Mae West: Battling Father Time

MAE WEST was in the process of acquiring a second home when this interview appeared on Tuesday, 31 March 1959. She claimed it was for health reasons — — to fight the smog.  She had a lot to talk about because her memoir was due to be published. She and Erskine Johnson discussed everything from the French sex kitten Brigitte Bardot to bottled water and Mae's habit of brushing her teeth a dozen times a day. Sit down and stay awhile.
• • "Mae West's Fulltime Career Now Is Fighting the Battle of Age" • •

• • Erskine Johnson wrote: Hollywood — Mae West is still saying, "Come up and see me sometime." But the traffic isn't as heavy as it once was. It has been a long time, you know.
• • Erskine Johnson explained: The indestructible Mae has lived for 26 years now in the same six-room apartment on the sixth floor of a fashionable apartment house not far from Hollywood and Vine. The aging elevator groaned, and then winced, as I went up to to see Diamond Lil who, way back in 1932, set a movie pattern for wiggling hips, mouth-twitching, and sultry voiced quips like "it's not the men in my life — — it's the life in my men." 
• • Muscleman at Door • •
• • A tall, dark, and handsome muscleman opens the door and invites you into Mae's living room, all white and satin and coldly dignified.  You sit there alone for a time — — time enough to see a young nude Mae West in full-bodied white marble on a white piano top, a young and nude Mae West in an oil painting which could out-sell Marilyn Monroe's calendar, and a young all-dressed-up Mae West with "come up and see me sometime" looks in several portraits, color tinted, and framed in gold.  . . .
• • Erskine Johnson added: In due time, Mae is moving to a beach house she recently purchased to escape the smog.  We sit in this room and Mae answers my questions about how she keeps her figure: yoga exercises, Iong walks, specially prepared fat-less foods.  . . .
• • Erskine Johnson recalled: The flair for writing her own plays, often raided by police, has brought Mae West to this point: preparing the galley proofs of the autobiography she wrote during the past two years and due for publication this fall. The title of it is "Empress of Sex." She says she wrote every word. And, she smiled, "I don't believe it will be banned in Boston."  . . .
• • [Ed: Maybe we will post another installment of this cheeky chat later this week.]
• • Source:  Syndicated column "Hollywood Today" written by Erskine Johnson rpt in The Corpus Christi Caller-Times; published on Tuesday, 31 March 1959.
• • On Sunday, 31 March 1912 • •
• • The end of March signaled the beginning of excitement down at "The Corner" [Seventh Avenue and 42nd Street]. The New York Times announced on 31 March 1912 that "Mae West and Her Boys" would take the stage at Hammerstein's Victoria.
• • On Thursday, 31 March 1927 • •
• • On Thursday, 31 March 1927 it was reported in The New York Times that Sergeant Patrick Keneally of the Midtown Vice Squad, whose testimony was heavily flavored with a thick Irish brogue, quoted long passages from Mae's play "Sex" from memory. Moreover, "frequently, under the instructions of the Prosecutor," explained The Times, "assuming poses to demonstrate the manner in which members of the cast delivered their lines," Sgt Keneally gave the jury box quite a show.
• • On Monday, 31 March 1930 in The N.Y. Times • •
• • The N.Y. Times ran this headline to keep readers up to date on the "Pleasure Man" trial at the end of March 1930: CLASH MARKS MOVE TO FREE MAE WEST; Nathan Burkan Demands Details in Play Indictment — — Wallace Calls Motion Ridiculous. TWELFTH JUROR CHOSEN Then Panel Is Excused as Counsel Argue Over Terming Actress "Star of Case." Sales Manager Picked as Juror. Wants All Indecency Specified.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • The Hollywood Legion fights on Friday night is another favorite haunt of film stars like Mae West, Johnny Weissmuller and Lupe Velez, Dick Powell and Joan Blondell, Spencer Tracy, Gary Cooper and many famous directors, as well as stars.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "People just don't eat right. For breakfast, I have sliced apples and raisins. Or fruit with a syrup made of powdered almonds, milk, and honey. At night all I have is a salad. During the day I drink carrot juice." 
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The San Bernardino Sun mentioned Mae West
• • The Mae West type: This voluptuous beauty can look far from glamorous if she isn't extremely careful about selecting the proper bra top for her swim suit. If it is cut too low or is too narrow, she will bulge above and below it in alarming fashion. This is the gal who should choose a well constructed bra top suit with inner uplift construction, and be sure it is long enough and deep enough to cover the subject.  ...
• • Source: San Bernardino Sun; published on Friday, 31 March 1950 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started nine years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2881st 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 • • at home in 1959 • •
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Mae West: Touch of Mink

