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Is smoking back in vogue — — and is MAE WEST to blame?
• • Writing from Oklahoma, Cassie Rhea Little considers the lure of demon tobacco. She envisions Audrey Hepburn, gazing into Tiffany’s window, a dramatically long cigarette holder in hand. As Hepburn moves "through the famous 1961 film, she leaves a trace of smoke wherever she goes."
• • She adds: "Now let's think about women like Edie Sedgwick, Mae West, and Marilyn Monroe. They were all icons ... and all smokers. The bottom line — — smoking is sexy, and it always has been," according to Miss Little.
• • Here's her most dangerous admission — — and it has nothing to do with Mae West. Little explains: "As for myself, a girl who has only smoked a handful of cigs in her life, I know I feel significantly cooler when I smoke. Make fun of me for feeling that way, but I know you do, too. What really gives me the urge to light up, however, is the fact that smoking has recently shown up on the runway. . . ."
— — Excerpt:: — —
• • Op-Ed column: "Is Smoking Sexy?"
• • Byline: Cassie Rhea Little
• • Published in: The Oklahoma Daily — — www.oudaily.com/
• • Published on: Thursday — — 28 August 2008
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1928 • • NYC
Mae West.
Since MAE WEST had her eye on Tammany Hall perhaps for the entire time she lived in New York, she could spot a fixer. 
• • "Big" Tim Sullivan [23 July 1862 — 31 August 1913] was a fixer extraordinaire and a born ward-heeler. This New York politician who controlled Manhattan's Bowery and Lower East Side districts as a prominent figure within Tammany Hall was the model for Mae's character Gus Jordan in "Diamond Lil."
• • Similarly, in "She Done Him Wrong" [1933] the bejeweled chanteuse and brash entertainer Lady Lou (Mae West) works in the 1890s Bowery saloon of her boss and benefactor Gus Jordan (Noah Beery, Sr.), who has given her many diamonds.
• • Unbeknownst to Lady Lou, slick and sleazy Gus Jordan trafficks in white slavery (prostitution) and runs a counterfeiting ring (to help finance Lou's expensive rock collection). He also sends young women to San Francisco to be pickpockets. Gus works with two other crooked entertainer-assistants, Russian Rita (Rafaela Ottiano) and Rita's lover, the suave Serge Stanieff (Gilbert Roland).
• • Not as handsome as Beery and certainly far heavier, "Big" Tim Sullivan was born to poor Irish parents in the notorious Five Points neighborhood. Determined to be successful, 
"Big" Tim Sullivan cultivated careers in business and politics. Over the course of 25 years beginning in 1886, Sullivan assembled a political machine that ruled the districts of lower Manhattan. A legitimate entrepreneur in the world of entertainment, Sullivan forged an effective brand of urban politics by fusing the traditional tactics of the machine with his influence in commercial leisure and organized crime.
• • Staging theatrical entertainments and athletic competitions, handing out food and clothing to constituents, and offering employment and social services to ordinary citizens won him many followers, but Sullivan's protection of key figures in the vice economy of the Lower East Side made him a rather controversial figure. Despite his frequent use of physical intimidation, "Big" Tim nonetheless worked to expand the franchise and give the disadvantaged a voice in municipal politics.
• • Both Mae West's character Gus Jordan and Tim Sullivan were active in a number of illegal activities including prostitution, white slavery, gambling, and extortion.
• • On 31 August 1913, "Big" Tim's body was found on the tracks in the Eastchester area of the Bronx, New York.
• • Sullivan's wake was held at his clubhouse — — located at 203 Bowery.
• • More than 25,000 people turned out for his funeral at St. Patrick's Old Cathedral, New York on Mott Street. Perhaps some "mourners" turned up solely to make sure this politico was dead.
• • Tim's clubhouse was down the block from the notorious Bowery "resort" near Houston Street, namely McGurk's Suicide Hall [295 Bowery]. The second chapter of "Diamond Lil" (a 256-page novelization of the play published by Macaulay in 1932) is Suicide Hall.— — Source for some of this information: — —
• • Article: "Underworlds and Underdogs: Big Tim Sullivan and Metropolitan Politics in New York, 1889 — 1913"
• • Byline: Daniel Czitrom
• • Published in: The Journal of American History, vol. 78, no.2
• • Published on: September 1991
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1933 lobby card• • Artwork: Big Tim Sullivan was drawn by artist Pat HamouNYC
Mae West.
