Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Mae West: Fistie Hero

MAE WEST returned to the 1890s era for "Belle of the Nineties," released in the USA on 21 September 1934 and then screened in foreign countries.
• • One of Mae's co-stars was actress Katherine DeMille, who was born on Thursday, 29 June 1911 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (with a birth name of Katherine Lester). Here is a vintage article that became available only recently —  — and mentioned this June baby.
• • "Naughty 'Nineties — — A Glamorous Picture" • •
• • Mae West at Her Best • •
• • Mae West, who admits that she is at her best when she is acting a woman at her worst, is at her very best in her newest, and gayest contribution to the screen, "Belle of the Nineties," screening on Saturday and Monday. 
• • As the queen of hearts and diamonds who takes Dixie by storm and charm, Miss West returns to the period of the Gay and Naughty Nineties in a lavishly dressed, handsomely mounted, and thoroughly engrossing entertainment.
• • Mae is surrounded by three new "tall, dark and handsomes," Roger Pryor, Johnny Mack Brown, and John Miljan — — with Duke Ellington and his orchestra — — and  Katherine DeMille, Libby Taylor, Stuart Holmes, and Warren Hymer in the supporting cast.  Miss West acts the part of a St. Louis burlesque to win the hearts of the Southern cavaliers.
• • In New Orleans she encounters Miljan who, as the proprietor of the South's most famous night-club, lays siege to her heart and her diamonds. John Mack Brown enters into the picture as the unsophisticated youth who pours adulation on Miss West, and gems at her feet.
• • Miss West falls in love with Roger Pryor, a current fistie hero • •
• • As the plot moves forward at a breathless pace, Miss West falls in love with Roger Pryor, a current fistie hero, and later, because she believes that he has double-crossed her, causes him to lose his most important fight.  But it all ends happily with Miljan, the true villain, getting his just desserts and Pryor and Miss West happily reunited.  Miss West sings several new songs.
• • Source:  Article on page 5 in Geraldton Guardian and Express (Western Australia); published on Thursday, 23 April 1936.
• • On Friday, 23 June 1922 in Variety • •
• • Mae West and Harry Richman performed together in Manhattan during June 1922, billing their act "Bits of Musical Comedy — — Mae West assisted by Harry Richman," and most of the material was written by The Firefly of Broadway herself.
• • In their edition dated for Friday, 23 June 1922, Variety's review appeared, praising the partnership because it offered ideal opposites. Referring to Mae, Variety (often reluctant to pay Mae a compliment) was enthusiastic for once: "She rises to heights undreamed of for her and reveals unsuspected depths as a delineator of character songs, a dramatic reader of ability, and a girl with a flair for farce that will some day land her on the legitimate Olympus."
• • On Tuesday, 23 June 1970 • •
• • "Myra Breckinridge" had its red-carpet, star-studded premiere in New York at the Criterion Theatre (1514 Broadway) on Tuesday, 23 June 1970. The movie went into general release in the USA one day later.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • The 1978 film "Sextette," in which Ringo Starr appeared with Mae West, be re-released in New York.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "To err is human, but it feels divine."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Billboard Magazine mentioned Mae West.
• • Mike Todd has penciled In "Catherine Was Great," the Mae West opus for late June.
• • Source: Item in Billboard Magazine; published on Saturday, 3 June 1944 
• • 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 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 3,200 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3206th 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 1922

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