Mabel Boll
Encyclopedia
Mabel Boll known as the "Queen of Diamonds", was an American
socialite
involved in the early days of record-setting flights in the 1920s. She garnered nicknames from the press, including "Broadway’s most beautiful blonde" and "$250,000-a-day bride".
Boll was known as "The Queen of Diamonds" because of the amount of jewelry she publicly displayed. At times she would wear over $400,000 in jewelry at a time in public and was photographed wearing a gold and platnuim sweater. In 1922 Boll married Colombian coffee king Hernando Rocha, who presented her with over a million dollars in jewels and a 46.57 carats (9.3 g) emerald-cut diamond bearing her name "The Mabel Boll". The diamond was purchased by the Harry Winston
collection upon Boll's death in 1949.
In 1934, Boll made headlines again as the "Countess de la Porceerei" in Nice, France when her 27 year old boyfriend Georges Chariot shot himself on her lawn.
winning the Orteig Prize
for his non-stop flight from New York to Paris. Mabel Boll wanted publicity as well and felt that being the first woman to cross the Atlantic would be headline news. While living in Paris, France, Boll announced she would pay 100,000 francs to any pilot that would fly her across the Atlantic from Paris.
's son. Boll was invited to try an east-west flight from America and she set out for New York by boat in January 1928.
On March 5, 1928, Wilmer Stultz
, Oliver Colin LeBoutillier
and Mabel Boll on a improvised seat, made the first non-stop flight in the Columbia between New York City and Havana, Cuba, placing Boll on the front page of the New York Times. Boll was sued a month later by Levine's company for $12,000 plus interest. Boll was known as a temperamental passenger, once injuring pilot Erroll Boyd with a Alligator handbag in flight for making a premature landing in bad weather.
In 1928, the same teams that attempted to win the Ortieg prize were competing to be the first to fly a woman across the Atlantic (as a passenger). Levine chose the flamboyant Mabel Boll. On the other extreme, Amelia Earhart
was chosen as a demure and capable pilot sponsored by George Palmer Putnam
and Amy Phipps Guest.
On June 26, 1928 Mabel was filmed leaving Roosevelt Field in the Columbia. Boll was later spotted in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland as a passenger in the Columbia, piloted by Oliver Colin LeBoutillier
and Arthur Argles owned by Columbia Aircraft Corp
Chairman Charles Levine. While Boll publicly announced her aspiration to be the first woman to fly across the Atlantic, Amelia Earhart was also in Newfoundland at the same time, along with the German Thea Rasche
.
The newspapers focused their attention on the aspirations of “the Diamond Queen of Broadway”. Preparations for the trip were done with full publicity. At the same time in relative secrecy, pilots Wilmer Stultz and Gordon were believed by the press to be preparing Byrd’s Fokker “Friendship” for his planned trip to the South Pole. Stultz himself planned to be the pilot of the Columbia and defected to Byrd's crew. On June 17 the “Friendship”
took off from the bay at Trepassey, Newfoundland with Earhart on board, while the crew of the Columbia were grounded for five days due to the weather. Upon learning of successful flight by Earhart and crew, Boll returned to America, donating $500 to the Newfoundland airstrip for development.
Boll wanted a new nickname, "The Queen of the Air". For her last serious record attempt, Levine purchaced a customized long-range Junkers W 33
for $50,000 emblazoned with the logo "Queen of the Air" across the sides. Plans were made for Bert Acosta
to fly Boll and Levine from Paris to New York for a new record, which was changed to London to New York attempt. By the time the aircraft arrived in late August 1928, the flying season was comming to an end and Levine was preoccupied with legal matters in the United States. "The Queen of the Air" Junkers was transported back to America, damaged, and resold to William Rody. He renamed it to the "de Espírito Santo Agostinho" (ESA) and attempted a three man transatlantic crossing record from Lisbon
on 13, September 1931. The aircraft landed in the Atlantic ocean, and the aircraft's empty tanks kept the crew for afloat several days before being rescued. Boll's last effort to become a transatlantic passenger was refused by airplane owner, and entertainer Harry Richman
. Boll avoided the perils of record setting flights until 1936, when she announced she had been cured of her flying obsession.
