When Maxine Dellacorte quite literally stormed the walls of Palm Beach society six decades ago, she joined a legacy of very real women who took a chance to break into a cloistered world.
But what’s the best way to do get a leg up in Palm Beach, if not to just hoist a leg up and over a coquina shell wall? A local historian has a suggestion.
Maxine, portrayed by Kristen Wiig, is at the center of the fictional Palm Beach universe in “Palm Royale,” the Apple TV+ series that premieres its second season Nov. 12.
Through “artistic embellishment and storytelling,” the series manages to bring some very real elements into its campy, soap-opera version of life on the island in the 1960s, said Rick Rose, a tourism figurehead for Palm Beach who owns several vacation rentals and leads immensely popular seasonal historical walking tours of Worth Avenue.
People visiting Palm Beach have been more curious about how to break into Palm Beach society since “Palm Royale” premiered in March of 2024, he said.
“That show, what it does, is it kind of solidifies the legend of Palm Beach,” Rose said.
In “Palm Royale,” Maxine is an eager social climber who comes to Palm Beach with aspirations to join the ritzy Palm Royale Club and find a position in Palm Beach society. In addition to Wiig, the star-studded cast features Carol Burnett, Ricky Martin, Josh Lucas, Allison Janney, Laura Dern, Amber Chardae Robinson, Leslie Bibb, Kaia Gerber and Mindy Cohn.
In Rose’s book “Palm Beach: The Essential Guide to America’s Legendary Resort Town,” he shared an insider tip that will help social climbers flying by the seats of their pants to keep those white capris clean.
“You buy a ticket a charity event,” Rose said.
Or, he suggested, pick a charity that is especially meaningful, then volunteer until invited to an event. Make a donation — “and then you’re invited to every charity event,” he said.
The first season of “Palm Royale” was heavy on the lighthearted pokes at Palm Beach’s philanthropic heart. “I think it’s kind of cool that the show also includes that aspect of Palm Beach society,” Rose said.
It comes down to showing you can spend the time and have the passion for your cause of choice, he noted.
“Look for a cause that you’re near and dear to, and support it passionately, and then you earn your way into Palm Beach society,” Rose said, adding with a laugh, “The shortcut is, you just jump over the fence into the Bath & Tennis Club, and you pretend you’re a member.”
It’s something that has happened for decades in Palm Beach, and even people from the most humble beginnings — such as Maxine, the former beauty pageant girl from Tennessee, he said.
Kristina Webb is a reporter for Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at kwebb@pbdailynews.com. Subscribe today to support our journalism.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: How to social-climb like Maxine in ‘Palm Royale’? Palm Beach historian shares insider tip
Reporting by Kristina Webb, Palm Beach Daily News / Palm Beach Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
