Friday, June 28, 2013

Mae West: Henry Roquemore

MAE WEST worked with some intriguing cast mates when she filmed "Goin' to Town" [1935]. Mae, of course, starred as Cleo Borden in this comedy — — and portly Henry Roquemore was seen as one of Cleo's unsuitable suitors.
• • Henry Roquemore [13 March 1886 — 30 June 1943] • •
• • Born in Marshall, Texas on 13 March 1886, Roquemore grew up to be short and fat but hungered for a career in entertainment. In his hometown, he began to organize and produce local talent shows, inviting members of Texas clubs to participate.  Eventually, he joined the Masonic Order.  During the silent era, at the age of 40, he started to appear in silent films.
• • From 1926 — 1943, Henry Roquemore played minor bits in 285 motion pictures. The five-foot-six character actor carved out a niche for himself by snagging fat man roles; he  worked with many big-name directors such as Preston Sturges, Frank Capra, and Orson Welles.
• • A typical Roquemore characterization was "The Match King," one of Mae West's many over-the-hill suitors in "Goin' to Town" [1935]. He was 49 years old at the time.
• • For his farewell to the screen, he played a New York Herald Reporter in "The Great Moment" [1944].  On the set, he rubbed shoulders with Grady Sutton, who had the privilege of working with Mae West in 1970 in "Myra Breckinridge" when he was cast as Kid Barlow.
• • Henry Roquemore died from a heart attack in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California on Wednesday, 30 June 1943. He was 57.  He was interred in a Masonic plot in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
• • On Friday, 28 June 1946 • •
• • Mae West was starring in "Come On Up" at Cass Theatre in Detroit on Friday, 28 June 1946. The Playgoer's cover featured a beautiful portrait of Mae West perched on a divan wearing a beautiful gown with a floral pattern.
• • On Thursday, 28 June 1956 in Los Angeles • •
• • Bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay filed assault charges against Charles Krauser, who punched him out in Mae West's dressing room.  Krauser pleaded self defense.  The trial was set for Thursday, 28 June 1956 in Los Angeles.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "It was wonderful in England, in London. The men are a little reserved. And I'm not."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Nevada State Journal mentioned Mae West.
• • On Thursday, 28 June 1934 this article appeared in the Nevada State Journal as well as other newspapers in the USA and abroad.
• • "It Ain't No Sin," starring Mae West, Hit by Churchmen • •
• • New York, June 27, AP — — A Mae West movie of the same type that established the swaggering actress as the premier screen siren and one featuring Dolores Del Rio as the French Madame du Barry became the first victims of a militant church campaign for decency in pictures. ...
• • Both the Mae West "Ain't No Sin" and the Miss Del Rio biographical picture were withdrawn from application for licensing in New York. The censors did not know what "sin" referred to in the Mae West film.
• • Paramount Productions Inc., producers of Miss West's pictures, announced it was being sent back to Hollywood for revision and would be reissued another time. ... The announcements came a few days after leaders of Catholic and Jewish faiths joined in a nationwide drive against indecent movies.  ...
• • Source: Article:  "'It Ain't No Sin,' starring Mae West, Hit by Churchmen" written by AP; reprinted on page 1 by Nevada State Journal; published on Thursday, 28 June 1934
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2681st 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 "Goin' to Town" in 1935

