Mae West: Do Strange Things

The tuneful trademark adopted by MAE WEST — — the jaunty number she performed and reinvented during her long career was — — "Frankie and Johnny." Nonetheless, another song inspired her and held a place in her heart. The composer died in the month of September — — on 5 September 1896 — — three years after she was born, but he was an indelible influence.
• • The Philadelphia native was best known as musical director for Charles Hoyt, whom he joined in 1883. Percy Gaunt composed the scores for several of Hoyt's farce-comedies, most notably "A Trip to Chinatown" (1891), which included “The Bowery,” “Reuben and Cynthia” (retrofitted from an older hit), and “Push Dem Clouds Away” (played at Gaunt's funeral by an organ‐grinder).
• • As a teenager, Mae was cast in the Broadway musical "A Winsome Widow," which was onstage from 11 April 1912 — 7 September 1912. "A Winsome Widow" was the retooling of a far more successful Broadway show "A Trip To Chinatown" — — a solid-gold sensation for Charles Hale Hoyt [1859 — 1900] which opened at Broadway’s Madison Square Theater on 9 November 1891 and ran for 657 performances (close to two years) on East 24th Street and Madison Avenue.
• • Well after the curtains came down, Gaunt's long-lasting chart-topper refused to die. Numerous song sheets kept selling, making the lyrics familiar to anyone who heard it sung at a party, revived by a barbershop quartet, plinked out for a group of saloon scholars in a barroom. Ironically, even though this patently "down low" New York City song had absolutely nothing to do with the plot of "A Trip to Chinatown," a show set in San Francisco, the number was so popular that it proved to be a major factor in the show's success. Set in three-quarter time, the comical lyrics warned good citizens about the dangers of Mae West's favorite part of town, the Bowery.
• • • • "The Bowery" [a short excerpt] • • • •
• • Words by Charles H. Hoyt & Music by Percy Gaunt • •
• • Published by T.B. Harms & Co. (NYC) in 1892 • •
• • • • Verse 1 • • • •
• • Oh! the night that I struck New York,
• • I went out for a quiet walk;
• • Folks who are "on to" the city say,
• • Better by far that I took Broadway;
• • But I was out to enjoy the sights,
• • There was the Bow'ry ablaze with lights;
• • I had one of the devil's own nights!
• • I'll never go there anymore.
• • • • Refrain • • • •
• • The Bow'ry, the Bow'ry!
• • They say such things,
• • And they do strange things
• • On the Bow'ry! The Bow'ry!
• • I'll never go there anymore! . . .
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • Inspired by Hoyt's song and entirely enchanted by the Bowery, Mae was determined to revisit the glory days of "the liveliest mile" — — and so she wrote "Diamond Lil" in 1928, a most profitable trip to Chinatown. On Broadway in 1928, "The Bowery" was played onstage by the character Ragtime Kelly (actor and pianist Pat Whalen). During the month of September 1928, the show closed and began its regional tour.
• • Born in 1852, Percy Gaunt died in Palenville, NY on 5 September 1896 at age 44. His early death deprived the musical theatre of a promising melodist.
• • 70 Birthday Candles Lit for Raquel Welch • •
• • Happy Birthday to Raquel Welch, whose career was not boosted by "Myra Breckinridge" [1970]. Born on 5 September 1940, the former model is 70 years old today. When they co-starred together, Mae West was 77 years old. Think about it, honey.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1928 • •
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