Geraldine Elizabeth Carmichael

Last updated

Geraldine Elizabeth "Liz" Carmichael
Elizabeth Carmichael with model of the Dale automobile.jpg
Carmichael, 1974 or 1975, with a model of the Dale automobile
Born
Jerry Dean Michael

1927
Indiana
DiedFebruary 2004 (age 76)
Other namesKatherine Elizabeth Johnson
Occupations
  • Counterfeiter
  • thief
  • fraudster
  • corporate securities violator
Known forUnproduced Dale three wheeled car
Children10

Geraldine Elizabeth Carmichael (born 1927 as Jerry Dean Michael) was briefly an American automobile executive and was a convicted fraudster. During the 1970s energy crisis, Carmichael promoted a prototype for a low-cost fuel-efficient car via Twentieth Century Motor Car Corporation, which car was never produced, and fled with investor money. [1] She was captured in 1989, and served 18 months on fraud charges.

Contents

Early life

Geraldine Elizabeth Carmichael was a transgender woman [2] who before transitioning was known as Jerry Dean Michael since birth in 1927 through the late 1960s. [3] [4] She grew up in Jasonville, Indiana, later moving to Detroit, Michigan with her family. [3]

Relationships

According to the FBI, Carmichael married four times while identifying as Jerry Dean Michael. She was charged with desertion for leaving her first wife, Marga, whom she met while stationed in Germany, and their two children. In 1954, she married a woman named Juanita, with whom she had two children before their relationship ended in 1956. In 1958, she married a woman named Betty Sweets after knowing her for four weeks. They conceived a daughter, but the marriage ended within a year. [3] In 1959, she married Vivian Barrett Michael, her fourth wife, and together they had five children. [3] [5]

In 1961, she was arrested for counterfeiting U.S. currency in the Los Angeles, California, area. She jumped bail and went on the run in 1962 with Vivian and their children. [3] [6]

While on the run, Carmichael faked a serious car accident in an effort to shed her identity as Jerry Dean Michael. [6] She changed her name to Liz Carmichael in the late 1960s. [7] [8] She often introduced her wife, Vivian Barrett Michael, as her secretary. [9]

In 1973, still on the run from her 1961 arrest, Carmichael was working at the United States Marketing Institute (USMI), in Los Angeles. [6] There she met Dale Clifft, who had invented a three-wheeled car with low fuel consumption. With Clifft, she left the USMI to form the Twentieth Century Motor Car Corporation, whose goal was to market the unique, low-fuel-consumption vehicle. The company's main product, the Dale car, was widely covered in the press, with its claim of 70 miles per gallon coming at the time of the Arab oil embargo. [10] Carmichael falsely promoted herself as being widowed (her husband "Jim" had supposedly died in 1966), [11] and holding degrees in mechanical engineering and business from Ohio State University and Miami University, respectively. [10] [12] Twentieth Century Motor Car Corporation would ultimately prove to be fraudulent and was only in existence for four years. [13] [14]

Following accusations of financial impropriety at the Twentieth Century Motor Car Corporation, Carmichael was charged with 31 counts of grand theft, fraud, and corporate securities violations. [15] [ full citation needed ]

She went into hiding, and was featured in a 1989 episode of Unsolved Mysteries , [16] which detailed the fraud behind the Dale, for which she was a wanted fugitive. [17]

Roughly two weeks after the episode aired, a tip from a viewer led police to Dale, Texas, where Carmichael was eventually found working at a flower shop under the alias Katherine Elizabeth Johnson. [8] She was arrested, extradited to California, [7] tried and sent to prison. [8] [18] She served 18 months in a men's prison, despite having been recognized as a woman by the courts. [19] Carmichael died of cancer in February 2004. [18] [19]

On January 31, 2021, HBO premiered a four-part documentary titled The Lady and the Dale . Directors for the series are Nick Cammilleri and Zackary Drucker. The documentary has been described as "... a lot of stories—about fraud, flight, FBI manhunts, transgender politics, selective prosecution, bias in the media, and corruption in the courts." [20]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Lucy Show</i> American sitcom that aired on CBS from 1962–1968

The Lucy Show is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from 1962 to 1968. It was Lucille Ball's follow-up to I Love Lucy. A significant change in cast and premise for the fourth season (1965–1966) divides the program into two distinct eras; aside from Ball, only Gale Gordon, who joined the program for its second season, remained. For the first three seasons, Vivian Vance was the co-star.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liz Sheridan</span> American actress (1929–2022)

Elizabeth Ann Sheridan was an American actress. While best known for her roles as the nosy neighbor, Mrs. Ochmonek, on the sitcom ALF (1986–1990), and Jerry's mother, Helen, in Seinfeld (1990–1998), her decades-long career was extensive and included work on the stage and on large and small screens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheila Ryan</span> American actress (1921–1975)

Sheila Ryan was an American actress who appeared in more than 60 movies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alice Huyler Ramsey</span> Vehicular pioneer (1886–1983)

Alice Huyler Ramsey was an American who was the first woman to drive an automobile across the United States from coast to coast, a feat she completed on August 7, 1909.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vivian Blaine</span> American actress and singer (1921–1995)

Vivian Blaine was an American actress and singer, best known for originating the role of Miss Adelaide in the musical theater production of Guys and Dolls, as well as appearing in the subsequent film version, in which she co-starred with Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons and Frank Sinatra.

