Mae West: At the Studebaker

In 1945, the Chicago Tribune ran this headline:  MAE WEST Brings 'Catherine' to Chicago on March 12th.
• • Mae West in "Catherine Was Great" in person — — with a Broadway cast of 65. Begins on Monday, March 12th!! A Gigantic Stage Play!!
• • Reporter Claudia Cassidy wrote: Miss West put history in its place, and Michael Todd put the works on the stage complete with the golden thrones, a couple of dozen leading men, and boxcars full of props and fancy dress. Chicago gets a look at the result, starting a week from Monday night at the Studebaker.   . . .
• • Source: Article and a long interview for Chicago Tribune; published on Sunday, 4 March 1945.
• • Mildred Katherine West [8 December 1898 — 12 March 1982] • •
• • In the month of March, we honor Mae's younger sister Beverly.

• • In March 1924, Variety noted a new act listed on Manhattan's stagebill: "Beverly West and Co., Piano and Singing." While not mentioning that she was Mae West's sister, Variety's reviewer admitted that "she puts over her numbers acceptably." Proctor's East 58th Street location had engaged Beverly and her musicians in 1924. Back in 1895, F.F. Proctor had built his playhouse, Proctor's Pleasure Palace Palm Gardens, on 154 East 58th Street, New York, NY in midtown on the eastside [now zipcode 10022]. During the same interval (mid-March in 1924), Mae West was trouping in vaudeville in Texas.
• • Born in Brooklyn on Thursday, 8 December 1898, Beverly changed her stage name a few times. She was Beverly Osborne, then later it became Beverly Arden.
• • Hoping to build up Beverly's self esteem when she needed a career lift, Mae paid to have these "Torch Songs" recorded and have this 45 rpm pressed. The name "Arden" came from the intersection of Arden and Beverly Streets near Rossmore Avenue in Los Angeles where Mae lived in the fabulous Ravenswood Apartment Building
• • Afflicted with polio and a limp, Beverly favored long dresses that covered her imperfect legs. She never was able to develop Mae's dancing ability so she concentrated on her voice.
• • Beverly died two years after her older sister on Friday, 12 March 1982. She was 83.
• • Born on Thursday, 12 March 1874 • •
• • Mae West was cast in "Vera Violetta," a musical that opened on 20 November 1911 at the Winter Garden Theatre when she first worked with Mr. Atteridge.
• • Most of the music was prepared by composer Edmund Eysler who was born in Vienna in March — — on Thursday, 12 March 1874.
• • On Thursday, 12 March 1936 in The N.Y. Times • •
• • The reviewer for The N.Y. Times Frank S. Nugent was aware of the uproar from the Hays Office that delayed Mae's latest motion picture. Nugent wrote: Mae West's "Klondike Annie" really does not merit the agitation it has caused. His opinions appeared in The N.Y. Times on Thursday, 12 March 1936.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • While discussing the Teuton situation, the fair Marlene's name was also mentioned as one of the wanted expatriates, but there is little likelihood of die Dietrich ditching the U.S.A. Not unless Mae West gets her goat.
• • Of course, that was mostly publicity — that feud between Mae and Marlene — and pretty good press agent hooey at that. The famous old Pola Negri — Gloria Swanson feud was raked up and warmed over for the benefit of the present generation and the public was almost convinced that Mae West was ready to take aim at Marlene, or vice versa, at the very first time they got within a mile of each other. But at this writing there have been no fatalities.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "Gee, I loved the boys. Went around with lots of them and played with them. There was a gang of us — of course, we would have fights."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The New Movie Magazine mentioned Mae West.
• • The same old carnival background that has served for Mae West's "I'm No Angel" and Clara Bow's "Hoop-lah" has been drafted again for "Good Dame."  The set hasn't deteriorated but the photoplays acted before it get steadily worse. "Good Dame" is an acute case of story trouble.  . . .
• • Source: Item in The New Movie Magazine; published in June 1934
• • 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 recently when we completed 3,100 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3133rd 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 • • with her sister and brother in 1930 • •
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