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Before MAE WEST there was Katie West.• • On 19 January 1889, in Greenpoint, Battling Jack West and Tillie Delker took their wedding vows before a local minister with Jack's sister Julia West acting as maid of honor.
• • Their first child Katie came along during August of 1891; unfortunately, the infant died. Perhaps because of this, Mr. and Mrs. West became even more attached to their second child — — Mary Jane. Named for her Irish grandmother, their second daughter was born in Brooklyn on 17 August 1893.
• • Katie West's brief life came to an end on 30 October 1891. She is in our thoughts.• • 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.
An article in Variety — — whose publisher Sime Silverman [May 1873 — September 1933] was well-known to MAE WEST — — applauded her big box office assets in Hollywood. But back in the days when Sime was slamming Mae's turns in vaudeville, his publication was housed on the East Coast at 154 West 46th Street, New York, NY 10036.• • Robert Hofler writes: It had to be the worst time to launch a new publication. Daily Variety put out its first issue on September 6th, 1933. The economically challenged year had already weathered Franklin Delano Roosevelt's inauguration, the launch of the New Deal, a bank holiday and, in Hollywood, an industry-wide pay cut of 25% to 50% for all movie-studio employees.
• • Immediately following the 1929 stock market crash, the novelty of the talkies spared Hollywood the catastrophic downturn that quickly decimated Broadway and many other businesses across the country. But in 1933, the Great Depression finally worked its lethal charm on Hollywood, too, and all the studios felt the need to cut, cut, cut in a way that had nothing to do with judicious film editing. Only MGM felt no pain. But thanks to Louis B. Mayer's sense of patriotic empathy, he called upon his staffers to join the sacrifice of across-the-board pay cuts in a way that effectively increased his company's bottom line.
• • Paramount Pictures, on the other hand, faced bankruptcy and would have closed its doors if not for sexpot Mae West, who came to the rescue with her twin laffers, "She Done Him Wrong" and "I'm No Angel," the top-grossing film of the year.
• • Early in its game, Daily Variety picked up on the naughty B.O. trend with its "Mae West Ditto Sought in Vain," an article that revealed:
• • "Success of Mae West has many Hollywood agents on the hunt for girls of the same type. Search is not only in the usual spots, but in burlesk and carney shows. So far there have been few gals of the West type uncovered, chief trouble being that those who have acquired the West hey hey are too decrepit for the camera."
• • Before Daily Variety was born to make such piquant observations, publisher Sime Silverman put out a vaudeville-focused weekly newspaper — — known simply as Variety — — beginning in 1905. Nearly 30 years later, he gambled on a daily newspaper that would pay more attention to Hollywood and the movie biz. No sooner did he bring his lucky 13th copy of the new Daily Variety to the newsstands than he died of a heart attack, at age 61, on September 22nd.
• • Indeed, 1933 was quite a year. . . .
— — Excerpt: — —
• • "Depression doesn't stop Daily Variety: Newspaper set up shop in Hollywood in 1933"
• • Byline: Robert Hofler• • Published in: Daily Variety — — www.variety.com
• • Published on: 28 October 2008
• • 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.
Where was MAE WEST during October 1937? 
• • Preparing for the release of her latest movie "Every Day's a Holiday" on 18 December 1937, Mae was busy rehearsing and taping Sam Coslow's number "Mademoiselle Fifi." The song was recorded during October 1937 with "Chorus and Paramount Studio." Wielding the baton was LeRoy Prinz. • • Native New Yorker Sam Coslow [1902 — 1982] — — educated at Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn — — was an Oscar-winning producer and songwriter. He wrote several songs for Mae West's motion pictures. These include "My Old Flame," "Troubled Waters," and "When a St. Louis Woman Comes Down to New Orleans" for "Belle of the Nineties"; "Now I'm a Lady" for "Goin' to Town"; and "Mademoiselle Fifi" for "Every Day's a Holiday."
