I've heard the phrase "hostess with the mostess" a million times, but never thought about where it came from. A patron today asked for information on Perle Mesta to prepare to introduce someone who is also a super-hostess type.
Mesta, Perle Reid Skirvin (Oct. 12, 1889 - Mar. 16, 1975), political hostess, diplomat, and advocate of women's rights
I learned that:
Because of her special style and prominence, Mesta, who was called "Madam Minister" by her staff, became the inspiration for the successful 1950 Broadway musical comedy, "Call Me Madam," a story about an American woman ambassador. The phrase "The Hostess with the Mostes'," from an Irving Berlin song in the show, provided a sobriquet that Mesta carried for the rest of her life. ("Perle Reid Skirvin Mesta."Dictionary of American Biography, Supplement 9: 1971-1975. Charles Scribner's Sons, 1994.)
According to Women in American History, "During the 1950s Mesta remained Washington's premier hostess, as the informal charm and gaiety of her entertaining attracted the cream of international society."
Here she is on the cover of Time magazine, Mar. 14, 1949.
The lyrics to the Berlin song are here.
She sounds like someone Mom would have heard of, but it was fun to discover her today and learn a bit about what she's known for.
Posted by Emily at December 18, 2004 12:31 PM