Monday, February 02, 2015

Mae West: Sensationalism

MAE WEST was quoted in the Tuesday, 1 February 1927 edition of one of her local newspapers, The New York Morning Telegraph.
• • Mae West told a New York drama critic:  There is one play which we never grow weary of seeing. That is the great show of life as it flows along. "The Drag" is the second of what I am calling "comedy-dramas of life." The first is "Sex," which is playing in New York.
• • On Wednesday, 2 February 1927 • •
• • A Variety reviewer gave the play "The Drag" his critique on Wednesday, 2 February 1927. He was uncomfortable with scenes of homosexual life played out openly on the stage (instead of in the usual discrete coded references). He wrote  that, by being so direct, Mae's "play was a cheap and shabby appeal for sensationalism."
• • On Wednesday, 2 February 1927 • •
• • At 5 o'clock in the morning on Tuesday February 1st, Mae West was arrested along with her sister and the director Edward Elsner. The charge was "disorderly conduct" and it was widely reported in many tabloids on February 2nd, 1927. What a nightmare.
• • This turmoil was the start of Mae's most notorious headlines in the newspapers.
• • These real life events in Bridgeport, CT are dramatized In Act I, Scene 2 of the stage play "Courting Mae West."
• • On Thursday, 2 February 1933 with Rudy Vallee • •
• • The collection "Mae West — Original Radio Broadcasts" includes her rendition of "Frankie and Johnny" which was aired on "The Rudy Vallee Show" on Thursday, 2 Febru­ary 1933.
• • On Wednesday, 2 February 1938 in Variety • •
• • Though "Every Day's a Holiday" did not do big numbers in certain cities, ticket receipts totaling $57,000 at the box office in New York City would indicate that Mae West definitely attracted a full house in her hometown.
• • Variety's headline was "Benny Goodman — West Boffo B'way for $57,000" [Variety Magazine on 2 February 1938].
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • My favorite is "She Done Him Wrong" — because Mae West fills a long-felt movie need and is better than swell.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I have found men who didn't know how to kiss. I've always found time to teach them."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A Singapore newspaper mentioned Mae West's play on Friday, 2 February 1951.
• • "Mae West Play Obscene: Censors" • •
• • The Straits Times wrote: Censors in Atlanta, America, banned Mae West in flesh as they had done 18 years ago on film. They said the play "Diamond Lil," in which Mae was scheduled to appear, was "lewd and obscene" in New York.
• • The Straits Times added: Jack Small, the producer, is seeking an injunction against the Atlanta censors. ...
• • Source: News Item: The Straits Times (on page 2); published on Friday, 2 February 1951
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 10th anniversary • •    
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during this past decade. The other day we entertained 1,430 visitors. We reached a milestone this week: 3,100 posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3105th 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 • onstage in February 1927

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