Mae West: Ed Brady

MAE WEST starred in "Klondike Annie" [released in February 1936] and Ed Brady was seen as a sailor. The veteran actor died at the end of March.
• • Ed Brady [6 December 1889 — 31 March 1942] • •
• • Born in New York City on 6 December 1889, Edwin J. Brady developed an itch to act.  During his earliest days as a performer, he grabbed whatever chances came his way — — exercising his skills either in vaudeville, in the theatre, or in the flickers. Hawk-nosed and serious looking, Brady began making his first screen shorts in 1911 when he was 22 years old and the movie business had not yet found a voice. When he was in his 20s, he worked mostly in Westerns and serials. 

• • Occasionally, casting agents patched him into a big-budget Cecil B. DeMille extravaganza such as "The King of Kings" [1927]. More often though, he did his best with the typical (uncredited) roles accorded to the average character actor: barfly, bartender, train brakeman, cowhand, courier, conspirator, crook, henchman, passenger, pirate, pool hall employee, prisoner, taxi driver, sergeant, sheriff, etc. along with an occasional featured role.
• • From 1911 — 1942, actor Ed Brady participated in 347 motion pictures. When he had a short scene as a sailor in "Klondike Annie" [1936], he was 47 years old and would appear in about ninety more films. In "Apache Trail" [1942], he played "Man in Stage Office" in a Western built around Lloyd Nolan, an actor who was privileged to play opposite Mae West in "Every Day's a Holiday" [1937].
• • Busy and booked right up to the end, Ed Brady was seen as a Keystone cop in the action drama "The Forest Rangers" [1942] and rubbed shoulders with several actors who had the privilege of working in a motion picture with Mae West: Jimmy Conlin, Wade Boteler, George Bruggeman, Lee Phelps, Ronald R. Rondell, and Harry Woods. 
• • Ed Brady died in Los Angeles on Tuesday, 31 March 1942. He was 52.
• • On Sunday, 29 March 1936 • •
• • "Has Mae West Done Herself Wrong?" was the intriguing headline teasing readers of the Atlanta Journal Magazine in their issue dated for Sunday, 29 March 1936. The byline went to Frank Daniel. Congressional hearings being conducted in February and March 1936 by the U.S. Senate were peppered with the name of Mae West, whose new motion picture "Klondike Annie" caused a lot of concern on Capitol Hill. Ramona Curry has written well-researched articles on this topic of how censorship tightened its noose around Mae's neck.
• • On Saturday, 29 March 2008 in NYC • •
• • Offered for free in the Times Square area on Saturday afternoon, 29 March 2008 was a reading of the play "Courting Mae West" at The Producer's Club [358 West 44th Street, NYC]. Louis Lopardi directed the cast. Based on true events 1926 — 1932, the play dramatizes moments from both of the obscenity trials and is based on true events.
• • On Monday, 29 March 2010 • •
• • During the month of March in 1970, there were rumors about a feud between Raquel Welch and her co-star Mae West during the filming of "Myra Breckenridge." Quarreling over the gowns and costumes had started. Raquel also said a few “very unflattering things” about the director, Michael Sarne.
• • On Monday, 29 March 2010, Raquel Welch's autobiography, Raquel: Beyond the Cleavage, was released. Thanks to this book being published, she found the need to include disparaging remarks about her co-star Mae West. Silicone can make things look bigger, Raquel, but a small mean-spirited mind keeps its shape, eh?
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I give 'em what they want to see."
• • Mae West said: "They brought in a script and it wasn't right. It may have been all right for somebody else, but  it wasn't a Mae West story.  Should I rewrite it? I couldn't really. The structure was wrong."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Film Daily mentioned Mae West.
• • The Film Daily wrote: Randolph Scott, just signed to a new Paramount contract, left the coast yesterday on an extended vacation in the east following completion of his assignment in Mae West's "Go West Young Man." On his return to Hollywood he probably will play opposite Irene Dunne in "High, Wide and Handsome." ...
• • Source: News Item in The Film Daily; published on Thursday, 17 September 1936 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2616th 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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Mae West: Buddy Harris

MAE WEST starred as Flower Belle Lee in "My Little Chickadee" [1940] and Buddy Harris had a scene as a porter. 
• • Buddy Harris [28 March 1891 — 5 September 1971] • •
• • Born in Pennsylvania on Saturday, 28 March 1891 was a sweet little tyke named Emil Harris Birnkrant.   

