Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Mae West: Dramatic Adviser

In September 1934, MAE WEST sat down for a series of "Me and My Past" talks with the United Press syndicated reporter Leicester Wagner.  We will post excerpts from Chapter #6 in several installments.  This is Chapter 6, excerpt e-e.
• • "Me and My Past" by Mae West • •
• • As Told to Leicester Wagner, United Press Staff Correspondent • •
• • Mr. Timony came to Hollywood with me, continuing to handle my business affairs. Recent rumors have it that he's no longer my manager. That is untrue. I'm still giving him his check every week. There is less for him to do now, but his advice is still welcome as is that of a few other men who are considered in the "West camp."
• • Lives With Brother • •
• • These include my brother, Jack West. Jr.. with whom I reside. He is part of my "family," and the other part is my father, Jack West.  Boris Petroff, a former stage producer for Paramount in New York, is my dramatic adviser — — while Murray Fiel and Murray Ellman with Mr. Timony comprise what amounts to a business board of directors. I never see my paycheck.  And I carry only purse money.   . . .
• • NOTE: This is the 6th chapter of Mae West's life story as told to Leicester Wagner, United Press.  This syndicated series was reprinted in American newspapers during September 1934.
• • This has been excerpt e-e.  Thursday's post will be f-f — —  the conclusion of Chapter #6.
• • On Tuesday, 30 November 1948 • •
Mae West & Billy Van
• • When Brooks Atkinson reviewed the New Jersey revival of "Diamond Lil," his comments were printed in The New York Times on Tuesday, 30 November 1948 (page 2). The title was "Mae West Hits Montclair."  Brooks Atkinson called Mae West "the goddess of sex."
• • In his admiring review of her 1948 reinvigorated Bowery queen romp through her popular "naughty nineties" hit,  New York Times drama critic Brooks Atkinson admitted he was moved to acknowledge what he called — — in an atypically poetic effusion — — ''the sublime fatalism of the entire business,'' and he went on to ask: ''Is she kidding or is she serious?''
• • On Sunday, 30 November 1980 in Los Angeles • •
• • An article by Richard Meryman, "The One and Only Mae West," was printed in the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner on Sunday, 30 November 1980.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Will Hays argued that Mae West would bring blatant indecency to the silver screen. However, the studio executives sensed there was money to be made.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Don't you see how my life is?  I gotta top myself in my pictures and I gotta watch myself in everything else. My private life has gotta be a model."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A daily newspaper mentioned Mae West.
• • Brooks Atkinson responded to Mae's performance "Diamond Lil" with this statement:  "A fine, full-bosomed woman with lots of glitter and gaudiness, Mae is an original unclassified phenomenon . . .
• • Source:  Review in The N.Y. Times; published on Tuesday, 30 November 1948
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 12th 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 3,500 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3585th 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 • onstage in 1948

• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
  Mae West

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Mae West: Not Averse

In September 1934, MAE WEST sat down for a series of "Me and My Past" talks with the United Press syndicated reporter Leicester Wagner.  We will post excerpts from Chapter #6 in several installments.  This is Chapter 6, excerpt d-d.
• • "Me and My Past" by Mae West • •
• • As Told to Leicester Wagner, United Press Staff Correspondent • •
• • "Constant Sinner" • •
• • I felt the same way after I wrote "The Constant Sinner," another Broadway success. This played for nine months. [Sic — — it ran for 64 performances, September — November 1931.]
• • Her Biggest Hit, "Diamond Lil" • •
• • Though I'm not averse to heat, the New York thermometers started going places and I figured I would, too. That was my last vacation.
• • For Paramount had a part open in "Night After Night," the picture which was supposed to make a star out of a man. The studio felt that I was the only one who could fill the supporting role [sic] and they made me an offer — — a good one.
• • Mr. Timony came to Hollywood with me, continuing to handle my business affairs. Recent rumors have it that he's no longer my manager. That is untrue.   . . .
• • NOTE: This is the 6th chapter of Mae West's life story as told to Leicester Wagner, United Press.  This syndicated series was reprinted in American newspapers during September 1934.
• • This has been excerpt d-d.  Wednesday's post will be e-e — —  the continuation of Chapter #6.
• • On Tuesday, 29 November 1932 • •
• • Mae West's script had been playing hide-and-seek with the Hays Office. However, on Wednesday, 30 November 1932, the project finally had a title that would not change: "She Done Him Wrong." A day earlier, there had been delicate negotiations on the part of Paramount's rep Harold Hurley. He mamboed around the play's references to white slavery, he massaged away any suggestion that Lil was a kept woman, and he agreed that the Salvation Army uniform had to be made into a safe generic design (not tied to a mission). For all that, Mae managed to get some zingers pass the censors. Ha-ha.
• • On Monday, 29 November 1948 • •
• • An American revival of "Diamond Lil" opened out of town on Monday, 29 November 1948 at Montclair, New Jersey.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Swedish director Ingmar Bergman [1918 — 2007] said that the first time he saw Mae West in a movie he “went home and jerked off.”
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "The dumbest woman in the world can outsmart a man when she has to."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An Illinois daily mentioned Mae West.
• • Famous quotes were often printed in the section "Fast Track/ Replays" in the Chicago Tribune and this saucy quote by Mae West was published:  "I only like two kinds of men: domestic and foreign" . . .
• • Source: Item in Chicago Tribune; published on Sunday, 29 November 1998  
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 12th 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 3,500 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3584th 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/
________

Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml   

• • Photo:
• • Mae West • filming in 1932

• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
  Mae West