EPISODE · Nov 2, 2025 · 37 MIN
Million Dollar Slap
from As The Money Burns · host Nicki Woodard
Divorces come in several stages – physical, financial, legal, and emotional. The latter might be the hardest if ever to achieve. As one reporter learns with a slap in the face.November 1933, opera singer Mary McCormic and Prince Serge Mdivani are officially divorced. But when Mdivani biographer Grace Williams tries to expose the terms of the settlement, Grace faces Mary’s wrath.Other people and subjects include:Prince Alexis Mdivani, Princess Barbara Hutton Mdivani, Louise Van Alen – formerly Princess Mdivani, Prince David Mdivani, Mae Murray – formerly Princess Mdivani, Princess Nina Mdivani Huberich, Princess Roussadana “Roussie” Mdivani Sert, Pola Negri – formerly Princess Mdivani, Samuel “Sam” Insull, Michael Luddy, city editor, photographer, William K. Vanderbilt III, Virginia “Birdie” Graham Fair Vanderbilt, William K. Vanderbilt II, Brooke Hart, Northwest Mounty, slap, million dollar lawsuit, Faust opera, taxi, secondhand automobile, United Airlines, Assistance League Tea Room, Cocoanut Grove, Hollywood club, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times building, Liberty Magazine, Pacific Shore Oil Company, pawnshop, Los Angeles, Paris, New York, Omaha, Detroit, Arkansas, Texas, evolution of sources, tracking down information, The Mdivani Saga by David Gigauri, Poor Little Rich Girl by David Heymann, secret unnamed source, “Who Cares” by Serge Mdivani as told to Grace Williams” unpublished manuscript, UCLA, Georgian website, Georgian community, Wikipedia, Joseph Stalin, Harry Sinclair, Teapot Dome Scandal, Washington D.C. social leader, Alabama, British ancestry, Duke of Wellington ancestor, Wellesley ancestor, Clark Gable, “Rhea / Ria” Maria Franklin Prentiss Lucas Langham, Carole Lombard, Gone With The Wind, Joan Crawford, Francois Tone, factual consistency, overplaying connections, 5 Los Angeles Times buildings, Mirror Building, 2 granite castles, Art Deco by Gordon Kaufman, new mid-century in El Segundo, Gutzon Borglum’s bronze eagle sculpture, bomb explosion, fire proof, bomb proof, earthquake proof, anti-union, American labor movement, John “J.J.” McNamara, James Barnabas “J.B.” McNamara, Clarence Darrow, Vanderbilt Cup motor racing, Crime of the Century, one of deadliest criminal acts in United States, deadliest crime to go to trial in California, tragedies, humanity, yesterday’s news, Will Smith, Chris Rock, 2022 Academy Awards, retrospectives of Mary McCormic slap, Ventura County Star, Tampa Times, Morning Call reprint, Louvre jewel heist, jewel history,…--Extra Notes / Call to Action:Fellow podcasters @WhatsHerNameWhat’s Her Name Podcast by Dr. Katie Nelson and Olivia Meiklehttps://whatshernamepodcast.com/https://pod.link/1320638747Goodpods ranks As The Money Burns in Top 8 Indie Documentary PodcastsBest Documentary Podcasts [2025] Top 8 Shows - Goodpods#4 in the Top 100 Indie Documentary Weekly chart#8 in the Top 100 Indie Documentary Monthly chart#15 in the Top 100 Indie History Weekly chart#18 in the Top 100 Indie History Monthly chart#25 in the Top 100 Indie Society & Culture Weekly chartgoodpods.app.link/4PeLmbBvAqbThe Mdivani Saga by David Gigaurihttps://www.amazon.com/Book-9781835740736-David-Gigauri/dp/1835740731https://www.instagram.com/mdivanisaga/The Silver Swan: The Search for Doris Duke by Sally Binghamhttps://www.amazon.com/Silver-Swan-Search-Doris-Duke-ebook/dp/B078X21PDTShare, like, subscribe--Archival Music provided by Past Perfect Vintage Music, www.pastperfect.com.Opening Music: My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Billy Cotton, Album The Great British Dance BandsSection 1 Music: Organ Grinder’s Swing by Jack Payne, Album The Great British Dance BandsSection 2 Music: Umtcha, Umtcha, Da Da Da by The Rhythmic Eight, Album Fascinating Rhythm – Great Hits of the 20sSection 3 Music: Turkish Towel by The Savoy Havana Band, Album Fascinating RhythmEnd Music: My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Billy Cotton, Album The Great British Dance Bands--https://asthemoneyburns.com/X / TW / IG – @asthemoneyburnsX / Twitter – https://x.com/asthemoneyburnsInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/asthemoneyburns/Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/asthemoneyburns/
What this episode covers
Divorces come in several stages – physical, financial, legal, and emotional. The latter might be the hardest if ever to achieve. As one reporter learns with a slap in the face. November 1933, opera singer Mary McCormic and Prince Serge Mdivani are officially divorced. But when Mdivani biographer Grace Williams tries to expose the terms of the settlement, Grace faces Mary’s wrath. Other people and subjects include: Prince Alexis Mdivani, Princess Barbara Hutton Mdivani, Louise Van Alen – formerly Princess Mdivani, Prince David Mdivani, Mae Murray – formerly Princess Mdivani, Princess Nina Mdivani Huberich, Princess Roussadana “Roussie” Mdivani Sert, Pola Negri – formerly Princess Mdivani, Samuel “Sam” Insull, Michael Luddy, city editor, photographer, William K. Vanderbilt III, Virginia “Birdie” Graham Fair Vanderbilt, William K. Vanderbilt II, Brooke Hart, Northwest Mounty, slap, million dollar lawsuit, Faust opera, taxi, secondhand automobile, United Airlines, Assistance League Tea Room, Cocoanut Grove, Hollywood club, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times building, Liberty Magazine, Pacific Shore Oil Company, pawnshop, Los Angeles, Paris, New York, Omaha, Detroit, Arkansas, Texas, evolution of sources, tracking down information, The Mdivani Saga by David Gigauri, Poor Little Rich Girl by David Heymann, secret unnamed source, “Who Cares” by Serge Mdivani as told to Grace Williams” unpublished manuscript, UCLA, Georgian website, Georgian community, Wikipedia, Joseph Stalin, Harry Sinclair, Teapot Dome Scandal, Washington D.C. social leader, Alabama, British ancestry, Duke of Wellington ancestor, Wellesley ancestor, Clark Gable, “Rhea / Ria” Maria Franklin Prentiss Lucas Langham, Carole Lombard, Gone With The Wind, Joan Crawford, Francois Tone, factual consistency, overplaying connections, 5 Los Angeles Times buildings, Mirror Building, 2 granite castles, Art Deco by Gordon Kaufman, new mid-century in El Segundo, Gutzon Borglum’s bronze eagle sculpture, bomb explosion, fire proof, bomb proof, earthquake proof, anti-union, American labor movement, John “J.J.” McNamara, James Barnabas “J.B.” McNamara, Clarence Darrow, Vanderbilt Cup motor racing, Crime of the Century, one of deadliest criminal acts in United States, deadliest crime to go to trial in California, tragedies, humanity, yesterday’s news, Will Smith, Chris Rock, 2022 Academy Awards, retrospectives of Mary McCormic slap, Ventura County Star, Tampa Times, Morning Call reprint, Louvre jewel heist, jewel history,… Archival Music provided by Past Perfect Vintage Music, www.pastperfect.com.
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Million Dollar Slap
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