1. Harriet Oettinger Parsons was an American film producer, actress, director, and magazine writer; one of the few female producers in the United States at the time.
17 Facts About Harriet Parsons
1. 2.
Harriet Oettinger Parsons was born in 1906 in Burlington, Iowa, the daughter of Louella Parsons and Harry Martin.
3.
Harriet Parsons appeared as "Baby Parsons" in several movies, which included The Magic Wand, written by her mother.
4.
Harriet Parsons began working as writer for Metro-Goldwyn Mayer in 1928 but left after a year to become a columnist and associate editor for Photoplay as well as writing for other magazines such as Liberty.
5.
Harriet Parsons left to write for Hearst's International News Service and Universal Service in 1931 and worked there until 1933, when she went to work for Columbia Pictures as a producer.
6.
Harriet Parsons produced her first feature film, Joan of Ozark, in 1942 and was then hired by RKO as a feature film producer in 1943.
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When Howard Hughes took over, Parsons was one of the only producers he kept on.
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Harriet Parsons worked at RKO for 12 years, although the experience was a frustrating one: The studio often reassigned stories she'd chosen to other producers.
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Harriet Parsons was one of only three female producers active in the United States from 1943 to 1955, and in 1953 was the sole woman member of the Screen Producer's Guild.
10.
Harriet Parsons bought a home in the Deep Well neighborhood of Palm Springs, California in 1955.
11.
Harriet Parsons married actor and playwright King Kennedy in September 1939; the couple separated in 1944.
12.
Harriet Parsons sued him for divorce in March 1945, citing cruelty.
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Harriet Parsons' marriage was a classic "cover" for her lesbianism and she and King hardly ever lived together, and by the 1950s she was living with publicist Lynn Bowers.
14.
Harriet Parsons adopted a daughter, Evelyn Farney, who became a dancer.
15.
Harriet Parsons was a co-founder of the Hollywood Women's Press Club and was a director and member of the entertainment committee member of the Hollywood Canteen during World War II.
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Harriet Parsons died in 1983 at the age of 76 after suffering from cancer for two years.
17.
Harriet Parsons was interred at the Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California.