Grey Gardens
Grey Gardens is a 1975 documentary film by Albert and David Maysles, with Susan Froemke, Ellen Hovde, and Muffie Meyer. The film depicts the everyday lives of the two Edith Beales, a reclusive socialite mother and daughter of the same name who lived at Grey Gardens, a decrepit mansion at 3 West End Road in the wealthy Georgica Pond neighborhood of East Hampton, New York. The film was screened at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival, but was not entered into the main competition.
Edith “Big Edie” Ewing Bouvier Beale and her daughter Edith “Little Edie” Bouvier Beale were the aunt and first cousin of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. The two women lived together at Grey Gardens for decades with limited funds, resulting in squalor and almost total isolation.
In the fall of 1971 and throughout 1972, their living conditions—their house was infested by fleas, inhabited by numerous cats and raccoons, deprived of running water, and filled with garbage and decay—were exposed as the result of an article in the National Enquirer and a cover story in New York Magazine after a series of inspections (which the Beales called “raids”) by the Suffolk County Health Department. With the Beale women facing eviction and the razing of their home, in the summer of 1972 Jacqueline Onassis and her sister Lee Radziwill provided the necessary funds to stabilize and repair the dilapidated house so that it would meet Village codes.
Albert and David Maysles became interested in their story and received permission to film a documentary about the women, which was released in 1976 to wide critical acclaim. Their cinema vérité technique left the women to tell their own stories. (source:wiki)
Jerry Torre appears in the documentary as the young gardner/helper, as well as their close friend. Jerry worked for Gerald Geddes who owned the mansion next to Grey Gardens. After riding his bicycle past the dilapidated house many times he finally decided to ride up the driveway one day and knock on the door,, “Little Edie” met him at the door and upon first seeing him said “Hey, it’s The Marble Faun”, remembering the book by the same name by Nathaniel Hawthorne. He offered his services as a gardener and was welcomed into their world.
~~Once a model in an Art School~~
Hi, Jerry,
I’m a major fan of the Beales and of Grey Gardens. I’ve seen the original documentary as well as the movie and the Broadway play (which I also loved).
The scene of you eating the corn prepared by Big Edie is wonderful. She was so sweet as she said that you always complemented her on her corn.
What a wonderful experience you had with these two wonderful women. They remind us of another era, a much gentler time. They appeared almost out of place in the world in which they seemed to live so
marginally.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful memories,
Sincerely,
Pat
Hello Jerry, I saw Grey Gardens for the 1st time this week on an old tape. It’s great that you made a contribution to this documentary. Both women were extraordinary, I had no idea that Little Edie was in her mid-50s. It seemed that they both had a big icecream intake! They seemed kind of stuck there. There’s a lot of warmth in the film. Not everybody has a life out of ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST, the conditions and the hardship would resonate with more viewers than many imagine, they or someone they know.
Regards, Andrew, Australia
Only recently have I seen the documentary on Grey Gardens, and am hooked. How I wish I could have known these ladies and spent time with them as you did, Jerry. Mrs. Beale seemed very intelligent, as well as talented. It must have been great fun to hear her reminisces (sp?). Sweet Edie appeared to be innocent, almost childlike. How could you not adore her? Are you aware of any book/books about these two extraordinary women?
My best to you.
Amalia
Hi Jerry, I just found the documentary about big Edie and little Edie. Before this, I had never heard of them. First, they did (BOTH) have schitzophrenia, mother and daughter …absolutely. I know a person who reminds me of them in town. They were most definately mentally ill. However, they were the most fascinating personalities. Their world of madness draws you in…how could it not? Makes you want to know more and more. I feel so much sympathy for them and feel especially sad for Little Edie. Why were they not rewarded by the Maysles?? …this is very upsetting and wrong. Thank you.
Heidi Barclay
Manchester by the sea, MA
I’ll never understand peoples need to steadfastly classify these women as schitzoprenic and mentally ill. What’s the point? Don’t they think someone’s feelings may be hurt in making statements like that? Everyone is welcome to their own opinions and that’s fine. Jerry loved these women like mother and sister and it’s simply not appropriate or respectful to come out with statements like that. I hope future commenters will take this into consideration.
Dear S, Greetings this first week of our new year Heidi,
You see these staements concerning the mental state of my dear friends, was a topic, we three at the mansion discussed. It was not offensive, to Mrs.Beale nor Edie , of course I still to this day read of this thought.
Mrs.Beale was a true Bouvier,ait was a state of mind,a choice to endure , to live her life based on her own personal convictions.
Life was tough at Grey Gardens. The money to keep such an estste simple was not there.
