Thursday, August 17, 2017

Mae West: Brooklyn Bombshell

Happy Birthday to MAE WEST, the Brooklyn Bombshell, the Queen of Comedy, who maintained a long career on stage and on screen and also sizzled on the nightclub circuit.
• • Delivered by a local mid-wife, this newborn drew her first lusty breaths in Bushwick on Thursday, 17 August 1893 (under the leonine sign of Leo) in her parents' bedroom. Little Mary Jane West always said: "I was born on a cool night in a hot month so I knew I could expect anything."
• • She topped the income of every film actress of her generation because Mae was paid as a screenwriter as well as a box office draw.
• • Each day at least one publication in the world mentions her name. [We can verify our claim, too, because we've tracked this a-Mae-zing trend daily for the past 13 years.]
• • Often imitated but never duplicated, the one and only Mae West endures in our hearts and memories.
• • Darling Mae, to your loyal followers, you don't look a day over twenty-sex!
• • Mae West Trivia for August 17th • •
• • Two actors who worked with the Brooklyn bombshell were also born on August 17th.
• • Dewey Robinson, who was featured in "She Done Him Wrong" and "Goin' to Town," was born in New Haven, Connecticut on Wednesday, 17 August 1898. He had a heart attack and died in Las Vegas on 11 December 1950. Robinson was 52.
• • Harlan Briggs, who appeared in "My Little Chickadee," was born in Blissfield, Michigan on Monday, 17 August 1879.  Briggs died in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California on 26 January 1952. Briggs was 72.
• • Our Next Mae West Event in New York • •
• • Coming up soon will be a festive Mae West film, "She Done Him Wrong," and a frisky discussion about Mae's links to, and appreciation of, the New York City Bowery.
• • This event will be sponsored by The Bowery Alliance of Neighbors. Come celebrate the star of stage and screen with us. Stay tuned for details.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Even at the fourscore mark, she remains a remarkable figure of a woman. The well-padded frame, which inspired the Mae West life jacket in World War II, seems little changed.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Come up sometime and see me."
• • Mae West said: "I give 'em what they want to see."
• • Mae West said: "I'll never believe the worst about anyone without complete proof."
• • Mae West said: "I've always liked athletes because they don't smoke, don't drink, and understand the importance of keeping their bodies in top working order — — and a hard man is good to find."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • "Mae West Turns Sixty" • •
• • The Horsham Times wrote: Mae West turned 60 recently. To reporters who went along to wish her many happy returns, Miss West made it plain that birthdays are one thing a lady just doesn't discuss.
• • Fluttering her inch-long eyelashes demurely, she said: "You can see for yourself, a girl's just as old as she feels."
• • Source: News Item: The Horsham Times;  published on Friday, 12 September 1952
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 13th anniversary • •  
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past eleven years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 3,700 blog posts. Wow!   
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started thirteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3768th 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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  Mae West

2 comments:

  1. What a wonderful birthday tribute to the every young, Miss Mae Wes!
    Chris Basinger, the front desk clerk at the Ravenswood shared this story with me. On her birthday one year, Mae was returning from an outing and checked for messages at the front desk. She mentioned she had carrot cake for her birthday and asked Chris if he had ever tasted such a cake. Chris replied he hadn't and Mae sent Paul Novak down with a slice to the front desk during Chris' shift. That is how thoughtful a person Mae West was!

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    Replies
    1. • • Thank you for your kind comment on Mae West's birthday.
      • • Young actresses are still telling reporters that Mae is their icon.
      • • Newspaper articles are still quoting her daily or mentioning that a newcomer has Mae Westian traits.
      • • Most extraordinary is that Mae's banned stage play "THE DRAG" was on the boards not once but TWICE in England during 2017. Mae West's drama was seen on the West End in London --- I can just imagine her smiling.

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