Alexander Palace Forum

Discussions about the Imperial Family and European Royalty => The Yussupovs => Topic started by: Annie on March 24, 2005, 12:28:45 PM

Title: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: Annie on March 24, 2005, 12:28:45 PM: Felix was an interesting character, and very entertaining and funny at times. What are your favorite hilarious tales of Felix's antics? Mine are the time he bought the polar bear with Ella and planned to take it back to St. P and walk it down the street like a dog, and the time he replaced his Dad's friends cigarettes with trick firework ones during the 1905 revolution and they thought an attempt had been made on their lives.
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: clockworkgirl21 on March 24, 2005, 09:15:12 PM: I like the one with the fireworks. lol. I would have LOVED to know Felix.
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: ashanti01 on March 24, 2005, 11:10:19 PM: I think my favorite story was the one where Felix SR. walked in on his son dressed up in drag and I think he was ordering a servant to do something, I can't remember the details. But I do know I laughed when I read it.
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: felix on March 26, 2005, 09:07:20 AM: In his old age, having dinner with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, wearing so much makeup that it cracked and fell onto his plate!
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: Forum Admin on March 26, 2005, 09:36:50 AM: Mine is when he went to the most exclusive restaurant in St. Petersburg, in his youth, wearing his mother's best gown and huge strand of expensive pearls including La Pelegrina (I think with GD Dmitri, but can't recall off hand for sured). He was twirling the pearls and making a scene when the string broke and hundreds of perfectly matched pearls went skittering all over the wooden floor of the place, with the waiters diving under tables trying to gather them all back up.
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: Elisabeth on March 26, 2005, 10:18:33 AM: My favorite Felix story:

The time he dressed up in drag and went to the opera, looking so beautiful that he attracted the attention of that famous ladies' man, Edward VII.
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: RichC on April 01, 2005, 12:58:32 PM: In the 1950's Felix went back to Russia as a guest of the Soviet government. At one point his soviet hosts reminded him that in Russia, there is no statute of limitations for murder -- they could still arrest him for killing Rasputin! Wouldn't that have been the irony or ironies.
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: Kostya on April 04, 2005, 12:49:56 PM: Quote
In his old age, having dinner with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, wearing so much makeup that it cracked and fell onto his plate!

this is the first time i have heard of that can i please have more information on it. thanks
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: Annie on April 04, 2005, 01:56:53 PM: Quote

this is the first time i have heard of that can i please have more information on it. thanks

I never heard anything about them being there, but I did see, I believe in Greg's book, that Noel Coward was quoted as saying this happened in his presence, and how pathetically Felix tried to hold onto his youth and beauty.

Thanks everyone for your stories! :)
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: felix on April 04, 2005, 07:42:29 PM: I read it in a book about the Duchess, I'll have to dig it out. The two couples were friendly,And another story was Wallis and Irina calling each other by their titles.
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: felix on April 05, 2005, 06:05:54 AM: The book was "The Secret Life of The Duchess of Windsor"By Charles Higham.
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: Olga on April 11, 2005, 11:57:14 AM: What about the...... [size=24]
[glb]The Melon Tale?!![/glb]
[/size]
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: Helen_Azar on April 11, 2005, 04:30:10 PM: Quote
What about the...... [size=24]
[glb]The Melon Tale?!![/glb]
[/size]

You had to bring that one up again, didn't you ;D? Olga Rodionovna, this time you be the one to elaborate for those who ask about[size=24]
[glb]The Melon Tale[/glb]
[/size] :o ;)
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: bluetoria on April 11, 2005, 04:33:48 PM: And there was I, naively thinking it was all forgotten... ::)
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: Helen_Azar on April 11, 2005, 04:41:23 PM: Quote
And there was I, naively thinking it was all forgotten... ::)

Indeed... 8)
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: lexi4 on April 11, 2005, 09:14:48 PM: I'll bite. What is the melon tale?
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: Olga on April 12, 2005, 05:51:08 AM: Quote
You had to bring that one up again, didn't you ;D? Olga Rodionovna, this time you be the one to elaborate for those who ask about[size=24]
[glb]The Melon Tale[/glb]
[/size] :o ;)