• • Orchestra conductor LeRoy Prinz [1895 — 1983] first found work as a dance director on Broadway. Relocating to California, Prinz worked for Paramount Pictures (1933 — 1941) and Warner Brothers (1942 — 1957) among others. • • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • composer Sam Coslow • • c. 1937 • •
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Mae West.
When Variety performed its autopsy on MAE WEST's motion picture "Goin’ to Town," the film critic Abel had harsh words for almost every actor — — except Gilbert Emery. The picture was released by Paramount on 17 May 1935 and no amount of fanfare could have persuaded the critics of its merits.
• • According to the 1935 review published in Variety, this motion picture was "Mae West's poorest."
• • Since Gilbert Emery died on October 28th, let's give him his due. 
• • Born in Naples, New York on 11 June 1875, Gilbert Emery was the stage name of Emery Bemsley Pottle, an actor who appeared in over 80 movies from 1921 until his death in 1945.
• • Emery Bemsley Pottle first started out as a writer, a newspaper reporter, and an instructor in English and public speaking. Composing poems and short stories, he used "Gilbert Emery" as his pen name. He attended Amherst College, graduating in 1899.
• • This character actor, 6' 2", was often cast as an aristocrat or a distinguished gentleman.
• • On 28 October 1945, he died at age 70 in Los Angeles, California.
• • Paramount production and release. Stars Mae West. Directed by Alexander Hall. Produced by William LeBaron. Original by Marion Morgan and George B. Dowell; screenplay and dialog. Miss West. Songs, Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal; camera, Karl Struss. At the Paramount N.Y. — — week of 10 May 1935. Running time, 75 mins.
• • Cast:
• • Cleo Borden . . . Mae West
• • Edward Barrington . . . Paul Cavanagh
• • Ivan Veladov . . . Ivan Lebedeff
• • Taho . . . Tito Coral
• • Mrs. Crane Brittony . . . Marjorie Gateson
• • Buck Gonzales . . . Fred Kohler, Sr.
• • Fletcher Colton . . . Monroe Owsley
• • Winslow . . . Gilbert Emery
• • Young Fellow . . . Grant Withers
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • Paul Cavanagh and Gilbert Emery • • 1935 • •
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Mae West.
MAE WEST, who has not appeared in movies for a quarter of a century, will return to the screen early next year in a film version of her play — — "Sextet" — — in which she starred in Florida in 1961.
• • This is how A.H. Weiler began his article about Mae West, whose producer was going to be Warner Brothers Seven Arts when Abe's article was published in The New York Times forty years ago on 17 October 1968. The actress was 75 years of age when she was interviewed.• • "Sextet" — — explained Miss West — — is a comedy about a movie star who has six husbands. I appeared in it only in Florida [sic] because I didn't want to spend the time and the energy needed to bring it to Broadway. • • I am also happy to say that I'm not doing this for the money, added Mae West. I'm fortunate in having a lot of young fans, who, I suppose, have been watching my old films on TV and listening to my rock 'n' roll records such as "Way Out West" and "Wild Christmas," who have been pleading with me to do a picture. I guess you could call "Sextet" a return by popular demand. Anyway, it's very flattering. I think "Sextet" is very funny and I hope they'll think it is, too. ...— — Excerpt: — —• • Article: "Mae West Plans to Make a Movie"
• • Byline: A.H. Weiler, motion picture editor• • Published in: The New York Times• • Published on: 17 October 1968• • 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.
In 1937, MAE WEST posed for a figure of herself in wax that was created by 16-year-old sculptress Katherine Marie Stubergh — — born in San Francisco, California on 23 June 1911.
• • Her mother Katherine Stubergh was an acclaimed artist, too.
• • The younger Stubergh trained as a dancer but found that her talents were in wax likenesses. "Mae West posed for her when Katherine was only 16," said Blake Kellogg, professor emeritus of journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an amateur sculptor who studied under the Stuberghs. "The story goes that Mae West told her, 'Kid, anybody can make a piece of mud look like me shouldn’t be no dancer.’" He added that the younger Stubergh "was a master of wax figures, an artist of the first rank."
