Leona Helmsley before the fall - 60 Minutes (1985)

She is fascinating to watch and does a better Leona than Pleshette.

My friend Gary (may he rest in peace) taped this off 60 Minutes and used to love watching the part where Mike Wallace mentions Harry’s death and Leona makes a fake-cry face like the dime-store Hecuba she was (or aspired to be) and Wallace says, “You’re vulnerable,” to which she replies (I’m paraphrasing), “Vulnerable … Vulnerable… of course I’m vulnerable, everybody’s vulnerable…” pause and then, looking Wallace dead in the eyes says, “Touch Harry, you’ll see how VULNERABLE I can be.” Crawford couldn’t have done it better. Perfection.

Good times in Cobble Hill. I miss Gary.

When she ran hotels hired Assistant Managers who looked like dead son. Never liked son's wife, cut off money to her and grandkids.

Wikipedia says she gave $5 million to two of the grandkids. So they're relationship must've recovered.

She cut off the other 2 grandkids but they eventually got millions after a lawsuit - I think they got some of the money that she originally gave to her dog.

Was she put to death? I can’t remember.

Leona's will which includes the statement: "I have not made any provisions in this Will for my grandson CRAIG PANZIRER or my granddaughter MEEGAN PANZIRER for reasons which are known to them."

r2 Harry was still very much alive, it was her son's tragic and untimely death.

Okay, Joan Crawford wannabe.

What were the "reasons which are known to them."

Yes, she was tough. She was also nasty.

I loved the print ads that showed a triumphant Leona with a cowering maid in the background.

r10 those ads were hilarious, Leona grinning like the Cheshire Cat with the hotel staff looking terrified and the hotel guests looking at her like "this bitch is crazy."