Mae West: Stolen Necklace

Most fans know MAE WEST was the victim of a robbery in 1932 — —  but did you ever see a picture of the stolen necklace, which had been appraised at $14,000?  Mae gave an odd explanation why such a valuable diamond adornment was not insured.
• • During the same year, 1932, the average cost of new house was $6,510.00.
• • During the same year, 1932, Ford's automobile prices ranged from US$495 for the roadster, $490 for the coupes, and $650 for the convertible sedan.
• • This magazine interview carried the byline of reporter Dorothy Donnell. 
• • "Mae West Is Robbed of Famous Diamonds In Daring Hold-up" • •
• • Nervous Racketeer Makes Stage Actress, Who Won Fame as "Diamond Lil" and Is Now in Movies, Hand Over Jewels • •
• • In "Night After Night," Mae West — — imported from Broadway, where she was famous for her role of Diamond Lil — — played the associate of racketeers and robbers. Now she is wondering if there might not have been some real racketeer playing "extra" in the picture, who noticed her habit of wearing a great deal of valuable jewelry.
• • Though Mae has been a conspicuous figure on Broadway and in New York theatrical life for several years, this is the first time she has ever been robbed. "And he must have been an amateur," Mae says. "He was so nervous that I didn't wait a moment before handing over the jewels, because I thought, if I tried to talk him out of it, he would probably hit me over the head and maybe mar my face." (That was the actress' first thought!)
• • "Toss out that poke and those rocks!" • •
• • "Toss out that poke and those rocks!" the robber demanded huskily, as Mae sat in her parked limousine.

• • The "poke" contained thirty-four hundred dollars, which Mae had withdrawn from the bank the previous day and was planning to telegraph East that same night. The "rocks" consisted of a spectacular diamond necklace that hung almost to her waist [sic], a diamond bracelet and a ring. These jewels, together with a huge brooch of the same dazzling stones, a wrist-watch and another ring, were familiar to studio employees, as Mae had often worn them to work and had used them as part of her costume in "Night After Night."  . . .
• • "Mae West Is Robbed of Famous Diamonds" will be continued tomorrow. This was Part 1.
• • Source: Article written by Dorothy Donnell for Movie Classic; printed in the issue dated for January 1933.   
• • Image: It was a very lovely diamond necklace — — but it is highly inaccurate to say it "hung almost to her waist," as you can see for yourself.
• • On Thursday, 18 April 1935 • •
• • "Mae West Wants Everything to Be Clean" • •
• • Mae West told a foreign journalist: "I'm for clean pictures and clean everything."
• • Source: Article in The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld); published on Thursday, 18 April 1935.
• • On 18 April 1969 in Life Magazine • •
• • Nationally, the news racks on 18 April 1969 held the iconic issue of Life Magazine with Mae West front and center [1969 cover price: 40 cents].
• • On page 60 was this headline: "Mae West: A Cherished, Bemusing Masterpiece of Self–Preservation Plans a Movie and a TV Show and Looks Back Over 75 Very Full Years" — — and Life's exclusive interview was done by veteran news man Richard Meryman. Reflecting on his 20 hours of conversations with the screen legend, Richard Meryman acknowledged with admiration Mae's "mind-spinning version of the world."
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West is going to buy a racehorse and name it in honor of herself.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "I never weighed more than 119. In my roles I am always thoroughly  padded."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A fan magazine mentioned Mae West.
• • Mae West and Dorothea Wieck wouldn't copy Hollywood and pluck their eyebrows — and now Hollywood is copying them?
• • Source:  Item in  Motion Picture; published in February 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 3,400 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3422nd 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 • • wearing her necklace in 1932 • •
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