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Thursday, June 27, 2013

Mae West: Frank Mayo

MAE WEST played Cleo Borden in "Goin' to Town" [1935] — — and Frank Mayo was seen as Rand.
• • Frank Mayo [28 June 1886 — 9 July 1963] • •
• • Born in New York City, New York on Monday, 28 June 1886 was the versatile thespian of stage and silent screen fame Frank Mayo. He launched his career as a spunky six-year-old in the play "Davy Crockett" (which starred his grandfather).
• • He had a very serious face for a 25-year-old when, in 1911 during the silent film era, he began appearing in flickers and snagging supporting roles. Mayo first linked up with the World Film Company of New Jersey; after that, he was most closely linked with Universal Pictures. He was busiest and most successful before talkies came into being.
• • According to film historian Hal Erickson, Frank Mayo was credible and commanding whether in a dinner jacket or rugged outdoor garb. Directors thought of him as a dependable strong-and-stalwart hero.  "Confined to bit and extra roles in the 1930s and 1940s, Frank Mayo was frequently hired by producer Jack Warner and director Cecil B. DeMille, both of whom regularly employed the faded stars of the silent years," noted Hal  Erickson.
• • From 1911 — 1949, Frank Mayo had roles in 338 motion pictures. The trim 6-footer was 49 years old when he had a minor scene with Mae West in "Goin' to Town" [1935]. This is the picture in which Mae, costumed as Delilah, sings in an opera. 
• • How's this for an amusing coincidence? Mayo's final film was "Samson and Delilah" [1949]. While making this picture, he socialized with several cast mates who had also had the privilege of working with Mae West: John Miljan (Ace Lamont from "Belle of the Nineties"), Lane Chandler (a porter in "My Little Chickadee"), and Francis J. McDonald (a henchman in "Every Day's a Holiday") — — among others. 
• • Frank Mayo had a heart attack. He died in Laguna Beach, California on Tuesday, 9 July 1963. He was 77. On Wednesday, 10 July 1963, The N.Y. Times ran an obit with this title:  "Frank Mayo, Actor in Films Since 1915."
• • On Monday, 27 June 1949 • •
• • Richard Coogan was still appearing on Broadway in the role of Captain Cummings opposite Mae West in "Diamond Lil" when he auditioned for a TV series.  Coogan was cast as Captain Video on the DuMont Television Network on Monday, 27 June 1949.
• • On Sunday, 27 June 1954 • •
• • On Sunday night, 27 June 1954, Mae West delighted the Las Vegas club goers — —  and the female patrons stormed the stage — — when the bodybuilders in "The Mae West Revue" filed into the Sahara's Congo Room.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I have had to do my share of outsmarting men through necessity."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Motion Picture Daily mentioned Mae West.
• • "Paramount Will Get 'No Angel' 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:  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 2680th 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 as Delilah in 1935

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Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Mae West: George Guhl

An enormous international cast was assembled to do justice to MAE WEST's ambitious screenplay "Now I'm a Lady" centered around the main character Cleo Borden, who wishes to be part of the tony horsey set. The 74-minute comedy was released in the USA on 25 April 1935 under the new title "Goin' to Town."  George Guhl was seen as a driver.       
• • George Guhl [27 September 1875 — 27 June 1943] • •   
• • Born in St. Louis, Missouri on 27 September 1875, George Guhl honed his entertainment skills for several decades on the vaudeville circuit as a member of the Guhl Brothers and then the Guhl and Adams comedy teams. 
• • By the time he surfaced in Tinseltown, movies were "talkies" and Guhl was a well-seasoned 58 years old. One of his gimmicks, perfected onstage, was this: he had become a master of the delayed and dull-witted double take. If you recall some of Hal Roach's "Our Gang" comedies, perhaps you will recognize Guhl as a sharp-eyed truant officer. Casting agents reached out to him when they needed a dim bulb of a barber, bailiff, bartender, baggage man, workman, paper hanger, electrician, desk sergeant, etc.
• • From 1933 — 1944, George Guhl had bit parts in 145 motion pictures. During that brief eleven year span, he was cast as Colton's chauffeur in "Goin' to Town" [1935]. When he was filming his last motion picture, mystery drama "Crime by Night" [1944], and Guhl was cast as Harry the jailer, there was a reunion of sorts with actor Frank Mayo, who had also had the privilege of working with Mae in "Goin' to Town."   
• • George Guhl died in Los Angeles, California on Sunday, 27 June 1943. He was 67.
• • On Wednesday, 26 June 1935 • •
• • The 8-minute cartoon "Who Killed Cock Robin?" was released on Wednesday, 26 June 1935 in the USA. Loverboy Robin is crooning to a Mae West-like Jenny Wren when he is shot with an arrow.
• • Actress Martha Wentworth [2 June 1889 — 8 March 1974] was the voice of Jenny Wren.  Wentworth also did Mae's voice in "The Mae West Jewel Robbery," which made its radio debut on 21 February 1934.
• • On Thursday, 26 June 2003 • •
• • Newspapers announced this headline on Thursday, 26 June 2003: "Dolly Parton Thrilled With Mae West Role."
• • "Country icon Dolly Parton has signed up to play feisty silver screen goddess Mae West in an upcoming TV movie, and she admits it's a part she's been longing to play," reported news outlets.  Despite her enthusiasm, the project was not filmed.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Frank Wallace? Who? Never heard of the guy!"
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Gossip columnist Dorothy Kilgallen mentioned Mae West.
• • Dorothy Kilgallen wrote: Mae West is reliably rejorted as being in the throes of writing a new play. Apparently, Mae just doesn't give up; she's written quite a few scripts and while the critics haven't exactly compared her to Shakespeare, the police have always shown an interest in her work.  ...
• • Source: "The Voice of Broadway" (syndicated column) by Dorothy Kilgallen printed in Kentucky New Era; published on Friday, 16 November 1962
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2679th 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 Hollywood

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