• • Aileen St. John Brenon wrote: Since the death of her mother, Miss West lives with her sister while in New York in the latter's apartment which is on West End Avenue, in the Seventies.
• • I have seldom seen a day pass in her dressing room at the theater when she was not visited by her father. He is a kindly, genial man, who brings his pals to the theater in those long periods between shows when his hospitable daughter receives the long list of friends she has accumulated in the many years it has taken to climb the ladder of success, as she exclaims, "wrong by wrong."
• • Maroon velvet peignoir she wears in her dressing room at the theatre • •
• • The friends and acquaintances are always assured — — strong and weak alike — — of a warm welcome and a wisecrack from the jovial blonde, graceful and alluring in the maroon velvet peignoir she wears in her dressing room at the theatre.
• • Miss West invariably has a wad of bills in her stocking for those who may be in need. She is at once shrewd and farseeing, quick to separate the wheat from the chaff. She fights hard any attempt to "put anything over" on her or anyone else. But she never can refuse help where she knows a hard luck tale is true.
• • She detests crookedness, deceit and insincerity and is unsparing with the "slick artists," but with weak unfortunates of life she is patient and helpful, and many a time I have seen her do little acts of kindness which I will relate later.
• • The third and final chapter in the real life story of Mae West will appear in the August issue of New Movie Magazine, on sale 29 June 1934.
• • Source: Article: "The Real Mae West" written by Aileen St. John Brenon for New Movie Magazine; issue dated July 1934.
• • On Friday, 31 October 1919 in Variety • •
• • In the write-up of Ned Wayburn's "Demi-Tasse Revue" at the Capitol Theatre (a movie house on Broadway with a wide stage for vaudeville acts), Variety mentioned Mae West on 31 October 1919, noting that she "also scored as a single with a burlesque 'shimmy' number."
• • On Friday, 24 October 1919 Mae West also sang "Oh, What a Moanin' Man."
• • On Monday, 31 October 1932 • •
• • Mordaunt Hall reviewed two motion pictures starring Mae West: "Night After Night" [NYT, 31 October 1932] and "I'm No Angel" [NYT, 13 October 1933] and loved both.
• • The gala premiere on Saturday, 29 October 1932, revealed that "Night After Night" was only 73 minutes long. No one remembers anything about this film except for the hilarious moments when Mae West was onscreen.
• • On Tuesday, 31 October 1933 • •
• • Headlines on this date emphasized the big box office Mae's movie was doing. For instance, "West Bubbles Hub [Boston] for $47,000" was circulated by wire on Tuesday, 31 October 1933.
• • On Tuesday, 31 October 1933 in New York World-Telegram • •
• • Mae West told Douglas Gilbert, a vaudeville reporter, "Women much prefer to be feminine, believe me."
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • In 1930, Herb Howe, the Hollywood chronicler who knows every motion picture star by first name, stated that Mae West has reduced 64 pounds. [rpt in The Ogden Standard-Examiner]
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| Photo by Wayne Takenaka |
"Darlene Violette channels Mae West to perfection!" — Stu Hamstra• • By popular demand, actress Darlene Violette — — and the wonderful cast who brought the Bowery denizens and Suicide Hall’s ne’er-do-wells to life — — will return in “Diamond Lil” for several evening performances at Don’t Tell Mama [343 W. 46th Street] on these dates in 2013:
• • 7:00pm on Sunday November 3rd — vote for Gus Jordan for Sheriff Night.
• • 8:30pm on Sunday November 10th
• • 7:00pm on Sunday November 17th
• • 7:00pm on Sunday November 24th
• • Phone after 4pm to reserve a seat: 212-757-0788; RSVP online: www.donttellmamanyc.com
• • Closest MTA subway stations: 42nd St./ Times Sq. via A, C, E, 1, 2, 3
• • The public is invited (suitable for age 18 and over). Join us as we turn the iconic NYC nightspot Don't Tell Mama into Gus Jordan's "Suicide Hall"!
