Mae West: Love Sickness

In December 1934, MAE WEST did a long interview with celebrity journalist John C. Moffitt. Though the Brooklyn bombshell often made revealing statements to Moffitt, it is odd that none of her biographers have quoted the fresh content from any of his excerpts. However, the Mae West Blog has posted excerpts from this session, often printed as a day-by-day series (to break it up). Here is a new installment.
• • "Mae West's Love Affairs Did Not Interfere with Her Career" • •
• • John C. Moffitt wrote: The popular tendency to confuse actresses and the parts they play has done a lot to put over the notion that Mae West is a vamp. Since it's good publicity, Mae operates in the fictions of the fan magazines.  "Read Mae West's Rules for Holding a Man!" screams the cover of one magazine.
• • John C. Moffitt continued:   Actually, there is nothing in the record to indicate that Mae West ever held a man who wasn't on the pay roll and taking order from the director. Though she encourages the notion that she is an irresistible siren, she is firm in pointing out that her private life has not been touched by escapade or scandal. This is perfectly true. Mae's scandals all concern business.
• • John C. Moffitt explained: She has been dragged into court on numerous occasions but not by the litigation of love. Even Zasu Pitts (who has been divorced once and married twice) has a more exciting record in that field. Mae has been in court on charges of producing and appearing in indecent shows, or a charge of refusing to pay for a fur coat she had ordered — — "Boys, it just doesn't click," she had told the furriers — — and more recently to identify bandits.
• • Sickness with Music • •
• • John C. Moffitt went on:  Although she studies the great lovers of history, she doesn't emulate them. To her, sex and its exploitation is a cold-blooded business to be conducted with cheerfulness and double-entry bookkeeping. Cleopatra might lose a kingdom for love but not Mae. Cleopatra lost her head and became foolish. Mae could no more get foolish over love or sex than Rothschild could get foolish over money. She's a dealer not a spendthrift. . . .
• • Source:  Short excerpt from an article written by John C. Moffitt reprinted in The Straits Times;  published on Sunday,  9 December 1934.
• • On Sunday, 28 December 1919 on Broadway • •
• • It was Sunday, 28 December 1919 and Mae West was very busy in Manhattan — — double-booked, in fact.
• • The 26-year-old "firefly of vaudeville" was appearing that night at the Lyric Theatre [on 42nd Street, west of Broadway]. Sharing the Lyric bill with her were these entertainers: Eugene and Willie, the Howard Brothers; Carl McCullough; the 4 Haley Sisters; and "8 other favorite acts."
• • On the same night, Mae West performed at the 44th Street Theatre [near Broadway]. On the program was the top-billed act — — Sophie Tucker and Her Kings of Syncopation — — along with Ames and Winthrop, Mae West, Riggs and Witchie, and "8 other favorite acts."
• • On Sunday, 28 December 1969 • •
• • John Kobal wrote an article "Mae Queen" about movie star Mae West. The piece was published in Britain in the Sunday Times Magazine [UK] on Sunday, 28 December 1969.
• • The Sunday Times Magazine's Mae West cover is too fabulous.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West helped make sex into a laughing matter.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:   "I believe in the Single Standard for men and women."
• • Quote, Unquote • •

• • The Jewish Post mentioned Mae West.
• • Ed Friedman, convicted of robbing Mae West of more than $16,000 and Jewelry two years ago, must serve prison sentence of two to thirty years.  District Court of Appeals denied his plea for a new trial.  . . .
• • Source: Item in The Jewish Post; published on Friday, 28 December 1934
• • 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 3,300 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3342nd 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 1934 • •
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