The Helen Morgan Page

Arthur Loew was the love of Helen Morgan’s life.

Although a couple from January 1929 to May 1933, they spent much of their time apart. Their period of involvement coincided with the busiest times of their careers. Helen spent weeks on end on the road for stage, vaudeville, and cabaret appearances. Arthur Loew was in charge of foreign distribution for MGM … during that tumultuous era, the transition to sound.

He was also a licensed pilot and often flew on business, especially to discuss sound films with South American distributors. He loved to fly, Helen, even moreso.

The summers of 1930, 1931 and 1932 afforded them the most time together, and they spent as much of that time as possible at Pembroke.

A Morgan passion at the time was gardening, and Arthur gave a patch of the estate for her use as a vegetable garden.

Helen also served as hostess when Arthur entertained. As the money behind MGM, the guest list often included the studio’s star talent, paying homage to the power behind Louis B. Mayer’s throne.

Over the 1932 Fourth of July weekend, Arthur and Helen played host to Joan Crawford and Douglas Fairbanks Jr., just off the liner from a European vacation.

In those days, Sunday was Broadway’s day off, and Helen spent that day away from the Show Boat revival tending to her vegetables while her houseguests entertained themselves.

Helen walked into the mansion at 7:30 that night, ready to quickly slip into a pair of hostess pajamas only to see Joan and Doug and Arthur in full evening dress.

Helen dashed upstairs to change into something formal.

The unions of both couples came to an end ten months later, but Helen remained friendly with Joan (and possibly to Doug as well).

In July 1941, Helen married Lloyd Johnson, and Joan joined many many many others in telegramming good wishes to the happy couple.

On October 1, 1941, Joan sent another wire to Helen.

The message went unread. Helen had slipped into a coma the day before. She never woke up. She died a week later.