Mae West: Charel de Thomee

On Tuesday, 7 October 1969, MAE WEST visited an old friend in Palm Springs, Charel de Thomee.  It is possible that Mr. de Thomee sent for Mae because he was in poor health. Six months later, in early April 1970, he died.
• • Charel de Thomee [21 September 1893 — April 1970] • •

• • Shar Gergely wrote:  A recent visitor to Palm Springs was none other than Mae West. She accepted the invitation of her old friend, retired concert pianist Charel de Thomee to come  up and see him sometime.  Mae was in Hollywood, shooting a new film ["Myra Breckenridge"] in which she takes a small but important part.  Charel reported that they had a great time reminiscing about the “good old days” of show biz.
• • Source:  Sundial columnist for The Desert Sun; published on Tuesday, 7 October 1969.
• • On another post, we will discuss his life story. According to a newspaper article printed in January 1930, this was known about him:   Charel de Thomee, international male soprano, who is heard every Sunday afternoon on WMCA, had studied to be a pianist, but found that his unique voice would bring him greater fame. He had also been a feature artist over WABC (KNX) Columbia Broadcasting System. 
• • Here's an announcement about the "graveside services" held in Palm Springs. Notice his name is slightly different here in the 1970 news clip.
• • DeThomee — — Graveside services for Charel DeThomee, 76, of 1074 Tamarisk Road will be held Friday at 11 AM.  Burial will be in Desert Memorial Park with Palm Springs Mortuary in charge. Mr. DeThomee was a native of Paris, France and had lived in Palm Springs for 34 years.  He had lived in California for a total of 37 years.  He was employed as a pianist at the Chi Chi Restaurant.
• • Source: The Desert Sun;  published on Wednesday, 8 April 1970.
• • On Friday, 7 October 1932 • •
• • On Friday, 7 October 1932, The N. Y. Times reported the dramatic changes in Mae West's career. Though the critical reception of "Night after Night" was lukewarm, Mae West was a whole sultry sideshow unto herself, preventing the reviewers from dozing off when she was onscreen.  Paramount signed Mae to a generous contract on October 6th.
• • On Saturday, 7 October 1933 • •
• • Motion Picture Herald published a review of "I'm No Angel" in their issue dated for Saturday, 7 October 1933.  The piece was signed by their staffwriter McCarthy.
• • On Saturday, 7 October 1933 • •
• • It was on Saturday, 7 October 1933 when Mae recorded "They Call Me Sister Honky Tonk" for the Brunswick label.  The song was written for the motion picture "I'm No Angel."
• • On Saturday, 7 October 1933 • •
• • Marie Beynon Ray wrote an article about Mae West's influence on fashions — — "Curves Ahead" — — for Colliers Magazine. It ran in the issue dated for 7 October 1933.  And a review of "I'm No Angel" appeared in Motion Picture Herald (page 38) in the issue dated for 7 October 1933.
• • On Monday, 7 October 1935 • •
• • "I saw both pictures myself and they are definitely wrong," wrote Joe Breen to Will Hays on Monday, 7 October 1935.  This was the reason he gave to Paramount when he denied permission to re-release two hits starring Mae West distributed in 1933 to a blitz of ticket sales.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • One of the last bits of Will Rogers' humor was found in his message to youth (quoted in 1935). It read: "Don't miss the next Mae West show."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:   "When you tell people a play is naughty, they rush to see it. I can't help that, can I?"
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Variety mentioned Mae West.
• • Variety ran with all sorts of coverage about "I'm No Angel" starring Mae West. For instance, their article "Downtown Frisco Will Milk Next Mae West Opus; Nabes Can Squawk" was published on page 11 in Variety.
• • Source: Review and article for Variety; published on Tuesday, 3 October 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 3283rd 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 • • news clip, 1970 • •
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