Come up and see MAE in Kansas City next month — — and it won't cost you any coins. Okay, that's enough for the "hard C" sound. 
• • Pre-Code cinema from the early 1930s is a category that Mae did especially well in before the Hitler of Hollywood put his foot down.
• • The Kemper Museum’s series of pre-Code films will continue with four motion pictures that will be shown on Sundays at 2:00 PM. Screenings are free.
• • September 7th is the first showing — — “Beast of the City” starring Jean Harlow and Walter Huston.
• • September 21st is the second feature — — “I’m No Angel” starring Mae West as Tira, the gal who knew you didn't need feet in order to dance. Mae knows what she wants and how to get it in this 1933 effort co-starring Cary Grant. Her unapologetic sexuality is one reason the blue noses decided Hollywood needed to police itself.
• • Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art [4420 Warwick Blvd., Kansas City, Missouri 64111]; T 816-753-5784. They offer some neat freebies, too, such as free admission and parking. Tell them you heard about this on the MAE WEST BLOG.
• • By the way, the phrase "I'm No Angel" was first uttered by the heroine of Vanity Fair [published in 1848], a novel written by William Makepeace Thackeray. Here's the line: '''Revenge may be wicked, but it's natural,'' answered Miss Rebecca. ''I'm no angel.'' And, to say the truth, she certainly was not.'
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1933 • • NYC
Mae West.
MAE WEST has Irish heritage so she would not have minded that an Irish newspaper predicted which man she would have voted for — — even though the columnist got it all wrong. A confirmed leftie, Mae even wrote fervent letters of support on behalf of the socialist Eugene V. Debs, therefore, I sincerely doubt the Empress of Sex would have marched to the tune of John McCain.
• • K. Myers wrote: Moving on to film, Clark Gable and Jimmy Stewart are easy: volunteers with the USAAF when they could easily have dodged combat, both would be McCain men. Gary Cooper, McCain also. Mae West, a McCain girl (but break the news to him gently: John, you're probably not the first). John Ford, McCain. That despicable, draft-dodging fraud, John Wayne, likewise. And Hollywood today? A sanctimonious, superstitious, witless, babbling shower of either sex, who, far from peeing in the shower, only pass their perfumed water into certain Scientologist-designed, Kabbala-approved, astrologically aligned and personally tailored receptacles.
• • K. Myers wrote: In the US, Mark Twain, with his unflinchingly pro-American views, is a modern Republican. Emerson and Longfellow, the same. Frost, I'd say, is an Obama man. Likewise, the anglophile TS Eliot. ...
— — Excerpt: — —
• • Article: "If the shower theory is right, then McCain's home and dry"
• • Byline: K. Myers — — kmyers@independent.ie
• • Published in: The Independent [Ireland]
• • Published on: 28 August 2008
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • none • • NYC
Mae West.
In Marion, Ohio, they fondly remember MAE WEST. 
• • On August 30th and 31st, 2008, Ohio theater-goers will get a chance to party like it's 1928 at the kick-off event to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Palace Theatre — — and reminisce about the Brooklyn bombshell, too.
• • Elaine Merchant, executive director of the Palace, said she and other staff have done considerable research to re-enact the opening night in 1928, as closely as possible. Merchant calls this weekend's event a rewind to the entertainment the first Palace Theatre patrons would have seen in back then.
• • Performances will include some local folks who will bring a nostalgic flavor through tumbling, comedy, and vaudeville acts suggestive of such acts at Mae West, W.C. Fields, Al Jolson, Jimmy Durante, Ethel Walters, Groucho Marx, Eddie Foy and the Seven Little Foys, and more.
• • The anniversary event will open with the silent film "Sherlock Jr." starring Buster Keaton, accompanied by music on the Palace's Mighty Wurlitzer organ played by Dennis James.
• • The Palace Theatre [276 W. Center Street, Marion, Ohio 43302] can be phoned at (740) 383-2101 and they will tell you more about their 80th Jubilee.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1927 • • NYC
Mae West.
