Mae West: Hushed Up

Movie studios made sure to keep their marquee names in print and MAE WEST was often featured in fan magazines, newspaper gossip columns, and trade publications — — as well as having her likeness (painted by an artist) appear on magazine covers. 
• • Truly negative articles about drunk driving arrests, out-of-wedlock children, adultery, and other damaging scandals were suppressed by the moguls who were shaping Tinseltown in the 1930s — 1940s. But one story that resurfaced periodically was the "box office poison" piece. Like poison ivy, it was hard to eradicate. When this item appeared in The Hollywood Reporter in May 1938, it was soon picked up and recycled by the foreign press.
• • "Box Office Poison — Garbo and Mae West" • •

• • Hollywood, May 4 — "The Independent Theatre Owners' Association in New York has advertised in The Hollywood Reporter that it is tired of losing money on such stars as Mae West, Greta Garbo, and Joan Crawford.  ..."
• • Additionally, Katharine Hepburn, Kay Francis, and Marlene Dietrich were mentioned as other actresses "whose public appeal is negligible." The advertisement added, with sinister overtones: "There are many others."  ... Ooooh, give us a hint!
• • Source: Article: "Box Office Poison" reprinted in Chronicle (Adelaide, Australia); published on Thursday, 12 May 1938.
• • On Friday, 10 May 1935 • •
• • On Friday, 10 May 1935 Frank Wallace filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles, California against Mae West declaring she was damaging his reputation and his professional standing by denying they had wed.  The movie star spent quite a long time continuing to deny it.
• • On Friday, 10 May 1935 in NYC • •
• • On Friday, 10 May 1935, "Goin' to Town" opened in Mae West's hometown at the New York Paramount.
• • On Monday, 10 May 1948 in Brighton • •
• • According to Kate Elms, Brighton History Centre:
• • On Monday, 10 May 1948, screen siren Mae West took her seat at Brighton’s Theatre Royal for the European premiere of ‘Ladies, Please!’ She co-wrote the play and was in town to attend its European premiere, bringing with her a dash of Hollywood glitz and glamour. And, judging by reviews published in local papers, the play was an ideal tonic for a town still in the grip of rationing and other post war austerity measures.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "When I came to Hollywood I weighed 8 stone (131 lbs). I was advised to diet. They almost talked me into it, but I thought I'd stick by the curves people paid to see in New York."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Mirror mentioned Mae West.
• • "Mae West Gets 700 Letters Every Week" • •
• •  Mae West is still receiving more 'fan mail' from her world-wide admirers than any other star in Hollywood. Seven hundred letters are delivered to her every week. Close second and third are Claudette Colbert and Carole Lombard. Ginger Rogers captured the lead temporarily when she married Mr. Lew Ayres, but has since fallen back. ...
• • Source: Item in The Mirror (Perth, Australia); published on Saturday, 10 August 1935
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2646th 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 • • 1938 • •
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