Monday, March 06, 2006

Mae & the Birth of Sex

Where was Mae West performing during 1923 -1925? Was she in burlesque revues?

• • In the 1920s, New York had two major circuits for a certain type of variety artist: the MUTUAL (which booked acts at the Star Theatre in Brooklyn) and the COLUMBIA (which played the Columbia Theatre in midtown Manhattan). They staged elaborate burlesque shows - - such as Lena Daley's "Miss Tabasco" sexy productions.
• • Citing the BILLBOARD INDEX, Jon Tuska said Mae appeared in "Playmates" on the Mutual Circuit [week of 2 October 1922].
• • TUSKA noted her appearance in burlesque shows such as "Girls from the Follies" [week of 5 March 1923]; "Round the Town" [December 1923]; "French Models" [February 1924]; "Miss Tabasco" [November 1924]; "Snap It Up" [March 1925]; etc.
• • TUSKA, referring to Mae's novel THE CONSTANT SINNER, said the author was undeniably familiar with life in the dives, prostitutes, jooks [brothels for Blacks], and carnal pleasures.
• • Jon Tuska published his comments in 1973, when Mae was alive, seems to have had Mae's cooperation, and he dedicated his book to her - - and yet the truthfulness of his statements was not challenged.
• • If Mae wasn't on the burlesque stump, then where WAS she? She seems to have vanished until Edward Elsner began rehearsals at Day's 63rd Street Theatre for "SEX" in 1926! The New York Herald Tribune described Mae's play as filled with "stark naked lust."
• • Maybe Mae was busy falling in love. On 22 March 1924, R.A. Bud Burmester, a 34-year-old resident of Harris County, Texas, took out a marriage license in Texas for a forthcoming marriage to the actress.
• • So where WAS Mae from 1923-25?
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• • Photo • Mae West • 1925

Mae West.

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