A world-famous restaurant — — that in its heyday served Hollywood stars like MAE WEST and Jimmy Durante — — could soon return to downtown Brooklyn.
• • Joseph Chirico, who ran Gage & Tollner before closing the upscale eatery in 2004, said he plans to reopen it at a new location within two years. "It broke my heart to shut it down," said the restaurateur. He kept the naming rights but sold the original building.
— — Source: — — • • Published in: The New York Post
• • Byline: Rich Calder• • Published on: 25 August 2008
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • Established as an oyster bar and seafood house in 1879 was Gage & Tollner: 372 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1934 • • NYC
Mae West.
Among several intriguing studies on the American actress MAE WEST there is one written by Marybeth Hamilton, who holds a doctorate in history from Princeton University and teaches American History at Birkbeck College, University of London. 
• • In When I'm Bad, I'm Better, Marybeth Hamilton discusses how Mae West's former lover George Raft, who was becoming a matinee idol in Hollywood during 1932, was instrumental in getting Mae a cameo role as Maudie Triplett, his blowsy ex-girlfriend in "Night After Night." Hamilton also explains how Mae was aghast at being cast in such a colorless bit part — — and then went on to revise her dialogue and win all the applause. "If nothing else," writes Hamilton, "[Mae West] showed Paramount that they were dealing with an expert scene stealer."
• • It is not surprising that Marybeth Hamilton mentions the hatcheck girl's line: "Goodness, what beautiful diamonds!" and Maudie Triplett's famous comeback: "Goodness had nothing to do with it, dearie!" [Mae borrowed the routine from her diamond-draped pal Texas Guinan.]
• • What was left unsaid in this study (and other Mae West books) about that film scene?
• • Curiously, no writer ever mentions that Paramount made the 21-year-old actress Patricia Farley [born 22 August 1911] play the role of the hatcheck girl in blackface.
• • Take a peek. Do you remember the sepia-skinned beauty in the scene — — or not? How come no one ever mentions the deliberately darkened skin? Why not?
• • Here's another question: which house in the West 50s inspired the plot of "Night After Night" [originally titled "Number 55"]? Which heiress was raised in that stately residence? Which Pulitzer Prize-winner wrote the short story that Hollywood adapted for the screenplay? Which gangster met his death on the marble staircase?
• • Since Mae West was known to champion dark-skinned actors in her Broadway projects, it was probably assumed that the hatcheck girl in this scene was one more sepia beauty out of Harlem.
• • Production on "Night After Night" began in August 1932.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • Patricia Farley • • circa 1932 • •NYC
Mae West.
During the 1930s, MAE WEST's motion pictures had exclusive engagements at both the New York Paramount and the Brooklyn Paramount [385 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11201] near DeKalb Avenue. 
• • The Brooklyn Eagle reminds us of this: During its heyday, up to 4,000 patrons at a time sat to watch movies accompanied by “colossal” stage shows at the Brooklyn Paramount Theatre.
• • The last show on August 22,1962 attracted around 300 patrons to see a John Wayne feature.
• • Gracing its ornate stage during its reign as the mecca of Brooklyn entertainment were such celebrities as Mae West, Frank Sinatra, Liberace, Rudy Vallee, Ginger Rogers, Bing Crosby, Eddie Cantor, George Jessel, and most of the big band era orchestras.
• • Basketball fans now sit to watch Long Island University games in the former movie palace auditorium.
— — Excerpt: — —
• • Article: On This Day in History: August 22 — — Paramount’s Last Picture Show
• • By Brooklyn Eagle — — www.brooklyneagle.com/
• • Published online: 22 August 2008
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • Brooklyn Paramount • • circa 1932 • •NYC
Mae West.
It's said that the 1930s screen vixen MAE WEST was one of the first Westerners to understand 
karmic energy — — that she took all the lustful male thoughts directed her way and cultivated them like a garden.
• • Writing in The Sydney Morning Herald, Tim Elliott's article [published on 23 August 2008] actually was focused on his thoughts about actress Eva Mendes, who has "Raquel Welch hair" and who was recently cast in a remake of the classic 1930s motion picture "The Women."
