Friday, January 08, 2016

Mae West: Stirred Up

MAE WEST and the NBC radio program debacle inspired Palm Springs columnist Harvey Johnson to air his feelings in his column "Thoughts on Things."  Here is his section on Mae's situation.
• • "Ever on the Air" • •
• • Harvey Johnson wrote: The controversy stirred up by Mae West's impersonation of the world's first woman has set the ether waves to boiling.
• • The recent “Adam and Eve" skit, played to Sunday listeners, brought a flood of protests from offended people who objected to having liberties taken with biblical subjects. The matter has been aired in Congress and an investigation ordered by the Federal Communications Commissioner, who had already declared that the standards of radio programs must be improved — — by law, if necessary.
• • Considerable buck-passing followed. The broadcasting studio apologized on behalf of the sponsor, who blamed his advertising agent.  The latter admits authorship, but claims Mae's “infliction" [sic] made the dialogue risque.
• • Radio is still in its youth, and like Its older sister, the movies, may learn lessons in good taste and discretion from their cousin, the press.  All three have made mistakes. Many a headline writer has raised a furor by captioning an innocent news release with an offending title. But as properties belonging peculiarly to the public, they learn to refrain from hurting popular sensibilities. We have yet to hear of the late Will Rogers being criticized in his long career as journalist, actor and radio commentator, for a single breach of this nature.
• • Source: Harvey Johnson's column printed in The Desert Sun; published on Friday, 7 January 1938.
• • On Tuesday, 8 January 1935 in Los Angeles • •
• • Busy working on her next motion picture, Mae West did have to miss half a day's shooting to attend the funeral of her father in Los Angeles in early January — — on Tuesday, 8 January 1935.
• • On Friday, 8 January 1937 • •
• • The fascinating article "Wealthy Americans: W.R. Hearst and Mae West Head the List of Largest Salaries" seemed to have been generated by Australian Consolidated Press. This item was printed in syndication on Friday, 8 January 1937.
• • On Monday, 8 January 1940 in Hollywood • •
• • "My Little Chickadee" had wrapped. Universal was hard at work, courting Mae West and hoping to have her do another film for them.
• • On Wednesday, 8 January 2003 in Florida • •
• • Florida readers of the Sun Sentinel were greeted by an interesting article "Three's A Crowd If One Is Mae West" published in the newspaper on Wednesday, 8 January 2003.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Take a trip back to the gay days before prohibition with Mae West. As the slightly manhandled heroine, she gives a fine piece of acting.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "I'm too busy to fall in love."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A headline in Singapore focused on Mae West and NBC.
• • "Mae West Is Banned Name" • •
• • The National Broadcasting Company in New York, New York recently banned the use of Miss Mae West's name in scripts broadcast by any of its managed or operated stations. ....
• • Source: Item on page 5 of The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser; published on Friday, 7 January 1938
• • 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 3351st 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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• • Mae West • in 1938

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