Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Mae West: Whirl of the Town

After MAE WEST teamed up with Jimmy Hussey  [1891 — 1930] in December 1920,  their steamy romance and creative collaborations continued for about eighteen exciting months — — until the Irish-American comedian was ignominiously fired from the show he created for his darling Mae in the summer of 1922, "The Ginger Box Revue."
• • Not long after their first encounter, Hussey wrote the book and the lyrics for the revue  "Whirl of the Town."  Later that year, it was renamed "The Mimic World 1921." Well aware of Mae's abilities, Hussey custom-tailored skits for her. She starred in prominent sketches in this production — — including a bridal number, "The Trial of Shimmy Mae," and in another routine as the con artist "Shifty Liz."  ["The Mimic World 1921" opened on Wednesday, 17 August 1921, Mae's 28th birthday.]
• • A few months earlier, however, Mae West and Jimmy Hussey were touring in his show "The Whirl of the Town." By the end of March 1921, they had been booked in Washington, D.C.
• • Poli's "Whirl of the Town" — — Opening at 8:20 o'clock • •
• • Poll's Theater this week beginning  tonight, will present the Century Promenade's new musical revue, "Whirl of the Town," in two acts and twenty-five scenes. The cast is headed by Mlle. Anna Codee of the Folies Bergere, Paris, and includes Jim Hussey, Georgie Price, Clare Nordstrom, Mae West, Marguerite Farrell, Beth Stanley, and many others with one hundred Century beauties.
• • Jimmy Hussey has been a headliner in vaudeville and lately presented a revue of his own. "Tattle Tales," and is an entertainer of varied talent. Georgie Price, who achieved success at the Winter Garden some months ago, has been a headliner in vaudeville and also successful in musical comedy.
• • Mae West will be recalled  from Arthur Hammerstein's "Some Time" and Marguerite Farrell came into prominence by singing the song  "If You Knock the L out of Kelly." 
• • The book and lyrics are by Harold Atteridge, the music by Jean Schwartz. Al Bryan and Lew Pollack also contributed lyrics and music. The entire production was staged under the supervision of J. J.  Schubert.
• • Source: Article in The Evening Star (Washington, D.C.); published on Sunday, 6 March 1921.
• • On Sunday, 31 March 1912 • •
• • The end of March signaled the beginning of excitement down at "The Corner" [Seventh Avenue and 42nd Street]. The New York Times announced on 31 March 1912 that "Mae West and Her Boys" would take the stage at Hammerstein's Victoria.
• • On Thursday, 31 March 1927 • •
• • On Thursday, 31 March 1927 it was reported in The New York Times that Sergeant Patrick Keneally of the Midtown Vice Squad, whose testimony was heavily flavored with a thick Irish brogue, quoted long passages from Mae's play "Sex" from memory. Moreover, "frequently, under the instructions of the Prosecutor," explained The Times, "assuming poses to demonstrate the manner in which members of the cast delivered their lines," Sgt Keneally gave the jury box quite a show.
• • On Monday, 31 March 1930 in The N.Y. Times • •
• • The N.Y. Times ran this headline to keep readers up to date on the "Pleasure Man" trial at the end of March 1930: CLASH MARKS MOVE TO FREE MAE WEST; Nathan Burkan Demands Details in Play Indictment — — Wallace Calls Motion Ridiculous. TWELFTH JUROR CHOSEN Then Panel Is Excused as Counsel Argue Over Terming Actress "Star of Case." Sales Manager Picked as Juror. Wants All Indecency Specified.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • The indestructible Mae has lived for 26 years now in the same six-room apartment on the sixth floor of a fashionable apartment house not far from Hollywood and Vine.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "A man has one hundred dollars and you leave him with two dollars. That's subtraction."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A British newspaper mentioned Mae West.
• • The 'American Cool' exhibit is currently on show at the National Portrait Gallery, in Washington. Just under a quarter of the 100 are women — — including Mae West, Madonna,  and Bonnie Raitt. There were four defining factors of cool — —  people chosen had to fit at least three categories to qualify  . . .
• • Source: Item in The Daily Mail [U.K.]; published on Monday, 31 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 3146th 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 • in 1921

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