Lillian Burns Sidney (wife of Director George Sidney) MGM head dramatic coach, and the "power behind the throne" at MGM for twenty years, starting in 1936- the week that Irving Thalberg was buried. 1996 Interview Part 2 of 9. Videographed by Luke Sacher, interviewed by Carole Langer at her home. "Burnsie," as she was affectionately known to the stable of "more stars than there are in heaven" had the very respectful ear of Mr. Mayer, as he was referred to by all who worked for him, and because of that for many many years she was the highest paid (earning 0000 in the 1940s -- more than a million in today's dollars) and most powerful woman executive in Hollywood (late 30s through the early 50s). As the wife for three decades (40s, 50s, and 60s through the early 70s) of director George Sidney, she wielded a social power in the film community too. George Sidney dumped Lillian very unceremoniously after the death of their friend Edward G. Robinson, and married his widow Jane. Jane had been a receptionist here in New York for a designer named Nettie Rosenstein who catered to society and movie stars. The first Mrs. Robinson, Gladys, who, like a lot of Hollywood women, used to come East to buy her wardrobes, and took a liking to Jane whom she invited to visit her and her husband in Beverly Hills. Jane accepted the invitation and ultimately moved in, ending the first Robinson marriage. The Robinsons' divorce settlement was a sensation at the time because it caused the breakup of ...
Tags: Lillian, Burns, Sidney, MGM, head, dramatic, coach, 1996, Interview
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