Mae West: Manuel Paris

MAE WEST played Cleo Borden in "Goin' to Town" [1935] — — and  Manuel París was seen as a horse bettor at the racetrack.
• • Manuel París [27 July 1894 — 19 November 1959] • •
• • Born in Valencia, Spain on Friday, 27 July 1894, the future actor's birthname was Manuel R. Conesa.  When he was 20 years old, he began to act in silent movies made for a Spanish-language audience.
• • From 1914 — 1959, Manuel París was seen in more than 140 motion pictures and guest-starred seven times on popular TV shows during the 1950s. Perhaps a heavy accent limited the range of parts he was qualified for.  Invariably, his uncredited roles ran to bartender, butler, croupier, desk clerk, doorman, gambler, servant, or waiter as well as Spanish official, Mexican soldier, Beaming Peruvian at Bullfight, and Cuban cousin.
• • Manuel París was 41 when he got a chance to be in a Mae West movie.  In 1959, he was cast in his last film, which was set in Spain and had a large cast of Latino extras, Warner Brothers' "The Miracle" [1959].
• • He never got a chance to retire but died the same year in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California on 19 November 1959.  He was 65.
• • On Thursday, 29 July 1937 • •
• • Frank Wallace and the on-going lawsuit he initiated, to get the court to recognize his marriage in 1911 to Mae West, made enough waves in the news media. However, an item in the Los Angeles Citizen-News on Thursday, 29 July 1937 reported that Paramount Pictures "announced 98% of her fan mail had been favorable" despite the divorce debacle.

• • Save the Dates: August 12th and August 17th and 18th • •  
• • What: 2 events timed to celebrate the 120th birthday of Mae West, born in Brooklyn, NY on August 17, 1893
• • When: (A.) Monday, August 12, 2013 from 4:00pm — 5:45pm [Seating from 3:45pm]
• • Where: (A.) Hudson Branch Library, 66 Leroy St., New York, NY 10014; NOT accessible to wheelchairs  
• • Who: (A.) Reader's Theatre Cast: Costumed in 1890s Bowery style, actress Darlene Violette and actor Sidney Myer present the 1932 novel "Diamond Lil" written by Mae West in Mae's words and period songs with live music by Brian McInnis.  At intervals, historian and playwright LindaAnn Loschiavo leads an "Armchair Tour" through the boisterous Bowery and Chinatown of the 1890s.  
• • What else: The ever-popular Mae West Raffle.  
• • August 12th Admission and Raffle Tickets: FREE.  
• • RSVP: 212-243-6876 [Hudson Branch Library's phone]
• • Closest MTA subway stations: Christopher St. or West Fourth St.; or the M7 bus.  
• • Closest PATH station: Christopher St.  
• • The public is invited (suitable for age 18 and over)
• • All of the sex and none of the censorship . . . • •  
• • Two stagings of "Diamond Lil" on August 17th and August 18th.
• • When: (B.) Saturday, August 17, 2013 — in the evening  
• • Where: (B.) John Strasberg Studios, 555 8th Avenue, Suite 2310, New York, NY 10018;  accessible to wheelchairs  
• • When: (C.) Sunday, August 18, 2013 — 7:00 pm  
• • Where: (C.) Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC
• • Who: (B. and C.) A new staged version of the 1932 novel "Diamond Lil" written by Mae West starring Darlene Violette, Sidney Myer, and TBA. Live music by Brian McInnis.  The novel, which closely follows the 3-hour production Mae performed onstage from 1928 — 1951, is more exciting than the family-friendly screen version. Playwright LindaAnn Loschiavo massaged Mae's classic opus into an 85-minute adaptation featuring all of the sex and none of the censorship. No intermission.  
• • What else: The ever-popular Mae West Raffle and birthday festivities.  
• • August 17th and 18th Admission: reserved seating only (payment info will follow)  
• • Closest MTA subway stations: 42nd St./ Times Sq. via A, C, E, 1, 2, 3  
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I don't hold a grudge against Frankie [Frank Wallace] but I would just as leave he wouldn't come up to see me.  In fact, I do not want to see him any time."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article printed in Australia mentioned Mae West's midriff.
• • When the newspaper printed this item, Mae would have been 60 years old. Clearly, the poison pen behind this snarky sarcasm felt comfortable peek-a-booing from behind the safety and anonymity of the AAP bunker.  
• • The Australian Associated Press wrote:  New York, July 28 (AAP) — Mae West, 60, opened a two-week stand at the Las Vegas, Nevada Sahara Hotel last night, selling the same kind of entertainment that launched her career 30 years ago. She wore a black sequined gown, which left bare a not-too-trim midriff.  ...
• • Source: Item: "Not So Trim" written by AAP and syndicated; printed in The Courier-Mail on page 1; published on Thursday, 29 July 1954  
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started nine years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2703rd 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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