I did, because it's so funny! ;) Anybody who wants to know, IM me. ;)
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: felix on April 12, 2005, 05:09:55 PM: D.O. I would love to hear it. Wasnt that "Lovebird" crazy! F.
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: lexi4 on April 20, 2005, 09:36:14 PM: I still don't know the melon story. Any chance of hearing it?
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: Olga on April 21, 2005, 12:17:18 AM: IM me.
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: nikolai on April 22, 2005, 04:36:50 PM: You may enjoy this. In researching for my book I ran across this in the autobiography of Lady Diana Manners, aka Diana Cooper. She was at Oxford with Felix. "But the most eligible of all was Prince Felix Youssupoff.... A mystic, and of transcendent beauty, he sang to his guitar the Russian gypsy songs,...At the fancy balls he wore his eighteenth-century Russian dress of gold and pearls and sables and aigrettes, with embroidered boots and jewelled scimitar." I am told by a friend, that the famous Tatar costume in which he was photographed, is in Mexico and may be brought to the US for restoration (for what purpose I don't know!).
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: Annie on April 22, 2005, 09:04:31 PM: How did it get in Mexico??? Did he take it when he left Russia, or did the Soviets sell it? I am glad to hear it still exists. I hope to see it in an exhibit someday!You could have an exhibit of Yusupov stuff too!
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: ashanti01 on April 22, 2005, 09:40:18 PM: I think my favorite story is about Felix father's having enough with his son, and to teach him a lesson he has his servant strip Felix and throw him inside this cabinet like furnishing. While in there Felix is pounding and screaming to be let out, while the servant pours cold water on him. Finally Felix Sr orders Felix to be removed from the cabinet thinking his son has learned his lesson, only to watch as Felix runs out of the balance *naked* :oand climbs a tree. His parents try to get him to come down, but he refuses only until they swear to never again treat him in such a manner. ;D
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: felix on April 25, 2005, 11:52:40 AM: Did it work! Felix, was so bad!
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: ashanti01 on April 25, 2005, 04:53:52 PM: I couldn't stop laughing when I read that. I think Felix's father didn't know how to handle his son, and his mother was always trying to protect her son from his father's wrath. I think she may have spoiled her children way too much. But I don't think the little lesson worked.
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: lizkrasnykh on September 18, 2009, 08:48:16 AM: This was told to me by Irina's nephew, Grand Duke Mikhail Fedorovich Romanoff:

I think it was in Berlin or somewhere in Germany when Soviets exposed Yussoupoff's treasures as part of Soviet museum collections. Felix was so frustrated becuase he did not win the process of restitution of his family art pieces. He was very spontaneous and at the final day of exhibition walked in one of the exhibition halls, took two ancient Chinese vases (which were previously in his Moika palace) and walked towards the door. The guards were devastated and screamed for help, when the chief of the collection supervision rushed into the room. Felix stood still holding the vases but said in his calm voice addressing to the art supervisor: " They are lost for you anyway! You move - I drop them! You let me go - and I save them for the history!"

You know what - the guy let him leave!
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: ZackFaire13 on January 09, 2010, 10:12:01 AM: I remember reading in "The Court of the Last Tsar" that Felix's father was horrified at his son's cross-dressing and flirting with the guards, even though he himself had a handful of young male lovers. ::) I would love to have known Felix. He sounds like he'd be a fun person to hang out with.
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: Carolath Habsburg on January 09, 2010, 01:58:11 PM: Now im curious about the "melon Tale"...sorry i cant help it!!! xDDD
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: Sasha_Katerina on January 13, 2010, 06:53:46 PM: Quote from: ZackFaire13 on January 09, 2010, 10:12:01 AM
I remember reading in "The Court of the Last Tsar" that Felix's father was horrified at his son's cross-dressing and flirting with the guards, even though he himself had a handful of young male lovers. ::) I would love to have known Felix. He sounds like he'd be a fun person to hang out with.

Is the information about Ct S-E having male lovers in The Court of the Last Tsar? Do you remember exactly what it said or still have the book?
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: Constantinople on April 18, 2010, 05:00:11 AM: probably the reason it is in Mexico is because: Victor Contreras, a Mexican sculptor who, as a young art student in the 1960s met Yusupov, and lived with the family for five years. Yusupov's private papers, and a number of family artifacts and paintings are now owned by Victor.
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: Kalafrana on April 19, 2010, 05:43:20 AM: I can't help feeling a bit sorry for Felix's father. Apart from the rumours of male lovers (don't know whether there is any truth in them), he sounds a pretty conventional man. Just imagine having someone like Felix to cope with! I am reminded of my very conventional father's reaction to my brother turning up one Christmas sporting a beard and an earring!