Mabel Boll died of a stroke at the Manhattan State Hospital on Wards Island in April 1949 at the age of 54.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
socialite
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
involved in the early days of record-setting flights in the 1920s. She garnered nicknames from the press, including "Broadway’s most beautiful blonde" and "$250,000-a-day bride".
Early life
Mabel Boll was short, dark-eyed, and "vividly blonde". Her early employment was selling cigars in Rochester. Boll beame an experienced horse rider, and married businessman Robert Scott in 1909 In 1914 she had a son, Rober Scott.Boll was known as "The Queen of Diamonds" because of the amount of jewelry she publicly displayed. At times she would wear over $400,000 in jewelry at a time in public and was photographed wearing a gold and platnuim sweater. In 1922 Boll married Colombian coffee king Hernando Rocha, who presented her with over a million dollars in jewels and a 46.57 carats (9.3 g) emerald-cut diamond bearing her name "The Mabel Boll". The diamond was purchased by the Harry Winston
Harry Winston
Harry Winston was an American jeweler. He donated the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958 after owning it for a decade, and traded the Portuguese Diamond to the Smithsonian in 1963.-History:...
collection upon Boll's death in 1949.
In 1934, Boll made headlines again as the "Countess de la Porceerei" in Nice, France when her 27 year old boyfriend Georges Chariot shot himself on her lawn.
Transatlantic fever
1927 was full of publicity surrounding Charles LindberghCharles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
winning the Orteig Prize
Orteig Prize
The Orteig Prize was a $25,000 reward offered on May 19, 1919, by New York hotel owner Raymond Orteig to the first allied aviator to fly non-stop from New York City to Paris or vice-versa. On offer for five years, it attracted no competitors...
for his non-stop flight from New York to Paris. Mabel Boll wanted publicity as well and felt that being the first woman to cross the Atlantic would be headline news. While living in Paris, France, Boll announced she would pay 100,000 francs to any pilot that would fly her across the Atlantic from Paris.
Flights in the Columbia
Admiral Byrd and Charles Levine competed for the Ortieg prize, but missed out. Each completed record flights shortly thereafter. While in Europe, Mabel Boll attempted to get Levine to fly her to America in the Columbia, which was still in France after a record-setting flight from New York. The inexperienced owner of the aircraft, Levine, had plans to fly it back to America with a French pilot, Maurice Droughin. After disagreements with Droughin and lawyers left the plane guarded and grounded, Levine took off to England claiming he was just testing the engine. Boll followed Levine to England by boat, talking Levine into letting her be a passenger. Just before the flight, Levine's new pilot, Capt. Hinchcliffe, publicly refused to let Boll fly along and instead flew to Rome, Italy, dropping a present to Benito MussoliniBenito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
's son. Boll was invited to try an east-west flight from America and she set out for New York by boat in January 1928.
On March 5, 1928, Wilmer Stultz
Wilmer Stultz
Wilmer Stultz was born in Williamsburg, Pennsylvania. He was a pioneering pilot. On March 5, 1928, Stultz, Oliver Colin LeBoutillier and Mabel Boll on a improvised seat, made the first non-stop flight in the Columbia between New York City and Havana, Cuba. Stultz was the pilot on June 18, 1928...
, Oliver Colin LeBoutillier
Oliver Colin LeBoutillier
Captain Oliver Colin LeBoutillier was a World War I aviator who witnessed the death of Manfred von Richthofen...
and Mabel Boll on a improvised seat, made the first non-stop flight in the Columbia between New York City and Havana, Cuba, placing Boll on the front page of the New York Times. Boll was sued a month later by Levine's company for $12,000 plus interest. Boll was known as a temperamental passenger, once injuring pilot Erroll Boyd with a Alligator handbag in flight for making a premature landing in bad weather.
