Monday, January 13, 2014

Mae West: Ray Teal

MAE WEST worked with the actor Ray Teal, who was born in the month of January — — on Sunday, 12 January 1902.
• • Ray Teal [12 January 1902 — 2 April 1976] • •
• • Born in chilly Grand Rapids, Michigan on Sunday, 12 January 1902, Ray Teal studied music. When he attended UCLA (in sunny California), he was able to pay his own way by  playing the sax in local bands. He was still on campus when he formed his own band and led it until 1936 when he was 34 years old.
• • In 1937, the five-feet-eleven newcomer made his first screen appearance in an uncredited bit. Luck was on his side and better roles came his way.
• • In 1943, he was cast as a stagehand in the musical comedy "Heat's On" starring Mae West.
• • Active in the industry from 1937 — 1974, he logged in over 300 credits for his motion picture appearances as well as his roles in popular TV series such as "Bonanza." His versatility onscreen gave him the opportunity to play killers as well as kindly grandfathers, honest policemen or lawless gunslingers, law-abiding sheriffs, judges, or ruthless gangsters during his four decade career.
• • Ray Teal died in Santa Monica, California on 2 April 1976. He was 74.
• • On Saturday, 13 January 1945 • •
• • "Catherine Was Great" featured Mae West onstage in her stunning Russian empress regalia. Mike Todd's lavish production was onstage from 2 August 1944 — 13 January 1945 on Broadway, which ran for 191 performances. The play was staged at the Shubert Theatre, then moved to the Royale.
• • On Sunday, 13 January 1958 • •
• • An article in a Joe Weider publication in 2004 gave this point of view on the late bodybuilder and the Hollywood icon:
• • Joe Weider's reporter wrote: In 1955, a 64-year-old Mae West saw Mickey Hargitay on the cover of Strength and Health Magazine. She asked him to join her chorus of musclemen, clad in leopardskin G-strings, in her Las Vegas nightclub act, the Mae West Revue. According to Mae West, when she first met him, Hargitay had said: "Miss West, you are the end of my search for an ideal, my dream come true." ...
• • Blonde bombshell Jayne Mansfield encountered the very handsome Mr. Universe 1956 Miklos (Mickey) Hargitay on 13 May 1956, while attending a performance of the "Mae West Revue" at the Latin Quarter in Manhattan.
• • Twenty months later, Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay wed on Sunday, 13 January 1958. They had three children and, alas, the couple would divorce in 1964.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Laurels to Mae West — for her outstanding personality. Whether you approve of her, or not, you simply cannot ignore her.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "If you need a face job, why not?"
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The New Movie Magazine mentioned Mae West.
• • "Poison Pens of Hollywood" • •
• • John Bright wrote: Fired by the recent avalanche of untruths, the stars and the studios alike have opened battle on all scandal-mongers.  ...
• • John Bright added: This business of "marrying" celebrities for the sake of circulation is a favorite trick of the sensation-peddling reporter. Not long ago, a writer caused a terrific hullabaloo by printing an unconfirmed rumor that Mae West had been married for years to her jovial manager.
• • John Bright continued:  That one story completely changed Mae's attitude toward the press. Previously she had been very friendly, eager to oblige. Now, she became cagy and distrustful and for weeks threatened a Garbo act. She also threatened a libel suit, which was staved off only by a quick retraction. Retractions notwithstanding, every studio moved against that particular writer, who was an old offender, and he found himself persona non grata on every movie lot. Once in a while, the thumb does press down with crushing force.  ...
• • Source: John Bright's column in The New Movie Magazine; published in December 1933 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started nine years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2830th 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 in 1943

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