Mae West: Stamp Advocate

Born in September, the lifelong MAE WEST friend and man-of-the-cloth Andre Penachio [18 September 1926 — 01 April 1999] campaigned vigorously in 1997 and 1998 to have the actress honored with a postage stamp.
• • In 1995, the U.S. Postal Service launched a popular series — — "Legends of Hollywood" — — and devoted the first postage stamp to the late Marilyn Monroe. Other Tinseltown luminaries soon followed, for example, comedienne Lucille Ball and Cary Grant, Mae West's co-star.
• • "Mae West deserves to be commemorated on a stamp," said Bishop Penachio. The Italian American New Yorker first met the movie queen during World War II.
• • Bishop Andre Penachio officiated at Mae West's burial at Cypress Hills Abbey in Brooklyn, New York in 1980.
• • Until his retirement, Bishop Andre Penachio had been attached to the St. Thomas Liberal Catholic Church [147 West 144th Street, New York, NY 10030; 212-283-9566].
• • Get Involved • •
• • Do you agree that the lady should be a stamp? Write a letter! Help get Mae West commemorated on a U.S. postage stamp.
• • Here's a sample letter and here is where you should write:
• • • • To: Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
• • • • c/o Stamp Development; U S Postal Service
• • • • 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 3300
• • • • Washington, DC 20260 — 3501
• • • • SAMPLE • • • •
• • Dear Chairman — Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee:
• • Please issue a US postal stamp commemorating MAE WEST, the former Broadway star and Hollywood icon who died in 1980.
• • Comedy and entertainment are hallmarks of the popular culture of the United States of America. The U.S. Postal Department has befittingly honored screen legends Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Lucille Ball, James Cagney, Alfred Hitchcock, and Humphrey Bogart by issuing commemorative stamps depicting these adults.
• • However, none of these individuals wrote their own plays. MAE WEST wrote "Diamond Lil" and many other plays that were staged on Broadway.
• • None of these individuals wrote their own movie dialogue. MAE WEST wrote all of her own dialogue for most of the nine films she appeared in.
• • None of these individuals can match MAE WEST when it comes to numerous original quotes. Her witty sayings are often quoted in books and newspaper articles to this day.
• • Please approve the issuance of a US postal stamp commemorating a legendary American talent MAE WEST (1893 - 1980).
• • Source of this sample letter: Mae West Blog — http://MaeWest.blogspot.com
• • • • The Stamp Selection Process • • • •
• • Ideas for stamp subjects that meet CSAC criteria may be addressed to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee; Stamp Development; US Postal Service; 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 3300, Washington, DC 20260 — 3501.
• • The Committee only reads hard-copy letters. No faxes, no emails.
• • Subjects should be submitted at least three years in advance of the proposed date of issue to allow sufficient time for consideration and for design and production, if the subject is approved.
• • Submit stamp proposals in writing to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee. This allows everyone the same opportunity to suggest a new stamp subject. All proposals are reviewed by the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee regardless of how they are submitted, i.e., stamped cards, letters or petitions.
• • After a proposal is determined not to violate criteria set by CSAC, research is done on the proposed stamp subject. Each new proposed subject is listed on the CSAC's agenda for its next meeting. The CSAC considers all new proposals and takes one of two actions: it may reject the new proposal or it may set it aside for consideration for future issuance. If set aside for consideration, the subject remains "under consideration" in a file maintained for the Committee.
• • An "I Love Lucy" stamp appeared in the Postal Service's "Celebrate the Century" series. A new Lucille Ball stamp [released in 2001] is the seventh in a "Legends of Hollywood" series. Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, James Cagney, Alfred Hitchcock, and Humphrey Bogart are among other Hollywood icons who have been featured.
• • Actor Karl Malden had been a long-time member of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee, which helps choose stamp subjects and designs.
• • Who • • Why • • What • •
• • As of March 2001, these were the Committee's Stamp Subject Selection Criteria:
• • It is a general policy that U.S. postage stamps and stationery primarily will feature American or American-related subjects.
• • No living person shall be honored by portrayal on U.S. postage.
• • Commemorative stamps or postal stationery items honoring individuals usually will be issued on or in conjunction with significant anniversaries of their birth, but no postal item will be issued sooner than ten years after the individual's death. The only exception to the ten-year rule is the issuance of stamps honoring deceased U.S. presidents. They may be honored with a memorial stamp on the first birth anniversary following death.
• • Events of historical significance shall be considered for commemoration only on anniversaries in multiples of 50 years.
• • No stamp shall be considered for issuance if one treating the same subject has been issued in the past 50 years. The only exceptions to this rule are traditional themes such as national symbols and holidays.
• • On 18 September 1980 • •
• • It was on 18 September 1980 that, most unfortunately, Mae West suffered a second stroke which left her right side paralyzed.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said this: "It ain't no sin if you crack a few laws now and then — — just so long as you don't break any."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A fascinating article about gender mentioned Mae West.
• • Dr. Birute Regine writes: Some women use the negative gender schemas against them to their advantage. These women play along as if they don’t know what’s going on, when in reality they are five steps ahead of the guys. As Mae West put it, “Brains are an asset, if you hide them.”...
• • Source: Article: "Why Is It That Women Are Seen As Less Competent?" written by Birute Regine, Ed.D. for Forbes; posted on 14 September 2011
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2057th 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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