• • How many think the newer version will trump the original? Raise your hand, please!
• • OK. And now we have a sweet little bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • photo courtesy of the wonderful Quinn O'Hara • • circa 1975 • •NYC
Mae West.
Time Magazine has neither been gripping nor essential reading for decades, however, this week's article on Lily Dale did mention MAE WEST.
• • Nancy Gibbs fizzes up her nothing-new topic with a presidential twist. She writes: "And in an election year haunted by all kinds of ghosts, I thought I'd check in with the people who talk to the dead all the time — — just to get a different feel for the spirits that move us."
• • In her next sentence, Gibbs lists the usual names associated with the place: A hundred years ago, the New York Times described the Lily Dale Assembly, a gated compound in far western New York State, as "the most famous and aristocratic spiritualistic camp in America." Freethinking, forward-leaning, this was a place for prophets of all kinds. Susan B. Anthony visited half a dozen times; Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt came, and Harry Houdini and Mae West, and seekers from around the world looking to explore the continuity between life and what locals refer to as "so-called death." . . .
• • Alas, "Lessons from the Spirit World" is arid and predictable. And Mae-mavens will find no further details about which building her portrait hangs in nor any mention of her fascinating relationship with the Reverend Jack Kelly. Ho-hum. I predict Ms. Gibbs will put you to sleep, dear readers.
— — Excerpt: — —
• • Article: "Lessons from the Spirit World"
• • Byline: Nancy Gibbs
• • Published in: Time Magazine — www.time.com
• • Published on: Thursday, 21 August 2008
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • none • •
NYC
Mae West.
Remember MAE WEST's rendition of "I Wonder Where My Easy Rider's Gone"?
• • On 21 August 1971, 25-year-old actress-singer Liza Minnelli performed the playful Shelton Brooks number on television's "Anthony Newley Show."
• • How many think that David Gest may have been the latest easy rider in Liza's life?
• • Judy Garland's daughter came into this world on 12 March 1946.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • none • •
NYC
Mae West.
During her live stage show (featuring a dozen bodybuilders), MAE WEST would sing "Criswell Predicts [and It's Gonna Come True]." Well, who goes to Las Vegas seeking the truth?
• • Now and then a prediction by Charles Jared Criswell (a.k.a. Jeron Criswell King) — — known by the single name Criswell — — would be accurate. For instance, he stated in 1963 that something would happen to President John F. Kennedy in November of that year that would prevent him from running for re-election.
• • More often his forecasts sounded outrageous such as his announcement that his friend Mae West would win a presidential election in the United States and land on the moon with Criswell and George Liberace (the pianist's brother).
• • A syndicated columnist, radio, and TV personality, Criswell was born in August — — 18 August 1907 in Princeton, Indiana and became intrigued by the media while working for a local newspaper as a teen.
• • By 1965, Criswell was a regular guest on The Tonight Show (with both Jack Paar and Johnny Carson) making his silly predictions.
• • He died at age 75 on 4 October 1982.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • none • •
NYC
Mae West.
MAE WEST looked at Lorenzo Tucker and saw a leading man. 
• • Born in Philadelphia on 27 June 1907, the light-skinned black actor was known in the 1920s as "the colored Valentino." Tucker claimed that the olive-skinned Italian hearthrob was, in reality, darker complected than he was.
• • Tall, broad-shouldered, and dashing, Lorenzo was tapped by Mae to play the role of the pimp Money Johnson in her controversial Broadway play "The Constant Sinner." The Shuberts refused to permit this, therefore, the Greek-American thespian George Givot played the role in blackface.
• • But Mae West wasn't through. She then cast Lorenzo Tucker in a few minor parts in the production. For example, he played a non-speaking Spaniard and walked across the stage in one scene. When a woman asks the Babe Gordon [Mae West] character who is that hunk, Babe responds, "Oh, he's Spanish — — he's my Spanish fly!"
• • This photo was taken when Lorenzo Tucker was 20 years old.
• • The actor died in August — — on 19 August 1986.• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • Lorenzo Tucker • •
NYC
Mae West.
