Mae West: Harry D. Mills

In 1934, when MAE WEST was working on "Belle of the Nineties," there was an interesting article printed about technical difficulties during kissing scenes between Ruby Carter and the Tiger Kid, her leading man Roger Pryor [27 August 1901 — 31 January 1974].
• • Sound Mixer Harry D. Mills [30 January 1901 — 19 April 1977] had to figure it out. 
• • "Asides and Interludes" by James Cunningham • •
• • James Cunningham  wrote:  The problems of corporate reorganization are not the sole cause of the occasional headaches of the Paramount Picture management. Mae West's kisses are another source.

• • James Cunningham  explained:  It seems that the recording technicians at the studio in Hollywood who were putting Mae's dialogue onto film during the production of "It Ain't No Sin," had found the blonde "siren's" voice a "cinch" to handle, until Mae started a love scene with Roger Pryor, her young leading man. Then the trouble started.
• • "Smack!" went the first kiss, and E. L. Kerr, technician in charge, asked for another "take" so that he could pull the microphone back a bit and diminish the intensity of Mae's osculation.
• • "Smack!" went the second, and Harry D. Mills, the sound mixer, reported too much volume sizzling through the wires into his sound booth.
• • James Cunningham continued:  Director Leo McCarey cautioned Mae to take it easy, and she agreed. But a third attempt shocked the recording apparatus again.
• • James Cunningham  noted:  Mae, a bit nonplussed over the reactionary effects of her love making on science, informed all present that if she kissed her leading man at all, she would have to do it roundly — let the sound tracks fall where they might.
• • And so the Paramount Pictures Corporation wrapped a piece of silk around the microphone to dampen the vibrations.
• • Source:  Article written by James Cunningham for Motion Picture Herald; published on Saturday, 30 June 1934. 
• • On Saturday, 7 January 1939 • •
• • On Saturday, 7 January 1939 Australian movie buffs were eager to see Mae West.  Her motion picture "Go West Young Man" had finally been released in the movie houses Down Under.  Exciting.
• • On Friday, 7 January 2000 in Newsday • •
• • An article on Cary Grant written by Blake Green began with Mae West's name in the first sentence. Blake Green wrote: Few quips have achieved the immortality of Mae West's sultry invitation, "Come up and see me sometime."
• • Newsday, a Long Island newspaper, published this feature on Friday, 7 January 2000.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West never forgets a friend nor a kindness, and seems to have an inexhaustible memory for the faces of those who have crossed her pathway in her long journey from Brooklyn to Broadway.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "I'm Mae West, I can't wear the same clothes twice."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A book discussed Mae West in 1930, returning to vaudeville.
• • Anthony Slide wrote:  Prior to starring in "The Constant Sinner, Mae West had returned to vaudeville with a fourteen-minute act which made its debut at the Fox Audubon — — where the cooch dance was ordered removed in May 1930.   ...
• • Source: Entry on Mae West in "The Encyclopedia of Vaudeville" written by Anthony Slide; published in 2012
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 10th anniversary • •    
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during this past decade. Yesterday we entertained 1,430 visitors. 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3087th 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 1934 • •
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