Monday, January 30, 2012

Mae West: Lord Byng at Tea

Lord Byng and Lady Byng were having tea with MAE WEST along with some friendly persuasion. The Straits Times in Singapore ran an article with all the particulars on page 6 on Wednesday, 30 January 1935. The headline read "Lord Byng at a Mae West Tea-Party — Star Will Be In London For Jubilee Celebration."
• • The dateline came from New York, the movie queen's hometown, and the reporter revealed that Mae West, "the bad, bad girl of the movies," is going to London. She will be there during the King's Jubilee. And she will be there at the suggestion of Viscount Byng of Vimy.
• • The NYC newsman wrote: "Miss West entertained Lord and Lady Byng at tea in her dressing room at Paramount Pictures. She soon put her guests at their ease with a few simple Westisms." ...
• • Before he left, Lord Byng suggested that she should come to London. "Sure," said Miss West. "It would fascinate me." ...
• • "Tea began formally but Miss West soon broke the ice," the journalist noted.
• • King George V [1865 — 1936] began his reign on 6 May 1910, celebrating his Silver Jubilee on 6 May 1935. Special commemorative coins and medals were struck to honor this anniversary. No doubt many speeches were made on this occasion. Eight months later the monarch died on 20 January 1936. The reign of his son King George VI (who stuttered) began on 11 December 1936. He was the father of the current monarch Queen Elizabeth, who ascended the throne in 1952.
• • Julian Byng, 1st Viscount Byng of Vimy Ridge, died one month after the royal festivities on 6 June 1935.
• • The Chicago Tribune and other American newspapers also followed this story, announcing a few times that Mae West would definitely attend the party in London. However, it was not to be — — and the busy performer would not sail for Great Britain until after World War II when she toured in her Bowery melodrama written for the stage "Diamond Lil."
• • Herbert Kenwith [1917 — 2008] • •
• • Herbert Kenwith, a director and producer for both Broadway and TV, and also a former summer stock director at McCarter Theatre in Princeton, NJ, died in the month of January — — on 30 January 2008
— — at his home in Los Angeles, California. He had been battling prostate cancer.
• • The birthdate that had been given for Herbert Kenwith was 14 July 1923. However, according to the Princeton Packet, he was 90 when he died, therefore, July 1917 seems to be the correct year.
• • During six summers, from 1947 — 1952, Kenwith produced and directed all 65 productions for McCarter Theater. The stars in his productions included Mae West and also Lucille Ball, Charlton Heston, Shelley Winters, Cesar Romero, Walter Matthau, Maureen Stapleton, Eve Arden, Constance and Joan Bennett, Paul Muni, Miriam Hopkins, Gloria Swanson, Jeanette MacDonald, Zazu Pitts, and Nancy Davis.
• • Born in New Jersey, he started his career as an actor and appeared in several Broadway productions. He took his final Broadway bow in “I Remember Mama” with Marlon Brando, produced by Rodgers and Hammerstein.
• • Herbert Kenwith was interviewed for television celebrity profiles of Mae West and Joan Crawford. He appeared in "Intimate Portrait: Mae West" [1995] and — — more recently — — in footage devoted to the career of Mae West aired by The Biography Channel.
• • Mae West Movie Trivia • •
• • An intriguing newspaper article printed in 1950, illustrated with the photos of Mae West and Jane ["The Outlaw"] Russell, explained that Mae West would co-star in a new motion picture and play the mother of Jane Russell's character.
• • Mae West and Jane Russell will team together in "Mother Knows Best," RKO Studio announced today. Mae West will portray "Mother."
• • A fascinating premise indeed from RKO — — and too bad the picture wasn't made. Jane Russell [1921 2011] was 29 years old in 1950 and Mae was in her mid-50s.
• • On Sunday, 30 January 2011 in Germany • •
• • On 29 — 30 January 2011, the Mae West sculpture at Effnerplatz (in Munich, Germany) had its final assembly.
• • On Sunday, 30 January 2011 in Florida • •
• • Words of Mae West come to life in “The Drag” • •
• • Orlando-based columnist Dawnn Behrens wrote this for Examiner.com: Originally written in 1926, the words of Mae West come to life in “The Drag” tonight [on January 30th] at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center (Studio B). Directors Michael Wanzie, John DiDonna and their group received permission from the estate of the late Mae West to present the show. It will be present tonight as the last night of an exclusive 2 night performance as part of their “Dangerous Plays Series – Giving breath to dissenting voices” series. . . .
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "When you dare you don't care. And when you care, you don't dare."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article in Maitland, Australia on an exhibit mentioned Mae West.
• • Emma Swain writes: Images depicting the sex appeal of Sophia Loren, comedic wit of Jack Lemmon and the New York neuroticism of Woody Allen have taken up space at the Maitland Regional Art Gallery.
• • Emma Swain writes: Donated by new gallery patron Pat Corrigan, the exhibition features a collection of signed photographs of Hollywood stars including Mae West, Lauren Bacall, and Mickey Rooney. “This exhibition is a real who’s who of old movie stars, but it’s also very interesting,” the gallery’s deputy director Kim Blunt said. ...
• • Source: Article: "Famous take up temporary residence at gallery" written by Emma Swain for the Maitland Mercury; posted on 30 January 2012
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2193rd 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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