In 1928, the same teams that attempted to win the Ortieg prize were competing to be the first to fly a woman across the Atlantic (as a passenger). Levine chose the flamboyant Mabel Boll. On the other extreme, Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Mary Earhart was a noted American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean...
was chosen as a demure and capable pilot sponsored by George Palmer Putnam
George Palmer Putnam
George Palmer Putnam was an important American book publisher.-Biography:Putnam was born in Brunswick, Maine. On moving to New York City, Putnam was given his first job by Jonathan Leavitt, who subsequently published Putnam's first book...
and Amy Phipps Guest.
On June 26, 1928 Mabel was filmed leaving Roosevelt Field in the Columbia. Boll was later spotted in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland as a passenger in the Columbia, piloted by Oliver Colin LeBoutillier
Oliver Colin LeBoutillier
Captain Oliver Colin LeBoutillier was a World War I aviator who witnessed the death of Manfred von Richthofen...
and Arthur Argles owned by Columbia Aircraft Corp
Columbia Aircraft Corp
The Columbia Aircraft Corp was a United States aircraft manufacturer, which was active between 1927 and 1947.-Formation and operations:Columbia Aircraft was founded in December 1927 by Charles A. Levine as chairman and the aircraft designer Giuseppe Mario Bellanca as president. The initial name...
Chairman Charles Levine. While Boll publicly announced her aspiration to be the first woman to fly across the Atlantic, Amelia Earhart was also in Newfoundland at the same time, along with the German Thea Rasche
Thea Rasche
Thea Rasche was Germany's first woman pilot.-References:...
.
The newspapers focused their attention on the aspirations of “the Diamond Queen of Broadway”. Preparations for the trip were done with full publicity. At the same time in relative secrecy, pilots Wilmer Stultz and Gordon were believed by the press to be preparing Byrd’s Fokker “Friendship” for his planned trip to the South Pole. Stultz himself planned to be the pilot of the Columbia and defected to Byrd's crew. On June 17 the “Friendship”
Fokker F.VII
The Fokker F.VII, also known as the Fokker Trimotor, was an airliner produced in the 1920s by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker, Fokker's American subsidiary Atlantic Aircraft Corporation, and other companies under licence....
took off from the bay at Trepassey, Newfoundland with Earhart on board, while the crew of the Columbia were grounded for five days due to the weather. Upon learning of successful flight by Earhart and crew, Boll returned to America, donating $500 to the Newfoundland airstrip for development.
Junkers W 33
The Junkers W 33 was a German-built singled-engine transport aircraft. It was aerodynamically and structurally advanced for its time , a clean, low-wing all metal cantilever monoplane. Almost 200 were produced...
for $50,000 emblazoned with the logo "Queen of the Air" across the sides. Plans were made for Bert Acosta
Bert Acosta
Bertrand Blanchard Acosta was a record setting aviator. With Clarence D. Chamberlin they set an endurance record of 51 hours, 11 minutes, and 25 seconds in the air. He later flew in the Spanish Civil War in the Yankee Squadron. He was known as the Bad Boy of the Air...
to fly Boll and Levine from Paris to New York for a new record, which was changed to London to New York attempt. By the time the aircraft arrived in late August 1928, the flying season was comming to an end and Levine was preoccupied with legal matters in the United States. "The Queen of the Air" Junkers was transported back to America, damaged, and resold to William Rody. He renamed it to the "de Espírito Santo Agostinho" (ESA) and attempted a three man transatlantic crossing record from Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
on 13, September 1931. The aircraft landed in the Atlantic ocean, and the aircraft's empty tanks kept the crew for afloat several days before being rescued. Boll's last effort to become a transatlantic passenger was refused by airplane owner, and entertainer Harry Richman
Harry Richman
Harry Richman was an American entertainer. He was a singer, actor, dancer, comedian, pianist, songwriter, bandleader, and night club performer, at his most popular in the 1920s and 1930s....
. Boll avoided the perils of record setting flights until 1936, when she announced she had been cured of her flying obsession.
Mabel Boll died of a stroke at the Manhattan State Hospital on Wards Island in April 1949 at the age of 54.