Mae West: Weldon Heyburn

In 1937, Paramount Pictures spent a record one million dollars on its MAE WEST vehicle "Every Day's a Holiday" [released as holiday fare in the USA on 18 December 1937]. Mae portrays Peaches O'Day, a turn-of-century New York City con artist who poses as a famous French chanteuse to avoid arrest. During a party scene, Weldon Heyburn played a guest.
• • Weldon Heyburn [19 September 1910 — 18 May 1951] • •
• • Born in Washington, D.C. on 19 September 1910, Weldon Heyburn decided to pursue the dramatic arts. At 17 years old, he was starring on the main stem at the Nora Bayes Theatre in "The Mystery Man," which had a respectable run in 1927. He would appear on The Great White Way thrice more between 1930 — 1936.

• • Tinseltown called. From 1930 — 1950, Weldon Heyburn was cast as an actor in 67 motion pictures. The burly six-footer was often used for authority roles such as a constable, henchman, or a military man in uniform. During his two decades in the screen trade, his chances to play supporting roles gradually shifted and downsized to mere bit parts.
• • When Weldon Heyburn worked with Mae in "Every Day's a Holiday," he was used in a crowd scene as another guest at a party.
• • He did interrupt his film career during World War II by serving in the United States Army Signal Corps.
• • Active until the end of his life, he appeared in the crime drama "The Great Jewel Robber" [1950]. So many of his cast mates on this Warner Bros. project had had the privilege of working with Mae West, for instance, Bess Flowers, Art Foster, Don C. Harvey, Edward Hearn, and Larry Steers.
• • Weldon Heyburn got pneumonia. He died in Los Angeles, California on Friday, 18 May 1951. He was only 40 years old.  This military veteran is buried at Arlington National Cemetery (Section 7, Site 8094).
• • On Friday, 17 May 1935 • •
• • "Goin’ to Town" was released by Paramount Pictures on the weekend — — on Friday, 17 May 1935.
• • On Sunday, 17 May 1936 in Los Angeles • •
• • An article on "Klondike Annie" was in The Los Angeles Times, Sunday, 17 May 1936.
• • On Sunday, 17 May 1936 in Texas • •
• • "Klondike Annie" was onscreen at the Palace movie house starting on Sunday, May 17th and there was a write-up on Mae West's latest film in The Canadian Record (in Canadian, Texas) three days before.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I am not defending the tricky woman, but if she is forced to battle for the place due to her, she cannot be condemned for using any ruse she can." 
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Variety mentioned Mae West.
• • "Mae West's New Act" • •
• • Mae West is to make another try with a new act opening May 17th. The new turn is by Tommy Gray.
• • Source: Item in Variety; published on Wednesday, 28.April.1920
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2651st blog post. Unlike many blogs, which draw upon reprinted content from a newspaper or a magazine and/ or summaries, links, or photos, the mainstay of this blog is its fresh material focused on the life and career of Mae West, herself an American original.

• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West: Lee Kohlmar

In the MAE WEST classic "She Done Him Wrong" [1933], the buxom Bowery beauty famously drawls, "When women go wrong, men go right after them!" The casting office gave Lee Kohlmar the modest role of Jacobson, one of Gus Jordan's "saloon scholars."
• • Lee Kohlmar [27 February 1873 — 14 May 1946] • •
• • Born in Nuremberg, Germany on 27 February 1873, Kohlmar entered the young film industry in 1916, directing nine short silent movies between 1916 — 1921.
• • Deciding that he also wanted to act, he got involved in stage plays produced on Broadway. He was seen in both dramas and musical comedies between 1922 — 1931, often portraying a German or Eastern European character.

