young man " in question was Harpo Marx and he didn't say "make love"

Basesurge (talk) 08:01, 26 March 2008 (UTC)


 * On Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast, Cavett's made two appearances and the story about the "Young Man" came up. Cavett says it was *Chico*, not Harpo. Chico, pronounced chick-o, acquired the nickname because he was a ladies man. And yes, Chico said "I'd like to fuck you". — Preceding unsigned comment added by 73.193.199.6 (talk) 05:31, 20 December 2016

Kylie Minogue Said She Would Turn Gay For Tallulah Bankhead
In an interview that was conducted by Australian talk show host Rove Mcmanus, Australian actress and singer Kylie Minogue said she would turn gay for Tallulah Bankhead. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 137.166.4.130 (talk) 05:06, 17 November 2008 (UTC)

Place of burial
Bankhead is buried in a beautiful, peaceful churchyard in the Maryland countryside, but we can't say that because my in-person visit to her grave would be considered "original research." I can also confirm that her sister is buried next to her. RogerInPDX (talk) 02:12, 30 August 2011 (UTC)

She is buried in Jasper, Alabama. She has a huge monument over her grave. I don't know who is buried in Maryland but it is not Bankhead. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.18.67.201 (talk) 03:13, 25 March 2012 (UTC)

The subject of this article is buried in Saint Paul's Kent Churchyard near Chestertown, Maryland, according to Findagrave.com. Jasper, Alabama, is the location of a different Tallulah, albeit apparently a relation: Tallulah James Brockman Bankhead (1844-1922).

Dewey quote
In the section Hollywood and politics, the last sentence claimed that Bankhead uttered the famous line about Tom Dewey looking like the groom on a wedding cake, then says Alice Longworth is credited with the remark. There is no citation for this. The Wikipedia article on Longworth does not offer a citation either. Thus, the claim on both sites should be considered for removal until a trustworthy citation is given. Princetoniac (talk) 18:34, 24 April 2012 (UTC)


 * Alice Longworth is quoted (by the Sarasota Journal) as denying that she said it first. See . Peter Loader (talk) 19:51, 24 April 2012 (UTC)

I appreciate the quick answer on Alice Longworth - good work on that - yet the claim for Bankhead is still uncredited and should be considered for removal. It would not diminish the article itself.Princetoniac (talk) 16:36, 3 May 2012 (UTC)

Augustus John painting?
The painting by Augustus John, shown in the article, does anyone have any idea where this is now? --RThompson82 (talk) 05:58, 16 May 2012 (UTC)

Disjointed snippets
As is so often the case in articles of this type, much of this article reads like a collection of disjointed snippets, many of them apocryphal, mashed together with no thematic progression at all. They're practically in random order, and smack of gossip. Can anybody make some encyclopedic sense of this? --Piledhigheranddeeper (talk) 17:33, 29 June 2012 (UTC)

Encyclopedia of Alabama entry
Some interesting additional material here, plus material that could be used to round out the existing text.

http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-1432

I'll have to leave this to someone else - I haven't the expertise or the time. How petulant does that sound? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.149.101.117 (talk) 11:40, 4 April 2015 (UTC)

Bankhead Possibly Sexually Abused As Child
Tallulah Bankhead once made the statement, in conversation, that she had been raped when she was eleven. She said she could still remember and feel the gravel driveway where it happened. Although there was no supporting witness, and no friend in whom she confided at the time, any good biographical account of her life would include this claim. Younggoldchip (talk) 16:28, 23 April 2018 (UTC)

Sardi story
It's said that she was enjoying an evening at Sardi's, the after-theatre hangout on West 44th Street, and had to go to the restroom. Sitting there, she discovered there was no toilet paper, so she called to a lady outside the stall if she could give her "2 fives for a 10". JohnClarknew (talk) 22:44, 19 August 2018 (UTC)

Eton College controversy
The Eton College controversies article has a section about Tallulah Bankhead: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eton_College_controversies#Tallulah_Bankhead That information should be incorporated into this article. Tweisbach (talk) 08:02, 12 November 2020 (UTC)

NY Giants Baseball Fan???
In the first sentence of the second paragraph under the section titled "Personal Life" it says "Bankhead was an avid baseball fan whose favorite team was the New York Giants." Is this someone's idea of sarcasm, a joke of some sort or simply the editor has no idea that the NY Giants is a football team and not a baseball team? So is she a baseball fan and the editor got the name of the team wrong or was she a football fan and the editor got the name of the sport wrong? Could someone who knows fix this?

Seriously? Ever heard of Google? The New York Giants baseball team played 75 seasons in New York before the franchise moved to San Francisco after the 1957 season. There's even a Wikipedia artricle about the club. I have no information as to whether Tallulah remained a fan of the team after they left New York, or for that matter whether she was ever a fan of the Giants or any other baseball team. — Preceding unsigned comment added by MrArtC (talk • contribs) 03:02, 27 December 2021 (UTC)

Nothing about the legendary meeting and sexual liaison with Chico Marx
Under the "sexual exploits" section, why is there no mention of the the famous story? There can be only one...TheKurgan (talk) 13:49, 26 June 2023 (UTC)