Lois Wright

Lois Erdmann Wright
Born (1928-07-09) July 9, 1928[1]
New York City
Residence East Hampton, New York
Citizenship US
Occupation Artist, author, palmistry, television host
Known for Grey Gardens
Relatives William Wright
Dr. John F. Erdmann
Website loiswright.net

Lois Erdmann Wright is an American artist, author, and local television personality. She is best known for her appearance in the 1975 independent documentary film Grey Gardens by Albert and David Maysles. She is the author of the memoir My Life at Grey Gardens: 13 Months and Beyond. She currently hosts The Lois Wright Show for LTV Public Access in East Hampton. As an artist, she has exhibited at Guild Hall in East Hampton and at the National Arts Club in New York. Her art focuses mainly on Edith Bouvier Beale and Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale of Grey Gardens.

Personal background

Wright is the niece of the late Dr. John F. Erdmann, who was Professor of Surgery and Director of Surgery at the New York Post-Graduate Medical College and Hospital from 1908 until 1934. Dr. Erdmann lived at Coxwould in East Hampton[2] and is best remembered for performing a "secret surgery" on President Grover Cleveland aboard the Steam Ship Oneida in 1893.[3]

Wright is also the sister of the late William Wright. In the summer of 1949, William Wright conducted the first and only audio recorded interview of Jackson Pollock at Pollock's home on Springs Fireplace Road in East Hampton, New York.[4] William Wright was portrayed by actor David Cale in the film biopic Pollock starring Ed Harris.

Career

Wright has hosted a television show for East Hampton LTV cable access since 1984. She started as a psychic, reading palms, and talking about her days at Grey Gardens. Over time, the setting changed to various locations, such as The Old West, where Wright interviewed celebrities, including artists, writers, and politicians, among others. The Lois Wright Show is the longest running cable access show on LTV to this date.[5]

As an artist, Wright's work has been shown at the Sag Harbor Gallery,[6] Guild Hall in East Hampton, and the National Arts Club in New York City.[7] Her art mainly focuses on the subjects of Grey Gardens – Edith Bouvier Beale and Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale – and seascapes off the coast of Montauk.[8]

Grey Gardens

Wright was featured in the 1975 documentary film Grey Gardens by Albert and David Maysles and the follow-up film The Beales of Grey Gardens. In the first film, Grey Gardens, Wright was a guest during a birthday celebration for "Big Edie", Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale. In The Beales of Grey Gardens, Wright is shown to be a close friend of the Beales, and is spotlighted for her talents as a palmist.

According to her book, My Life at Grey Gardens: 13 Months and Beyond, Wright lived with the Beales at Grey Gardens, from May 1975 until June 1976.[9] She remained close to the Beales until Big Edie's death on February 5, 1977 and Little Edie's death on January 9, 2002.

In a New York Times article, Sally Quinn recalls Wright appearing unexpectedly at Grey Gardens and informing her that she was bringing a message from Big Edie. Wright said that Big Edie wanted Quinn to have the house, that Quinn was meant to have it, and that Big Edie was watching over her and that everything would go absolutely perfectly.[10]

During her stay at Grey Gardens, Wright earned money by reading palms and tarot cards at Grey Gardens and at local cocktail lounges. She read several celebrity palms, including Bette Davis, who once said that Wright "read her palm better than anyone from Hollywood to East Hampton".[11]

Wright is the subject of the children's book Bijoux Goes to Grey Gardens by J.C. Burdine. The story depicts Wright accompanying a small French bulldog on an adventure through an estate in East Hampton.[12] Wright is also the subject of the documentary film In the Shadows of Grey Gardens, also by Burdine.

Published works

References

  1. ↑ "Lois Wright". Artists Alliance of East Hampton. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  2. ↑ ""Coxwould" Old Long Island". Old Long Island. February 20, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  3. ↑ Warnes, Kathy (March 20, 2013). "President Grover Cleveland Secret Surgery". Old Long Island. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner papers, circa 1905–1984". Archives of American Art. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  5. ↑ Tubatan, Mayra (February 5, 2014). "Public Access LTV Celebrates 20th Anniversary". The East Hampton Star. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  6. ↑ Boody, Peter (June 2, 2008). "Notes from Sag Harbor". 27east.com. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  7. ↑ Cooper, Rebecca (April 29, 2009). "Grey Gardens Art Show by Lois Wright". Black Tie Magazine. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  8. ↑ Tuma, Debbie (October 20, 2013). "A Haunting Exhibit of 'Grey Gardens' Art". Riverhead Local. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  9. ↑ Long, Robert (October 22, 1998). "Grey Gardens Haunting Story". The East Hampton Star. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Inside Grey Gardens". New York Times. April 17, 2009. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  11. ↑ Fischler, Marcelle S. (May 25, 2008). "Memories of a Former Resident of Grey Gardens". New York Times. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  12. ↑ Cooper, Laura (October 26, 2010). "Ghostly Tale of Grey Gardens Adventure". East Hampton Press & Southampton Press. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
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