My heart feel hopelessly in love with Mrs.Beale & Edie for they were
so very gentle. We would laugh about the comments made, because we three were actually very happy within the mansion.
It was so magical , oh yes untidy, and one of a kind. I never questioned Mrs.Beale about the conditions within the mansion, you see Mrs.Beale was guite comfortable,it was my duty to protect them from everything thaat was unsafe within the mansion.
I miss Mrs.Beale a great deal, I miss Edie so much. My only dream is now at 57 years of age,considering what I know now, how much more help I could have given.
God Bless there lives , and the gift of frienship shown to me.
Jerry There Marble Faun
hello jerry!
greetings from the sultanate of oman!
i am deeply fascinated with grey gardens!
the lives of the beales moved me, every moment, every scene of the documentary is just utterly beautiful.
the hbo film was shown only this year here in oman and upon seeing it for the first time, i immediately did my research and watched the maysles film, which truly mesmerized me.
you, i believe, an angel in disguise, who deeply cared for the beales…
may god bless you more jerry….
I’m in love with these two ladies. They are more alive and free than their society neighbors and that is the whole thing. They know how to have fun. I’ve watched it now over and over, can’t get enough. It was just on some movie channel one morning as I drank my coffee, and I couldn’t stop watching it. Taped it, then went out and got the 2nd one, The Beales of GG from a local library. I must say that I am mesmorized by the whole thing. I can relate to Edie and Edith, maybe all us non-conformist can. I don’t think they were crazy at all, just human and very interesting personalities. Authentic people, full of life! Now I have to read the book, The Marble Faun, because Edie is so well read and she’s like a mentor to me. Did Edie have a crush on you during the filming? Or the Maysles? Or was her charm just spread out to anyone within her space?
Hello Jerry, I just watched Grey Gardens again today. I watched it several times years ago when it first came out. I think at this age I appreciated it so much more and of course I want to know more. Somehow the movie with Drew and Jessica slipped by me but I will be finding it this weekend. I too will be looking forward to your book. Somehow, I didn’t catch or didn’t remember thart they were related to Jackie Onassis. You are a lucky guy indeed to have known these wonderfully eccentric ladies.
Jerry
I just watched the HBO movie as well as the original documentary. I must say I am intrigued by these two women. I watched fascinated because I too wondered if they was mental illness. There were times when I questioned how, or why no sane person would endure that? Then, I’d see traces of “normalcy” and familiar characteristics in any healthy mother daughter relationship. I know you’ve already addressed the mental health issue. So we can forego that. My question is how did you spend time there with all the animals, disorder, and filthy conditions? Didn’t the home smell? Did you ever make mention to them directly the condition of their home. Did you ever offer help or talk to the other children/and or relatives of the Beales about what you saw/experienced? Even their clothing was disheveled and incorrectly worn for goodness sake. I know you cared for them both. However, it would be very difficult to watch someone I cared about deteriorate in such a way without an intervention.
Hi Jerry, and what a handsome fellow you are. How can one not absolutely fall in love with Edith Bouvier Beale? My sense, and it breaks my heart to read that she was considered mentally ill,is that she was only disappointed in her own life and severely misunderstood. What I took away from “Grey Gardens” is that it is perfectly ok to be yourself.
It is your prerogative to be yourself, however you can’t possibly say that their situation was simply the result of disappointment or self expression. I’m sure you’ve had disappointment in your life as have I, and there aren’t mountains of garbage, cat feces, and raccoons roaming freely in your living room. Mrs. Beale was a socialite, and from the looks of older photos of her home she had an affinity for the nicer things in life. The later years and drastic transformation of the home was not an expression of herself, but complete disregard of self. It is clear by her repetitive recount of the events of the past, extreme fear of lonliness, that something other than a simple misunderstand is evident. With no disrespect intended, I won’t even go there with Edie.
Jerry,
Hi again. One more thing. I haven,t seen the GG movie yet. However, I noticed in the you tube trailers that Jackie Kennedy cam e to visit. Do you recall such a visit from her ? Also, I wanted to say how utterly shocked and disappointed in Jackie Kennedy-Onassis and her sister Lee that they even allowed that to happen. I mean this was there FATHER,s sister for goodness sake. The only sane conclusion I can come to is maybe Jackie and Lee didn.t have any money either. According to Little Edie, She suspected Aristotle Onassis paid for everything.
