Mae West: Baby Face Benny

In her final motion picture "Sextette," MAE WEST enchants the leaders of the world by appearing at a banquet and singing "Baby Face."  This popular number was written by Benny Davis and Harry Akst, musicians who were both born in August.
• • Harry Akst [15 August 1894  — 31 March 1963] • •
• • Benny Davis [28 August  1893 —  20 December 1979] • •
• • Like Mae West, Benny Davis was born in New York City in 1893 in the month of August — — on Monday, August 28th.
• • Benny Davis attended NYC's public schools. By the age of 14, he was appearing on the variety artist circuit. He went on to troupe in vaudeville with Benny Fields as an accompanist to Blossom Seeley.  Benny Davis wrote the Broadway stage scores for "Artists and Models of 1927" and "Sons o' Guns."  Additionally, he scored three editions of the Cotton Club Revues.
• • But 1921 was a watershed year when "Baby Face" was born with Benny as the composer and Harry Akst as the lyricist.  Enormously successful, "Baby Face" was performed and recorded by many recording artists of the time, including Al Jolson.  This number continues to be a commonly performed song.  Benny Davis collaborated with many musicians including Milton Ager, whose songs found favor with Mae West.
• • In 1921, he joined ASCAP.
• • Benny Davis died in North Miami, Florida on Thursday, 20 December 1979. He was 84.
• • On another post, we'll spend time with his collaborator Harry Akst.
• • On Wednesday, 31 August 1938 • •
• • An article complimenting Mae West and applauding her newest motion picture "Every Day's a Holiday" was published in The Queenslander (Brisbane, Australia) on Wednesday, 31 August 1938.
• • The Queenslander wrote: Mae West goes back to her favourite period, the nineties of last century, for her latest film, "Every Day's a Holiday," a Paramount picture. It has a steady flow of Westian wit, such as "Let joy be unrefined," with a plot that gives the comedienne large scope. She has surrounded herself with an imposing array of male comedy talent, including Walter Catlett, Charles Butterworth, and Charles Winninger, and has included Edmund Lowe for romantic appeal, so that the film will not disappoint even the most critical of her admirers.  ...
• • On Sunday, 31 August 1969 • •
• • "Sex is an emotion in motion," Mae West told The Los Angeles Times on Sunday, 31 August 1969. That's a pretty provocative way to end a hot month, eh?
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • All in all the "Mae West Revue" is a show that is playing to capacity audiences every performance.  It is a show that is being acclaimed as the finest on any night club stage.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:   "The score never interested me, only the game."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Former Sex Pistol Johnny Rotten mentioned Mae West.
• • John Lydon said:  So our new song “C’est La Vie” is my anthem to becoming an American. And then we have a song called “Bettie Page,” about a woman who was denigrated as a stripper.  
• • John Lydon continued:  But I think Bettie Page was absolutely emperor in her approach to life. She had to endure all manner of hell of on earth.  And I also threw in Mae West and Robert Mapplethorpe.  . . .
• • Source: Article: "Brit Johnny Rotten (John Lydon) Is Now an American Citizen" written by J. Bennett for Noisey.Vice.com; posted on Monday, 24 August 2015  
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 11th anniversary • •    
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past eleven years. 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 3256th 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: Sex Sorcery

MAE WEST was bringing great delight to her friends in New Zealand on Wednesday, 28 August 1935. The Press in Christchurch announced this.
• • "Amusements" • •
• • The Press wrote:  She's gone modern!  Here she is, crashing into society and doin' 'em wrong the modern way.  Mae West brings high life to society, mingling with the best people and finding the best men — — Friday next! Here is romance and excitement and a Mae West you'll enjoy more than ever before in "Now I'm a Lady" with Paul Cavanagh and Ivan Lebedeff.
• • Recommended by the Censor for Adults.
• • Reserves D.I.C. or Majestic 33-537.
• • Source: Notice (page 1) in The Press (New Zealand); published on Wednesday, 28 August 1935.
• • On Monday, 28 August 1933 in Hollywood Reporter • •
• • According to a news item in The Hollywood Reporter published on Monday, 28 August 1933, Alexander Hall and George Somnes were set to co-direct the Mae West motion picture  "Belle of the Nineties."  However, these men were later replaced by Leo McCarey.
• • On Monday, 28 August 1939 in Life • •
• • Life Magazine's issue (dated 28 August 1939) included a half-page photo of Mae West.
• • On Saturday, 28 August 1954 in the Skyroom • •
• • A glamourous photo of Mae West accompanied the article "Mae West Muscle Men Skyroom Hit" printed in Reno Evening Gazette, top of page 2, on Saturday, 28 August 1954.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Interviewing Mae West is rather like talking with the Sphinx or warming up to the Mona Lisa. You are so filled with awe at conversing with one of the Wonders of the World, and with admiration of the ultimate in symbolic sex sorcery, that addlement may easily set in.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:   "Men are my hobby. If I ever got married, I'd have to give it up.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A California paper mentioned Mae West.
• • One of Mae West’s successes, “Night After Night” will play a return engagement Wednesday and Thursday. Miss West has suddenly sprung into great popularity with screen fans, and her admirers will be attracted by this production.
• • At the York Theatre on Wednesday and Thursday, August 30th—31st — — Return Engagement of Mae West in “Night After Night” — —  only 15 cents admission.
• • Wednesday Night at York Theatre is Grocery Night! 
• • Source: Item in  Eagle Rock Advertiser (Eagle Rock, California); published on Monday, 28 August 1933
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 11th anniversary • •    
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past eleven years. 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 3255th 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 1932 • •
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Mae West: Born Coquette

