Mae West: Alan Marshal

The final moments of Alan Marshal's life were spent with MAE WEST.

• • Mae West's last play "Sextette" (a.k.a. "Sextet") at Edgewater Beach Playhouse officially opened on Friday, 7 July 1961, however, the show was "in previews" earlier that week. Designed by Aaron Frankel, "Sextette" was a Kenley Players production.

• • The first stop for the tour of "Sextette" was at this Midwest playhouse, located in the Edgewater Beach Hotel, 5301 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago, Illinois. When Mae signed the contract on 3 May 1961, specifying her salary [$5500 a week and a 33 1/3 share of the gross], it was stated that the show would run for two weeks and "Manager acknowledges that actor's engagement hereunder is part of a tour of the play."

• • Her co-stars were Jack LaRue and Alan Marshal in addition to a larger cast that included Kit Marshal, Alan's handsome son.
• • Photo: Alan Marshal, Mae West, Kit Marshal

• • Alan Marshal [29 January 1909 — 13 July 1961] • •

• • Born in Sydney, Australia on 29 January 1909, the mustachioed actor had solid stage experience before launching his screen career in 1936.  The six-foot-one leading man was seen as a dapper military officer and in daring heroic roles opposite Greta Garbo and Irene Dunne. Supposedly, he was to portray Rhett Butler and was compared to Ronald Colman and Clark Gable.
• • His presence and potential were undermined, alas, due to a nervous condition, thus he was seen in only 24 films.  He returned to the stage and accepted 17 guest starring roles on TV [1950 — 1961].

• • While playing opposite Mae West in the Chicago production of "Sextette," Alan Marshal took ill onstage and had a heart attack.  He died on 13 July 1961. He was 52.

• • We cannot imagine that "Sextette" continued at Edgewater Beach Playhouse without Alan. Or did it?

• • George E. Carey [13 July 1924 — 21 November 1994] • •

• • In 1978, George E. Carey was cast in "Sextette" as Dockweiler, an anxious State Department official who needs a favor from Marlo Manners played by Mae West. Born in Detroit during the month of July — — on 13 July 1924 — — the bit part player was surrounded by marquee names who were navigating a nettlesome plot.

• • Carey's c.v. included more than 30 film credits; he also wrote and produced two motion pictures in the 1970s. The veteran actor was often seen in commercials, in a popular soap opera, and guest starring on TV.

• • George E. Carey died in Palm Springs, California on 21 November 1994.  He was 70.

• • On Friday, 13 July 1934 • •

• • The Advocate (in Tasmania) printed an article on 13 July 1934 about Mae West's newest motion picture. "Mae West at Burnie Theatre" began this way: Mae West, claimed to be the most spectacular figure on the stage or screen to-day, will be seen at the Burnie Theatre to-morrow night in her first Paramount starring picture, "She Done Him Wrong," a melodrama which she herself wrote. "She Done Him Wrong" is a story of a section of New York during the "gay nineties," with its collection of cabarets, "tough" men and frivolous women.
• • 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: "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough."

• • Mae West said: "A lotta issue over a little tissue."

• • Quote, Unquote • •

• • An article in The N.Y. Times quoted Mae West.

• • Abe H. Weiler wrote: Mae West, who has not appeared in movies for a quarter of a century, will return to the screen early next year in a film version of her play — — "Sextet" — — in which she starred on stage in 1961.

• • This is how A.H. Weiler began his article about Mae West, whose producer was going to be Warner Brothers Seven Arts when Abe's article was published in The New York Times almost forty-four years ago on 17 October 1968. The actress was 75 years of age when she was interviewed.

• • "Sextet" — — explained Miss West — — is a comedy about a movie star who has six husbands. I appeared in it only in Florida [sic] because I didn't want to spend the time and the energy needed to bring it to Broadway.

• • I am also happy to say that I'm not doing this for the money, added Mae West. I'm fortunate in having a lot of young fans, who, I suppose, have been watching my old films on TV and listening to my rock 'n' roll records such as "Way Out West" and "Wild Christmas," who have been pleading with me to do a picture. I guess you could call "Sextet" a return by popular demand. Anyway, it's very flattering. I think "Sextet" is very funny and I hope they'll think it is, too. ...

• • Source: Article: "Mae West Plans to Make a Movie" written by A.H. Weiler, motion picture editor for The New York Times; published on 17 October 1968

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2361st 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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