Tinseltown chronicler James Bacon once wrote, "Roll me over. I'm in love with MAE WEST all over again!" Sit on the divan and listen in as he interviews the diamond-draped diva in late April 1973.
• • "Mae West — — Living As Legend" • •
• • Hollywood (NANA) — James Bacon wrote: Spent an afternoon with one of our living legends — — my favorite Mae West. It's as if she invented sex yesterday, not in the 1920s. It was Mae who once observed that she was pure as the driven snow, but added "Then I drifted."
• • James Bacon continued: Mae told me she had friends, long dead, come to visit her right in this room. She said, "I believe there is a hereafter." Then the talk turned to sex. This was the first time I ever visited Mae that we didn't conduct the interview in her bedroom, under her famous mirrored ceilings. And Mae gave me an added treat — — her famous recitation from her 1926 play "Sex."
• • "When I wrote my first play, we were going to call it 'Follow the Fleet' but I thought about that for a few days and then announced to the director that we should call it 'Sex,' because that is what people are interested in. And It caused a sensation." . . .
• • James Bacon noted: Mae West is ageless. She hasn't changed in 30 years. Mae is a great believer in ESP. "I thought the Ten Commandments were good rules to live by," she explained. "But I could never live my life by conditions someone else set." . . .
• • Source: Article by James Bacon rpt in The Daily Times-News (No. Carolina); published on Monday, 30 April 1973.
• • James Bacon [12 May 1914 — 18 September 2010] • •
• • West Coast columnist James Bacon had a walk-on part in "Sextette" [1978] as a reporter. The industrious news man, born in Buffalo, NY in the month of May — — on 12 May 1914 — — was awarded his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work as a Hollywood columnist on 6 April 2007.
• • James Bacon died of congestive heart failure in Northridge, California on 18 September 2010. He was 96 years old.
• • On Friday, 30 April 1926 • •
• • Mae's hometown paper, New York Daily Mirror, printed a diatribe about her Broadway play "Sex" on day, 30 April 1926 under the headline "SEX: an Offensive Play. Monstrosity Plucked From Garbage Can, Destined to Sewer."
• • Clearly all riled up, the New York based critic explained: "This production is not for the police. It comes rather in the province of our Health Department. It is a sore spot in the midst of our fair city that needs disinfecting." . . .
• • On Monday, 30 April 1956 in N.Y. World-Telegram Sun • •
• • It was on Monday, 30 April 1956 that Robert W. Dana's felicitous coverage of "The Mae West Review" appeared.
• • Robert Dana's popular daily dish "Tips on Tables" was published in the now defunct New York World-Telegram and Sun.
• • His column "Mae West's Show Grows" [dated April 30th] indicated Dana had seen the routine previously.
• • Robert W. Dana wrote: The old belief that everything should be bigger and better — — a thought most forcefully pronounced by Hollywood trailers — — can be applied with forthright honesty to Mae West, who has returned to the Latin Quarter [in New York City on West 48th Street], where she scored heavily in the fall [sic] of 1954. ...
• • On Wednesday, 30 April 1969 in Los Angeles • •
• • On Wednesday, 30 April 1969, on light blue note paper (engraved Miss Mae West at the top), the Hollywood icon took time out to send a warm letter to her cousin Tillie.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • "Record N. Y. Paramount Run" • •
• • By holding over for a fifth week, Mae West's "Goin' to Town" sets the Iong-run record at the New York Paramount, it was pointed out yesterday by Moris Morros, managing director. Previous record of four weeks also was held by a Mae West film, "I'm No Angel."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "No, I don't have a vision of an ideal man. A girl's got to realize that there ain't such a person. If a man's too perfect, he can get awfully dull."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article in Australia praised Mae West.
• • "Mae West" • •
• • Morning Bulletin wrote: The new star, Mae West, will be at the Wintergarden and Karl's Court Saturday next. All Mae West's repertoire has been added to this gay story of a diamond-loving lady of the gay 1890s. The "come up and see me sometime" girl is original and merry in a story she wrote herself, and her two songs, "Frankie and Johnny Were Lovers" and "Haven't Got No Peace ol Mind," will also be heard.
• • The cast includes Cary Grant, Owen Moore, Gilbert Roland, Noah Beery, and others. Mae West brings a totally new style of comedy to the screen and "She Done Him Wrong" has been much acclaimed wherever it has been screened. ...
• • Source: Item in Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld.); published on Saturday, 28 April 1934
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started nine years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2903rd 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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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1973 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
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MAE WEST kept the ostrich farms prosperous by reviving the fashions of the 1890s, observed a Sunday columnist on 29 April 1934. But eventually, according to this reporter, the screen siren failed the flightless bird. Publisher Martin Quigley once ranted and railed against the screen siren, exclaiming that she was "a symbolism of attainable sex, garnished with ostrich plumes of the red plush parlor period."