• • Taking the stage name Buddy Harris, the black newcomer to the screen trade impressed Warner Brothers, who made him the star of a light-hearted short "At the Party" [1929] when he was 38 years old. A brief cinema sojourn followed, shaped and curtailed by the racial stereotypes so prevalent in the movie studios at that time.
• • From 1929 — 1941, actor Buddy Harris participated in 11 motion pictures. Casting agents tossed a few crumbs his way; he played a butler, valet, black train porter, a witch doctor, and characters named "Dollar Bill" and "Nyga." ["Nyga," huh? Which screenwriter thought this was cute?]
• • Buddy Harris made his last stand in Tinseltown as a jocular train porter in the Abbott and Costello comedy "Buck Privates" [1941] directed by Mae West's good friend Arthur Lubin. Actress Nella Walker had a role in that film; Mae West fans will recall that Nella had played a missionary in "Klondike Annie." Three other actors cast in "Buck Privates" who were privileged to work with Mae West were Eddie Hall, Jack Perrin, and Bob Reeves.
• • Buddy Harris died in Los Angeles on 5 September 1971. He was 80.
• • On Wednesday, 28 March 1927 • •
• • In March 1927, in reaction to the Broadway aspirations of Mae West's play "The Drag," the New York State Legislature passed a law banning all depictions of homosexuality on the stage.
• • "Sex" had already run for 339 performances • •
• • After the Grand Jury's indictments were finished, the courtroom trial began in earnest on Wednesday, 28 March 1927. First on the agenda was jury selection.
• • A few days later, Norman Schloss would open the case for the defense, pointing out the most obvious details: that "Sex" had already run for 339 performances, and it had been seen by more than 325,000 patrons, including members of the police department and their wives, by judges of the criminal courts, by seven members of the district attorneys’ staffs, and by citizens of the city who showed no moral impairment. A Broadway “play jury” had previewed the show, and belated prosecution was unreasonable.
• • The prosecutor would argue that the play "Sex" was obscene and he would be calling a series of detectives who became courtroom actors.
• • Sergeant Patrick Keneally of the Midtown Vice Squad seemed to relish reciting the more ribald lines from "The Drag," and imitating the walk and gestures of "the fairies" on stage.
• • The full-length stage play "Courting Mae West" dramatizes the trial and other matters leading up to it — — and, of course, the colorful aftermath.
• • On Thursday, 28 March 1935 • •
• • Mae West was invited to party with the King of England during his jubilee in 1935.
• • The newspapers followed this story, announcing a few times that Mae West would definitely attend the party in London. However, it was not to be — — and the busy performer would not sail for Great Britain until after World War II when she toured in "Diamond Lil."
• • "Lord Byng Talks with Mae West" • • 
• • According to The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser: In 1935, Mae West was invited to the jubilee celebration of King George V in London, over the teacups at Paramount studio in Hollywood today by Lord Byng, British hero of Vimy Ridge. The actress entertained Lord and Lady Byng at tea on the set of her picture, and was in her usual good form saying, "Have another cup, dearie" to his lordship and "Two lumps, darling" to her ladyship. ... 
• • Source: Article:  "Lord Byng Talks with Mae West" in The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser; published on Thursday, 28 March 1935.
• • Yes, yes, no doubt the British stationed in Singapore got a lot of fun out of articles such as this one.
• • King George V [1865 — 1936] began his reign on 6 May 1910, celebrating his Silver Jubilee on 6 May 1935.
• • Julian Byng, 1st Viscount Byng of Vimy Ridge, died one month after the royal festivities on 6 June 1935.
• • On Saturday, 28 March 1936 • •
• • It was a jolly weekend in Princeton, NJ. The Arcade Theatre announced (on page 3) that it would be offering "Klondike Annie" starring Mae West today, Saturday, 28 March 1936.
• • Source: The Daily Princetonian, Volume 61, Number 45; published on Saturday, 28 March 1936.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I'm not just a star — — I'm a writer as well. And a thinker! I always keep busy."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Film Daily mentioned Mae West.
• • The Film Daily wrote: Jack La Rue, who had a leading role in Mae West's famous stage hit, "Diamond Lil," will make his first screen appearance with the star in "Go West Young Man." Emanuel Cohen, president of Major Pictures, is producing the new vehicle for Paramount release.  ...
• • Source: News Item in The Film Daily; published on Wednesday, 30 September 1936
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2615th 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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Mae West: Andrés de Segurola

