Mae West: Is Once Enough?

"You only live once," MAE WEST used to say, "but if you do it right, once is enough." And at least once every year on August 17th, certain MAE-mavens come together in her honor.
• • There they are — — heavy with giftbags and light of heart — — standing in the lobby of Mae West's former residence on West 57th Street [New York, NY 10019].
• • This year's walking tour — — labelled the "Mae West Side Story" — — explored the actress's wild WESTside. Intrepid explorers set out with NYC historian LindaAnn Loschiavo, and visited three of Mae West's exotic former homes; a speakeasy where the actress socialized with bluebloods and red-blooded gun-toting gangsters such as Legs Diamond, Larry Fay, Owney Madden, "Feets" Edson, Texas and Tommy Guinan; ancient vaudeville theatres; venerable Broadway houses; and more.
• • Participants, who came from as far away as Great Britain and California, enjoyed the experience of being chez Mae where, after the final stop, the group returned to raise a flute of bubbly in her honor — — under her own roof. It was a special thrill for all, and a perfect finale to Mae's day.
• • Mae West always said, "I was born on a cool night on a hot month so I knew I could expect surprises." As the walking tour paused for a drawing of raffle prizes around the fountains at Columbus Circle, a sign flashed the New York City temperature: 62 degrees F — — on Friday 17 August 2007. Mae was in the air.
• • Photo courtesy of Mae-maven Conrad Bradford [not shown in the picture].
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West Gala fans • • 2007 • •
NYC
Mae West.