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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