Mae West: Indecent Passages

The film "She Done Him Wrong" is very much tamer than the novel written by MAE WEST entitled "Diamond Lil."  In the book, the South American flesh peddlers Rita and her double-dealing companion Pablo Juarez are in New York City to acquire more sex slaves. When Rita reminds Gus Jordan she is a good businesswoman and then inquires when they will see the new "birdies" that Charley Fong has locked up in his cellar cages, it's still as sordid now as it was when the novel was first published by Macauley. And, yes, Lil seduces Pablo and they have sex in a room her pal Frances rents above a wine shop on Elizabeth Street.
• • Have you read the novel? Tell us what you think of it. Was it too frank for its era?
• • "BANNED IN AUSTRALIA — — MISS MAE WEST'S NOVEL" • • 
• • Melbourne, Tuesday. — — A novel written by Miss Mae West, the film star, has been banned by the Customs Department, because it is said to contain indecent and obscene passages. The novel, "She Done Him Wrong," is the story of a woman of the underworld, and becomes associated with gangsters in New York.  Another of Miss West's novels, "The Constant Sinner," has not been banned in Australia.
• • Source: item in The Sydney Morning Herald; published on Wednesday, 14 August 1935.
• • On Tuesday, 14 August 1984 • •
• • It was on 2 May 1982 that the TV bio-pic "Mae West" had its small screen premiere starring actress Ann Jillian in the title role. The two-hour program was re-broadcast on ABC television at 9:00 PM on Tuesday, 14 August 1984 (following the excitement of the U.S. Olympics).
• • Remembering the May 1982 production, New York Times critic Richard F. Shepard had these comments two years later. Shepard wrote: ''Mae West'' was originally seen in 1982, long enough ago in these fast- moving times to almost qualify the show as a revival rather than as another summer re-run. It is reasonable programming, a show about a torrid actress in matching weather. It is also a drama that is satisfactory television, not earth-shaking, but one that is particularly admirable because it gives us a chance to see Ann Jillian portray the immortal Miss West. ...
• • Source: Written by New York Times critic Richard F. Shepard; published on Tuesday, 14 August 1984.
• • Save the Dates: 3 Mondays in August 2015 • •
• • Onstage Outlaws — — Mae West and Texas Guinan during the Lawless Prohibition Era • •
• • 3 events commemorate the Brooklyn bombshell’s August birthday in the room where she faced a judge who sent her to jail • •
• • New York's Annual Mae West Tribute: to celebrate the birthday of Brooklyn bombshell Mae West, on August 3rd and on August 10th, her films will be shown at 6:00pm. The first one, "Sextette" [1978] was screened on August 3rd. "Go West Young Man" [1936] will be screened next week on August 10th. The August 17th multi-media presentation will feature light refreshments (courtesy of East Village Cheese) and a raffle. You could win rare films starring Texas Guinan. Or maybe a rare reprint by The New Yorker’s caricaturist Alfred Freuh or by a famous N. Y. Times illustrator.
• • Refreshment sponsor: East Village Cheese  
• • Here's the NYPL link — http://www.nypl.org/events/programs/2015/08/17/onstage-outlaws-mae-west-and-texas-guinan-during-lawless-prohibition-era 
• • Here's a fascinating article on speakeasy queen Texas Guinan written by syndicated columnist Lenore Skenazy — New York's Night Club Queen Was as Big as Texas
• • Here's an interview with Mae-maven LindaAnn Loschiavo — A Conversation with NYC Playwright LindaAnn Loschiavo
A Conversation with NYC Playwright LindaAnn Loschiavo 
• • The weekly events magazine Time Out New York recommended this event:
Time Out New York recommends "Onstage Outlaws Mae West and Texas Guinan"
• • Details — — Mae West Tribute: Triple Treat in 2015 
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Paramount and Metro have two troublesome women on their hands. At Paramount, it's a gal named Mae West. At Metro, a more platinum blonde named Jean Harlow.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:   "I told them — — you can't take white people and play black music."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Broadway Brevities discussed Mae West.
• • "On Our Cover:  Mae West" • •

• • Broadway Brevities wrote:   She's still most engagingly young, but we do remember Miss West's former feats in the varieties at the time when she was in the throes of the shimmey epidemic, and did her palpitations in a manner that was the ruin of many a Presbyterian divine. Especially do we recall her work at the Capitol, not long after it opened.
• • Broadway Brevities continued:  Miss West is now in a middle phase of subtler artistry, still inflected by the shiver but adorned with much remarkable dramatic exhibition. Recently at the Palace, she accomplished an unbroken triumph, doing her act in protean role, now a "laugh vamp," now a prima donna, comical and serious by turns.  In short Miss West was a fine and consummate surprise, with a finesse and versatility, a dashing vitality and sure authority that ought to send the legitimate managers trailing her, holding contracts in their hands ready to be autographed by her on the dotted line. By looking at her most fetching pose on our cover, you will admit that Mae is no company for a nervous person.
• • Source: Written by Broadway Brevities; published in the issue dated for August 1922 
• • 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 3245th 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 1922 • •
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