Hi Jerry,
People have made comments that Mrs. Beale was over bearing and jealous of Edie. The sense of little Edie for me is that she definitely had a slight case of some sort of mental illness.I suspect this was something she always had. Her Mother obviously recognized this. I am certain this is why she brought Little Edie back to Grey Gardens. I don,t think she brought her there with the intention of Little Edie taking care of her. I think she was actually taking care of and watching over Little Edie. I do not beleive Little Edie was schizophrenic. I do think she was mildly retarded.It seemed her thought process was that of a 16-19 year old. I suspect she had always been this way. Sorry about the long analogy. The question for you is; Did you get a sense of Little Edie being mental? I think the Mother was normal.
Hi Frank,I was too caring to ever conclude that Edie or Mrs.Beale were mentally ill. I do believe that after years of isolation , finacial ruin,these dear women had grown into there own,say Individuality.
My thoughts are that due to the stress indured,the hardships especially during the winter,that when when finally someone had shown some interest, in there lives, such as Al Maysles, well it was’ ‘showtime”.
My heart will always ache for there devotion for each other, under the exteme circumstances in which they had to endure.
Mr. Onnassis spoke with Mrs.Beale often, and had lenghty conversations. It was during this time that work on the mansion seemed to be addressed.
”May God grant them rest “
Jerry,
Thank You for your honest reply. I am glad that people like you and Lois and the Maysels took time to notice these ladies and validate their existence. I must conclude that Jackie only helped them because it got in the press. Other-wise, she would have helped them years ago before they got to this point. Lastly, I realize the people in the HBO interviews are Grandchildren of the guilty relatives who did NOTHING to help. However, I don,t think any o decendants deserve any royalties from the movie or play. I hope Al Maysel gets it all and donates every dime to the Arts or a homeless shelter in both Edie’s names. Just sayin..Thanks again for validating these wonderfully forgooten-over looked souls.
Jerry,
My wife and I are artists. Today as I looked through a stack of old books in our studio I came across a copy of the Marble Faun. It brought back the scene where L. Edie is talking about you in the documentary. The DVD has become one of our favorite films and we often discuss the unique mother/daughter relationship—its amazing, amid the decay, to see them break into song and dance.
Jerry, if I send you the old copy of the Marble Faun with return postage would you sign it as a present to my daughter. It would be a very special momento for her.
I hope its not too much to impose on you.
PS I think your stone works are great.
David
Greetings my friend David ,
It would be my pleasure to sign this book for you.I have a copy , I have a tough time understanding the work, but at times certain passages fill my heart with amazement.
Yes my friend ,feel free to send this book so I can sign it for you,you do have my address?
All the years thaat have passed and my heart and my soul are still refreshed by the magic of Grey Gardens.
Iam honored to be of assitance to you,
yours
Jerry
It is very neat that you knew them personally and are in the documentary so that part of your life is forever on film. Even when you were young, obviously you had to tread lightly around them only because I think they both had crossed over into mental illness at this point in their lives. And I don’t mean to be rude or mean at all. I think clearly both of them, although very charming and cultured, lived in a dream world that could become dangerous. They were originals for sure. I think it was good for them to have you there one in a while just to socialize with someone from reality because they could have become much worse since they only had each other to bounce off of and often fought or didn’t remotely live in any reality.
Hi Jerry!
My friend wrote to you and I decided I wanted to as well. My friend, Elaine is the one who told me all about Grey Gardens and ever sense then I have been so intrigued by it. I listen to the soundtrack every day. My friend Elaine and I act out and sing Grey Gardens all the time and I am soon going to watch the documentary! Thank you for reading this and have a nice night!
~Elizabeth
~Elizabeth~
Dear friend, It has never left my life, I have lived with the memory of Grey Gardens , so unique as our lives are to each one of us.
I would like to thank you for taking the time to watch, the documentry.
Mrs.Beale & Edie were such good sports , and so very happy with the film.
Please allow me to extend my warmest regards to you , your family & friends!
yours
Jerry
The Marble Faun
Hi Jerry! Thanks so much for writing me back! I’m so excited! I think I’m going to watch The documentary again, or just sing “Jerry Likes My Corn” all night! This made my night! Thank you so so much! You are Faun-tastic!
~Elaine
Hi Jerry!
I was listening to “Jerry Likes my Corn” this morning, and I asked myself: “I wonder what ever happened to Jerry?” It must have been so amazing to spend time with Big Edie and Little Edie! They are truly inspiring, and certainly STAUNCH Women! If I could ask: What was your favorite memory while at Grey Gardens? Thanks so much for reading this!
It’s so exciting to connect with someone who was a part of Gery Gardens! I’m Elaine and I’m fifteen, and the story of Grey Gardens captivated me; I really enjoy the Broadway Musical, and I just love to sing the songs! I really hope there is a revival on Broadway so that I can play Little Edie!
