Mae West: Frankie Baker

MAE WEST was only six years old when the St Louis Post-Dispatch published their edition on 19 October 1899. This paper reported a local crime: beautiful Frankie Baker, a 27-year-old mulatto prostitute [residing at 212 Targee Street, St. Louis, Missouri], who kept an expensively decked-out 17-year-old mack, stabbed him on October 15th. A few days later, Frankie's cheating (and abusive) lover died. A blitz of headlines followed: "Woman Kills Colored Man in St. Louis."
• • The stabbing and the ensuing trial — — wherein Frankie Baker [1872-1952] was acquitted — — inspired the folksong "Frankie and Johnny."
• • In 1928-1929, Mae West sang "Frankie and Johnny" on Broadway in her show "Diamond Lil," giving the song a glamour glow, enhancing its prominence.
• • Actor John Huston, mesmerized by Mae's gutsy rendition, embarked on a cross-country trip, researching the folksong, and publishing several regional versions along with his new play "Frankie and Johnny" [N.Y.: Albert and Charles Boni, 1930].
• • The Boni brothers published John Huston's book on 1 January 1930. Originally dark-skinned, Frankie and Johnny became Caucasian in the hands of Miguel Covarrubias. In fact, Frankie bears a strong resemblance to. . . Diamond Lil!
• • However, the most famous and realistic illustration of Frankie's showdown with her John was painted by the Scotch-Irish artist Thomas Hart Benton [15 April 1889 - 19 January 1975] during the early 1930s — — and here it is — — a real beauty.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West 's song • • 1930 • •
NYC
Mae West.