Mae West: Unpleasantly Dirty

The latest play by MAE WEST was discussed in a local paper that was published on Sunday, 21 October 1928. The Brooklyn columnist took a different approach than Variety did. Let’s have a look.    
• • Regarding the recent official ruckus over Mae West's "Pleasure Man" • •
• • "The Inky Way" by Rian James • •
• • Rian James wrote: Even now we aren't convinced that there is much that can be said in favor of censorship in the theater. We don't believe that the recent official ruckus over Mae West's "Pleasure Man" has saved a solitary mortal. Also, the same officials that carted off the "Pleasure Man'' cast in patrol wagons have thus far missed out on a number of contemporary plays that are far more daring.
• • "Pleasure Man" was unpleasantly dirty • •
• • Rian James wrote: As a matter of fact, "Pleasure Man" wasn't a bit daring. It was unpleasantly dirty. The audiences who saw it left the theater with little sense of elation; of having been permitted to peek behind the screen: of having their primness jarred.
• • There is little shock value in paying money to see a flock of female impersonators cavort behind the footlights, when you can see them cavort just as cunningly any night you care to, in more than a dozen public restaurants that we might name in Manhattan's finest center.
• • Mae West did no clever thing • •  . . .
• • This is Part 1 of three parts. Part 2 will follow tomorrow.
• • Source: Rian James’s column in The Brooklyn Daily Eagle; published on Sunday, 21 October 1928.                        
• • On Wednesday, 23 November 1927 • •

• • Variety poked fun at Mae West's attempts at funding her production of "The Wicked Age" via corporate sponsorship. Mocking the apparel labels her character deliberately mentions in the dialogue (such as Sam Mayo negligees) and the long list of designers in the Program credits, Variety was as gleeful as if they were doing serious undercover work. Between the acts, Variety informed their readers, postcards were distributed by the ushers explaining that "Cammeyer shoe creations have a leading role in my wardrobe."
• • Source: Variety (on page 48) in their issue dated for Wednesday, 23 November 1927. 
• • Mae West's play was about dishonest East Coast beauty pageants. This 1927 portrait showed her in one of her stage costumes.
• • On Sunday, 23 November 1980 in The L.A. Times • •
• • Mae West received a first-rate send-off in The L.A. Times by her friend Kevin Thomas.
• • On Thursday, 23 November 2017 • •
• • Happy Thanksgiving to all of our wonderful readers!
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • “My Little Chickadee,” the Mae West—W. C. Fields co-starrer, goes into the editing room this week.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: “Age? I never think about age.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A California daily mentioned Mae West.
• • “Hollywood Film Shop” • •
• • Alexander Kahn wrote: It’s the cave-man influence and the feminine stars are glad of it. "Wouldn’t I look swell playing a scene with a curly-haired doll dressed in a satin coat?” commented Mae West. “No. not for me. Give me the cave-man.  Because I can take care of myself.” . . .
• • Source: Item in Madera Tribune; published on Wednesday, 20 November 1935
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 13th anniversary • •  
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past thirteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 3,800 blog posts. Wow!   
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started thirteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3838th 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 1927 • •
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