Mae West: Gay Conversion

MAE WEST staged "The Drag" in 1927 but her gay play was shut down by the authorities before it could reach the lights of Broadway. A British theatre director decided to dust it off and present it to an English audience this summer.
• • Polly Stenham wrote this article. This is Part 2.
• • "Brutal! Vulgar! Dirty! Mae West and the gay comedy that shocked 1920s America" • •
• • The upper-crust hero is in the closet • •
• • Polly Stenham  wrote:  Its hero is a closeted gay socialite, Rolly Kingsbury, who comes “from one of the finest families” and is trapped in a loveless marriage.
• • gay conversion therapy • • 
• • Polly Stenham  noted:  Rolly’s father is a homophobic judge, his father-in-law a therapist who specializes in gay conversion. Mae West herself had been a male impersonator early in her career, and the play culminates in an elaborate drag ball, with largely improvised dialogue and a jazz band on stage.
• • Polly Stenham  wrote: "The Drag" was inspired by her many gay friends. She knew their daily struggles to be open about their relationships, and to be accepted for who they were. When casting the play, she actively sought out gay actors.
• • Mae West is compassionate as well as funny • •    . . .
• • This was Part 2.  Part 3 continues tomorrow.
• • Source: "Brutal! Vulgar! Dirty! ..." by Polly Stenham for The Guardian [U.K.]; published on Wednesday, 5 July 2017.
• • On Monday, 22 August 1932 • •
• • On this date production began for the motion picture "Night After Night," which offered Mae West her first chance to be in pictures.
• • On Saturday, 22 August 1936 • •

• • Elizabeth Yeaman wrote an article, "Mae West to Abandon Corsets, Wear Modem Apparel in New Picture." Her piece was published in Hollywood Citizen-News on Saturday, 22 August 1936.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • "Criswell Predicts" was written, at Mae West's request, by Bob Thompson.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: “When I’m good, I’m very, very good, but when I’m bad, I’m better.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article on Billy Wilder discussed Mae West.
• • Sunset Boulevard: Original Hollywood Expose • •
• • Tony Sokol wrote:  The first draft of the film "Sunset Boulevard" was a straightforward comedy about a has-been actress making a comeback, and Wilder saw Mae West in the role. However, Mae West wanted to rewrite her dialogue. Wilder was no fan of improvisation and was very protective of his words.  ...
• • Source: Article by Tony Sokol for Den of Geeks; posted on Friday, 4 August 2017
• • 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 3771st 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 1936 • •
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