• • The Cast: Starring Darlene Violette as Diamond Lil, Queen of the Bowery and also featuring Sidney Myer, Anthony DiCarlo, Joanna Bonaro, Gary Napoli, Juan Sebastian Cortes, Kimmy Foskett, Jim Gallagher and live music
• • Director: Co-directed by Dena Tyler, The Actors Studio, and Darlene Violette.
• • Come up and see for yourself. You might even win a swell Raffle Prize.
• • Watch a short clip: Diamond Lil meets Pablo, a gigolo
• • Read a Review of "Diamond Lil" • •
• • L'Idea Magazine's editors attended four times and had a lot to say. Here's the link: http://www.lideamagazine.com/usa-still-entertaining-mae-wests-diamond-lil-makes-new-fans-in-new-york-city/
• • Staying faithful to the gritty themes in the novel, LindaAnn Loschiavo trimmed the work to 85 minutes for a cast of eight.
• • Audience Comments about "Diamond Lil" • •
• • Gigi Garcone said: Just saw "Diamond Lil" — — a very entertaining production! This tribute to the sultry, irresistible diva Mae West is a must see! All the actors are very talented and you can see they put their hearts into their roles. I especially liked Darlene Violette as Mae West and Joanna Bonaro as Rita, a madam from Rio. Darlene encompassed the whole persona of Mae and Joanna was sublime as the madam — — she really has such a presence on stage. Very enjoyable performance and it's worth the trip!
• • Rick Baynes of Baltimore said: I second Gigi's comments. "Diamond Lil"
brings the fabulous Mae West back to life. The wonderful Darlene
Violette is spot-on in her portrayal of the lusty, bawdy Mae. Do
yourself a favor and go see this lovely production.• • Mrs. Jean McLoughlin of NYC said: I recently saw "Diamond Lil" and loved every minute. The entire cast was top-notch, and I was impressed with their creative use of the entire space. The characters really came to life and I was transported back to the raunchy days of Mae West. Darlene Violette gave a great performance as Diamond Lil — — but Joanna Bonaro really shone as the sultry, venomous Rita. Joanna commands attention and I was more than willing to give it. Fantastic show, I highly recommend that everyone see it! Even my husband, who does not like theater, really enjoyed it.
• • At Jefferson Market Library in NYC next month • •
• • Mae West's legal woes inspired the stage play "Courting Mae West." See it on 23 November 2013 in the very same room where Mae faced off with Judge George Donnellan and 12 jurors.
• • Darlene Violette stars as Mae West and the rest of the cast will soon be announced.
• • The play, based on true events, is set during the Prohibition Era when Mae's plays were padlocked and she was sent to jail. Talk about a woman who climbed the ladder of success wrong by wrong..
• • This free event is open to the public and there is ample seating. [Note: The humor and adult themes are not suitable for children under 13.]
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I had in mind several stories as possibilities, and between shows I secluded myself at my hotel or in my dressing room and did some real work."
• • Mae West said: "No secret marriage for me. When I marry, the whole world is going to know about it."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The New Movie Magazine mentioned Mae West.
• • Nemo wrote: Even Mae West has her worries. Since going to town with the nasty gangsters, she's taking no chances on getting herself spotted for a "ride," even around the Paramount lot. Everyone working on her set was obliged to sign an identification card, and, if even a prop boy left the set for a split second, he had to sign his name again upon returning. This was compared with the original, and, woe betide the wretch who dotted an "i" the first time and failed to do so the second!
• • Nemo explained: Not scared, understand, but just determined to be careful, Mae flatly refused to do her stuff on Stage 13. Consequently, the cast was moved, bag and baggage, on Stage 4, where, just as they were ready to shoot, the roof cracked (Von Sternberg having just finished work on "Catherine the Great," no doubt)!
• • Nemo added: So what? So Mae's party shoved over to Stage 1, and, if anything goes wrong there (and it might . . . Mae being the fire hazard she is) Paramount will just have to lease the Hollywood Bowl for further operations. ...
• • Source: "Nemo's Day by Day" — — Nemo, the mysterious reporter nobody knows, brings you the latest news from the cinema capital printed in The New Movie Magazine; published in August 1934
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started nine years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2777th 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 • • Diamond Lil returned for Mae's birthday • •
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