Mae West: Stiff, Reserved

MAE WEST wrote her life story and it was published fifty-seven years ago in 1959. Have theatre audiences changed since the Hollywood icon wrote this passage?
• • In her memoir, Mae West described her impression of the types of vaudeville audiences:
I usually found that one night a week you would get a top society crowd, and another night you'd get mostly working class people. Other nights there would be family groups — — especially on Friday nights when the kids didn't have to go to school the next day. Saturday nights everybody was out for a good time, so audiences were both mixed and terrific.
• • There was still another type of audience when the house had been sold out to social, charitable or fraternal organizations. These audiences were often rather stiff and reserved. Dressed up, on their best behavior, conscious of themselves and of the other members of their cult — — they were careful as to what they applauded or laughed at. This was the hardest kind of audience to play to.  . . .
• •  Source:  "Goodness Had Nothing to Do with It" by Mae West; published by Prentice Hall (1959).
• • On Friday, 23 March 1934 • •
• • French magazine Hebdo (No. 50), released on a Friday, 23 March 1934, flashed a beautiful Mae West cover. At the time, Jean Esters was the Editor-in-Chief and Hebdo was being published by Baudiniere, Paris. Hebdo means weekly (shortened from "hebdomadaire").
• • On Monday, 23 March 1964 • •
• • Critic Rick Du Brow, a Hollywood columnist, discussed the episode "Mae West Meets Mister Ed" (broadcast on Sunday, 22 March 1964) on page 4 of Cumberland Evening Times, on Monday, 23 March 1964. The headline was "Mae West Could Be Star of Own Situation Comedy." Du Brow was favorably impressed. Papers in the U.K. and the USA reviewed the TV episode also.
• • "Mae West Meets Mister Ed" is the twenty-first episode of the fourth season of "Mister Ed," and the ninety-ninth episode overall. Director was Arthur Lubin. Airdate was on Sunday, 22 March 1964.
• • Guest Stars: Mae West (Herself), Nick Stewart (Charles), Mae West (Herself), Jacques Shelton (1st Groom), Roger Torrey (2nd Groom).
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Edwin C. Hill got so excited about her that he devoted almost his entire broadcast to Mae West after the other matinee.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: “Saving love doesn’t bring any interest.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •

• • A gossip column mentioned Mae West.
• • Edith Gwynne wrote:  Mae West, who got icy notices from the British critics for her "Diamond Lil" venture, is about to do a personal appearance tour in France.  . . .
• • Source:  syndicated column by Edith Gwynne rpt in St. Petersburg Times; published on Saturday, 27 December 1947
• • 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 3,400 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3404th 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 1947 in England • •
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