Mae West: Me & My Past

A Hollywood publicist must have dreamt up a series called "Me and My Past" — — and MAE WEST was featured in September 1934.
• • "Any Woman Can Outsmart a Man," Mae West Says • •
• • Actress Tells How She Tackles Hard Profession — The Theater • •
• • Mae Uses Her Wits Often • •
• • How Her Famous Gait Was Born with Ed Wynn and Frank Tinney • •
• • By Mae West (as told to Leicester Wagner) • •

• • Hollywood, September 5  — The smartest woman in the world can outsmart a man when she has to.
• • Yes, I know I'm leaving myself open to an argument there, but I have the background for it.  In the first place, any woman has what it takes, if only she would use it. Call it sex appeal, if you will, but it makes the world go round.   Since I started giving advice, this sort of conversation helps to even out things for women. ...
• • In this article, Mae points out how long menfolk have been free to act in their own best interests without constraints.  She discusses what she calls "trickery" and when it's useful to rely on tricks. "I pity the weak," explains Mae, noting that the legitimate theatre industry is no place for the weak, however, she has had good luck on her side. 
• • This long interview goes forward by going backward, informing her fans about her early years onstage, when the singing comedienne was hired to be "the background" for established stars like Ed Wynn, and she explains how not to be a wallflower, not take the backseat but instead learn from experiences. 
• • This lengthy article escaped the notice of most of her biographers, and so The Mae West Blog drags this fascinating first-person piece out of the attic.
• • Source: "Me and My Past" Series: "Any Woman Can Outsmart a Man, Mae West Says" — syndicated material printed in The Portsmouth Times (top of page 8) on Wednesday, 5 September 1934. 
• • Bradley Page [8 September 1901 —  8 December 1985] • •
• • Mention "Night After Night," the classic Pre-Code gem featuring Mae West, and many fans will recall leading man George Raft and the wonderful cast assembled by Paramount Pictures — — but let's not forget bit part player Bradley Page who had the role of Frankie Guard.
• • Born in Seattle, Washington on 8 September 1901, Bradley Page was a character actor who worked steadily in 107 motion pictures during the years 1931 —1943. "Isle of Missing Men" [1942] is among his final film credits, not long after which he seems to be missing from the film industry.
• • Bradley Page died in Brookings, Oregon on 8 December 1985.  He was 84.
• • On Tuesday, 8 September 1914 • •
• • In early September 1914, accordionist Guido Deiro was booked at the Majestic Theatre, San Antonio, as a headliner.  On Tuesday, 8 September 1914 the San Antonio Light announced the featured entertainment, noting that another variety artist was Mae West, "the Eva Tanguay of vaudeville" — — including her name (with no fanfare) among six other acts.
• • On Friday, 8 September 1922 in Variety • •
• • "Mae West, author, loses her pianist," noted Variety in their issue dated for Friday, 8 September 1922.
• • Harry Richman — — an unknown in 1922 when Mae West gave him a chance — —  ditched her to join singer Nora Bayes [1880 — 1928] in her vaudeville act.  Awww.
• • On Monday, 8 September 1969 • •
• • Stanley Musgrove noted in his log on 8 September 1969 how much Mae West was trying to rewrite her portion of the script to make the character Leticia Van Allen more interesting.
• • In Her Own Words • • 
• • Mae West said: "I want to thank you all for your generous applause — — and your heavy breathing."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article about Google mentioned Mae West.
• • Kelly Fiveash wrote: A story in which any number of Mae West quotations can be applied: "I speak two languages, Body and English Google." Or, "Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly." Or, "Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before." ....   [Alas, aside from this opening, the article itself was not sufficiently sprightly to repost.]
• • Source: Article: "Larry Page sees 'tragic' future for Google" written by Kelly Fiveash for The Register; published on 28 September 2011

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2420th 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 • • 1934 • •
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