Thursday, March 14, 2013

Mae West: Bob Burns

MAE WEST starred in "My Little Chickadee" [1940], taking the role of Flower Belle Lee, and Bob Burns was amusing in a saloon scene as a barfly. He left us in the month of March.
• • Bob Burns [21 Nov 1884 — 14 March 1957] • •
• • Born in Glendive, Montana on 21 November 1884, Bob Burns played leading roles in early silent movies, scripts that relied on a whiff of oats and a tang of saddle soap. Adept as a trick rider and a credible cowpoke, Burns had a major role in "Her Cowboy Lover" [1911], his screen debut with Vitagraph when he was 27 years old.  
• • Several two-reelers used him in the on-going role of Cherokee Hall. When he transitioned to talkies, he was an easy fit as the sheriff, cowhand, rodeo manager, border patrolman, posse rider, henchman, and a continuing portrayer of the familiar barfly persona.
• • Bob Burns was first seen as a barfly in "The Utah Kid" [1930]; he worked with cast mate Blackie Whiteford here and also a decade later when both actors were tapped for "My Little Chickadee." He kept busy as a bit parts player up until the year of his death.
• • From 1911 — 1957, he participated in 376 motion pictures and TV series, often rubbing shoulders with individuals who had been privileged to work with Mae West. For example, his final credit was in the TV series "Crossroads" [1957], when he was used as a bartender in the episode "Boom Town Padre" and he worked with Jeff Morrow on the set. Eight years before, Mae West cast Morrow as the convict Chick Clark when she revived "Diamond Lil" on Broadway. When the show opened on 5 February 1949, Jeff Morrow marked his true theatrical debut.
• • Bob Burns died in Los Angeles, California on Thursday, 14 March 1957. He was 72.
• • On Saturday, 14 March 1914 in The Columbus Ledger • •
• • Throughout 1914 Mae and Guido were engaged jointly as headliners on the Loew circuit. They were touring in Columbus, Ohio in mid-March when they teasingly circulated the rumor that the accordionist was really "Count Deiro" — — hey, anything to attract a reporter and set yourself apart. The spoof worked and they got a write-up in The Columbus Ledger, on Saturday, 14 March 1914.
• • On Saturday, 14 March 1936 in Motion Picture Herald • •
• • An article about "Klondike Annie" (and the censorship battles over the film) was featured in Motion Picture Herald in their issue dated for Saturday, 14 March 1936.
• • On Sunday, 14 March 1937 • •
• • It was Sunday, 14 March 1937 when Mae West signed a check (number 581) from her account at California Bank to Mr. William Mutara for his salary for the week of March 14th, 1937; the amount was $24.75. This check was sold to a collector for $96.
• • "Sex" in Seattle 'til 14 March 1998 • •
• • "Sex," written by Mae West and directed by Ed Hawkins, was onstage in Seattle during March 1998. Staged at the Annex Theatre, 1916 Fourth Avenue, Seattle, WA, the final performance was on Saturday, 14 March 1998.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I have never wanted to flaunt my romances in public."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Motion Picture Daily mentioned Mae West.
• • "Paramount Will Get 'Anger' on Oct. 13" • •
• • Motion Picture Daily wrote: Mae West in "I'm No Angel" will alight at the New York Paramount instead of the Rivoli, the picture going into the Times Square house on Oct. 13, following "The Torch Singer."  Originally allotted as one of the four Paramount films for the Rivoli for 1933 — 1934, the picture was set to go into the U. A. house following "Emperor Jones."  ...
• • Source: News Item in Motion Picture Daily; published on Tuesday, 3 October 1933
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2605th 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  in 1940
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