Thursday, August 31, 2006

Love in Greenwich Village

Floyd Dell's book Love in Greenwich Village described this former speakeasy on West Ninth Street. In 1920, the regulars filed through a dark-panelled portal three steps down from the pavement. Paul & Joe's was a place where people wanted to be delivered to temptation - - or wanted sin to stay in touch.
• • Visiting Texas (Guinan) in New York at 62 West Ninth Street was a rep from the Office of the Manhattan Boro President, Shaan Khan, Community Liasion.

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• • Paying her respects was also Louise Berliner, who wrote a well-received bio of Texas Guinan that enthralled Madonna and Martin Scorsese. Gary Shapiro, "The Knickerbocker" columnist for The New York Sun, is a lawyer as well as a journalist. He wanted to hear more about the legal prowess of Maxwell E. Lopin, whose most famous client was Texas Guinan. Louise Berliner is the granddaughter of Lopin, whose work inspired her to get to the truth behind the legendary speakeasy hostess.
• • Left to right: columnist Gary Shapiro, dramatist LindaAnn Loschiavo, and biographer Louise Berliner.
• • Source: Village Restaurant • •
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• • Photo: visitors to the exhibition "Onstage Outlaws: Mae West and Texas Guinan in a Lawless Era" at Village Restaurant • • Mae West birthday gala coverage 25 August 2006 • • ANNUAL MAE WEST BIRTHDAY GALA • •

Mae West.

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

H-X Embraces Mae West

The one and only H-X, a weekly feast of hunk-a-rama images and savvy news niblets, featured The Annual Mae West Gala ever so nicely.

• • Here's what Listing Editor Martyn Dunn wrote.
• • Source: Village Restaurant • •
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• • Photo: listing in H-X of "Onstage Outlaws: Mae West and Texas Guinan in a Lawless Era" at Village Restaurant • • Mae West birthday gala coverage 25 August 2006 • • ANNUAL MAE WEST BIRTHDAY GALA • •

Mae West.

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Congress came up to see Mae!


New York, NY: "These historical images depict an impressive narrative of America's political life during the Prohibition Era," said ARTURO GARCIA-COSTAS, Manhattan Community Representative to Congressman JERROLD L. NADLER, who toured the installation ONSTAGE OUTLAWS: Mae West and Texas Guinan in a Lawless Era at Village Restaurant with chef-owner Stephen Lyle and curator LindaAnn Loschiavo. "I suggest you contact The New-York Historical Society," continued Garcia-Costas, "because that would be the perfect venue for this fascinating backward glance at New York City history and censorship."
• • Source: Village Restaurant • •
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• • Photo: Arturo Garcia-Costas viewing "Onstage Outlaws: Mae West and Texas Guinan in a Lawless Era" at Village Restaurant • • Mae West birthday gala coverage 25 August 2006 • • ANNUAL MAE WEST BIRTHDAY GALA • •

Mae West.

Friday, August 25, 2006

Is that a SUN in your pocket?


New York Sun columnist Gary Shapiro - - "The Knickerbocker" - - came up to see Mae.
• • Here's what he wrote ["Arts & Letters" section].
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Source:The New York Sun
Friday - - 18 August 2006
"On the Town" section featured two rare archival images from "Onstage Outlaws: Mae West and Texas Guinan in a Lawless Era":

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• • Photo: Mae West birthday gala coverage 24 August 2006 • • ANNUAL MAE WEST BIRTHDAY GALA • •

Mae West.

Mae Flair


New York, NY: A distinguished group came up to see Mae on August 23rd.
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• • Assemblywoman Deborah Glick sent her rep GREGORY BRENDER.

• • Former City Councilmember CAROL GREITZER attended with her spouse Joshua Vogel.

• • Hon. MARIA DERR, Chair of Community Board 2, toured the exhibition "Onstage Outlaws" along with a dozen staffers of CB2 and members - - such as a longterm CB2 member DORIS DIETHER and RICK PANSON, head of the Environmental Committee.
• • Journalists Gary Shapiro, N.Y. Sun, and Esther Tolkoff, BackStage.
• • Thank you, MAE WEST, for sending perfect sunshiny days that enhanced the events taking place during the ANNUAL MAE WEST GALA.
• • Source: Village Restaurant • •
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• • Photos: 23 August 2006 VIP Reception • • Rick Panson with writer LindaAnn Loschiavo and attorney Maria Passannante Derr • • ANNUAL MAE WEST BIRTHDAY GALA • •

Mae West.

