Alla "Nazzy" Nazimova

HOLLYWOOD, ORGIES & BI-SEXUALITY:

Alla “Nazzy” Nazimova (pictured above) was born in 1879.  Her father Yakov was a brutal man and extremely abusive towards her mother, he once broke every bone in her body. Yakov would eventually banish the mother from Alla’s life.

Alla missed her mother terribly and would often cry herself to sleep. Yakov grew tired of her constant whimpering's and turned his anger on her.

He beat her regularly and humiliated her daily. Alla excelled in music. When she performed a perfect violin recital at school, the crowed roared with approval and she received a standing ovation.

Her father glared at her from the audience.  When she returned home, he told her, “Don’t let those people fool you, “You are ugly and untalented and I don’t want you using my surname unless you become popular.” He then proceeded to break her arm with a cane. Several years later, her father would be committed to an asylum.

Alla would enroll in a drama course and excel. She would eventually go to Hollywood and become a silent film superstar. Her unconventional personal life would overshadow her talent and career. She was openly bi-sexual in Hollywood in the early 1900’s.

This type of behavior was unheard of and was practiced discreetly; Alla didn’t care. Her close circle of friends (who nicknamed her Nazzy) included: Marlene Dietrich, D.W. Griffith, Eugene O’Neill, Rudy Valentino and Noel Coward.

Nazzy became scandalous and notorious when she seduced Charlie Chaplin’s first wife. She also had relationships with two women who would later marry Rudy Valentino.

At her peak, Alla earned $65,000 per film. She purchased a mansion, known as the “Garden Of Alla,” a Rolls Royce and a Stutz.

She hosted lavish orgies attended by ‘A’ list celebrities and the mansion also became famous for extramarital affairs.  Alla played the grand hostess to the hilt.

When talkies emerged in Hollywood, Alla returned to the stage.  She would live her life to the fullest until her death in 1945 at the age of 66.

Source: “Nazimova” by Gavin Lambert