• • All right now. Let's see what's behind this squawking.
• • "Mae West and Sally Rand Fail Ostriches" • •
• • Columnist Kirke Simpson wrote: The combined charms of Mae West and Sally Rand have not saved a formerly famous and profitable ostrich farm near Pasadena, California. Once said to be worth $500,000, the farm was recently put on sale to pay $132 in delinquent taxes.
• • Kirke Simpson explained: From a herd (or is it a flock?) of more than 200 ostriches, the number has dwindled to about fifty. Their sad fate cannot be blamed on the ostriches. They did not hide their heads in the sand, but trouble overtook them just the same.
• • Kirke Simpson continued: Although the ostriches have always had many admirers, it was wearing their plumes, not just looking at the birds, that made the ostrich farm profitable. When styles in women's hats changed and feather boas and fans went out, the ostrich farm was doomed. Perhaps the doom is only temporary. One never knows about feminine fashions. . . .
• • Source: Article "A Washington Bystander" written by Kirke Simpson in San Bernardino Sun; published on Sunday, 29 April 1934.
• • On Sunday, 29 April 1928 • •
• • Percy Hammond's lengthy article about Mae West's career and her latest drama "Diamond Lil" was titled “The Rewards of Virtue” — — and it led off his syndicated coverage of the theatre scene. His positive review was first printed in The New York Tribune on Sunday, 29 April 1928.
• • On Friday, 29 April 1938 in the Boston Herald • •
• • Beantown readers were treated to this titillation on Friday, 29 April 1938, announced with a boldface headline: "Clutching, Squealing Crowd Greets Mae West with Mob Scene Here."
• • The Boston Herald reporter wrote: Complete with the publicized curves and husky, slurring accents that have made her practically a symbol of what she is pleased to call “the sex personality,” Mae West crashed into Boston yesterday morning through a clutching, squealing crowd of 3000 eager admirers who turned the South station into a mob scene.
• • The Boston Herald reporter noted: Cries of pain mingled with shouts of “There she is!” and “Give us a smile, Mae!” as the mob, in a surging onslaught, trampled on toes and barked shins to get closer to the object of it all. The plump blonde actress, in a trailing satin dress, with make-up thick on her features and a huge bunch of orchids clutched in a heavily jeweled hand, gave them the smile and was taken off to the Ritz-Carlton, where she is staying while appearing in person at the RKO Boston Theater this week.
• • On Saturday, 29 April 1950 in Pittsburgh • •
• • Pittsburgh's Mayor David Lawrence and Mae West shared the stage of the Nixon Theater on Saturday night, 29 April 1950, after the final performance of her play, "Diamond Lil." The 47-year-old playhouse was booked for bulldozing, making way for the new headquarters of the Aluminum Company of America. Tsk.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • It has taken a bit of time for some producers to realize that the single name of Shirley Temple or Will Rogers or Mae West contains more sales talk than "a super-special with an all-star cast." Temple and Rogers and West are quantities that can be visualized by exhibitors as well as by their patrons.
• • Not so with "stupendous production" and "stellar cast." They are just high-sounding phrases that leave the reader cold and unimpressed.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I may be old, but I'm not that old. I've sat on more laps than a napkin."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article written by Percy Hammond praised Mae West (finally).
• • "Mae West Turns Good in 'Diamond Lil' — Play Is Recommended" • •
• • NEW YORK, May 5 — Theatre critic Percy Hammond wrote: After suffering the twinges of disgrace for a time. Miss Mae West is now enjoying the comforts of respectability. . . .
• • Percy Hammond continued: Associations with the wardens, the gaolers, her culprit sisters in a local calaboose made her a good girl, it seems, for as soon as she was liberated, she set out to earn the rewards of virtue. ...
• • Source: Theatre by Percy Hammond rpt in The Pittsburgh Press; published on Sunday, 6 May 1928
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started nine years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2902nd 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/
________
Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1935 wearing ostrich-trimmed robe • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
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On Sunday, 28 April 1935, MAE WEST's name turned up in The Lincoln Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) and other places.
• • "Mae West Really Goes to Town in Her New Picture by Same Name" • •
• • Her Quips Are Good, the Old Vigor Remains • •
• • The queen of the hourglass figured era, Mae West, is due sometime soon in “Goin’ To Town." The motion picture was reviewed for the first time in Hollywood this week and acclaimed the gorgeous West’s fitting vehicle for pegging another rise in her already established fame. The tall, dark, and handsome guy this time is Paul Cavanagh, the Englisher gent, who has stirred many a gal’s heart already in the films.
