Mae West: Meant to be a vamp

Cast in the successful Broadway hit "Sometime" [October 1918 — June 1919] as Mayme Dean, a vamp whose suitors always seem to decamp, MAE WEST was in the unusual position of putting across a few comically wistful laments. Since the musical was written during the war years, when red-blooded men were scarce in New York City, presumably the duly deprived females in the audience could relate to Mayme Dean's howl of frustration.
• • Pleading for the attentions of "Any Kind of Man," Mae West sang these lyrics:
• • • I was born a scamp
• • • Meant to be a vamp
• • • If I'd had the chance I could have did
• • • Theda Bara tricks,
• • • Paralyzed the hicks
• • • Nothing could have stopped me but the lid
• • • But somehow my style has got a cramp
• • • Can't find a single soul to vamp
• • • All I want is just a little loving
• • • Just a little spooning and a squeeze . . .
• • • If the boob can walk, he don't have to talk!
• • • Send me any kind of man! ...
• • And here is the 26-year-old performer made up as a vamp, a la Theda Bara, after her appearance in Ned Wayburn's "Demitasse Revue" — — on the cover of a prestigious magazine, New York's Dramatic Mirror, 25 December 1919. Quite a front page.
• • Harrison Grey Fiske, born July 30th • •
• • Born in Westchester County (Harrison, New York) and educated at New York University, Harrison Grey Fiske [30 July 1861 — 2 September 1942] was an American theatrical manager and reporter. Fiske served as an editorial writer and dramatic critic for a number of publications such as the Jersey City-based Argus and The New York Star. In 1879 he became a contributor to the New York Dramatic Mirror, and by 1883 the proprietor.
• • The influence the Dramatic Mirror wielded was not inconsiderable. They praised Mae's performance as part of the Broadway line-up they reviewed — — and her vamp portrait even made the front cover on 25 December 1919, yes, thanks to some pressure exerted by Ned Wayburn who featured the 26-year-old brunette in his "Demitasse Revue" at the Capitol Theatre in New York City.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Goodness had nothing to do with it."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • • • To Ms Mae West on Her 85th • • • •
• • • • What right have you?
• • • • Did you pat your platinum alps
• • • • When across the electric wire
• • • • The thrilling message came
• • • • That the pelvic muscles were tranquillized
• • • • The gluteal shivers forever fridged
• • • • That in fact (O lamentable extinction!)
• • • • Elvis had gone pop. ...
• • Source: Excerpt from a long birthday poem written to Mae West by John Jordan on 17 August 1977
• • 17 July 2004 — 17 July 2011 • •
• • In mid-July the Mae West Blog celebrates its seventh anniversary. Thank you to all those Mae-mavens who come up and see Mae every day.
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2007th blog post. Unlike many blogs, which draw upon reprinted content from a newspaper or a magazine and/ or summaries, links, or photos, the mainstay of this blog is its fresh material focused on the life and career of Mae West, herself an American original.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1919 • •
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