the outrageous alla nazimova started life in the crimea in 1879 as mariam edez adelaida leventon in an abusive household. she spent most of her childhood in foster care or with relatives. she was a major star in moscow & st. petersburg by 1903 and made her debut on broadway in 1906 in ibsen's hedda gabler and a doll's house. in 1916 she made her screen debut with war brides. she would go on to do 11 films over a 3 year period, including the red lantern in 1919 and camille in 1921 with rudolph valentino. but, alla was much more famous off stage! she had a "lavender marriage" with actor charles bryant (since alla liked the ladies). she was instrumental in helping the careers of many young, beautiful women including anna may wong, jean acker and valentino's wife, natacha rambova and rumors were whispered they were also her lovers. she allegedly coined the phrase "sewing circles" as a code for lesbian and bisexual actresses who wished to conceal their true sexuality.her mansion on sunset & crescent heights, built in 1919, was famous for the debauched parties she threw. in 1927 she had to sell the home known as "the garden of allah" and it became an apartment hotel.....she even rented one of the villas & continued to live there! (the apartments were gorgeous - i had a friend who rented one of them). she wrote and produced including salome in 1923 but her work was considered scandalous & was a failure at the time. her downfall would be a combination of the notorious hays code, which led to severe censorship in films, as well as her outmoded acting style. she died in los angeles at the age of 66 in 1945.