• • Rollin Moriyama [11 October 1907 — 25 December 1992] • •
• • Born in Japan in the month of October — — on 11 October 1907 — — Rollin Moriyama played a "rickshaw boy" in "Penny Serenade" [1941] when he was in his early 30s. The film's leading man was a former co-star of Mae West, Cary Grant.
• • From 1941 — 1981, Rollin Moriyama was seen in ethnic roles in almost 50 productions onscreen and on TV. During the 1970s, the Oriental character actor was seen in "Mash" in two episodes.
• • Rollin Moriyama was cast as the Japanese Delegate in "Sextette" [1978].
• • After four decades of work before the camera, Moriyama died in Santa Clara, California on Christmas Day 1992. He was 85.
• • Christiana Delker [October 1838 — 15 October 1901] • •
• • Insecure about her lack of formal education, Mae West would tell reporters that she had a French tutor in her youth. If the Brooklyn bombshell could indeed speak French, then she learned it at her maternal grandmother's knee — — because Christiana [Brimier] Delker had Alsatian French heritage.
• • Christiana was born in Germany in October 1838. When Mae referred to her, she called Mrs. Delker her "rich" grandmother. What does "rich" mean to a little Brooklyn girl? Mae was only eight years old when her beloved grandmother died.
• • Brooklyn transplant Christiana Delker: we pay you tribute today, remembering that you passed from Mae's life on Tuesday, 15 October 1901 when you were 63 years old.
• • On Wednesday, 15 October 1941 • •
• • On Wednesday, 15 October 1941, Associated Press sent this news over the wire.
• • Mae Asks Divorce From Suing Mate • •
• • Associated Press wrote: San Bernardino — Mae West is going to ask a divorce from Frank Wallace, the man whom she married in Milwaukee in 1911.
• • Wallace's suit, demanding $3,000 monthly separate maintenance from the actress, has been transferred to Los Angeles county on motion of Miss West's attorney with the agreement of Wallace's counsel.
• • Mae's lawyer Kenneth Chauncey said she would file a corresponding suit to Wallace's demands, asking for a divorce.
• • Source: Bakersfield Californian (on page 1); published on Wednesday, 15 Octobber 1941.
• • On Friday, 15 October 1948 • •
• • Mae West wrote a check on Friday, 15 October 1948, made payable to Fred Dempsey Florist. In 1948, the sum of $20.60 would have purchased a superb floral display.
• • On Thursday, 15 October 1959 • •
• • On Thursday, 15 October 1959, The Los Angeles Times printed an article by Cecil Smith: "Mae West Censored from New TV Show." CBS also cut Jack Webb from the same program.
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| Joanna Bonaro as RITA; Darlene Violette as LIL |
"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:
• • 7:30pm on Sunday October 27th — Hallowe'en Party — come in 1890s costume!
• • 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 by Brian McInnis
• • 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 • •
• • When her first husband Frank Wallace died on Saturday, 15 October 1966, Mae was asked to comment.
• • Mae West said: "He'll always remain in the wastebasket of my memories."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article about the death of Roger Richman mentioned Mae West. He lined his pockets for years with easy profits although he never did one positive thing for the legacy of Mae West nor did he honor the terms of her Will that left 1/3 of her estate to Actors Equity. He won't be missed by any Mae-mavens. But listen to this mouthful from The L.A. Times.
• • Steve Chawkins wrote: Agent Roger Richman had a ton of celebrity clients — — Mae West, James Cagney, Maria Callas, Albert Einstein, the Marx brothers, Sigmund Freud, Gypsy Rose Lee and W.C. Fields, to name a few. Contrary to expectations, none of them were overly demanding.
• • The obituary continued: "I don't have people calling me in the middle of the night saying there aren't enough red M and Ms in the Green Room," he told The Times in a 2001 interview. The reason was simple: By the time he began advocating for them, they were long dead. ...
• • Steve Chawkins added: Roger Richman died on 9 October of complications from pneumonia, his wife, Diane Shulman, said. He was 69 and had been in failing health for some time. ...
• • Source: The L.A. Times; published on Sunday, 14 October 2013
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started nine years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2764th 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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