MAE WEST played Cleo Borden in "Goin' to Town" [1935] — — and Andrés de Segurola played the racing association president.   The actor was born in March.
• • Andrés de Segurola [27 March 1874 — 23 January 1953] • •
• • Born in Valencia, Spain on Friday, 27 March 1874 was a little boy who grew up to be Count Andreas Perello de Segurola.  He yearned to travel to America and work in a new exciting industry and so he turned up in Tinseltown in 1916. He was already 42 when he began his onscreen career during the silent era, when his accent was of little consequence. Paramount (and others) used him during the 1930s in Spanish language talkies.
• • From 1916 — 1938, de Segurola was cast as an actor in 35 motion pictures. Usually  accorded a credited role, he would potray a Continental character (Frenchmen, Italians, Latinos) along with assorted authority roles such as military commanders and dignified aristocrats. And he once played a baritone onscreen.
• • After playing a racing association president in "Goin' to Town," he only made two more films, both in Spanish: "Angelina o el honor de un brigadier" [Fox Films, 1935] and "Castillos en el aire" [Edward LeBaron Productions, 1938] when he was 64 years old.    
• • Tinseltown had other uses for Andrés de Segurola, however. He was a valuable vocal coach. Working in the Music Department of various studios, he assisted with one dozen cinema musicals from 1936 — 1944.
• • Andrés de Segurola retired in his homeland during his 70s. He died in Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain on 23 January 1953. He was 78.
• • On Monday, 27 March 1989 • •
• • Published on Monday, 27 March 1989 was Carol Ward's fascinating book "Mae West: A Bio-bibliography" [Greenwood Press, 241 pages]. Ward's chapters include a biography, an examination of the art of Mae West, and a bibliographical checklist of key Mae West sources. One of her helpful sections summarizes and partially reprints several early interviews, spanning many years and quoting liberally — — including the full texts of interviews by Ruth Biery and George Christy. Ward's "Bibliographical Essay" evaluates and surveys works by and about Mae West, including Fergus Cashin's snarky, highly suspect "Mae West" (1981), with his dopey insinuations about "indeterminate sex" and female impersonation, and also George Eells and Stanley Musgrove's readable "Mae West" (1982), a biography that debunks certain myths and appreciates the subject but lacks cited sources. Carol Ward's bibliography explores Mae West's talents as an author, summarizing the plays and books she wrote and investigating the validity of those claims. A wonderful book for every Mae maven.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I was born in New York — — and it all evens up in the end."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Film Daily mentioned Mae West.
• • Film Daily's Ralph Wilk wrote: The Mae West picture, "Go West Young Man," was completed right on schedule. Emanuel Cohen, president of Major Pictures, celebrated with a party at the studio upon the completion of the picture, which was directed by Henry Hathaway, with a cast headed by Warren William, Randolph Scott, Lyle Talbot, Alice Brady, Isabel Jewell, Elizabeth Patterson, Margaret Perry, and others. ...
• • Source: News Item in The Film Daily; published on Saturday, 3 October 1936 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2614th 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 • • 1935 • •
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