MAE WEST was lavishly dressed by Travis Banton for her 1934 Paramount Pictures opus, "Belle of the Nineties," for which he created about 20 ravishing costumes for the leading lady.   This article was posted in two halves. This portion is Part 2.
• • "Mae West-ian'' Styles • •
• • New Trend in Fashion World • •
• • Another relic of the Gibson girl • •
• • Another relic of the Gibson girl is the heart-shaped decolletage which Mae West will wear in several of her costumes in this production. This extremely low line comes at an opportune time, after the high-necked season which has just waned. The manner in which Travis Banton has adapted the heart-shape to Miss West's elaborate formal gowns will delight the matron and the debutante alike, style authorities decree. One outstanding model in pink tulle has this low neckline, outlined in massive pink satin roses — — and with this, a large picture hat of pink tulle has a petal-scattered crown which is bound to cause quite a sensation in the millinery trend.
• • Brilliant embroidery • •
• • Brilliant embroidery in all-over designs is used in many instances In this collection for Mae West.  One gorgeous black velvet creation has diamond leaves embroidered in a diagonal pattern which gives a lavish effect.  This is designed In the off-shoulder manner of the period, and has the smallest puff-sleeves in fashion history.  This tiny sleeve was often used, according to Travis Banton, to accentuate the hour-glass silhouette and also serve to support the daring decolletage which had that "falling-off-at any-minute" look.
• • Another Trend • •
• • Another trend, which is expected to be re-established from Miss West's picture, is the use of the veil for practical purposes.  In the age of the Gibson girl, veils were worn for two reasons.  Mae West says she thinks the women felt that "veiled" beauty was more enchanting than the frank, open allure of to-day and that, although the Gibson girl knew she could protect her complexion by an enveloping shroud of veiling, she was a born coquette and  the veil was "part of the act."
• • This concludes our two-part article from August 1934, started yesterday.
• • Source: Article in the Sunday Times (Perth); published on Sunday, 26 August 1934.
• • On Monday, 27 August 1934 • •
• • Film Daily wrote: About $15,000 in presents was passed around by Mae West to those who helped in the retakes of her new Paramount picture, "Belle of the Nineties."
• • Source: Article: "Mae West Plays Santa Claus'' written by the West Coast Bureau of The Film Daily, Hollywood, for Film Daily; published on 27 August 1934.
• • The L.A. Times printed a similar item on Monday, 27 August 1934.
• • On Friday, 27 August 1976 • •
• • The Times Sunday Review interviewed people who knew Mae West. The actress had attended the theatre with friends and after the show they asked what she thought of it. And Mae had replied: "I kept concentrating on making my mind wander. It [the play] made me realize there's less to life than sex."
• • Source: The Times Sunday Review published in the UK on Friday, 27 August 1976.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West and W.C. Fields stand on the front porch of the Hotel Newport, a landmark in a time when producers flirted with the idea of making movies in New Port Richey.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "It wasn't what I did, but how I did it."
• • Quote, Unquote • •

• • A film critic discussed Mae West.
• • Gretchen Turner, New Salem Film Examiner wrote:  In 1927, when Mae West was arrested for the first Broadway show she wrote and starred in, called "Sex,” and in 1937, when she appeared on an NBC comedy sketch and the FCC inveighed her performance as "vulgar and indecent," Mae West pretty much told everyone to "Kiss my sass!"
• • Gretchen Turner continued: Mae West blazed a torrid trail of explicit sexuality and controversial innuendo that spit sutures from the constrictive moral codes of her day and established her, unapologetically, as Hollywood's most brazen and brash superstar.  . . .
• • Source:  Review: "Mae West and W.C. Fields at the top of their legendary, comic-genius game!" in The Examiner; published on Wednesday, 19 August  2015
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 11th anniversary • •    
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past eleven years. 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 3254th 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 1940 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
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