Mae West: Brooklyn Star

This fascinating article on MAE WEST was printed in the Brooklyn Downtown Star. This local weekly is a perfect place for readers to learn more about the actress, who began her career as a Brooklyn star.

• • "Mae West's Secret Italian Husband" • •

• • Tiziano Dossena wrote: There are not many times when you have the occasion to be exposed to such interesting and well researched presentations as "Mae West's Secret Italian Husband" (Thursday, 16 August 2012, 6:30 pm, at the Italian American Museum). LindaAnn Loschiavo, the speaker and the genius behind it all, is a well-known dramatist, journalist, and long-time columnist for L'IDEA Magazine, a Brooklyn based quarterly. With her stage play "Courting Mae West" just recently seen in Australia, a challenging and refreshing essay in "Anti-Italianism: Essays on a Prejudice" (NY: Macmillan, 2011), and her new book "Flirting with the Fire Gods: Writing with an Italian Accent" soon to be published, the author could have easily relaxed and enjoyed her successes, but she felt otherwise. Always willing to share the results of her research, she wanted to tell a new, wonderful story about a little known Italian immigrant.

• • Tiziano Dossena continued: From these simple premises comes the wonderful presentation above mentioned, which tells the yet untold story of Guido Deiro, born in Salto Canavese, Italy, who rose to fame for his musical skills and his entertainment genius. Guido Deiro was one of the real characters of Mae West’s life, of which Ms. Loschiavo is an undisputed expert.

• • Tiziano Dossena noted: When Guido and Mae met in Detroit in August 1913, the 26-year-old musician was a vaudeville headliner, an accordionist and a composer who recorded for the Columbia label, a star who often earned $600 a week. Mae was a hopeful 19-year-old, a singing comedienne, who opened for larger acts, and only later on became a star on Broadway and in Hollywood motion pictures. They fell in love, married, and developed a vaudeville routine together.

• • Tiziano Dossena explained: LindaAnn Loschiavo has found his original recordings and will play them at the event. In the wonderfully cozy atmosphere of the Italian American Museum (155 Mulberry Street, New York, NY, near Grand St.), you will be able to hear the music Guido Deiro composed for the Broadway show "Kismet" and some of the other pieces that delighted Mae and his vaudeville audience. Clips of Guido Deiro performing in 1928 on the piano-accordion will also be shown. This musical event will conclude with an exciting raffle, Italian sparkling wine, and light refreshments to celebrate the birthday of Mae West.

• • Source: Article: "Mae West's Secret Italian Husband" written by Tiziano Dossena for the Brooklyn Downtown Star; published on 26 July 2012 [reprinted by permission].

• • 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 used to like to play Post Office. Mamma didn't object. But she got mad if I started giving special deliveries to one boy all the time. She wanted me to play with them all."   

• • Quote, Unquote • •

• • An article about a vaudeville show mentioned Mae West.

• • When the newspaper printed the review, Mae would have been 21 years old. Eva Tanguay, the flamboyant vaudeville fixture, was already 36.  

• • The San Antonio Light wrote: Guido Deiro is not alone in the honor column, however; six other acts share it with him including Mae West, the "Eva Tanguay" of Vaudeville . . .

• • Source: Review: "In Variety" written by The San Antonio Light, Texas; published on 8 September 1914

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2378th 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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