• • "I am having quite a bit of fun reading both 'The Making of Americans' AND the Mae West story (which are not really too unlike each other, especially in their attitude towards parents and forebears in general)," Frank O'Hara wrote in a letter to Vincent Warren, dated for Wednesday, 18 January 1961 — — according to "Frank O'Hara: The Poetics of Coterie" [2006] written by Lytle Shaw.
• • Frank O'Hara was born in the month of March — — on Saturday, 27 March 1926 in Baltimore, Maryland.
• • According to Charles Rosen, "legend has it that Frank O'Hara called Mae West the inventor of 'smalltown faggot psychology'" [in Chapter 20 of "Freedom and the Arts: Essays on Music and Literature" by Charles Rosen, 2012].
• • Frank O'Hara’s poem, written when he was 29 years old, “To the Film Industry in Crisis” mentioned Mae West and other marquee names. Here's an excerpt.
• • • Mae West in a furry sled, her bordello radiance and bland remarks,
• • • Rudolph Valentino of the moon, its crushing passions and moonlike,
• • • too, the gentle Norma Shearer,
• • • Miriam Hopkins dropping her champagne glass off Joel McCrea's yacht
• • • and crying into the dappled sea, Clark Gable rescuing Gene Tierney
• • • from Russia . . .
• • Literary critic Robin R. Bates had this to say about Frank O'Hara's viewpoint and the recent Oscar ceremony: For a poem that captures our ambivalent feelings about Oscar night, Frank O’Hara’s “To the Film Industry in Crisis” is as good as it gets. Written in 1955 when television was seriously threatening the film industry, the poem simultaneously mocks and celebrates Hollywood.
• • Robin R. Bates explained: On the one hand, Frank O’Hara captures the breathless adulation of fans with lines like “Motion Picture Industry, it’s you I love.” By ending his poem with an echo of Byron’s “Roll on, thou deep and dark blue Ocean roll!/ Ten thousand fleets sweep over thee in vain,” O’Hara is satirically comparing the movies with the irresistible power of nature. Such over-the-top statements are entirely in line with how Hollywood sees itself and how last night’s red carpet announcers breathlessly ushered in the stars. Hollywood has always been puffed up with self importance, and Frank O’Hara mocks us for going along.
• • Robin R. Bates continued: But that being acknowledged, Frank O’Hara is perfectly serious that Hollywood has an energy and allure that are missing from poetic quarterlies, experimental theater, and opera.
• • On Monday, 25 July 1966, while vacationing on Fire Island, Frank O'Hara was killed in a sand buggy accident, one of the more embarrassing ways to die. He was 40.
• • On Wednesday, 11 March 1936 in NYC • •
• • The reviews of "Klondike Annie" starring Mae West — — as The Frisco Doll, Rose Carlton, Sister Annie Alden — — began appearing in the month of March. In Manhattan, there was an exclusive engagement at the Paramount Theatre, 1501 Broadway, N.Y., for the week of 11 March 1936.
• • On Saturday, 11 March 2000 in Alaska • •
• • A midnight showing of "The Drag" by Mae West was held at Goldtown Nickelodeon Theater on Saturday, 11 March 2000 in Alaska. The director was Heather Paige.
• • On Thursday, 11 March 2011 in Las Vegas • •
• • Gary A. Warner writes: The Sahara Hotel and Casino, which dates to the days of Frank Sinatra's "Rat Pack" and has featured the likes of Mae West and Marlene Dietrich in its showrooms, will close on 16 May 2011.
• • Source: "Sahara hotel in Las Vegas to close in May" written by Gary A. Warner, Register Travel Editor, for The Orange County Register; posted on Thursday, 11 March 2011.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West was photographed today on the set, with Cary Grant, Romayne, the secretary to Wesley Ruggles, the director, and William LeBaron, who is credited with having sponsored the stardom of both Miss West and Bing Crosby.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Men are my hobby. If I got married, I'd have to give up my hobby."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An Irish magazine Beaut.ie mentioned Mae West.
• • Andrea wrote: "All discarded lovers should be given a second chance. But with someone else" are wise words from Mae West. See, when it comes to break ups, ol’ Mae knew a thing or two. When you part ways with your erstwhile other half, you’ll probably be sad for a little while and eat cake, drink too many cocktails, get a break up haircut, stick pins in a voodoo doll. But there comes a time when you’ll wipe the tears away . . .
• • Source: Article: "The Ex-Factor" by Andrea for Beaut.ie; posted on Monday, 10 March 2014
• • 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 3132nd 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 a furry sled in 1936 • •
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