• • You mae care and you mae not, but Mae West is shortly to be among us with another picture. She calls it "Goin' to Town." You mae bet your bottom dollar too, that most of your neighbors won’t miss it, and neither should you. “Goin' to Town" is the witty West’s best since "She Done Him Wrong" which rates, of course, above everything else she’s done, because it established her and her vogue in screendom.
• • When Mae West's stock was at low ebb, due to the purity campaign, she decided to change the tide and called the script on this picture "Now I'm a Lady.” However, after all the hullabaloo was on the wane and there had been, she figured it’d be a treat to go to town for the fans again, which she does, and also names her newest celluloid recitation.
• • Still supreme in her timing, Mae has an entertainment this time which has plenty on the ball. Gags by Mae and her undulating accents, especially her own jokes, are plenty good. She is presented with a role that helps plenty — — that of a cattle country dance hall woman who suddenly inherits a slough of oil wells and dough. And with a lot of money, the writhing West can really dress up.
• • “Goin’ To Town" — Summary • •
• • STORY: Mae's character Cleo runs this dance hall with a crap table annex in the virgin western country with plenty of success until Fred Kohler, cattle rustler, persuades her to stake her single blessedness on a role of the dice. She gets him to sign over all his property to her in advance, however, and right when she’s in the midst of preparing her trousseau, the big sheriff in the village weights her ugly swain down with well-placed shots of lead.
• • Possessing all this wealth suddenly, Mae makes a play for Cavanaugh, an engineer who’s testing her land for oil. He resists her advances and when the oil comes in, he goes to Buenos Aires. Mae follows with a fast horse, presumably to run him in the races, but more to get hooks into the boy friend. She tries a multitude of things, including a plunge at high society. The story finally moves the locale to Southampton for a string of amusing sequences. . . .
• • Mae West’s contract calls for but one more picture. She is undecided as yet whether to continue as a star or just as a writer.
• • Source: Article and review printed in syndication; rpt in The Lincoln Star; published on Sunday, 28 April 1935.
• • On Wednesday, 28 April 1926 • •
• • "Sex" opened on Monday, 26 April 1926. The Broadway debut occurred a few blocks north of Columbus Circle at Daly’s 63rd Street Theatre, the only playhouse available at the time. This was quite an achievement. Writing and staging "Sex" would change Mae's life.
• • Two days later (on Wednesday, 28 April 1926) Variety took an early stand against the play: “Mae West . . . has broken the fetters and does as she pleases here. After three hours of this play’s nasty, infantile, amateurish, and vicious dialog, after watching its various actors do their stuff badly, one really has a feeling of gratefulness for any repression that may have toned down her vaudeville songs in the past. If this show could do one week of good business it would depart with a handsome profit, it’s that cheaply put on.”
• • Phooey on you, Variety. Unstoppable "Sex" not only sold out its premiere but it also offered 385 performances with general admission tickets sold for $3.50. According to Mae West, orchestra seats were $10. Wow.
• • On Thursday, 28 April 1927 • •
• • On Thursday, 28 April 1927 The New York Times ran this article: “Mae West Departs from Workhouse.”
• • On Sunday, 28 April 1940 • •
• • Mae West's name turned up in a horoscope in Singapore, of all places!
• • The Straits Times, issue dated for Sunday, 28 April 1940, gave the horoscope for April 28th like this: (March 21— April 20) — — It is your week (as Mae West said) go ahead!
• • On Monday, 28 April 1969 • •
• • Richard Meryman's exotic cover feature, "Mae West: Going Strong at 75," was published in Life Magazine. The issue was dated for Monday, 28 April 1969.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West is a little undecided about doing "I'm No Angel." Aw, go ahead, Mae! All God's chillun got wings.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I've met hundreds, both on and off the stage, and there ain't a man that I don't like. There's somethin' about all of them that kinda gets you. I dunno what it is, quite."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article about Hollywood movies mentioned Mae West.
• • Hollywood's Boulevardier Herb Howe wrote: Mae West is Hollywood's little heroine. Mae is the gal what lifted the mortgage. Mae not only drove the wolves from theater doors; she took their pelts.
• • Herb Howe wrote: "She Done Him Wrong" made a million in first-run theaters alone. Mae's our American "Cavalcade," matching Brooklyn accent against the British and winning Hollywood back to the U. S. A. Hooray! Hooray! And buy American! Mae's goin' to change the grammar of a nation 'fore she's through. . . . To say nuthin' of its shape. ...
• • Source: The New Movie Magazine; published in August 1933
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started nine years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2901st 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/
________
Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1935 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC Mae West
