Mae West: Loses Plea

In mid-November 1928, The N.Y. Times wrote about MAE WEST and her legal troubles.  The headline was "Loses Plea in Play Case — Mae West Not Allowed to See Minutes of Grand Jury."
• • This was the woeful aftermath of the raid at the Biltmore. Attorney Nathan Burkan did his best to stall the case and keep his client out of jail following the "Pleasure Man" bust. 
• • The trial is covered in the stage play "Courting Mae West."  What? You haven't seen it yet?  Producers and A.D.s are welcome to read the manuscript.
• • Billy B. Van [3 August 1878 — 16 November 1950] • •
• • Born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania on 3 August 1878 as William Webster Vandergrift, Billy B. Van had a long career in variety as an actor as well as a comedian, dancer, singer, and songwriter. For over three decades he was seen in the legit and numerous vaudeville houses. 
• • After retiring from the stage in the 1920s, he made two attempts to conquer the silver screen. In 1922 he was seen as Sobini in the silent film "The Beauty Shop." After his modest role in Mae's film "She Done Him Wrong" — — as the pianist in Gus Jordan's Bowery saloon — — he turned to corporate life. He became the President of the New York City based Pine Tree Products Company, manufacturers of cleaning solutions.
• • Billy B. Van died in Newport, New Hampshire in the month of November — — on Thursday, 16 November 1950. He was 72 years old.
• • On Thursday, 16 November 1916 • •
• • On Thursday, 16 November 1916, Mae West announced in Variety that, in her next appearance in vaudeville, she would appear in male drag and her material would be scripted by songwriter Blanche Merrill. She hinted at using a new name, too. Sounds like a cover-up for something, eh?  Maybe she was hiding from the actors union or her husband Guido Deiro.
• • On Wednesday, 16 November 1927 in Variety • •
• • Box office blues burdened Mae West during the brief Broadway run of "The Wicked Age." In its issue dated for Wednesday, 16 November 1927, Variety offered an explanation of why the show went dark one Monday. Previously, Mae had taken the blame, apologizing that she had a case of bad indigestion and could not perform. But the sleuths at Variety explained: "failure to pay salaries appears to have been the problem."  Oh, my!
• • On Sunday, 16 November 1986 • •
• • Melissa Fletcher penned an article about Al Hirschfeld's theatre caricatures, "Drawing the Line on the Great White Way," and here's how she began it:  "Mae West, her skirt raised a few tantalizing inches above her ankle, throws a flirtatious glance at Orson Welles. Mildly amused, Jack Benny folds his arms and smirks." Fletcher's piece ran in San Antonio Light on Sunday, 16 November 1986.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "You've got to keep cool and calm to collect when you're in there trading punches."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article about radio mentioned Mae West.
• • L. Bear wrote: In “Dress Circle” this week, Kate Hosking talks about her new show “Diva Sheila, eco Diva Takin’ it to The Street”” which opens in Street Theatre Thursday. ...  In the “Red Velvet and Wild Boronia” segment Kate Peters presents excerpts from her acclaimed show about Mae West, “Goodness Had Nothing to Do with It”....
• • Source: News Item: "Dress Circle This Sunday 4 November on ArtSound FM 92.7 5.00 pm to 6.30 pm" written by L. Bear in Canberra, Australia; posted on Saturday, 3 November 2012

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2487th 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 • • 1932 • •
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