Thursday, April 05, 2018

Mae West: Dangerous Women

While you’re sleeping, college professors in Hungary are thinking about MAE WEST. Here’s a long, striking research paper you might have missed. This is Part 44.
• • "Mae West. The Dirty Snow White" • •
• • Written by:  Zsófia Anna Tóth
• • women who dare to venture • •
• • Zsófia Anna Tóth wrote: However, what is even more important is why those women who dare to venture into the realm of comedy and humor are still seen dangerous and are prone to constitute a threat: “[w]omen who engage in comic performances have the potential to subvert the social structures that keep them oppressed; by poking fun at those in power, especially men, women have the ability to expose their weaknesses and challenge their authority” (40). This resonates with what Joanne R. Gilbert also argues, namely that women humorists subvert the status quo, are able to initiate transformation, and are dangerous exactly because they show resistance and are able to critique the dominant culture because of their marginalized and distanced position (3-5). Anderson Wagner also adds that
• • Zsófia Anna Tóth wrote: [t]hese women were doing more than just making people laugh; they were challenging conventional notions of femininity. Their presence and power both on and off screen meant a great deal of visibility as they broke boundaries and redefined what it meant to be a woman. (41)
• • so crucial for all women • •  . . .  
• • This was Part 44 of a lengthy article. Part 45 will follow tomorrow.   
• • Source: Americana — — E-Journal of American Studies in Hungary; Vol. XI, No. 1, Spring 2015.
• • On Monday, 5 April 1954 • •
• • The death of James Timony on Monday, 5 April 1954 was announced in The L.A. Times on April 6th. Mae was prostrated by grief at the death of her long-term companion, the man who guided her rise to fame and fortune.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • It is mid-afternoon but Mae is in a negligee revealing that the years you politely try not to think about have been fantastically kind. Hair kept as blonde as ever; and a smooth face untouched, she swears, by plastic surgery; and smooth hands that tell no tales and the seemingly unchanged hour-glass figure.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  “I get my main satisfaction from life in handling others an hour of entertainment, of pulling 'em out of what's bothering 'em and handing 'em a laugh.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A California daily mentioned Mae West.
• • “Dick Cavett’s ‘BackLot USA’ to Feature Mae West” • •
• • The "bombshell booking" of Mae West, who does not make appearances unless everything is just right for her, came about through Bette Davis.
• • A couple of years ago. Bette Davis told Dick Cavett of her fantastic experience, a dinner with Mae, whom she had never met before. And Bette suggested that Dick have Mae on his then ABC show. After an hour's phone conversation with Dick, Mae finally said if she did go on TV, his would the logical show for her. But they never got together. Now when Dick suggested to Gary Smith to contact Mae, she finally accepted.  . . .
• • Source: Item in the San Bernardino Sun; published on Monday, 5 April 1976 
• • The evolution of 2 Mae West plays that keep her memory alive • • 
• • A discussion with Mae West playwright LindaAnn LoSchiavo — — 
• • http://lideamagazine.com/renaissance-woman-new-york-city-interview-lindaann-loschiavo/
• • 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 3933rd 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 • with Bette Davis in 1973

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