Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Mae West: John Rogers

In 1936, film fans flocked to see MAE WEST in "Klondike Annie" and John Rogers was in the credits as Buddie.
• • John Rogers [28 August 1888 — 31 July 1963] • •
• • Born in  Manchester, England on 28 August 1888, John Edward Rogers was performing on The Great White Way fifteen times between 1911 — 1927. Rogers was featured in Gilbert and Sullivan's light operas, comedies, melodramas, romances, and controversial sex dramas such as the unstoppable "Rain" with Broadway's bad girl Jeanne Eagels as Sadie Thompson. 
• • The versatile Englishman transitioned to the big screen in 1929 at the age of 41.  The five-foot-seven actor was kept busy in 91 motion pictures until 1957, but never given as much screentime, despite his wonderful training in London.  He appeared on television three times in the 1950s; in the TV movie "The Merry Wives of Windsor" [1955] he played Robin.
• • John Rogers died in San Bernardino County, California at the end of July — — on 31 July 1963.  He was 74.
• • On Wednesday, 31 July 1974 • •
• • "Sex is good for you," says Mae West. And an interview published in The Australian Women's Weekly began with that provocative opening when they printed a profile of the sultry star. "I've never had anything to worry about," Mae assured the Aussie reporter. "It's always been success, success, success." ...
• • [Source: The Australian Women's Weekly on page 29; published in Australia on Wednesday, 31 July 1974.]
• • Mae West and Lloyds of London • •
• • Mae West, Frank Sinatra, and Sir Laurence Olivier were among the scores of legendary motion picture stars who followed the example of Betty Grable (who had her legs insured for a million bucks during the WW2 era) and decided to have themselves insured by Lloyds of London.
• • Save the Date: Thursday, August 16th • •
• • Thursday, 16 August 2012 will be the next Mae West Tribute in Manhattan and the evening affair will start at 6:30 pm at 155 Mulberry Street.  This year Mae-mavens will enjoy an indoor event (ahhh, air conditioning), music written by Mae West's Italian husband will be played, and attendees will be seated.
• • At the Reception, Italian wine and light refreshments will be served. The ever-popular Mae West Raffle will offer rare prizes once again to a number of lucky attendees. The public is invited.
• • Mae West was born in Brooklyn, NY on Thursday, 17 August 1893.
• • Closest MTA subway stations: Grand St. or Canal St.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said this to an Australian reporter: "I like my sexes stable."
• • Mae West wrote this: “The wages of sin are sables and a film contract.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article about a drag artist mentioned Mae West.
• • Nick DiFonzo wrote: "Eventually Rae Bourbon had his own club on Sunset Strip in L.A., where he hobnobbed with Hollywood elite such as Mae West and Bob Hope. He released dozens of comedy and bawdy-song records on several labels, including his own, UTC (Under The Counter, where one often found the risqué records in a shop)" ...
• • Source: Article: "Cutout Bin: Rae Bourbon — — Let Me Tell You About My Operation"  written by Nick DiFonzo for Houston Press; published on Friday, 31 July 2009
By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2380th 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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• • Photo:
• • Mae West • 1936
• •
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  Mae West.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Mae West: Eddy Grove

In 1944, when MAE WEST auditioned the cast who would appear with her in "Catherine Was Great," a play about a Russian ruler, it was fitting that she hired one actor from the borough of Queens, New York.
• • Eddy Grove [30 July 1917 — 28 September 1995] • •
• • Born in Queens, NY in late July — — on 30 July 1917 — — Eddy Grove was 27 years old when he appeared as a soldier in Mae West's Broadway extravaganza.  He had previously appeared in summer stock.
• • From 1951 — 1958, Eddy Grove appeared in about a dozen network TV shows such as "Playhouse 90" and "Dragnet." Afterwards, he devoted himself to teaching the dramatic arts at Julliard, the Yale Drama School, and elsewhere. After he retired, he wrote and starred in a solo show "Yiddish Tales."
• • Eddy Grove died of cancer in Washington D.C. on 28 September 1995.  He was 78.
• • Alexander Hall [11 January 1894 — 30 July 1968] • •
• • Alexander Hall directed "Goin' to Town" [1935], starring Mae West.
• • Alexander Hall was born in Boston on 11 January 1894.  After working for many years as an actor, Hall made his directorial debut in 1932. In Hollywood, Hall turned out a number of sophisticated, light-hearted movies.
• • After suffering a stroke, Alexander Hall died in San Francisco on 30 July 1968. He was 74.
• • On Friday, 30 July 1937 • •
• • The headline read: "Marriage of Mae West — Court Order Sought." And the legal battle was ever so much longer than their relationship.
• • Los Angeles, July 28 — A petition by Frank Wallace, a vaudeville performer, for an order decreeing that he and Mae West, the film star, were still man and wife, was refused by the Court today. The Court was satisfied, however, that the two had been married on April 11, 1911.
• • Miss West admitted early this month that she had married Mr. Wallace in 1911, but denied thal she had ever lived with him. She alleged that he had married again without having obtained a divorce from her.  Mr. Wallace brought an action to compel Miss West to admit their relationship and divide their community property, which, he said, exceeded £20,000.
• • [Source: The Argus on page 13; published in Australia on Friday, 30 July 1937.]
• • On Tuesday, 30 July 1957 in The N.Y. Times • •
• • Mae West sued Hollywood Confidential Magazine for defamation and the trial began in early August 1957 in Los Angeles. On Tuesday, 30 July 1957, The N.Y. Times ran an item explaining the issues at stake. Mae submitted sworn depositions to avoid testifying in person.
• • Save the Date: Thursday, August 16th • •
• • Thursday, 16 August 2012 will be the next Mae West Tribute in Manhattan and the evening affair will start at 6:30 pm at 155 Mulberry Street.  This year Mae-mavens will enjoy an indoor event (ahhh, air conditioning), music written by Mae West's Italian husband will be played, and attendees will be seated.
• • At the Reception, Italian wine and light refreshments will be served. The ever-popular Mae West Raffle will offer rare prizes once again to a number of lucky attendees. The public is invited.
• • Mae West was born in Brooklyn, NY on Thursday, 17 August 1893.
• • Closest MTA subway stations: Grand St. or Canal St.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I can't say the things other actresses say. When they say 'em, they're funny.  When I say 'em, I'm vulgar.  People seem to read double meanings into every word I speak."  
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article printed in Australia mentioned Mae West's midriff.
• • When the newspaper printed this item, Mae would have been 60 years old. Clearly, the poison pen behind this snarky sarcasm felt comfortable peek-a-booing from behind the AAP bunker.   
• • The Australian Associated Press wrote:  New York, July 28 (AAP) — Mae West, 60, opened a two-week stand at the Las Vegas, Nevada Sahara Hotel last night, selling the same kind of entertainment that launched her career 30 years ago. She wore a black sequinned gown, which left bare a not-too-trim midriff.  ...
• • Source: Item: "Not So Trim" written by AAP and syndicated; printed in The Courier-Mail on page 1; published on Thursday, 29 July 1954  
By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2379th 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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• • Photo:
• • Mae West • 1944
• •
Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
  Mae West.