Joey Castro, 1965 (Doris Duke Photograph Collection, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University)
What a hegira this has been (I refuse to use that overworked term, journey), from the first day I called for a box of research materials at the Duke University Library to the pile of manuscript pages lying beside my computer.
Startling revelations continue to occur.
A very well-informed friend alerted me to material about Doris’ important friend, lover and fellow jazz musician, Joey Castro, which allows me to fill out a portrait already rich in detail from his many letters to Doris but lacking vital information about his career.
Doris created the music studio above the garage at her Hollywood house, Falcon’s Lair—formerly owned by Rudolf Valentino, now demolished—for Joey and his jazz combo. One of their many records is titled “Live at Falcon Lair.”
I was touched to learn that Doris, a dedicated amateur pianist, accompanied the combo on tour. Critics derided her playing, perhaps wondering at her pseudonym: Strayhorn, for Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington’s long time pianist and collaborator, best known for his rendition of “Take The A Train.” If only Doris could have developed his chops.
Live At Falcon Lair
Well, at least, due to Joey Castro’s devotion, she did play on one tour.
Another astonishing revelation: the Duke Farms board wants to demolish the huge hideous—67000 square foot—mansion in New Jersey built by Doris’ father, James B. Duke, on 2,700 acres of land. The board is following Doris’ wishes, as expressed in her will: dedicated to land conservation, she wanted the acres preserved not the house, which is empty and half-derelict, and has already cost the board a lot of money in upkeep.
I think she might smile at the well-intentioned but misguided attempt of a New Jersey group called DORIS—DEMOLITION OF MANSION MAKES NO SENSE—to prevent the demolition.
If it takes place, as planned, in 2016—there are a lot of appeals still to deal with—it will be a fitting ending for my biography.
Doris was always ahead of her time. Preserving a house with no historical or esthetic value would never have been a priority for her; she knew, as she often stated, that times change, and the buildings of a previous century are not necessarily worthy of preservation.
I hope she wins.
Sallie, this post is SO cool!
Sarah
What a tasty little tidbit to find that Joey Castro had a financial backer like the musicians of the Baroque period. Doris got a nice little payback to be a part of a gig.
Learned a new word from you today – hegira. Was research and writing this book really “a flight to escape danger”, (per the dictionary) or just an escape of free time to dig through boxes of fascinating facts? Whatever, I admit I envy your opportunity to browse through such a treasure trove of history.
Dear Ms. Bingham,
I read your commentary about “at the well-intentioned but misguided attempt” of a New Jersey group to try to save the 100 year old Duke mansion in New Jersey. Why do you think an attempt is “misguided?” Would you consider meeting or discussing with the DORIS group the demolition of the Duke mansion?
Excuse me but you need to do a little more research. Doris started the Newport Preservation Society. She did believe buildings of previous centuries are worth saving.
Actually, Miss Bingham, Miss Duke was a known preservationist, and spent countless hours of her personal time restoring and maintaining everything: from ailing plants on her estates to the last fine china plate that slipped off her shelf. I sincerely don’t aim to identify mistakes, but Miss Duke wanted a sense of closeness and community around her at home (but she didn’t experience that reality due to family difficulties and financially-motivated friendships). Since home was in New Jersey, it is fitting that the mansion and the estate be kept together for community and visitor use in her likeness. I’d also like to add that the foundation in charge of her nature-oriented estate in New Jersey has allowed many of her structures and landmarks to decay against the words of her final will and testament. I’m very sorry, but there is far more wrong with the demolition following systematic negligence. The DORIS group is simply interfering with the foundation’s process of eliminating the Dukes’ presence and pocketing the rest of the money left to the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Please read more into this.
Keep on fearless and brave thinker. Susann.
What makes her fearless? She makes uneducated statements on the history of Miss Duke.
You may say what you choose about Sallie Bingham, and many have done so, but no one surely could ever suggest the word, “uneducated”, could ever be applied.
On the topic of Miss Duke she remains uneducated. Her “research” proves it.