MAE WEST was born in New York City 115 years ago on 17 August 1893.
• • To celebrate the occasion in style, the Diamond Divas led a group of two dozen Mae-mavens to several locations in Greenwich Village linked to her stage career and the work of individuals she admired such as Lillian Russell, Tony Pastor, Texas Guinan, Eugene O'Neill, and Rae Bourbon.
• • Walking Tour: "Mae West's Walk on the Wild Side" visited the former residence of Judge Amadeo Bertini, who presided over Mae's Pleasure Man trial in 1930; the first speakeasy fined for violating the Volstead Act; the infamous drag cabarets along West Third Street; and the building where Washington Square College coeds elected Mae West as their "prom girl" in 1927.
• • The August 17th event — — billed as "rain or shine" — — received the weatherman's blessing. Ideal conditions prevailed and the group found it quite pleasant to linger and enjoy the musical interludes.• • The musical program, sung by soprano Marlena de la Mora and Sharon Weinman, included: "Everything's Coming up Mae West"; "Mon Coeur S' Ouvre a Ta Voix"; "The Prisoner's Song"; "Frankie and Johnny"; "Come Down Ma Evening Star"; "I Could Have Danced All Night"; "Gentleman Jimmy"; and a grand finale taken from the score of "Diamond Lil."
• • Joining the tour group yesterday was the cast of "Courting Mae West" — — Yvonne Sayers, Neal Sims, Gloria Buccino, Mary Murphy, and Steven Viola.• • This outdoor event — — which is part of the Annual Mae West Birthday Gala — — is scheduled every August in Manhattan and open to the public.• • For info on Theatre District Tours: Seesaw864@juno.com
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West tour • • Diamond Divas Production • •
NYC
Mae West.
Go WEST, young men has been their clarion call for sixteen years now. In Los Angeles, California a group of Mae West celebrants are among the faithful who congregate, annually, on August 17th to remember her unique presence. 
• • Usually the festivities are organized by Hollywood resident Ramfis Diaz — — a 40-ish musician adorned by impressive, a-Mae-zing tattoos inspired by the Brooklyn bombshell herself. A lifelong hoarder of Mae West memorabilia, Mr. Diaz has his walls peppered with spicy images of the movie queen at her most liquorous, frisky, and engaging.
• • The merrymakers — — usually 40 to 50 guests — — track back to the "come up and see me sometime" gal via various connections.
• • Los Angeles Times reporter Kevin Thomas, a close comrade of the late icon, always attends along with Chris Basinger (a good buddy of Mae's during the 1970s, who worked at the Ravenswood and lived across the street from her), and Damon Devine, a Mae-West-iana collector since age 11 and, like Mae, born under the zodiac sign of Leo.
• • According to the divine Mr. Devine, "The rest of the revellers are mostly there out of curiosity, or attracted by the food, cake, and booze. Also a red-headed nudist seems to show up each year!"
• • A toast to Mae West [1893—1980] — — and the a-Mae-zing memories she stage-managed for each of her fans.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • On Sunday afternoon 17 August 2008, during the "Mae West's Walk on the Wild Side" walking tour, Mae-mavens and walk-abouts will visit several locations in Greenwich Village linked to the stage career of the Empress of Sex. Music associated with Mae will be sung live.
• • Walking Tour: "Mae West's Walk on the Wild Side"
• • When: 1:00 PM on Sunday — — 17 August 2008 — — rain or shine• • Meet: Village Restaurant, 62 West Ninth Street, New York, NY 10011
• • Price: $20
• • Subway: E or F [IND] train to West Fourth Street; PATH to 9th Street station
• • Attire: why not wear a Mae West-inspired hat?
• • Info: Seesaw864@juno.com
• • This event — — which is part of the Annual Mae West Birthday Gala — — is open to the public.• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • private L.A. invite courtesy of Damon Devine and Ramfis Diaz • •
NYC
Mae West.
• • Writing from Oklahoma, Cassie Rhea Little considers the lure of demon tobacco. She envisions Audrey Hepburn, gazing into Tiffany’s window, a dramatically long cigarette holder in hand. As Hepburn moves "through the famous 1961 film, she leaves a trace of smoke wherever she goes."
