Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Mae West: Duty to Mother

MAE WEST blamed it on her mother.
• • On Thursday, 25 April 1935, the Milwaukee Journal and other news outlets ran with an Associated Press scoop that came in hot off the wire.  The headline was: "Mae Is Serious; Duty to Mother Kept Her Unwed." The Hollywood reporter wrote this: Mae West told a hidden chapter of her life story to buttress her repeated assertions that she was never married.
• • The Hollywood reporter explained:  Aroused by the inferences drawn from a Milwaukee marriage certificate bearing her name, and by a report that a marriage license was issued in Houston, Texas in 1924 to Mae West and R. A. Burmester, the film actress told a story of devotion to her mother which kept her from marrying.
• • The Hollywood reporter continued:  "I had obligations to my mother," she said.  "I couldn't let anything interfere with them while she was alive,  and I never discussed them.  Well, she's gone now."
• • The Hollywood reporter added: Mrs. Matilda Dilker West  died four years ago. ....
• • The Hollywood reporter noted: As for other reasons, she said: "I never found anyone I liked well enough.  I might have, I suppose, if things had been different in my set-up. But I didn't."  . . .
• • On Thursday, 25 April 1935 • •
• • It was on a Thursday that Mae West's latest motion picture was released in the USA.on 25 April 1935. 
• • An enormous international cast was assembled to do justice to Mae West's ambitious screenplay "Now I'm a Lady" centered around the main character Cleo Borden, who wishes to be part of the tony horsey set. Script approval was granted, at last, by the Hays Commission on 1 April 1935. Produced by Emanuel Cohen Productions (as Major Pictures), the 74-minute comedy was released on 25 April 1935 under the new title "Goin' to Town.
• • On Thursday, 25 April 1935 in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune • •
• • "Mae West Still Denies Rumors" was the headline in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune [Florida]. 
• • HOLLYWOOD, Calif., April 25 — Associated Press  —  There may be a forgotten man  in Mae West's life, but Mae went right along denying it today. "When I get married," said Mae, a little weary over the hub-bub over a marriage she swears she never experienced, "I'll concentrate on it. And I'll be the first to announce it." ...
• • On Thursday, 25 April 1935 in the Los Angeles Examiner • •
• • Frank Wallace was runnin' around rounding up reporters — — even though it would seem that he had little to say because he had not lived with nor seen Mae since shortly after their quickie wedding in April 1911.
• • But he had suddenly decided his 1911 romance ought not to be consigned to the realm of forgetfulness (especially when his former mate had become famous and a millionaire).
• • Words, words, words. Grinding them together, Frank summoned up the void for any news man who would interview him over a nice hot lunch.
• • On Thursday, 25 April 1935, the Los Angeles Examiner ran with this exclusive: "Dancer's Story of Marriage Irks Film Star." The script that had gone off course was now front page news. Arrrggh. How that jerk can irk.
• • On Tuesday, 25 April 1950 in Pittsburgh • •
• • Pittsburgh's Nixon Theatre, almost 50 years old, had posted a huge notice:  "Final Performances, Week of April 24, 1950."  However, they went out with diamonds blazing.
• •  "The Nixon Theatre Goes West with Mae's 'Diamond Lil':  And the Sounds of Farewell Are Just a Little Off-Key," was the headline of Harold V. Cohen's thoughtful and poignant article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Tuesday, 25 April 1950.
• • On Sunday, 25 April 1982 • •
• • George Eells' Letter to the Editor (discussing Mae West and the black artists she helped break into films) was printed on page 95 in The Los Angeles Times on Sunday, 25 April 1982.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I'm for peace. I have yet to wake up in the morning and hear a man say, I've just had a good war."  
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• •  An item about coming attractions  in 1933 mentioned Mae West.
• • The Doylestown Daily Intelligencer wrote:  STRAND THEATRE, Doylestown, Pa....TODAY, George Sidney, Charlie Murray in "The Cohens and Kellys in Trouble." Added attraction, "Nothing Ever Happens" — —  A Musical...TOMORROW, Mae West in "She Done Him Wrong" with Cary Grant, Owen Moore, Noah Beery, Gilbert Roland. Added attraction, "Taxi for Two" — — A Taxi Boys Comedy.  . . .
• • Source: Advertisement: "Strand Theatre" written for the Doylestown Daily Intelligencer; published during week of April 23 — 29, 1933 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2281st 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 •  1935 • •
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1 comment:

  1. You sure know how to turn a phrase and make a reader smile over a cup of coffee reading your daily Mae West Blog, ("That jerk could irk!")

    ReplyDelete