MAE WEST may not have seen the "fright night" made for TV movie "Scream, Pretty Peggy" (which aired in November 1973) but she did meet its star, Bette Davis [5 April 1908 — 6 October 1989]. Let's read about the encounter, chronicled in an excerpt from the Hollywood column penned by Norma Lee Browning, syndicated in the month of October 1973.
• • "Mae West, Bette Davis Finally Meet" • •
• • HolIywood — — The Odd Couple, Distaff Side: Can you imagine a more Incongruous odd couple than Bette Davis and Mae West? Or a more incredible fact than that these two great ladies, who have been around movieland for quite a while, never set eyes on each other personally until just the other night?
• • Miss Davis hosted a small, Intimate dinner party for Miss West at the home she is currently leasing in the Hollywood Hills, and it was love at first sight [though not without some trepidation on both sides].
• • It seems Bette Davis has been a secret fan of Mae West for all these umpteen years, and now that she's in town for a while (for a Dean Martin roasting and a Universal and ABC suspense Movie of the Week, "Scream, Pretty Peggy"], she expressed a desire to meet La West — — who is likewise a long-time admirer of La Davis.
• • But Mae West, believe it or not, doesn't smoke or drink, has "no smoking" signs posted everywhere when she's making a movie, and takes a very dim view of anyone lighting up when they are In her presence. When reminded that Bette Davis isn't exactly an abstainer, Miss West asked, "She doesn't smoke cigars, does she?"
• • As it turned out, the two legendary grande dames of the film world clicked immediately. "You're nothing like you are on the screen," Bette told Miss West, as the demure Mae sat sipping orange juice, soft and ladylike in a white silk pantsuit. "I don't go around doing Diamond Lil unless I get paid for it," quipped Mae. . . .
• • Source: Syndicated column written by Norma Lee Browning rpt by the Chicago Tribune; published on Tuesday, 16 October 1973.
• • On Friday, 30 October 1925 • •
• • Vaudeville News wrote: Mae West is to be seen in a new act by Ted McLean, entitled "Salomy on Broadway," under the booking direction of Alf T. Wilton. A special set is to be carried with the supporting company consisting of eight people. The act opened at Red Bank, New Jersey this week.
• • Source: Item in Vaudeville News; published on Friday, 30 October 1925.
• • On Tuesday, 30 October 1934 • •
• • Film Daily printed this: Markesan, Wisconsin — Mae West, screen star, has purchased Elizabeth Heberling, trotter, from Dr. D. R. Edwards, local veterinarian. For the present the horse will remain in the Edwards stables and will tour the race circuits next year with the rest of his racers. ...
• • Film Daily's cost was 5 cents. John W. Alicoate was the Editor and Publisher.
• • Source: News Brief: "Mae West Buys Race Horse" published in Film Daily, Vol. LXVI, No. 102; printed on Tuesday, 30 October 1934.
• • On Saturday, 30 October 1948 • •
• • It was on Saturday, 30 October 1948 that Mae West signed an Actor's Equity Association Stock Jobbing Contract on Equity's letterhead in New York. The Broadway star of "Diamond Lil" was agreeing to a weekly salary of $2,500, and the play would be opening in Montclair, New Jersey in the month of November — — on Sunday, 21 November 1948.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Now there is talk that Jim Aubrey and Hunt Stromberg Jr. will produce for Warner Brothers-Seven Arts a film version of a Mae West play, “Sextet,” starring Mae. It would be her first film since “The Heat’s On” 25 years ago.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I never loved another person as I loved myself.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A Missouri newspaper discussed Mae West.
• • "I'm No Angel," the Mae West production, broke all house records at Newman Theatre in Kansas City and was held over for a second week. The country is West-conscious and you will be too when you see "I'm No Angel," booked for an early showing at the Dickinson Theatre in Missouri . . .
• • Source: Item in The Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune (Chillicothe, Missouri); published on Saturday, 28 October 1933
• • Note: Paramount Pictures obviously rushed out this portrait to promote Mae's next feature film. However, Mae-mavens can tell the wig is from "She Done Him Wrong." Mae's hairstyles looked more natural than this when she played Tira, the circus queen.
• • 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 3300th 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/
________
Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1933 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC Mae West
MAE WEST and Charles Collingwood — — well, we know how that turned out.
• • But on Thursday, 29 October 1959, Hollywood columnist Mike Connolly was hopeful. He wrote: Charles Collingwood was crowing just before he returned to his home base of New York City after taping some Person-to-Person shows here. "They're the best we’ve ever done," he said, “and there will be more of them shot in Hollywood because the homes are roomier here than in the East, enabling us to utilize six cameras instead of the usual three.”
• • Mike Connolly continued: The pre-taped shows shot here by Collingwood included such celebs as Mike Romanoff, Marge and Gower Champion, Edith Head, the James Mason, Jack Lemmon, Erle Stanley Gardner, Jack Webb, and MAE WEST! (Hey. Charlie, c’mon out and see Mae again sometime. I’ll try to talk her into reading Mother Goose rhymes this time).