• • Katherine Marie Stubergh came from a long line of mannequin makers. At age 21 she abandoned a budding dance career to concentrate on sculpting. Most of her career was centered around Los Angeles where she did many busts of prominent people in the motion picture industry as well as bronze plaques. Her married name was Kelller at the time of her death in Honolulu on 14 May 1996.
• • Both the mother and daughter are in the news today because they once sculpted extraordinary life-size wax figures of Jesus Christ and his apostles patterned after Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece The Last Supper — — statues that have been, unfortunately, in a warehouse for 11 years.
• • When making the figures, the artists planted thousands of strands of human hair one by one into the head of each. Great attention was given to the hands, eyes, beards, as well as the facial expressions.
• • Interestingly, the backers of a new Christian art museum near the Fort Worth, Texas arts district are close to bringing these figures out of hiding soon — — perhaps by Christmas 2008.
• • 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.
In 1933, Ralph Rainger wrote the cheeky “A Guy What Takes His Time” — — a song for Lady Lou, portrayed by MAE WEST. 
• • Like Mae, Ralph Rainger [7 October 1901 — 23 October 1942] was a native New Yorker. A composer of popular music principally for films, he started out in life with the name Ralph Reichenthal when he was pursuing a legal career before deciding he'd rather be on Broadway (where he became Clifton Webb's accompanist).
• • His first hit — — "Moanin' Low," with lyrics by Howard Dietz — — was written for Webb's co-star Libby Holman in the 1929 revue The Little Show.
• • Moving to Hollywood, Rainger teamed up with lyricist Leo Robin to produce a string of successful film songs including one number that became Bob Hope's theme song.
• • In 1942, Ralph Rainger's rising star sputtered due to a fatal plane crash near Palm Springs, California. He was a passenger aboard an American Airlines DC-3 airliner that was involved in a midair collision with a U.S. Army Air Corps bomber. He was only 41 years old when he died in the month of October.• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1933 • •
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Mae West.
MAE WEST has been given a licensing make-over. Now the Empress of Sex, who once lived in Greenpoint, has become two 'personas' for a new campaign from Greenlight. 
• • California transplant, attorney Roger Richman used to represent the Mae West estate for a number of years — — but Richman did a very poor job of it. Under his quarterbacking, the Mae West brand went north, and stayed frozen and inaccessible for years. • • Recently, an oddly punctuated press release announced that "Iconic Hollywood actress Mae West is having her brand made over by Greenlight, which represents the estates of personalities such as Albert Einstein and Steve McQueen."
• • The company has spent time creating two personas to build on the star's classic presence, appearance, and sexuality to connect with today's consumers.
• • The result is both an updated contemporary classic Mae West that exudes her timeless appeal, plus a young, 'aniMae' to appeal to today's youth.
• • Greenlight partnered with NYC-based Kick Design to create the classic persona, which involved reviewing photo archives to select the right pictures to work with.
• • Hallmark is already using Mae West's voice and quotes for a musical greeting card line.
• • For 'aniMae,' meanwhile, Greenlight partnered with Jonathan Taub Design and Seattle-based Harry Briggs to create 12 new color caricatures to appeal to a younger demographic.
• • Each character is accompanied by an equally racy West quote. The first deal has been signed with BioWorld Merchandising to launch a line of signature bags and wallets to be sold in boutique shops.
— — Source: — —• • Byline: Samantha Loveday
• • Published by: Licensing Biz — — www.licensing.biz
• • Published on: 21 October 2008• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • aniMae 2008 • •
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Mae West.
MAE WEST — — who began telling everyone "My career is diamonds" eighty years ago when her play "Diamond Lil" premiered on Broadway in 1928 — — will have her own diamonds featured as part of an award-winning display of precious gems.
• • Pieces worn by Mae West, Joan Crawford, Elton John, and other notables will be on view from 25 October 2008 at the Royal Ontario Museum.
