Wednesday, August 05, 2015

Mae West: Ned Notices

Ned Rorem (born in 1923) mentioned the name MAE WEST several times in his daily diary. He was thinking about his screen idol again on August 5th.
• • In his introduction, Rorem claimed he had arrived at Mae West's Law — — that a diary, properly kept, would in the long run "keep him." Too hilarious.
• • For instance, thinking back to listening to Mae West sing "Now I'm a lady" in her film "Goin' to Town,"  Rorem reflected that, "When Mae West got diamonds, surely the aprons (if there ever were any) got thrown away."
• • In his diary entry for Monday, 5 August 1991, the Pulitzer Prize winning composer recalled watching the Mae West movie "Klondike Annie" when young. Upon seeing it again on TV, as an older man, he wrote:  "How I remember, indelibly, each frame from the old days, without having realized then, as now, 55 years later, how full of holes is the story, how tame Mae West's repliques." . . .
• • Source: Entry (page 216) written on August 5th, 1991 in "Lies: A Diary 1986 — 1999" by Ned Rorem; published in 2002. 
• • On Tuesday, 5 August 1913 • •
• • A review of Mae West's performance at Hammerstein's Victoria appeared in a NYC newspaper on Tuesday, 5 August 1913. The critic noted that she was appealing to the audience "by singing a repertory of 'I Don't Care' type of songs and appearing in a dazzling series of low-and-behold gowns." However, it was clear she was trying to steal the thunder from the main act, Evelyn Nesbit, and having a hard time of it.
• • Even Variety's columnist Joshua Lowe [whose critique was published on 8 August 1913] noticed how hard she was working. "Mae West sang loud enough to be distinctly heard in the rear," wrote Joshua Lowe.
• • On Tuesday, 5 August 1913 • •
• • On Tuesday, 5 August 1913, The New York Tribune's critic commented that even Mae's low neckline and raunchy bumps and grinds were not enough to sway the hoi polloi at Hammerstein's.
• • On Tuesday, 5 August 1980 • •
• • Mae West signed a check to pay Beverly West $125.00 for maintenance and care of the ranch on Tuesday, 5 August 1980. This check was drawn on her personal account at the United California Bank.
• • 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

• • Details — — Mae West Tribute: Triple Treat in 2015 
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West told a reporter:  "My advice for Marilyn Monroe? Forget about the men; win over the ladies. The men won't forget you, anyway — — not the way you walk."

• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:   "Why don't you come up and see me some time? Make it Tuesday, that's amateur night."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Variety discussed Mae West. Shall we call this 1933 coverage a Valentine?
• • Variety wrote:  "The locale, the clothes, and the types are interesting, and so is Miss West in her picture hats, straight jacket gowns and with so much jewelry that she looks like a Knickerbocker ice plant.   But Miss West is chiefly interesting because she looks nice and youthful, and nice and thin."  . . .
• • Source:  Movie review by Variety's man-on-the-aisle;  published on Tuesday,  14 February 1933
• • Note: In 1922, when refrigeration for the home and for industrial usage was being upgraded, The Knickerbocker Ice Co., New York City, had installed a 15-ton refrigerating machine, announcing that the company would increase the storage capacity at their plant here. Perhaps this sheds light on Variety's odd phrase "Knickerbocker ice plant," meaning a factory — — not a houseplant.
• • 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 3238th 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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