Monday, October 19, 2015

Mae West: John Carey

Where was MAE WEST on Thursday, 18 October 1923 — — as the night gave way to October 19th? Maybe she was on West 133rd Street, with her new boyfriend John Carey. Let's investigate.
• • According to the book “Automats, Taxi Dances and Vaudeville: Excavating Manhattan’s Lost Places of Leisure,” Mae West could be found uptown at The Nest, a Harlem night spot in the basement of 169 West 133rd. The entertainment supposedly featured live sex acts.
• • In "Babe Gordon," Mae describes the hang-out favored by sultry Babe Gordon and those virile young boxers and she renames the lower-level hot spot "Tony's."
• • David Freeland wrote:  The first speakeasy on the stretch was the Nest, which was opened by Malvile Frazier and John Carey on Thursday, 18 October 1923 in the basement of 169 West 133rd, with a floor show staged by Leonard Harper; five slim chorus dancers chanted: “Where do the birds go every night? To the Nest! To the Nest!” Mae West, rumored to be dating Mr. Carey, was an early guest, Mr. Freeland wrote.
• • Source: Book: "Automats, Taxi Dances and Vaudeville: Excavating Manhattan’s Lost Places of Leisure” written by David Freeland [NY: NYU Press, August 2009].
• • On Thursday, 19 October 1899 • •
• • Mae West was a little slip of a girl when the St. Louis Post-Dispatch published their edition on Thursday, 19 October 1899. This paper reported a local crime: beautiful Frankie Baker, a 27-year-old mulatto prostitute [residing at 212 Targee Street, St. Louis, Missouri], who kept an expensively decked-out 17-year-old mack, stabbed him on October 15th.
• • The stabbing and the trial inspired the folksong "Frankie and Johnny."
• • In 1928 — 1929, Mae West sang "Frankie and Johnny" on Broadway in her melodrama "Diamond Lil," giving the song a glamour glow, enhancing its prominence.
• • Note: Mexican artist Miguel Covarrubias had first sketched Mae West for The New Yorker in 1928 when she was blazing on Broadway in "Diamond Lil" at the Royale Theatre. 
• • On Saturday, 19 October 1935 • •
• • Joe Breen and John Hammel exchanged yet another letter about Mae West's latest controversial project "Klondike Annie" on Saturday, 19 October 1935.
• • On Sunday, 19 October 1969 • •
• • In their weekly weekend insert dated for Sunday, 19 October 1969, Parade Magazine printed an article on Mae West.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • It ain't no sin now to see Mae West in "Belle of the Nineties."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "TV means too many people seein' you for nothing."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An Illinois newspaper mentioned Mae West.
• • Coming Sunday to the Rialto Theatre — — Mae West in "I'm No Angel."
• • Source: Item in Urbana Daily Courier; published on  Thursday, 19 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 3291st 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 1928

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