• • This versatile thespian also made himself at home on the silver screen, appearing in more than 50 cinema titles between 1916 — 1941, usually hired for minor roles such as the second violinist, an airship passenger, an employment clerk, or a doctor.
• • Lee Kohlmar was cast in the role of Jacobson in "She Done Him Wrong" [1932]. He bid farewell to Tinseltown at age 68 after a bit part in the Marx Brothers' film "The Big Store" [1941]. While working in this boisterous musical comedy, Kohlmar rubbed shoulders with cast mate Bradley Page, who had worked with Mae West in "Night After Night" [1932]. Numerous actors hired for "The Big Store" had had the privilege of working with Mae West:  Edgar Dearing, Al Hill, Kay Deslys, Jan Duggan, Charles Lane, Adrian Morris, Ted Oliver, and Dewey Robinson.
• • Lee Kohlmar died in Hollywood from a heart attack in May — — on Tuesday, 14 May 1946. He was 73.
• • On Thursday, 16 May 1946 • •
• • The stage play "Ring Twice Tonight" opened in Long Beach, California on Thursday, 16 May 1946 before moving forward on its cross-country tour. The title was changed and became "Come On Up."
• • On Monday, 16 May 1966 • •
• • It was on 9 April 1974 that young Janet Damita Jo Jackson [born in Indiana on Monday, 16 May 1966] stepped onstage dressed as Mae West. The little girl was making her public debut performance at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas with the better-known members of her singing family. The eight-year-old rehearsed with her brother Michael, who gave her tips about Mae West's persona and intonations.  Happy Birthday, Janet.
• • On Monday, 16 May 2011 • •
• • Gary A. Warner writes: The Sahara Hotel and Casino, which dates to the days of Frank Sinatra's "Rat Pack" and has featured the likes of Mae West and Marlene Dietrich in its showrooms, will close on Monday, 16 May 2011.
• • Gary A. Warner adds: Hotel officials said ownership was considering its options on whether to re-brand the hotel or redevelop the aging property. ... [Source: "Sahara hotel in Las Vegas to close in May" written by Gary A. Warner, Register Travel Editor, for The Orange County Register; posted 11 March 2011].
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Since man started giving woman any sort of an even chance, the female of our species has got ahead quickly. More swiftly than has man, when you think of the comparative time woman has been free to act and think for herself."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Canberra Times mentioned Mae West.
• • "Inflation Hits Mae West" • •
• • Miss Mae West, publicised as the "girl with the 50,000 dollars treasure chest," now holds a policy for that amount from Lloyds of London. ...
• • Source: News Item in The Canberra Times; published on Wednesday, 21 May 1952
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2650th blog post. Unlike many blogs, which draw upon reprinted content from a newspaper or a magazine and/ or summaries, links, or photos, the mainstay of this blog is its fresh material focused on the life and career of Mae West, herself an American original.

• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West: The Ravens of Mae

Move over, chickadee, because an eagle-eyed Washington painter has nested his latest exhibition in the welcoming bosom of MAE WEST.  When you visit “The Ravens of Mae” at Raven Rocks — — yes, this display is online for you Mae-mavens and armchair travelers to enjoy now — — you will notice the screen siren's witticisms inspired each canvas. Fly off and see it.
• • Artist Windwalker Taibi said,  "One of the wittiest and socially edgiest women of her age, Mae West brought humor and insight during a time when America could use a laugh.  Come enjoy this lighter side of art at Raven Rocks Gallery from May 3 through June 6, 2013."
• • WHAT: “The Ravens of Mae” painted by Windwalker Taibi 
• • WHERE: Raven Rocks Gallery: Greenbank Farm, 765 Wonn Road C-101, Greenbank, WA 98253. Or visit online www.ravenrocksgallery.com
• • Photo courtesy of Raven Rocks Gallery (at Greenbank Farm on Whidbey Island, Washington)
• • On Wednesday, 15 May 1935 in the N.Y. Mirror • •
• • "Back in 1909 I was playing as a single at the Canarsie Music Hall in Brooklyn on the Fox circuit . . . One day after my performance a swell-looking woman came around back stage and told me she had a daughter who was a comer.  She had seen my act, she said, and thought I could help her kid," Frank Wallace told the reporter from the New York Mirror.
• • The kid was a sweet 16-year-old brunette named Mae West. Frank and Mae immediately began rehearsing in the cellar of the West's Bushwick Avenue residence — — or so he claimed to recall (because city records for 1909 dispute that address).
• • On Saturday, 15 May 1948 • •
• • Mae West and Jim Timony boarded the ocean liner Queen Mary on Saturday, 15 May 1948 at Southampton, England for a return voyage to New York City, arriving in their home port on 19 May 1948.
• • On Friday, 15 May 1964 • •
• • Conservative Catholic publisher Martin Quigley owned the trade journals Motion Picture Daily and Motion Picture Herald.
• • Mae West was interviewed by journalist Martin J. Quigley for Motion Picture Herald. The article appeared in the Friday, 15 May 1964 issue of this popular fan magazine devoted to the doings (and the undoing) of the major screen stars.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Of course, when I do go out, I like to sweep up a few places."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • George Jean Nathan mentioned Mae West.
• • George Jean Nathan wrote:  In some cities "Tobacco Road" has been banned largely on the score of a scene in which a Georgia cracker girl indulges in amatory antics in order to inflame a man's libido. In one or two of the very same cities Mae West's similar antics in "Catherine Was Great" which led up to one of the dirtiest bedroom scenes ever seen on the American stage has not aroused a single moralist peep.  ...
• • Source: "The Theatre Book of the Year 1945-1946" [Foreword] by George Jean Nathan
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2649th blog post. Unlike many blogs, which draw upon reprinted content from a newspaper or a magazine and/ or summaries, links, or photos, the mainstay of this blog is its fresh material focused on the life and career of Mae West, herself an American original.

• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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