• • In 1922, Harry Richman — — a tall, slim, sophisticated musician born in Ohio — — was an unknown when Mae West gave him a big break. According to one biographer, Richman was an obscure piano man when Jim Timony approached the bachelor about auditioning as Mae's accompanist — — and to fill in the gaps by entertaining the crowd while she changed her costume. Examining the 27-year-old beanpole with apprehension, Mae asked, "Are you versatile?"
• • She hired the tall, debonair pianist with a pronounced lisp and they were soon performing together on the ritzy B.F. Keith vaudeville circuit. Despite his speech impediment, Mae urged Richman to sing and speak during their routine. "That lisp is distinctive," she said. "It could be the makin' of ya." And, sure enough, wherever their act was booked, the pair got excellent reviews.
• • But Richman decamped, running off to be Nora Bayes accompanist.
• • In 1966, his autobiography A Hell of a Life was published. In it he recounts his private and public relationship with Mae West. They remained respectful towards each other up until the end.
• • Entertainer Harry Richman [10 August 1895 – 3 November 1972] was an actor, a singer, dancer, comedian, pianist, songwriter, bandleader, and cabaret performer. He was born Harold Reichman in Cincinnati, Ohio.
• • Unlike Mae West, Richman's film career was brief and unmemorable; though he was charismatic in person, his acting skills were limited. [Of the film "Puttin' on the Ritz," critic Leonard Maltin wrote: "A songwriter drinks and goes blind — — after seeing this, you'll want to do the same".] This didn't affect Richman's popularity though; he remained a popular nightclub host, TV guest, and stage performer.
• • In early November it's a good time to remember showman Harry Richman, who died at age 75.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • none • •
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Mae West.
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