• • Source: Hollywood column written by Mike Connolly for The Desert Sun; published on Thursday, 29 October 1959.
• • On Wednesday, 29 October 1930 • •
• • "Mae West is getting ready to shock the smaller burgs," noted Variety in its issue dated for Wednesday, 29 October 1930. The touring company Mae assembled for her play "Sex" was already wrapping up its Chicago engagement. "Sex" was booked into theatres in Detroit, St. Louis, and Cleveland, where Mae starred onstage as Margy LaMont.
• • On Saturday, 29 October 1932 • •
• • The gala premiere on Saturday, 29 October 1932, revealed that "Night After Night" was only 73 minutes long. No one remembers anything about this film except for the hilarious moments when Mae West was onscreen.
• • On Thursday, 29 October 1959 in New Statesman • •
• • Mae West's memoir was reviewed by Maurice Richardson. His critique of "Goodness Had Nothing to Do With It" [NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1959] appeared on page 657 of the New Statesman on Thursday, 29 October 1959. Published when Mae was 66 years old, the sunny-side-up narrative focuses on her triumphs and downplays (or omits) any inconvenient setbacks.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • It's all right to follow Mae West's advice and hold on to your man, but don't do It while he is driving.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "It took a show-wise girl to put this vamp business on a paying basis."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Motion Picture Daily mentioned Mae West.
• • "Belle of the Nineties" is now in its second week at the Denham.
• • The latest Mae West film holds the house record at the Denham for money, close to $16,500, but her previous film, "I'm No Angel," still holds the house record for number of patrons. Prices were boosted recently from 15c, 25c, 35c, to 25c, 35c and 50c . . .
• • Source: Item in Motion Picture Daily; published on Thursday, 27 September 1934
• • Note: Yes, you read that right. Ticket prices for movie-goers were calculated in cents, not in dollars, during the Depression in the 1930s.
• • 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 3299th 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/
________
Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1934 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC Mae West
If you were in Western Australia, you would have read this headline on Friday, 28 October 1938: "MAE WEST's Last Picture."
• • Mae West's last picture to date, "Every Day's a Holiday," will be at the Grand Theatre. Overseas advice in dictates that this is the best effort from her for some time — — even if it is, as it appears at present, to be the end of her meteoric screen career. Her first film created box-office records in America that have not been broken since, and her pictures brought into being the Hay's Office censorship, following the League of Decency campaign in 1934.
• • In "Every Day's a Holiday," Miss West has her best role which is the gay golddigger of the 1890s with her visiting card endorsed R.S.V.P. in the corner. Stage and election backgrounds of the New York of 1895 form the right atmosphere for her masquerade of elaborate insolence, husky voice and feline walk. Miss West writes her own dialogue and has one especially good wisecrack In this picture. "Forlorn River" is the other picture on the bill. ...
• • Source: Article-Review in The West Australian (Perth); published on Friday, 28 October 1938.
• • On Saturday, 28 October 1933 in Boston Herald • •
• • "Miss West in Her Victorious Course," an article in Boston Herald on Saturday, 28 October 1933, described the box office brouhaha in Beantown caused by "I'm No Angel." Crowds rushing to secure tickets reminded a local journalist of a "run on the neighboring bank."
• • On Tuesday, 28 October 1941 • •
• • On Tuesday, 28 October 1941, Hollywood columnists broke the story that Mae West was seeking a divorce. The Courier Mail (Brisbane) ran the piece on the front cover.
• • Hollywood, October 28 — Mae West, the film star, announced to-day that she was filing a suit for divorce against Frank Wallace, to whom she was married in 1911. The action will be a cross-complaint to Wallace's suit for separate maintenance.
• • Source: Syndicated article: "Mae West Seeks a Divorce" written by A.A.P. and reprinted in The Courier-Mail (page 1); published on Wednesday, 29 October 1941.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West, Bing Crosby, Gary Cooper will appear in one picture each per year.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Honey, it's like this. The women don't razz me because I don't make 'em jealous. The only censorship directed at me comes from men because intelligent men resent my satire."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Daily Illini mentioned Mae West.
• • Scott: I read a news headline that Mae West made colonel in Kentucky.
• • Trott: Is that so? Then the general must have been out of town.
• • Source: Campus Humor in Daily Illini; published on Saturday, 28 October 1933
• • Note: According to their web site: Kentucky Colonels are unwavering in devotion to faith, family, fellowman and country. Passionate about being compassionate. Proud, yet humble. Leaders who are not ashamed to follow. Gentle but strong in will and commitment. The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, as a Brotherhood, reaches out to care for our children, support those in need and preserve our rich heritage. . . .
• • 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 3298th 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/
________
Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1933 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC Mae West
