Mae West: Libby "Belle"

Libby Taylor was discovered by Mae West while preparing barbecue at a Harlem eatery, Black and Gold. Mae sensed that the Chicago native would make an excellent straight woman, and soon the newcomer became a cast member.

• • Libby Taylor, who was seen in films from 1931-1953, appeared with Mae West in two vehicles. In Belle of the Nineties [1934] she played Jasmine (Ruby Carter's maid) and in I'm No Angel [1933] she was Libby (Tira's hairdressing maid).
• • Despite stereotypical casting, film historians have noted that the various black maid figures function importantly in West's Gay '90s boudoir. These women set up punchlines and function as go-betweens, confidantes, and cheerleaders. Despite the uniforms, maids in West pictures come closer to being equals than white rivals; also they function as spiritual touchstones.
• • Many of Belle of the Nineties's extras are New York pals of West's boxer father or down-on-their-luck vaudevillians she had worked with once.
• • Belle of the Nineties trivia: Supposedly, the male lead was offered to George Raft, a former New York buddy of West's who had headlined her first appearance onscreen, Night After Night.
• • "Let's face it. Belle of the Nineties will be ninety-nine precent Mae West and one-half percent George Raft," said Raft to Paramount management the second time around, who surprised the actor by agreeing.
• • West's leading men were fleshed out by Universal's Roger Pryor, and Paramount's Johnny Mack Brown and John Miljan - - all rising actors at the time.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: Mae West • • Libby Taylor • • in 1934 • •
NYC
Mae West.