Elsa Maxwell (May 24, 1883, Keokuk, Iowa – November 1, 1963, New York City) was an American gossip columnist and author, songwriter, and professional hostess renowned for her parties for royalty and high society figures of her day.
Maxwell is credited with the introduction of the scavenger hunt and treasure hunt for use as party games in the modern era ([1]). She appeared in the 1943 film, Stage Door Canteen, alongside Judith Anderson, Tallulah Bankhead, Katharine Cornell, Lynn Fontanne, Helen Hayes, Gertrude Lawrence, Alfred Lunt, Lord Menuhin, and Cornelia Otis Skinner.
Elsa Maxwell took credit for introducing Rita Hayworth to Prince Aly Khan in the summer of 1948.[1] In 1953, Maxwell published a single issue of her magazine, Elsa Maxwell's Café Society, which had a portrait of Zsa Zsa Gabor on the cover. Anne Edwards' biography of Maria Callas (Callas, 2001) and Peter Evans biography of Aristotle Onassis both claim that Maxwell introduced Callas to Onassis.[2][3] Edwards also claims that Maxwell was a lesbian who tried to seduce Callas.[4] Callas biographer Stelios Galatopoulos produced love letters from Maxwell written to Callas, who was less than receptive.[5]
From 1912 until 1963, Maxwell's lover was Scottish socialite and singer Dorothy "Dickie" Fellowes-Gordon, who over the years had affairs with British nobleman Napier Alington and the Duke of Alba. Fellowes-Gordon was Maxwell's sole heir.
  | Elsa Maxwell - Elsa Maxwell: The Mike Wallace Interview |
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