had come to “hone a lifelong practice of acting British.”īefore she married William Woodward, Jr., Ann Woodward was known as Ann Eden, and she was an aspiring actress and nightclub dancer. Years later, opining on his time in England, New York magazine would write that William Woodward Sr. Observers remarked at the inflection in his speech, which gave the impression that he was more at ease with the British royalty than the New York financiers with whom he did business. He carried a white-tipped cane, though this seemed to be an accessory of fashion more than need. On his nose rested wide- rimmed spectacles, and, taking a cue from other men in his family, he wore a sleek mustache. He not only dressed in the latest styles but added a top hat to accentuate his position in life.
His style was somewhat Continental for a man of the American establishment. And while William could not offer her marriage, he provided her, almost as recompense, gifts of money, perfume, jewelry, and fancy, glittering dresses that most days she had no occasion to wear. The relationship progressed quickly, with Ann aware from the start that he was a married man unlikely to leave his wife for a show-girl. One night after her dance, he invited her to his table for a drink. Bettmann // Getty ImagesĪnn Eden came into William Woodward Sr.’s life soon after her mother died. with his wife, Elsie, and their daughter Edith pictured at a 1938 horse race. He tried to keep these assorted companions a secret, but secrets were hard to keep in their social circles, and word sometimes reached Elsie that her husband had been seen with a number of ladies hanging from his arm. It was only the horses that gave him pleasure, and the young women who accompanied him to his various events. Everything within the household seemed to nag and needle at him. Slowly, he was retreating from his family, moving away from his 55-year-old wife, Elsie, his four daughters, his annoying sisters-in-law, and even his son. While William was always valued as a member of the powerful and prominent Woodward family, he was now becoming even more esteemed in New York society for his own accomplishments, including those on the racehorse-breeding circuit. The 1930s and the start of the 1940s were not a particularly gratifying time in the life of William Woodward Sr. He often frequented, but when Ann started working there, she made a lasting impression. It was impossible to resist her eyes-they were the color of the stormy Atlantic. She was absolutely unlike the women in his circle. Ann Eden, dancing onstage, was mesmerizing to him-charismatic and unrestrained, whether dancing provocatively on the stage or circulating among the customers in her little bunny suit. was searching for a bit more excitement than his marriage could provide.
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