• • Lenders to this extraordinary exhibit include Tiffany, Cartier, and Van Cleef & Arpels.
• • Beginning on 4 November 2008, screen sparklers shown will include “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (1953), “To Catch a Thief” (1955), and “Diamonds are Forever” (1971).
• • “The Nature of Diamonds” will run from 25 October 2008 through 22 March 2009 in the Royal Ontario Museum: 100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6, Canada.
• • 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.
A check that was dated 3 March 1938 and signed by MAE WEST — — along with a prized still photo of a scene from the motion picture she starred in with W.C. Fields [1880—1946], "My Little Chickadee" — — will be on display and available for purchase at the 5th Annual Vintage Book, Postcard, and Paper Fair held on October 25th — 26th, 2008 in Stafford, Texas (near Houston). 
• • Sponsored by the Texas Booksellers Association, the items up for grabs will also include a letter penned by Lyndon B. Johnson.
• • The event is being held at the Stafford Centre Performing Arts Theatre and Convention Center, 10505 Cash Road, Stafford, Texas 77477. Info: 281-208-6900.• • "My Little Chickadee" — — released on 15 March 1940 in the USA — — concludes like this:
• • Cuthbert J. Twillie: If you get up around the Grampian Hills — — why don't you come up and see me sometime?
• • Flower Belle Lee: Ah, yeah, yeah, I'll do that, my little chickadee.• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1940 • •
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Mae West.
It was 75 years ago when MAE WEST was often seen in the dailies.
• • For instance, in Wyoming's Natrona County daily newspaper on page four — — the movies page — — of the 20 October 1933 issue of the Tribune-Herald, Mae West said, "Come up and see me."
• • Mae West was cupping her hands under her breasts in the motion picture advertisement for Paramount Pictures. Hubba-hubba!• • I'm No Angel was released in the USA on 6 October 1993.• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1933 • •
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Mae West.
In 1944, 22-year-old Brooklynite Richard Sylvan Seltzer landed a small part in MAE WEST's Broadway show, "Catherine Was Great."
• • Born on 29 August 1922, he was the younger of two sons of impoverished parents who were evicted from their apartment several times. More than once, Richard and his brother, Benson, lived in homes for troubled boys. Their father abandoned the family when Richard was a teenager.
• • Like many children who dream of something better, he got his start as a young actor with minor roles in several Broadway shows and was in the cast of "Dead End," which starred the Dead End Kids.
• • When the show closed in 1937, Blackwell moved to Los Angeles with his mother and brother and found work in movies, starting with "Little Tough Guy" (1938) — — a spinoff of the Broadway show he left behind. He got another small role that year in "Juvenile Court," starring Rita Hayworth.
• • Meeting Mae West in the mid 1940s was unforgettable. Shortly afterward, he met movie producer Howard Hughes, who changed his name to Richard Blackwell. Howard Hughes chose the name to sound "theatrical, polished, memorable," Blackwell wrote in his autobiography.
• • Eventually, he became "Mr. Blackwell," whose annual "worst dressed" list dressed down movie stars, music icons, and European royalty with the predilection for making a fashion faux pas. This helped turn him into a household name.
• • Blackwell died on 19 October 2008. He was 86.
• • 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.
Will someone please tell that twit Elizabeth Banks to stop taking MAE WEST's name in vain?
• • The almost over the hill 34-year-old actress, who was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on 10 February 1974, boasted to the "Showbiz" reporter for Sun Wire Services [18 October 2008] that four-letter words are already part of her vocabulary.
• • "I think it's a generational thing, partially," said Elizabeth Banks. "But, on the other hand, Mae West went for it — — and there have been many other women who've pushed the envelope."
• • Let's set the record straight. While Mae West certainly was no prude, the Brooklyn bombshell was known for wit not smut.
• • As Mae told a gentleman in a motion picture, "Remember I'm a lady — — you worm!"• • 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.