<i>Mrs. Harris</i> 2005 multi-national TV series or program

Mrs. Harris is a 2005 American-British made-for-television drama film written and directed by Phyllis Nagy. The teleplay, based on the book Very Much a Lady by Shana Alexander, focuses on the tempestuous relationship between cardiologist and author Herman Tarnower and headmistress Jean Harris. Produced by Killer Films, Number 9 Films, and John Wells for HBO Films, it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 16, 2005, before its broadcast on HBO on February 25, 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frances Drake</span> American actress (1912–2000)

Frances Drake was an American actress best known for playing Eponine in Les Misérables (1935).

Jean Marie Jennings was an American journalist, publisher and television personality covering the automotive industry. She was widely known for her unabashed, enthusiastic and outspoken approach; for making the industry more accessible to a broad cross-section of enthusiasts; and for mentoring a generation of automotive writers, editors and designers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twentieth Century Motor Car Corporation</span> American automobile company

The Twentieth Century Motor Car Corporation was an American automobile company started by Geraldine Elizabeth "Liz" Carmichael, in 1974, incorporated in Nevada. The company's flagship vehicle was the Dale, a prototype three-wheeled two-seater automobile designed and built by Dale Clifft. It was touted as being powered by an 850 cc air-cooled engine and featuring 70 mpg‑US fuel economy and a $2,000 price, which were popular specifications during the mid 1970s US fuel crisis. No vehicles were produced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Jordan</span> American novelist

Elizabeth Garver Jordan was an American journalist, author, editor, and suffragist, now remembered primarily for having edited the first two novels of Sinclair Lewis, and for her relationship with Henry James, especially for recruiting him to participate in the round-robin novel The Whole Family. She was editor of Harper's Bazaar from 1900 to 1913.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liz Garbus</span> American film director and producer

Elizabeth Freya Garbus is an American documentary film director and producer. Notable documentaries Garbus has made are The Farm: Angola, USA,Ghosts of Abu Ghraib,Bobby Fischer Against the World,Love, Marilyn,What Happened, Miss Simone?, and Becoming Cousteau. She is co-founder and co-director of the New York City-based documentary film production company Story Syndicate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiffany Haddish</span> American comedian and actress (born 1979)

Tiffany Cornilia Haddish is an American stand-up comedian and actress. Her breakthrough came in with a leading role in the comedy film Girls Trip (2017), which earned her several accolades and was included on The New Yorker's list of the best film performances of the 21st century. She was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2018, and The Hollywood Reporter listed her among the 100 most powerful people in entertainment in both 2018 and 2019.

<i>Womans World</i> (1954 film) 1954 film by Jean Negulesco

Woman's World is a 1954 American CinemaScope and print by Technicolor drama film about corporate America directed by Jean Negulesco and starring Clifton Webb, June Allyson, Van Heflin, Lauren Bacall, Fred MacMurray, Arlene Dahl and Cornel Wilde. The screenplay concerns three men who compete for the top job at a large company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denise McCluggage</span> American journalist

Denise McCluggage was an American auto racing driver, journalist, author and photographer. McCluggage was a pioneer of equality for women in the U.S., both in motorsports and in journalism. She was born in El Dorado, Kansas, and spent her childhood in that state. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Mills College in Oakland, California. She began her career as a journalist at the San Francisco Chronicle.

<i>Take Care of My Little Girl</i> 1951 film by Jean Negulesco

Take Care of My Little Girl is a 1951 drama film directed by Jean Negulesco and starring Jeanne Crain, Dale Robertson, Mitzi Gaynor and Jean Peters.

<i>Three Little Girls in Blue</i> 1946 film by H. Bruce Humberstone

Three Little Girls in Blue is a 1946 American Technicolor musical comedy film directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and starring June Haver, George Montgomery, Vivian Blaine, Celeste Holm, Vera-Ellen, and Frank Latimore. The 20th Century-Fox film was adapted from Stephen Powys' 1938 play Three Blind Mice and featured songs with music by Josef Myrow and lyrics by Mack Gordon. The score is notable for the first appearance of the song "You Make Me Feel So Young".

