Suzanne commented that they had been afraid of how she would take the film, but after she saw it, Leona was quoted as saying Ms. Pleshette did a good job, but I'm much prettier than she portrayed me as.
I worked for ms. Hemsley and her husband's los Angeles real estate office (hemsley-spear) in the mid 80s.She was very nice and generous with her compliments
Thank you for sharing that. It's ALWAYS the negative about Mrs. Helmsley. I never believed any of it. Not then, nor now. I'm just really glad you had a positive experience! I would've loved to meet her!
Oh come on, that entire advertising campaign was absolute genius, for years and years. It absolutely encapsulated the vibe of New York elegance at the time and was spot on. AND, I completely got the tongue in cheek.
The fact that she was a late bloomer. 42 years old when she got into the business right? That makes me feel better. Sounds weird but it’s true. Never too late.
Me too! Funnily enough, Cindy came out against Leona with a vicious story the day AFTER Leona died dated 8/21/07 in the NY Post that sounded made up IMO and was wholly unnecessary.
@@richardmills1505 Cindy turned on Leona when, due to one of Leona’s famous coop buyouts, Cindy’s mother lost her longtime apartment. Attacks at Cindy, husband Joey, or her mother had/have you on her shit list for life. As she said in a CBS Sunday Morning profile a few years back, if you get my family or me, I’ll get you in this life or the next.
Leona is facinating. She was really a feminist businesswoman. I do believe it's very true that if she had been a man, she would never have been brought down. And it was all so stupid. Who would pay roughly $350 million in taxes, DONATE $33 million and then try to chisel the IRS out of $ 1.2 million? I've known very wealthy people...not this extremely rich, but garden variety millionaires and they really don't pay any attention to incidental expenses.
Watching this after all this time has really changed my opinion of her. I find her oddly likable. With all the horrible things people have been doing in the last few years, what she was accused of is really nothing and yet she was absolutely crucified.
Mrs. Helmsley was a generous woman. She allowed Central Commercial HS students to have our reunion at her Helmsley Hotel, which she'd purchased the lot where the school had stood, next door to The Daily News building on 42nd Street.
Harry Helmsley was of the most legendary real estate pioneers in history and especially, specifically NYC and Manhattan history. An amazing life and career.
You're absolutely right! There was NO justice for her! When the Helmsleys found out there was an issue with the IRS, they immediately told their attorney "Here's a blank check. Just have them fill out whatever the amount is that we owe." But the DA wanted to make a name for themselves in New York by taking down Leona and Harry Helmsley, that was their ticket. It had nothing to do with right or wrong but with someone advancing their political career. Someone who pays nearly $350 million in taxes over five years, gives away --$33 million-- for a surgical wing at New York- Presbyterian Hospital.... WHY in the world would they cheat the IRS out of $1.2 million? It's an insane argument.
Regardless of what you think of her, Leona and Harry were incredibly industrious&ambitious and at their peak exemplified the very best of post-WW2 American high standards. They generated a lot of wealth and employment through their hotel ventures. This no doubt attracted a lot of envy and scorn…especially from the emerging cultural marxist set.
"For a bra or or or a puzzle I am being sent to jail for 4 years? " I think she is a total sweetheart. Full of personality too. Love this interview. RIP, LMH
I stayed at her hotel The Palace once and it was amazing down to every last detail… Maybe if there were more bosses like her customer service would still matter! Maybe that’s entitled… So be it!
OMG I never thought I'd see this again! My best friend and I saw the original broadcast and we couldn't breathe from laughing so hard! The phrase 'Four YEARS!? I'm a a dangerous charactah!' became a permanent part of our private language lol. This woman was so clueless it's like it was a joke. It's hard to realise now just what a circus that whole story was. Newsweek printed an issue with her photo on the cover over the headline 'Rhymes With Rich'. NOBODY felt sorry for her.
While I don't agree with your point of view entirely, I'm with you on never thinking I'd see this again either. I saw it originally as well when I was 11 years old. Amazing the things we remember! Like I totally recall Maury hosting this show!
OMG! I LOVE Mrs. Helmsley! Facinating, misunderstood woman who had HIGH STANDARDS when it came to customer satisfaction! But had very BAD tax advisors. Prosecuted solely because she was a "tough bitch". All bullshit.
There was not any one police officer stupid enough to write her a ticket 😂😂 This woman was very powerful and hardcore. She and Trump bumped heads many times over business issues!!
The more I watch this, the more I know (believe) she's telling the truth. Especially about being called "Queen". I remember on 60 Minutes in 1985, she told a girl who called her that: Stop calling me that. It's really terrible. Or very close. The girl apologized and called her "Mrs. H" as Leona shook her head in approval. It was NOT her idea for the Queen ad campaign, that was the ad execs at a 3rd party agency. Leona said in the same 1985 60 minutes profile, "if you're being paid to do something, do it. If not, I'm tough and you can't work for me." Well, that's the way it's supposed to be! It was all such BS. An old fashioned tempest in a teapot. But her admission, when questioned about her vendetta against her former daughter-in-law Mimi. ANYBODY who's going to admit THAT on national TV, why the hell would they lie about everything they were accused of? Frankly, I wouldn't blame her if she did lie about Mimi.
That was 60 Minutes “Queen of the Palace.” She said, “Stop that. It’s TERRIBLE” in her distinctive hard boiled accent as she closed her eyes and slowly moved her head from side to side. One of my favorite Leona moments. I was always fascinated by her and her personality. I don’t think she was a bitch. I think she was just a tough broad. The former is a woman who takes everything personally and is a perpetual “victim.” The latter doesn’t and isn’t. For her it’s just business.
We women will ALWAYS get the bad wrap of being a BITCH when being successful, wealthy & famous. All I have to say is: "WHEN YOU CALL ME BITCH, call me MS BITCH". To hell with the haters. LOVE YA' LEONA💘
Ahead of her time, that's why everyone hated her for being herself. She could have been nicer but no one is perfect. A man would have never been treated like she was !
she was a tough business woman for sure, but if you had 30 thousand people working for you & she only fired about 25 of them oh well. people dont like rich people & she didnt have a fake funny good natured personality. so they ran her into the ground! the tax thing is a bunch a bullshit, i make 100K a y`ear & cant do my taxes!!!
I feel bad for her I don’t know who she was but being from ny and having been in the post myself I just feel bad for her and who asks are you a pussycat? Lol
Sounds like she took care of business...probably made some mistakes along the way, but at least she didn't live off of welfare and sit on her behind refusing to work like SO many of today's people.
This same demonizing is very prevalent with people like Anna wintour as well. I'm not saying she was a martyr or someone you would particularly like to spend time around but I think we'll...me think is thou protest too much.
She never was hands on that was b.s she employed people to do the job for her.. while she lived a charmed life these people always need people to think they have master mined everything. She was a CEO of a Jetset lifestyle iv been in the hospitality industry I know how these people desperately need everyone to think I it’s all my brilliant ideas and work ethic. She comes in screams at people criticising everything..anybody can do that and think there a CEO.. omg this woman total B.S 💩