Monday, August 21, 2006

Mae West 9th Street

New York, NY: On Sunday 20 August 2006, more than two dozen MAE WEST fans gathered on West Ninth Street.

Starting at Village Restaurant [62 West 9th Street], the group saw photographs of the eatery when it was Paul & Joe's - - the gay cabaret that inspired MAE to write her controversial play "THE DRAG," a work that kicked New York's legal machinery into gear on 9 February 1927. MAE spent that evening in Jefferson Market Police Court and was forced to stay overnight in Jefferson Market Jail.

• • The walking tour was sweetened by brunch at Village served with the Cos-MAE-Politan cocktail, garnished with a plump raspberry. Raffle prizes were carried home by handsome Terry Hofler of Riverdale, who won a silk bowtie - - "Newseum" - - courtesy of Beau Ties Ltd. of Vermont; and elegant Ellen Christine, who won a collection of TEXAS GUINAN films courtesy of the Guinan Family Archives. Ellen Christine, who runs a vintage millinery and apparel emporium [255 West 18th Street, NYC 10011], especially loves the Roaring 20s and can't wait to cosy up with "The Gun Woman" and other silents starring the speakeasy queen.
• • Thank you, MAE WEST, for sending perfect sunshiny days that enhanced the events taking place during the ANNUAL MAE WEST GALA.
• • Source: Village Restaurant • •
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• • Photo: 20 August 2006 Walking Tour • • ANNUAL MAE WEST BIRTHDAY GALA • •

Mae West.

Friday, August 18, 2006

Annual Mae West Gala


New York, NY: Wishing MAE WEST a Happy Birthday on August 17th, 2006 at Village Restaurant is even more fun in Roaring 20s attire. SCOTT SIEGEL, CONRAD BRADFORD, MARNIE BAUMER, LINDA ANN LOSCHIAVO, and broadcast legend JOE FRANKLIN [front row] appraise an engaging eyeful of cake donated by BRUNO'S BAKERY in Greenwich Village.

• • The giftbags were glorious, too.
• • Source: Village Restaurant • •
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• • Photo: Mae West birthday cake 17 August 2006 • • ANNUAL MAE WEST BIRTHDAY GALA • •

Mae West.

Monday, August 14, 2006

Anatomy: Annual Mae West Gala

Why we come together on August 17th every year:

• • Welcome to the Roaring 20s when the speakeasy flourished, talking movies were trumping vaudeville, and Mae West was a convicted felon. Why was the Brooklyn bombshell sent to jail? Her sin: writing and producing two gay plays on Broadway — and casting homosexuals. During the Prohibition Era, Mae’s actions defied New York’s penal code and violated Actors’ Equity rules.
• • She broke the law — but the law couldn’t break her. The pre-trial publicity alone made her name notorious. Her Broadway play Diamond Lil won her critical acclaim and the audience’s adoration. During the Depression, when Hollywood needed a bolt from the blue to get them out of the red, Mae West boosted the bank account of Paramount Pictures. She Done Him Wrong grossed over $2 million at the box office.

• • To celebrate a trailblazer who penned, produced, and cast her own work for the stage, the Annual Mae West Gala was born. Always set in a location that Mae West actually visited, the Gala opens on August 17th (her birthday) and presents public events that entertain and educate.
• • • • Media inquiries welcome. • • • •
• • Images for 2006 exhibition: maewest.blogspot.com — texasguinan.blogspot.com
• • The Annual Mae West Gala always takes place in a New York club, restaurant, or courtroom that the actress spent time in.
• • • • COURTING MAE WEST, LLC, based in Manhattan, is an off-Broadway producing outfit whose mission is to increase opportunities for women and female-driven plays.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • Source: Courting Mae West, LLC • •
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• • Illustration: Mae West by Alvaro • • from the COURTING MAE WEST collection • •

Mae West.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Mae West: A Lady or Shady?

A Free Exhibition on Two Film Icons Salutes the Shady Side
Jailed or jeweled, hand-clapped or handcuffed -- you get a true behind-the-scenes view.