<i>Lumberjanes</i> Comic series published by BOOM! Studios

Lumberjanes is a comic book series created by Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, Gus Allen, and ND Stevenson and published via the Boom Box! imprint of Boom! Studios. The story follows a group of girls spending summer at a scout camp, and the strange creatures and supernatural phenomena they encounter there. Originally planned as an eight-part series, the comic was made an ongoing series following strong sales and critical acclaim. The comic series came to a close after 75 issues with a one-shot finale in December 2020, ending its six-year-run.

Zackary Drucker is an American multimedia artist, cultural producer, LGBT activist, actress, and television producer. She is an Emmy-nominated producer for the docu-series This Is Me, a consultant on the TV series Transparent, and is based out of Los Angeles. Drucker is an artist whose work explores themes of gender and sexuality and critiques predominant two-dimensional representations. Drucker has stated that she considers discovering, telling, and preserving trans history to be not only an artistic opportunity but a political responsibility. Drucker's work has been exhibited in galleries, museums, and film festivals including but not limited to the 2014 Whitney Biennial, MoMA PS1, Hammer Museum, Art Gallery of Ontario, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, the Hammer Museum and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liz Mair</span> American political consultant

Elizabeth Mair is an American political and communications consultant. She has worked as a journalist and commentator. She was the Online Communications Director at the 2008 Republican National Committee and has been a political strategist for a number of Republicans.

<i>The Lady and the Dale</i> 2021 American TV series or program

The Lady and the Dale is an American documentary television miniseries revolving around Elizabeth Carmichael, who launched Twentieth Century Motor Car Corporation and created a car called "The Dale". It consists of four episodes and premiered on HBO on January 31, 2021.

References

  1. ↑ "Libertarian Ripoff of the Month Dept" (PDF). The Libertarian Forum. May 1975. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  2. ↑ Ennis, Dawn. "The Trans Women Behind HBO's Tale Of This Mysterious, Audacious Automaker". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Vincenty, Samantha (1 February 2021). "The Lady and the Dale's Liz Carmichael Was a Trans Woman, Scammer, and Devoted Mom". O, The Oprah Magazine .
  4. ↑ Glans-Doré, Mari (2 February 2021). "Hun svindlet til seg millioner. Det eneste Liz Carmichael var dønn ærlig om, var egen transseksualitet". www.aftenposten.no (in Norwegian Bokmål).
  5. ↑ Chervinski, Ashley (February 1, 2021). "How Elizabeth Carmichael Went From Small Time Scams To Running An Infamous Car Company". MSN . Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 Kaplan, Michael (30 January 2021). "'Lady and the Dale' secrets: HBO revs up a wild true crime mystery". New York Post.
  7. 1 2 Skinner, Phil (February 17, 1994). "The Cockeyed Tale of the Three-Wheeled Dale" (PDF). Old Cars News and Marketplace. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 22, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2020– via 3wheelers.com.
  8. 1 2 3 Torchinsky, Jason (April 1, 2013). "Murder, Transsexuals, And The Price Is Right: The Story Of The Dale Car Hoax". Jalopnik. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  9. ↑ People Staff (April 28, 1975). "She Really Is a He: The Bizarre Liz Carmichael Auto Caper". People. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  10. 1 2 "Dale car: Elizabeth Carmichael Dale: 20th century motor car company". Petersen Automotive Museum.[ dead link ]
  11. ↑ "Liz Carmichael's Dream Buggy Turns Into A Nightmare". People. 10 March 1975. p. 14.
  12. ↑ Jedlinka, Dan (November 14, 1974). "This one may be the car of the century". Chicago Sun-Times .
  13. ↑ "McLellan Automotive Newsletter" (PDF). McLellan Automotive. December 2, 1975. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  14. ↑ "Libertarian Ripoff of the Month Dept" (PDF). The Libertarian Forum. May 1975. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  15. ↑ Automotive News. Crain Automotive Group. 1977.
  16. ↑ Unsolved Mysteries , Season 1, Episode 20 NBC. April 5, 1989
  17. ↑ Lerner, Preston; Stone, Matt (December 7, 2012). "History's Greatest Automotive Mysteries, Myths and Rumors Revealed". The New York Times . Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  18. 1 2 Foster, Pat (August 2011). "The Right to Remain Historical". Hemmings Classic Car . Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  19. 1 2 Storey, Kate (31 January 2021). "Liz Carmichael Promised the World a Three-Wheeled Car. The True Story Was Much More Complicated". Esquire.
  20. ↑ Anderson, John (28 January 2021). "'The Lady and the Dale' Review: Running on Fumes". The Wall Street Journal . Retrieved 1 February 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.