A fan of the Marble Faun,
-Elaine
Good Sunday Afternoon -Elaine
It was an adventure each day in the mansion, you see most of the mansion had been closed up,yet the personalities of Mrs.Beale & of Edie were so alive. .
In the library was Goulds Piano, it had been standing there for some time.
I went over to the keyboard , lifted the cover, hit a few of the keys.
Yes some of the keys sounded so I kept on playing around with the working keys.
It was then , that Mrs.Beale who loved singing left the confines of the center bedroom. That is the bedroom which you see most of the documentry filmed in,outside this room was a wooden chair.
Once I began striking the keys on the piano Mrs.Beale hurried over to this seat , it is the same seat you see Mrs.Beale seated upon in the opening scene of the 1 st film.
That piano had been silent , probably since Gould had played it in the library years before. The mansion was filled with true Bouvier spirit that afternoon, we three had the best time ., Mrs.Beale sang that entire afternoon.
I have been as fascinated with Grey Gardens since.
”Come on in we`re not ready”
your friend
Jerry
The Marble Faun
~Mike~
Please allow me to welcome you,to this site, it has been lifetime of memories,I need to share them.
At that time in my life I was exactly as you are in yours.My initial fascination remained with me , yet my concern was for the saftey of Mrs.Beale & Edie.
I knew within days of our meeting each other that it was very rare an event, that a stranger even walk into the mansion.
It was Mrs.Beale who upon the very first day, took our friendship ,
and made me feel loved.
A very wise and considerate human being,I was blessed to find such friendship at that most difficult time in my life.
Please stay near , God Bless you Mike,
please send my warmest regards to your mother,,ok,,
friends forever
jerry
Hi Jerry~
Believe it or not I just discovered all that was & is Grey Gardens this past week while visiting some old & new friends! I was enthralled by the documentary & the Film! I am a 39 year-old NC native who has always always wanted to leave in the North East & I love the Hamptons! I came home from my trip to PA & immediately went out & bought the 2009 film! I watched the Documentary as well just prior to seeing the film. It is obvious that you so had a connection to both ladies & my question to you would be……… were they ever calm & nurturing? I would like to think so. Granted, I regardless love all that I saw in the documentary. I love ALL things 1970s & cats so……… this story captivated me at once. I am so happy that I found your actual page & I hope I do not bother you. I am just so completely ‘taken’ by those 2 legendary ladies & you had a big part in that documentary. They so embraced you.
Hello James
Please allow me to welcome you to my life.It has been 35 years or better, Ive only recently begun to see that others ,,many,,find what I had found overwhelming .
I was so young then my life has been rather colorful, in part to the cataylist of knowing , Mrs.Beale & Edie.
You know as I sit here the early spring evening I will travel with so many into my magically past.
I simply could not imagine my life without Grey Gardens ,it has become claer to me that only recently the reasons our friendship flourished.
The reason was because I never did judge a thing about the mansion.
Boundries I set immediately uopn meeting my new friends , you see I knew it was so completely rare a chance relationship, that I who came from the complete opposite side of society would be taken under the wing of an aristocrat.
Yes Mrs.Beale & Edie were often very tender with themselves,Edie was the most devoted person i have ever know, to date. There tender ways are hardly seen in the briefs documentries , yet long winter night they supported each other with great kind words , and verse from Psalms.
Im writing my book about our time at Grey Gardens, I have carfeully taken the reader throught the corridors , concerstaions and seasons of that most magical of times in my life.
Im honored that so many have found what I had long ago so I see exactly how they feel,Mrs.Beale had predicted these very days long ago.
Please stay near my Grey Gardener
yours
Jerry
The Marble Faun
Hi Jerry, Like so many people I am too captivated by the story of Grey Gardens, I live in Long Island and work in Manhattan, I feel in alot of ways that my own life is a bit “Grey Gardens” I can relate to Edie as I now am back at home (at 38 years old) with my Mom as she is alone like Mrs. Beale. We have have a similar relationship and like Edie, sometimes I feel like I want to be free, but I love my Mom so much and know I need watch out for her. I can definately understand Edie’s dilema in her life. Alot of times I joke with her and say WE ARE THE BEALE’S!! and then she gets mad LOL! but overall, she has given me an extraordinary life.
I am so happy to see how you have turned out, and I feel that you have taken a part of the Beal’s with you in your art and your life. How wonderful how these two women have influenced you. Often times when I watch the documentory, an see you I can see how much Mrs. Beale loved you for accepting her the way she was, the love that you gave her, and the love she gave you. How lucky you both were. Not many young people would have appreciated that relationship but you did! That is humanity itself.
God bless you Jerry,
Warmest regards,
Mike