New York, NY (PRWEB) August 3, 2006 -- Who said American history had to be pretty? During the Jazz Era, two of the most glamorous actresses -- Mae West and Texas Guinan -- were frequently photographed at premieres as well as inside police precincts, paddy wagons, courtrooms, and prison cells. Whether they were bejeweled or being jailed, Mae West and Texas Guinan were preserved on camera. Though many books have been published on both women, the striking images in this special collection have not appeared since 1935.
• • Steve Rossi, who performed onstage during the 1950s in the “Mae West Revue” (and who later teamed up with funnyman Marty Allen as Allen & Rossi), was astonished by the collection. “These candids and illustrations are quite revealing,” he said. Steve Rossi plans to be at the Gala PRESS PREVIEW taking place in New York City on August 17, 2006. Gala giftbags will be given to celebrities, the news media, and VIPs who attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

• • Sunny-side-up surprises are also in store. Though Texas Guinan (1884-1933) is remembered as a speakeasy hostess, in fact, she starred in over two dozen silent films and had leading roles in musicals at the Manhattan Opera House, Keith and Proctor's Fifth Avenue Theatre, Winter Garden, Shubert Theatre, and The Hippodrome. And though Mae West (1893-1980) is immortalized as an icon of the silver screen, she performed live in vaudeville for 27 years, and on the mainstem circuit -- at Keith and Proctor's Fifth Avenue Theatre, Winter Garden, Shubert Theatre, Hammerstein's Victoria, Folies Bergere, Century Roof, Casino Theatre, Royale Theatre, the Polo Grounds, etc. -- BEFORE Hollywood beckoned in 1932.
• • New Yorkers can feast on these rare archival images at Village Restaurant (62 West Ninth Street, NYC) during a free exhibition in August. “Onstage Outlaws: Mae West and Texas Guinan in a Lawless Era” opens to the public after a Gala Roaring-20s theme Press Preview on Mae’s birthday August 17, 2006. There is no charge to view this historic installation.
• • Mae West and Texas Guinan had secret passions that will be revealed during a walking tour on Sunday August 20th followed by brunch at Village Restaurant. Fee [tour + brunch will be $25. Brunch guests can enjoy the free exhibition with or without the tour. Info: 212-505-3355.
• • The Annual Mae West Gala always takes place in a venue that the actress had frequented.
• • • • Media inquiries welcome. • • • •
• • Images: maewest.blogspot.com — texasguinan.blogspot.com
• • The Annual Mae West Gala always takes place in a venue that the actress had frequented.
• • • • COURTING MAE WEST, LLC, based in Manhattan, is an off-Broadway producing outfit whose mission is to increase opportunities for women and female-driven plays.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • Source: Mae West press release on PRWEB • •
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• • Photo: Mae West, 1929 • • from the COURTING MAE WEST collection • •

Mae West.

Monday, August 07, 2006

Mae West: You Game?


New York, NY: The Annual Mae West Gala will award many prizes to members of the news media and celebrity guests who attend a Roaring 20s-theme Press Preview on Mae's birthday. Thanks to MerriMysteries, one winner will go home with a special edition of "Poetic Justice," a game that is played "in character." In this photo, a Blonde Bombshell in character as MAE WEST sits next to CHARLIE CHAPLIN and a flapper who may have wandered in from a speakeasy run by nightclub queen TEXAS GUINAN. One more reason to come up and see Mae during August . . . .
• • Many of Mae West’s secret loves will be revealed on Sunday August 20th during a walking tour followed by brunch at Village Restaurant. Fee [tour + brunch] will be $25. Brunch guests can enjoy the FREE exhibition with or without the tour. Information: 212-505-3355.
• • • • Media inquiries welcome. • • • •
• • Images: maewest.blogspot.com — texasguinan.blogspot.com
• • The Annual Mae West Gala always takes place in a venue that the actress had frequented.
• • • • COURTING MAE WEST, LLC, based in Manhattan, is an off-Broadway producing outfit whose mission is to increase opportunities for women and female-driven plays.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • Photo Credit: MerriMysteries.com • •
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• • Pix: "Mae West" plays MAE WEST • • "Poetic Justice" from MerriMysteries • •

Mae West.