Helen Lawson
Encyclopedia
Helen Lawson is a fictional character in the novel
Valley of the Dolls
written by Jacqueline Susann
.
Lawson is described as having been a very successful Broadway
star for many years (Lawson is said to be based on the real-life Broadway actress Ethel Merman
). Her age is never revealed, there are only vague hints, but she's probably supposed to have been born ca. 1900. Her theatre history is described briefly; she has held the lead in many fictional musicals such as Hit the Sky, Sunny Lady, Sadie's Place, Madame Bovary and Nice Lady, having followed two years of vocal studying and overnight success.
Lawson soon becomes friends with protagonist Anne Welles and describes her life: she is Irish and Scottish, and her birth name was actually Helen Laughlin. Lawson's personality can be described as borderline, commanding and selective. She commands the directors in all areas, and is quite sexually active and man hungry. She has had numerous relationships, including several marriages (similar to the life of Ethel Merman).
Lawson later has a falling-out with Anne Welles, and develops bitter feelings toward Neely O'Hara (based on Betty Hutton
and Judy Garland
). Eventually, when O'Hara leaves the show, Lawson is not mentioned until much later in the novel.
Eventually Lawson marries again and leaves for Jamaica, but this marriage also fails. She travels back to New York and originates another musical role, but this musical is a failure. Her vicious temperament is later shown in a physical fight with Neely O'Hara after making comments towards O'Hara's failed marriage to a supposed homosexual man, and asking if Neely's twin sons, Bud and Jud, are homosexual as well. O'Hara rips off and destroys Lawson's wig, much to Lawson's horror.
At this point, Lawson's voice has developed a slight vibrato
. Later in the novel, O'Hara mentions that Lawson's voice has gone and that she has left to play a "character role" in a television series.
In the film
, the role of Helen Lawson was pursued by Academy Award-winning actresses Joan Crawford
and Bette Davis
, but it was ultimately given to child Oscar-winner Judy Garland
. Garland was replaced by fellow Academy Award-winner Susan Hayward
, who in real life clashed with Oscar-winner Patty Duke
(Neely O'Hara).
Lawson has made another fictional appearance since in the newly published novel Candy Everybody Wants (2008) by Josh Kilmer-Purcell
, where she acts as a mentor to the protagonist Jayson Blocher as he is starting his career in Hollywood as a 15-year-old.
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
Valley of the Dolls
Valley of the Dolls
Valley of the Dolls is a novel by American writer Jacqueline Susann, published in 1966. The "dolls" within the title is a slang term for downers, barbiturates used as sleep aids....
written by Jacqueline Susann
Jacqueline Susann
Jacqueline Susann was an American author known for her best-selling novels. Her most notable work was Valley of the Dolls, a book that broke sales records and spawned an Oscar-nominated 1967 film and a short-lived TV series.-Early years:Jacqueline Susann was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to...
.
Lawson is described as having been a very successful Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
star for many years (Lawson is said to be based on the real-life Broadway actress Ethel Merman
Ethel Merman
Ethel Merman was an American actress and singer. Known primarily for her powerful voice and roles in musical theatre, she has been called "the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage." Among the many standards introduced by Merman in Broadway musicals are "I Got Rhythm", "Everything's...
). Her age is never revealed, there are only vague hints, but she's probably supposed to have been born ca. 1900. Her theatre history is described briefly; she has held the lead in many fictional musicals such as Hit the Sky, Sunny Lady, Sadie's Place, Madame Bovary and Nice Lady, having followed two years of vocal studying and overnight success.
Lawson soon becomes friends with protagonist Anne Welles and describes her life: she is Irish and Scottish, and her birth name was actually Helen Laughlin. Lawson's personality can be described as borderline, commanding and selective. She commands the directors in all areas, and is quite sexually active and man hungry. She has had numerous relationships, including several marriages (similar to the life of Ethel Merman).
Lawson later has a falling-out with Anne Welles, and develops bitter feelings toward Neely O'Hara (based on Betty Hutton
Betty Hutton
Betty Hutton was an American stage, film, and television actress, comedienne and singer.-Early life:Hutton was born Elizabeth June Thornburg, daughter of a railroad foreman, Percy E. Thornburg and his wife, the former Mabel Lum . While she was very young, her father abandoned the family for...
and Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Judy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
). Eventually, when O'Hara leaves the show, Lawson is not mentioned until much later in the novel.
Eventually Lawson marries again and leaves for Jamaica, but this marriage also fails. She travels back to New York and originates another musical role, but this musical is a failure. Her vicious temperament is later shown in a physical fight with Neely O'Hara after making comments towards O'Hara's failed marriage to a supposed homosexual man, and asking if Neely's twin sons, Bud and Jud, are homosexual as well. O'Hara rips off and destroys Lawson's wig, much to Lawson's horror.
At this point, Lawson's voice has developed a slight vibrato
Vibrato
Vibrato is a musical effect consisting of a regular, pulsating change of pitch. It is used to add expression to vocal and instrumental music. Vibrato is typically characterised in terms of two factors: the amount of pitch variation and the speed with which the pitch is varied .-Vibrato and...
. Later in the novel, O'Hara mentions that Lawson's voice has gone and that she has left to play a "character role" in a television series.
In the film
Valley of the Dolls (film)
The soundtrack was released in 1967. Dionne Warwick sang the title track; however, her version is not on the soundtrack. Warwick was signed to Scepter Records at the time and could not contractually appear...
, the role of Helen Lawson was pursued by Academy Award-winning actresses Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford , born Lucille Fay LeSueur, was an American actress in film, television and theatre....
and Bette Davis
Bette Davis
Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis was an American actress of film, television and theater. Noted for her willingness to play unsympathetic characters, she was highly regarded for her performances in a range of film genres, from contemporary crime melodramas to historical and period films and occasional...
, but it was ultimately given to child Oscar-winner Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Judy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
. Garland was replaced by fellow Academy Award-winner Susan Hayward
Susan Hayward
Susan Hayward was an American actress.After working as a fashion model in New York, Hayward travelled to Hollywood in 1937 when open auditions were held for the leading role in Gone with the Wind . Although she was not selected, she secured a film contract, and played several small supporting...
, who in real life clashed with Oscar-winner Patty Duke
Patty Duke
Anna Marie "Patty" Duke is an American actress of stage, film, and television. First becoming famous as a child star, winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at age 16, and later starring in her eponymous sitcom for three years, she progressed to more mature roles upon playing Neely...
(Neely O'Hara).
Lawson has made another fictional appearance since in the newly published novel Candy Everybody Wants (2008) by Josh Kilmer-Purcell
Josh Kilmer-Purcell
Josh Kilmer-Purcell is an American writer. In 2006 Harper Perennial published I Am Not Myself These Days: A Memoir, a tragicomic account of Kilmer-Purcell's early days in New York City, living as an advertising art director by day and a drag queen named "Aquadisiac" by night...
, where she acts as a mentor to the protagonist Jayson Blocher as he is starting his career in Hollywood as a 15-year-old.