Presentation Name by Aecbalanay on emaze

Hedy's folly; the life and breakthrough inventions of Hedy Lamarr.

A CHARMING AUSTRIAN GIRL

She was Viennese, not yet 17 in 1931 but already a professional actress.
Her father's enthusiasm for technology links her lifelong interest in invention.
The Kieslers were assimilated jews, trude from budapest. Hedy kept her heritage a secret throughout her life.

Hedwig Kiesler (1909-2000)

EVENT #1

Hedy had met Max Reinhardt, the director and impresario, at a party in 1929 (she was 15) He had encouraged her by saying to hold fast to her dream and that if she held fast it would come true.
After an unhappy term at a Swiss finishing school, hedy ran away home to vienna, where she scouted a motion-picture studio, Sascha-film.

CONTINUED...

Dropped out of school at 16 to become a professional actress. Her first role was minor, A girl in a night club (film: Geld auf der strasse, Money in the Streets) Followed by a better role as a secretary in Sturm im Wasserglas (Storm in a Water Glass), Then part of the cast in "the weaker sex"

Event #2 Ch. 1 Pg.17

While she was in Berlin (August 1931), A Czech director Gustav Machaty offered hedy the lead in a Czechoslovakian film, Ekstase (Ecstasy) Her role as Eva would promote and plague her professional career. Ekstase embodied the new spirit of personal freedom, in which the world began taking itself more youthfully.

Women threw off corsets that confined them, and abjured parasols and veils since they no longer feared air and sunshine.
In swimming places, the wooden fences that seperated men and women were torn down, because they weren't ashamed anymore of how they were built.
During the production of ekstase hedy had been offered a hollywood contract but turned it down. Saying "I don't want to become the slave of film."

Continued... Ch. 1 Pg.17

Event #3 Ch. 1 Pg.23

Hedy took the role of the Austrian queen which caught the attention of the third richest man in Austria, Fritz Mandl. His wealth originated from a family owned amunition factory in Hirtenberg. Who had agreements to arm armies in france, Germany, and Italy. During this time, Mandl had begun courting Hedy. Reluctant at first, but then decided to marry August 10th, 1933.

Continued... Ch. 1 Pg. 23

Had a small and quiet wedding.
First thing Mandl decided to do once married, was to track down and buy every print of Ekstase, So that no print of it could ever be seen again. Spent nearly $300,000.
Mandl "did not permit" her to follow her career as an actress. She felt like a guest in her own house.
Side note: married at 17 to a 33 yr old man. Yikes.

background info

Hirtenberg arms would rearm Austria and Germany, fueling the Italian Slaughter of Ethiopians in the 1935-36 colonist excursion. (pg. 64)
Mandl was also an insecure and jealous man. He would listen in on hedys phone calls, making sure she never talked about her career. Had she a slip of the tongue, he would taunt her, and throw cruelties at her, so she wouldn't go back to the stage. Hence leading us to our 4th event. (pg. 82)

Event #4 Ch. 4 Pg. 83

Hedys father had died of a massive heart attack, causing her to go into depression for about a year. The death had made her realize she couldn't take the marriage anymore.
"Now I knew that I must run away, must escape, must make plans to go to hollywood. I had met death for the first time and death had shown me, among other things, how brief life is. I must have my life, the only life I ever really wanted, before it ran away from me into the darkness" (pg. 85)

Continued...

Escaping wouldn't be easy, and for awhile hedy just listened in on Mandls discussions at the dinner table. Discussions which included that of submarine and aerial torpedos, weapon systems hirtenberg was supplying. Would be influential in future progressions. (pg. 97)
She managed to escape the night of an argument when mandl left for one of three of their hunting cabins.
While in London hedy attended an evening party where she met Louis B. Mayer. (Head of MGM studios, and highest paid executive in the U.S. at the time.)
Received 2 offers: 1.) Minimal Contract; 6 months at $125 at week. rejected. 2.) Year Contract at $500 a week. On agreement that she would take english lessons and change her name. Arrived in Hollywood, October 1937.

Event #5 Ch. 7 Pg. 136

With everything going on in europe, hedy felt guilty earning a good living in Hollywood. She debated leaving MGM and going to washington D.C. to offer her services. Being married to a wealthy politician who had ties with Nazis eventually would help her.
With an adopted baby, James Lamarr Markey. Hedy came to the conclusion that she had something to protect.

James Lamarr Markey; boy in suit.

Event #6 Ch.7 Pg. 142

After months of plans, and sketches, Hedy Lamarr and George Antheil (a composer) invented the remote-controlled torpedo. The invention was inspired when hedy learned of a german submarine attack on a ship carrying 320 children, with only 12 surviving.
She also had the idea of Frequency-Hopping which would enable her to jam the connection between the torpedo and radio on the other ship.
Also invented the Cola Cube- Flopped

Continued Ch. 7 -End

Hedy married actor John Loder, son of a british general. Ages of 45-27. Gave birth to her daughter denise in 1945.
Antheils and hedys invention was declined for reason of budget, and after many efforts to get it passed they gave up. Antheil settled in manhattan beach to write symphonies. Hedy took a public direction with her war efforts. She raised war bonds, and made almost $25 million in bonds ($343 million today)

Not even 4 months into the marriage, and hedy was ready for a divorce. But she was willing to hold on, til she could have another child. She didn't want denise to grow up as a only child, just like her. With the birth of her son John Loder, she divorced her third husband 3 months later. She disowned her adopted son james
By 1970 she had given up the career that lasted her more than 30 years, estimating she earned $30 million ($372 million today)

In conclusion, I would recommend this biography to anyone who's interested in adventurous things.