Talk:Marion Davies/Archives/2014

Greek?

Beside the obvious, is there an actual good source that says he's Greek? (and I don't mean IMDB) See part of the talk on List of Greek Americans. JackO'Lantern 06:51, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

The partially-Greek heritage of Miss Davies is fairly well-known. I don't think there's any dispute. -Will Beback 07:14, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

Also, I see you removed text that said "She spoke fluent Greek". Do you think this was false? A publicity claim? -Will Beback 07:18, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

How exactly is it well known if I couldn't confirm it in any good online source, or an in-depth bio of Hearst, or Davies' own book? JackO'Lantern 07:41, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

Unless these books have been read from beginning to end we can't know for sure that it doesn't say in there that she was of Irish and Greek descent. Just because it is not found on line it does not mean that the information is false. I also came across this in the WP:V article: "Finding a good source may require some effort: Until more authors publish online, and more material is uploaded, some of the most reliable and informative sources are still available only in printed form. If you can't find a good source on the web, try a local library or bookstore. This can at times be a surprisingly fruitful

endeavour."[1] ~Mallaccaos, 13 April 2006

I think this part Greek heritage is well known becase Wikipedia made it well known, frankly. JackO'Lantern 07:41, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

Probably not...more likely because there are many Greeks that bear the last name Douras;[2][3][4]. Its Greek spellings are such: Ντούρας[5]; Δούρας[6]. Plus the fact that her sister's birth name, Irene Douras aka Reine Davies, is of Greek origins. Not to mention the Greek refrences Orson Welles keeps making: i.e. "the Jackie and Ari of their day" an Orson Welles quote; The Greek Captain in Citizen Kane; "....as though Kane were talking Greek" Citizen Kane again; the small-scale Greek temple which stands as the Douras Family burial ground in Los Angeles. Whatever, as Will Beback said her origins did not determine her destiny. ~Mallaccaos, 13 April 2006

For the record, Amazon search options do turn up everything in the book that you search for, i.e. every reference to "Greek" or "Irish". Mad Jack O'Lantern 18:52, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

As for speaking Greek - that's something else I couldn't confirm in any of the books or a good source. On the IMDB, Someone submitted "is of Greek heritage and speaks fluent Greek" to basically every person with any possible Greek ancestry, including of course such famous Greeks as Nicollette Sheridan. I'm not saying that her father wasn't of Greek heritage, I'm just saying if he was, I couldn't find anything reliable that says so, although there are plenty of sites that copy the IMDB and Wikipedia that say so. JackO'Lantern 07:39, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

These are the books I looked at, btw. They're searchable online at Amazon. Davis' autobio [7] . Hearst bio [8]. JackO'Lantern 07:41, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

Good research. I have to admit that it was interesting to imagine Davies speaking Greek. Thanks for tracking down all of this. -Will Beback 07:49, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

Thanks. I thought you'd be harder to convince. :) Also, according to both books, her father's name was Bernard (I'll change it), not Herbert. Notice the NNDB no doubt copied us and said "Herbert".[9] We are unfortunately responsible for a bit of wide-spread misinformation, out there, minor as it is. JackO'Lantern 07:58, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

I don't care what her ancestry is, so I'm easy to persuade. I don't think the nationality of her grandparents determined her destiny. -Will Beback 08:06, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

I'm a big Marion fan and whatever her ancestry is doesn't change that, but the notion she is half-Greek is pretty silly. Douras sounds a little Greek but Greeks rarely have names that brief. Ancestry.com tells us that Douras is Irish/Scottish/Welsh. Now, don't laugh, but c'mon, does Marion Davies

LOOK remotely Greek? I've seen some rare pix of her father, Barney Douras, and he doesn't look Greek. Keep in mind also that at the time Mr. Douras had the prestigious job of Magistrate in New York, it was the Irish who were very powerful. Professor Von Pie 09:36, 26 June 2008 (UTC)

Douras-Δουρας is not an uncommon Greek surname. If Wikipedia takes comments like-does Marion Davies LOOK remotely Greek- seriously, than Wikipedia is far from reliable. The following is from her bio in IMDB: Her tomb at Hollywood Forever Cemetery is often overlooked though it is an imposing structure. It is a miniature Greek temple, which is appropriate since she was of Greek heritage, on the east side of the lake very close to the grave of Tyrone Power. Her family name of Douras appears over the doorway.

Also a photo of her tomb: http://www.seeing-stars.com/imagepages/DourasGravePhoto.shtml I think that she should be added in the category Americanpeople of Greek descent. If someone else disagrees I would appreciate to hear to reasonable arguments. User:Dendritis —Preceding undated comment added 12:26, 21 October 2011 (UTC). --Dendritis (talk) 12:37, 21 October 2011 (UTC)DendritisDendritis (talk) 12:37, 21 October 2011 (UTC)

Davies's paternal grandfather, Daniel Douras/Doures, was reportedly born in Ireland. All Hallow's Wraith (talk) 17:59, 20 August 2014 (UTC)