Mrs. Anne Rea, the hair dresser for MAE WEST, was interviewed about the star in March 1956. This woman had traveled with the iconic performer from 1946 — 1952 during the time when Mae was touring the United States with "Diamond Lil" and "Come on Up and Ring Twice." During her road shows, Mae carried around thousands of dollars worth of spit curls, bangs, braids, falls, and other false hair pieces which required special attention and maintenance.
• • This is the third and final installment of this fascinating first-person remembrance, which has been discovered by the Mae West Blog.  Curiously, Mrs. Rea's quotes had escaped notice by any of the biographers who have profiled the life and career of the Brooklyn bombshell.   
• • "Models Mink Coats" • • 

• • The Racine Journal-Times Sunday Bulletin wrote:  Mae West thought nothing of spending money. When she would send Mrs. Rea to select several dresses to be sent back to the star, Miss West usually added, "Get one for yourself, too!"
• • In Hollywood one day, Mae West invited her hair dresser to dinner. Afterwards, she asked Mrs. Rea to model several mink coats she was considering for purchase. "I told Miss West that was as close as I'd ever come to having a mink coat to wear," Mrs. Rea laughed.
• • When asked Mae West's age, Mrs. Rea refused to speculate, saying that was one thing the vaudeville star never discussed.
• • (Associated Press reports listed Miss West's age as 63 in March 1956.)
• • This lengthy interview appeared in three sections this week. We hope you enjoyed reading it.
• •  Source:  Article: "Stylist for Mae West Visits in Racine" for The Racine Journal-Times Sunday Bulletin (Racine, Wisconsin); published on Sunday, 25 March 1956.
• • On Wednesday, 28 March 1927 • •
• • In March 1927, in reaction to the Broadway aspirations of Mae West's play "The Drag," the New York State Legislature passed a law banning all depictions of homosexuality on the stage.
• • After the Grand Jury's indictments were finished, the courtroom trial began in earnest on Wednesday, 28 March 1927. First on the agenda was jury selection.
• • A few days later, Norman Schloss would open the case for the defense, pointing out the most obvious details: that "Sex" had already run for 339 performances, and it had been seen by more than 325,000 patrons, including members of the police department and their wives, by judges of the criminal courts, by seven members of the district attorneys’ staffs, and by citizens of the city who showed no moral impairment. A Broadway “play jury” had previewed the show, and belated prosecution was unreasonable.
• • The prosecutor would argue that the play "Sex" was obscene and he would be calling a series of detectives who became courtroom actors.
• • The full-length stage play "Courting Mae West" dramatizes the trial and other matters leading up to it — — and, of course, the colorful aftermath.
• • On Thursday, 28 March 1935 • •
• • Mae West was invited to party with the King of England during his jubilee in 1935.
• • The newspapers followed this story, announcing a few times that Mae West would definitely attend the party in London. However, it was not to be — — and the busy performer would not sail for Great Britain until after World War II when she toured in "Diamond Lil."
• • "Lord Byng Talks with Mae West" • •
• • According to The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser: In 1935, Mae West was invited to the jubilee celebration of King George V in London, over the teacups at Paramount studio in Hollywood today by Lord Byng, British hero of Vimy Ridge. The actress entertained Lord and Lady Byng at tea on the set of her picture, and was in her usual good form saying, "Have another cup, dearie" to his lordship and "Two lumps, darling" to her ladyship. ...
• • Source: Article:  "Lord Byng Talks with Mae West" in The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser; published on Thursday, 28 March 1935.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • William Le Baron, who has signed a new term contract with Paramount, is currently
concerned with the Mae West, W. C. Fields, Gladys Swarthout, Jan Kiepura, and Burns and Allen pictures, plus an Alaskan aerial adventure film and a story for Carole Lombard.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I like to live high up, and hear people moving about, and listen to traffic noises. Makes me feel alive and part of things."    
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Film Daily mentioned Mae West. 
• • "10 Shows Daily for Paramount" • •
• • Paramount Theater announces 10 shows daily, with 11 on Saturday, for the run of Mae West in "Goin' to Town."
• • Source:  The  Film Daily; published on Saturday, 11 May 1935 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started nine years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2880th 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 • • wearing hair pieces in 1946 • •
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Mae West: Limo Convo

