Mae West: 17 in the Bush

In 1964, after dodging reporter Lewis Lapham for months, MAE WEST granted an interview. Ten years ago, he fondly recalled the experience in his piece “Transits of Venus.” Then a 31-year-old freelancer, Lapham discovered this: “At the age of 71, Miss West still possesses overwhelming sexual force.” Let’s join his in his journey. This is Part 4.
• • “Transits of Venus” written by Lewis H. Lapham [born on 8 January 1935]
• • How was Mae West such an expert at floating the veil of seduction? • •
• • Lewis H. Lapham wrote: How, then, did Mae float the veil of seduction, and of what was it composed? My notes suggested an answer having more to do with the spirit than the flesh, not with the bird in the hand but with the seventeen in the bush.
• • Lewis H. Lapham wrote: “Sex,” Mae had said, “is like a small business. You gotta protect it, watch over it,” manage the market in desire as a midsummer night’s dream in the forest of Arden, somewhere just over Dorothy’s rainbow or around the next bend in the Missouri River. Forget that what is afoot is a chasing of butterflies never to be caught and you lose sight of the bluebirds, miss the point of the joke — mistakes, Miss West said, that she had been careful to avoid.
• • Mistakes Mae West had managed to avoid • •  . . .
• • To be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Lapham’s Quarterly; published in the Winter 2009 issue.
• • On Saturday, 17 January 1931 • •

• • The novel "Babe Gordon" by Mae West was given some snooty scrutiny in the Daily Princetonian (page 2), Volume 55, Number 171; book review published on Saturday, 17 January 1931.
• • The critic wrote: "Well, anyway, for erotic description La West is pretty darned good."
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West's diamonds are part of her publicity campaign.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Opportunity knocks for every man, but you have to give a woman a ring."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An Australian paper mentioned Mae West being rushed to a hospital.
• • Baltimore, January 15 — Mae West lived up to the tradition of the stage to-day by insisting 'the show must go on!' although it meant her release from hospital against the doctors' orders.
• • She is starring in her own stage production "Diamond Lil."
• • Mae West was rushed to hospital early to-day but six hours later, saying she was better, demanded her release.  . . .
• • Source: Townsville Daily Bulletin (Queensland); published on Monday, 17 January 1949

• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 14th anniversary • •  

• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past fourteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 4,100 blog posts. Wow!  

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fourteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4129th 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: https://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml   
Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • her novel in 1931 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC  Mae West