sedona legend helen frye

Lost Photos of-

Helen Varner
Vanderbilt Frye

Home for the Holidays

A very glamorous Helen Frye is shown holding a cigarette with deep red painted nails at a Martini lunch with movie star, Faye Emerson, in Washington D.C.. Helen and Jack were spending Christmas at their 70-acre home- the Doubleday Mansion, at Arlington, VA., across the Potomac from the White House. Please see this page.

Society Column Spread-- December 20, 1944

Colonel's Lady-- In Washington with her husband's family, Mrs. Elliott Roosevelt, newest daughter-in-law of the President of the United States, and Mrs. Roosevelt, is shown lunching with Mrs. Jack Frye, wife of TWA executive. Colonel Roosevelt and his bride, film actress Faye Emerson, were married in Arizona on December 3.

Society Column December 21, 1944 by Carolyn Bell

That lush, lush blonde, (you guessed it, Fay Emerson Roosevelt) had the Mayflower Lounge ga-ga yesterday while she lunched with Mrs. Jack Frye and Baroness Stackelberg. F. D.'s new daughter-in-law is even prettier than her pictures, boasting of an apple blossom complexion and heavy golden hair, caught in a fat chignon in the back. With her pale blue wool frock, she wore a taupe felt hat -- and, of course, a mink coat! The lounge usually takes celebrities very much in its stride, but Col. Elliott Roosevelt's bride had them all craning their necks for a better peek. A succession of people stopped by to meet her-- including Senator "Happy" Chandler, who gave her a hearty handshake! For more information on Helen's friend Baroness Stackelberg, please see this page.

Sedona Arizona 1950's

Socialite and local Sedona celebrity, glamorous, Helen Vanderbilt Frye, photographed in Sedona Arizona about 1960. Absolutely glowing Helen is walking her German Shepherd across Highway 89A in Uptown Sedona blowing a kiss to the camera!

Below is seen a radiant Helen, cooking at a party of a friend, Gee Wright, in mid- 1950's. Helen entertained often as well and her parties were attended by all the early Sedona celebrities.

To the right (in white) is Sedona heiress Gee Wright serving guests at her Sedona home about 1955. Attending her party with Helen Frye were newlyweds Rosie Targhetta and her husband, Frank Armijo. Like Helen and Jack Frye, Gee Wright was also an early Sedona philanthropist. For many years she served as the laundress for the Verde Valley School in Sedona. However, she didn't do it for the pay! Virtually no one in Sedona was aware that Gee did it all for free- she didn't need the money- as she lived on a trust fund. Gee also published a magazine called "Holiday on Oak Creek." She donated the land for the original Sedona Library in Uptown Sedona. Gee was generous and kind, she came from a wealthy family back east and she and her partner devoted their lives to doing good deeds and helping others. True Sedona "treasure" is found in the marvelous and generous residents who have called it home, these people created the Sedona we know today!

Helen, who always attracted a crowd wherever she went, is seen here in Uptown Sedona posing with her German Shepherd.

Helen, in her life often owned a convertible. Here she is seen leaning on the front fender of her 1952 Pontiac on a summer day. The picture was captured down on the creek, below the House of Apache Fires at the ford.

The House of Apache Fires studio was the scene of this "cheese cake" photo of Helen Vanderbilt Frye in 1954 as seen to the right.

Helen (left) entertaining company as seen standing in front of the famous terrace and fireplace of the House of Apache Fires in Sedona in the late 1950's.

Outside the House of Apache Fires with her purse over her shoulder Helen Frye is ready to go out to dinner in Sedona with friends for the evening. About 1960.

Helen Varner Vanderbilt Frye, pictured riding her Sedona Arizona- Smoke Trail Ranch, now Red Rock State Park, in about 1954. This was about the time she was engaged to movie star Tyrone Power. Please see here.

This 1935 photo of Helen when she worked for Pond's Cold Cream Company. To say she is beautiful is an understatement! Please see Eternal Girlfriends for more information and to view the entire advertisement.

For more photos of Helen Frye from her TWA years please see this page:
the Lost Photos of Jack and Helen Frye
and this page: The TWA Constellation "Star of Paris."

"Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year"
from Helen Frye in 1958
via a gathering in New Mexico!

All color photos are the exclusive copyrighted property of Rosie Armijo used here with permission. Rosie was a dear friend of Jack and Helen Frye, who at times closely shared life with them at Smoke Trail Ranch, in Sedona from 1947 on.

Thank you for your interest in
Sedona Legend Helen Frye