Ann
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: Constantinople on April 19, 2010, 08:03:04 AM: I would say your brother turnıng up with a beard and earing ,is nothing compared to appearing in his mothers clothes.
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: Kalafrana on April 19, 2010, 09:41:28 AM: Indeed. I'm making the point that what to us might seem quite minor can cause terrible shock to a traditionalist papa. I can only imagine the explosion and rapid ascent to 10,000 feet if my brother had taken to women's clothes!

Ann
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: Constantinople on April 19, 2010, 12:02:16 PM: My feeling is that Papa Felix felt so lucky to marry into Russia's richest family that he wasn't in a good position to assert his authority.
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: ashdean on April 20, 2010, 09:48:29 AM: Quote from: Constantinople on April 19, 2010, 12:02:16 PM
My feeling is that Papa Felix felt so lucky to marry into Russia's richest family that he wasn't in a good position to assert his authority.
My feeling is the senior Felix was not particulary intelligent or educated apart from in military traditions....
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: Constantinople on April 21, 2010, 04:58:52 AM: Then he was doubly lucky to find such a lucrative marriage.
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: ashdean on April 21, 2010, 12:32:50 PM: But he was very handsome and I had no doubt perfect manners.
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: Kalafrana on April 21, 2010, 01:56:30 PM: Interesting that Zenaida, the greatest heiress of her day, surrounded by suitors, married Felix senior in the first place. Because most of our information about him comes from his son, who was out of sympathy with him to say the least, do we underestimate him?

Nowadays parents are supposed to love their children unconditionally, and be understanding of their foibles, but I can't see many Victorian fathers looking at the antics of a son like Felix with anything but horror, if not disgust.

Ann
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: ashdean on April 27, 2010, 03:06:04 AM: Quote from: Kalafrana on April 21, 2010, 01:56:30 PM
Interesting that Zenaida, the greatest heiress of her day, surrounded by suitors, married Felix senior in the first place. Because most of our information about him comes from his son, who was out of sympathy with him to say the least, do we underestimate him?

Nowadays parents are supposed to love their children unconditionally, and be understanding of their foibles, but I can't see many Victorian fathers looking at the antics of a son like Felix with anything but horror, if not disgust.

Ann
Zenaida married him because she no doubt fell in love with him..and love is blind.....she might have had much more in common with other suitors to whom she was less initially attracted such as the Obolensky brothers...Whatever she made her choice and seems to have been contented enough with it...
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: Gorseheart on August 16, 2010, 09:29:05 PM: I love Felix's "Character"!
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: LaDuchesse on March 16, 2012, 06:30:34 PM: Quote from: Kostya on April 04, 2005, 12:49:56 PM
Quote
In his old age, having dinner with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, wearing so much makeup that it cracked and fell onto his plate!

this is the first time i have heard of that can i please have more information on it. thanks

I read about this in Gregory King's book The Man Who Killed Rasputin. Essentially, it was that Felix was so vain he caked make up on his face to try and hide the fact that he was aging and his looks fading away. Well, one night he was having some people over for dinner and the make up kept falling from his face into his food.
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: LaDuchesse on March 16, 2012, 06:38:09 PM: I'd have to say my two favorite stories about him are how he would go around as a toddler asking "Isn't baby pretty?" and the one about how he and his brother would lock guests they didn't like in the elevator and leave them there for the servants to get.
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: ashanti01 on March 16, 2012, 07:23:58 PM: Quote from: Calypto on March 16, 2012, 06:38:09 PM
I'd have to say my two favorite stories about him are how he would go around as a toddler asking "Isn't baby pretty?" and the one about how he and his brother would lock guests they didn't like in the elevator and leave them there for the servants to get.

If I recall correctly, Felix and Nicholas would lock up their paternal grandmother in the elevator. She would become hysterical, cry for help and they would eventually "rescue her". It seemed they enjoyed the attentions they received from her for their heroic acts.
Title: Re: Your favorite wacky Felix story
Post by: Kalafrana on March 17, 2012, 09:54:42 AM: Deliberately failing the entrance exam for the Corps des Pages seems very Felix.