• • Charles O'Curran [5 April 1913 — 26 June 1984] • •
• • It was Charles O'Curran who staged "The Mae West Revue." This successful sold-out night club spectacle got Mae West and her old ally William LeBaron [1883 — 1958] thinking about a splashy follow-up such as Mae's life story. This project short-circuited because Mae continued touring and LeBaron died in 1958. But let's roll merrily along with the plan, revealed by a top showbiz columnist in 1954.
• • Production to Start Soon on Mae West's Life Story • •
• • Hollywood — — It figures that a passle of plans will be announced for Mae West now that she and her chorus of muscle boys are the riot of Las Vegas at the Sahara.
• • Here's what is really on the fire: Charles O'Curran, who staged her act, is joining the independent company established by Mae and William LeBaron to produce "The Men in Her Life" — — not necessarily the muscle men.
• • The venture has been cooking for some time between Mae and Le Baron, but with O'Curran added to do the choreography and also to direct, it will come to life as soon as Mae completes her nightclub swing. If she ever does. They're battering down the doors to see the indefatigable old gal in Las Vegas.
• • Syndicated column written by Dorothy Manners rpt in The Milwaukee Sentinel; published on Saturday, 31 July 1954.
• • On Tuesday, 11 April 1911 in Milwaukee • •
• • According to Time Magazine: Myrtle Lorraine Sands, a young woman who used to work in Los Angeles, where she had fun spotting film folk in public places, is now in charge of re-indexing the records of births, marriages & deaths in the office of the County Register of Deeds, Milwaukee. One day last fortnight, when she happened upon Marriage Certificate No. 40553, Myrtle Sands's eyes bulged, her heart jumped. The certificate proclaimed the union of Frank Wallace and Mae West, of Brooklyn, N. Y., April 11, 1911. . . [Time, 6 May 1935].
• • Mae West and Frank Wallace (Frank Szatkus) tied the knot on Tuesday, 11 April 1911, but Mae claimed they did not live together. Mae described herself as a kiss-less bride.
• • Shortly after, though still a married couple, Frank Wallace wed another woman — — and Mae West married Guido Deiro. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace divorced officially on 23 July 1942.
• • On Thursday, 11 April 1912 • •
• • As a teenager, Mae West was cast in the Broadway musical "A Winsome Widow," which was onstage from 11 April 1912 — 7 September 1912. During the second act, one of her ensemble numbers was "Toodle-oodle-oodle on Your) Piccolo" — — billed as a performance by Willie Grow and Girls — — which gave one trade paper another chance to swat the jazzy brunette. Perhaps the critics ought to have slammed the composer Henry Irving Marshall [1883 — 1958] and the Dublin-born lyricist Stanley Murphy [1875 — 1919] for not doing their best, eh?
• • Despite the razzing she got for "Toodle-oodle . . .," Mae West's character La Petite Daffy won some acclaim for her display of vivacity and sauciness. "Mae West assaults the welkin vigorously," applauded the New York Dramatic Mirror from their tony offices on West 42nd Street right opposite the New York Public Library.
• • Acid threats on Wednesday, 11 April 1934 • •
• • There was indignation in the interviews she gave following the threats on Wednesday, April 11th about acid being thrown in her face. Mae told the news media: "It's time someone in Hollywood — — speaking very frankly — — showed what is known as intestinal fortitude. They threaten us in the picture colony under penalty of having acid thrown in our face. And they don't stop at acid threats either. They threaten to kill. It's time someone called their hand. And if it has to be me, I'll do it."
• • It was soon announced that Mae was buying an armored limo to protect Jim Timony and herself.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Richard Meryman said, "Mae West's favorite topic is herself."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Movie Classic wrote: Mae West, who writes plays about lurid sin and then acts in them (if the police don't interfere), makes her movie debut in "Night After Night." Her manager says she doesn't smoke. The cigarette shown in the poster is just for effect [sic].
• • Source: Item in Movie Classic Tabloid News Section; issue dated for September 1932
• • Note: Mae West is wearing her own jewelry in this photo. Not long after the premiere, she would be robbed at gunpoint. The dazzling diamond necklace as well as the other items were not insured. Someone knew that, Mae believed. Unfortunately, this lovely necklace with the diamond pendant was never seen again.
• • 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 3417th 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 1932 • •
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