Mae West: George Reed

MAE WEST starred in "Belle of the Nineties" and George Reed was seen as Brother Eben.
• • George Reed [27 November 1866 — 6 November 1952] • •
• • Born in Macon, Georgia on 27 November 1866, George Henry Reed launched a film career that began in the silent era and endured for three decades.  Casting agents assigned him the usual stereotypical roles available then to men of color, that is, butler, cook, coachman, wagon driver, townsman, inmate, servant, valet, waiter, Pullman porter, native guide, Uncle Remus, Chief Black Star, and Sambo.  However, fortune smiled and gave him opportunites for more screen time, for instance, in "Belle of the Nineties." Moreover, Reed snagged the continuing role of Conover in the popular Dr. Kildare film series.  His final appearance as Conover was in "Dark Delusion" [1947], his last screen credit coming when he was 81 years old.
• • From 1913 — 1947, George Reed was in 130 feature films.  He died in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California in November — — on Thursday, 6 November 1952.  He was 85.
• • Nathan Burkan [6 November 1878 — 7 June 1936] • •

• • Politically well-connected, Nathan Burkan was born in New York City on 6 November 1878 and educated at the City University of New York and New York University's Law School. He became known as a specialist in theatrical matters. Many of his clients were composers and lyricists, members of ASCAP — — such as light opera composer Victor Herbert, who relied on his expertise regarding copyright disputes.
• • Nathan Burkan was a savvy cross-examiner. Celebrities who counted on his legal muscle included Charlie Chaplin, Al Jolson, Mrs. Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt, etc. He represented the United Artists (then a new motion picture outfit), The New York Morning Telegraph, and other businesses.
• • Alas, his legal fees bankrupted Mae West, already devastated after a $200,000 loss of advance ticket sales for her play "Pleasure Man" after a raid at the Biltmore Theatre.
• • He died suddenly, after a brief illness, on 7 June 1936. Burkan was 57.
• • On Monday, 6 November 1933 in Australia • •
• • The awe-struck tone is obvious in the article "At the Capitol — First Appearance of Mae West."  Although the reporter from Canberra, Australia puzzled over the movie's title and suggested other titles more suitable than "She Done Him Wrong" (such as "Bowery Love"), there was praise for the leading lady.
• • Impressed by her following Down Under, he wrote: "But another intriguing question was how great an actress is Mae West. If her first film appearance in Australia represents a completely submerged personality and complete dominance of the actress by her part, then her performance was a very great success. This is something to be decided in future film appearances of the blonde. ..."
• • Source: Article in Canberra Times; published on Monday, 6 November 1933.
• • On Monday, 6 November 1933 in Time Magazine • •
• • In October 1933, Time Magazine reported this: "The Central Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, meeting in Milwaukee last week, congratulated Mae West for popularizing plump female figures . . . ."
• • The edition of Time dated for Monday, 6 November 1933 printed readers' letters reacting to that group of physicians along with the publishing of Mae's measurements in the same article.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I've spent a lot of money. I used to play the horses pretty bad. And then I owned a string of horses. I've got a lot of property, but I don't like to talk about my investments in public."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A news item in Design Week mentioned Mae West.
• • Voxpop wrote: Actress Mae West, who died almost 30 years ago, has been revived in a branding exercise. Which star would you bring back to life and how would you use their brand? ...
• • Source: Item in Voxpop for Design Week; posted on Thursday, 6 November 2008

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2476th 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 • • 1930 • •
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