Have you been enjoying Mr Selfridge?
Mr Selfridge, from Wikipedia
For the benefit of non-UK readers, Mr Selfridge is an ITV docu-drama on the life of Mr Harry Gordon Selfridge, the American founder of the fabbylous department store of the same name. He revolutionized the way we shop, putting perfumes on display, and making off the peg designs available. Since it opened in 1909, an entire glamour camp of shops have opened all around the store, making it the shopping mecca that Oxford Street is today.
Whenever I watch something like this, I always wonder how true it is, so off I go a-digging for facts, and I was surprised at what I found out!
Harry Gordon Selfridge was born in Wisconsin in 1856. He joined the retail scene early on, but it wasn’t until he married Rose Buckingham, from a wealthy family in Chicago. Rose’s family owned a prominent store in the city, and by the age of 30, Harry was a partner.
It was here that he started to pioneer changes in the retail experience, introducing strap lines that are still in use today, such as ‘the customer is always right’ and ‘only x shopping days until Christmas!’ (that one actually irritates me a little!)
Mr Selfridge and his wife visited London in 1906, and he later returned to bring a little of the American way to our shops.
Selfridge was built with a loan of £400,000. The building that houses Selfridge & Co was the first building in London to have a steel frame. Practically all large buildings are constructed in this way today – so not only leading the way in shopping, but leading the way in architecture, too.
Although Lady Mae’s character is fictional, Harry did indeed offer support to the suffrage movement. During a riot incident in Oxford Street, Selfridges was the only store to not have its windows smashed.
Harry was indeed a known philanderer. Not long after the store opened, he met a French show girl called Gaby Deslys. Any woman he fell for was showered with gifts from the store – he was reckless with money.
Gaby Deslys c.1910, from Wikipedia
Selfridge installed her in a flat in Kensington and the dalliance continued for several years, but he had tired of her by 1917. Miss Deslys had many admirers though – she was the star of a couple of films – so one can imagine that she wasn’t too fussed. She died from complications following an operation in 1920. I think that Gaby is the inspiration behind Lady Mae and Ellen Love – what do you think?
Later in life, Harry became obsessed with the Hungarian dance act the Dolly Sisters.
The Dolly Sisters, Rosie and Jenny
The Dolly Sisters were subject to a film of the same name starring Betty Grable and June Haver in 1945. It isn’t clear whether he had an affair with one or both of them, but as they were identical, I don’t suppose he was too bothered. Unfortunately they liked to live fast, and from 1918, when Harry met them, they dragged him along for the bumpy ride.
In the twenties Harry was also involved with Syrie Maugham, a celebrated interior decorator, married to Somerset of the same name. Yes, the writer! His homosexuality probably prompted her numerous affairs. Syrie herself was quite a character – Mr S was clearly attracted to strong career minded women!
Selfridges was the first store to allow customers to touch items prior to purchase – try before you buy - and to put cosmetics and perfumes on display in the front hall – something they still do today. The smell is divine. Their window displays are also legendary, although the Christmas displays of recent years have been a little disappointing.
Anna Pavlova really did visit the store, and really was lavished with gifts – apparently her favourite was the fur department. Amelia Earhart capitalised on her celebrity by bringing out her own clothing line, which was stocked by Selfridges. And Louis Bleriot’s plane really was on display for four days, after he became the first person to fly over water. Apparently it drew crowds of 150,000…I cannot imagine how exciting it must have been to see in 1909! And in 1925, Selfridges had a demonstration of the television set. Mr S had a talent for spotting the next big thing, that is for sure!
Yet to be mentioned in the series, Selfridges also had a roof garden. It was destroyed in the Blitz in 1940, and did not re-open until 2009, presumably for the centenary of the store.
Ladies Playing Crazy Golf in the Twenties (Pic from Daily Mail)
Today, you can go for a boat ride, and have a cocktail! I simply must take a trip to London to do this.
O Sole Mio… (From Selfridges website)
I have no idea how far the series will go in terms of Mr S’ life, so I dare not say too much for fear of spoiling it. Let me just say that Mr Selfridge’s real life is just as dramatic as any fictional programme could make it!
I believe Mr Selfridge will be airing in the US from the end of March. The series is based on the book ‘Shopping, Seduction and Mr Selfridge’ by Lindy Woodhead. You can read more about Mr Selfridge on the Selfridge website.
Jemima x
Great post! I do love it when things are right in a historical drama :)
Great post! I do love it when things are correct in a historical drama!
Me too!
Me too – I hate it when series are economical with the truth in the name of drama – although in his case, they needn’t be!
I read an interview with an elderly lady whose first job was in Selfridges and she said Harry Selfridge still came into the store everyday and was very sprightly with a naughty twinkle in his despite being in his 80′s! She said he was very exact about how things were displayed.
On a side note I have come across Syrie Maugham in the Biography of Stephen Tennant I am reading, hadn’t heard of her until then and here she is again!
That’s always the way isn’t it?
This is really interesting! i had never heard of any of them until now, but am very interested in watching the show now if it does come on here!! Thank you:)
No problem – do look out for it!
I’ve not been watching much TV recently but I do now want to go to Selfridges as you’ve put the idea in my mind! I didn’t even know they had a roof garden.
I know, it was closed when I first heard of it (I read it in an architect magazine at work) but I didn’t realise they had opened it – what a lovely thing to do on a summer’s day!
I have been absolutely loving mr Selfridge! but then again, give me a costume drama and I’m happy.
On a side note, ahhhh Syrie Maugham, what a woman *reminds self to write a post about her* she is one of the most inffluential female interior designers of the early 20th century I.M.O : )
x
Please do write a post about her, I would like to learn more! x
Thanks for this. I typed ‘how true is Mr Selfridge’ in google, and found you. Really interesting. Wish I had the time to do this type of research for myself, I don’t…. which makes you a god send. cheers.
Thanks Rita – that is why I chose the title I did – so that people could find it easily. Good to know it works!