Mrs. Anne Rea, the hair dresser for MAE WEST, was invited to join the tour. The interview took place in the back seat of a car.  Roll down the driver's side window and eavesdrop.
• • "Talk in Mae's Auto" • •
• • When Miss West went to talk to Mrs. Rea, she arrived in a limousine, complete with a white fur rug. The two talked in the car.
• • Mrs. Rea traveled with two shows — — "Diamond Lil" and "Come on Up and Ring Twice" — — with Mae West as the star. During one show, Miss West wore more than $1 million worth of her own jewels. Brinks men were all over the place, Mrs. Rea recalled and smiled. Mrs. Rea said that she would wear one diamond bracelet under her smock for Miss West, who did not like to leave the jewelry in the dressing room.
• • One night, Miss West left without getting her bracelet, and Mrs. Rea (unmarried at the time) was afraid to go back to her hotel alone. The stage electrician volunteered to be her escort. The two became acquainted — — and later were married. 
• • Mrs. Rea described her boss as "a real lady, who liked men, but didn't date much."
• • This lengthy 1956 interview, offered in three parts, will be concluded tomorrow.
• • Source:  Article: "Stylist for Mae West Visits in Racine" for The Racine Journal-Times Sunday Bulletin (Racine, Wisconsin); published on Sunday, 25 March 1956.
• • On Tuesday, 27 March 1928 • •

• • Gaspere Biondolillo took the Americanized stage name of Jack LaRue.
• • Jack LaRue [3 May 1902 — 11 January 1984] was part of the original Broadway cast when Mae West brought her hit "Diamond Lil" to the Royale Theatre on Monday, 9 April 1928.
• • Think of the excitement on March 27th, as the cast was having their dress rehearsals and posing for promotional stills at White Studio.
• • Onstage Jack LaRue played Lil's Latin lover Juarez. [Gilbert Roland played that role, under the Russian moniker Sergei, in the film version "She Done Him Wrong" [1932].
• • "Darlene Violette channels Mae West to perfection!" — Stu Hamstra • •
• • PHOTO: Darlene Violette as Diamond Lil and Juan Sebastian Cortes as Pablo Juarez.
• • "Diamond Lil" is hoping to be back onstage this summer.
• • On Thursday, 27 March 1930 • •
• • An article on Mae's on-going "Pleasure Man" woes — — "Trial of Mae West Delayed Third Time” — — was printed on page 20 of The New York Times on Thursday, 27 March 1930.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • John Miljan says Mae West is such a talented actress that the camera is unable to do justice to her many subtleties of characterization and depths of feeling.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Don't crowd me, boys! There's enough for all!"
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Film Daily mentioned Mae West. 
• • Ralph Wilk wrote: "Hallelujah, I'm a Saint," a story by Marion Morgan and George B. Dowell, has been purchased by Paramount to provide additional material for the next Mae West starring picture. She will incorporate certain sequences of the newly purchased story and "Lulu Was a Lady," purchased two weeks ago from Frank Mitchell Dazey.
• • Source: Film Daily; published on Thursday, 16 May 1935 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started nine years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2879th 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" in 2013 • •
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