Rosebud

[Paul Mackin]

>From John B:

>   The story that "Rosebud" referred to Hearst's pet name of Marion
> Davies's clitoris was first circulated by Gore Vidal. This was in '89
> I believe. Said the information came from Charles Lederer, a screenwriter
> and friend of Mankiewicz (co-writer of CK). This Lederer was also a nephew
> of Davies and a frequent guest at Hearst's San Simeon home, and was, in
> 1940, briefly engaged to Welles's ex-wife.

The Rosebud/Vidal connection grows curiouser and curiouser.

Simultaneous (pretty much) with John's post I thought to wonder once
again what the hell old Gore had in mind in a much earlier (than '89)
review of Pynchon's work. There he mentioned "rosebud"  in a rather
preciously elliptical, self-congratulatory way that I have wondered
about ever since.

Again, apologies for dwelling on what has become an obsession.

						P.