Mae West: Venus Envy

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 1.
• • “Transits of Venus” written by Lewis H. Lapham [born on 8 January 1935]
• • “I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.”  — — Mae West
• • Lewis H. Lapham wrote: On assignment for The Saturday Evening Post in the summer of 1964, I accepted one of Mae West’s invitations “to come up and see me sometime,” and on the stage set that was her house in Malibu I found her in what both Giacomo Casanova and Cecil B. DeMille would have recognized as a “boudoir” — white fur rug, gilded mirrors, satin hangings on the walls; Miss West arranged on the bed wearing a lace negligee, a feather boa, and a pink silk nightgown. She was seventy-one years old, and if she had drifted a long way from the cottage in the forest with the seven dwarves, she had lost nothing of her power to cue the saxophones and stand to attention the members of a cavalry regiment.
• • After 10 minutes, imperfections in Mae’s appearance were no longer visible • • . . .
• • To be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Lapham’s Quarterly; published in the Winter 2009 issue.
• • On Tuesday, 14 January 1930 • •

• • As the Los Angeles engagement of "Diamond Lil" was winding down, a nerve-wracking telegram arrived. The condition of Matilda West was worsening; the cancer had spread to her liver. Mae West hired a private train. On 14 January 1930 — — after their last performance in California — — Mae and the cast left for Brooklyn, New York.
• • The death of 59-year-old Matilda West in January 1930 "was a staggering blow," admitted Mae, who was inconsolable and quite devastated by the loss of her beloved mother.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • It was his work opposite Mae West that showed actor Cary Grant was the ideal choice to be co-starred with Loretta Young in “Born to be Bad.”
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  “A woman like me needs to be an event.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Jewish Post mentioned Mae West.
• • “Entertainments” • •
• • Indiana Theatre — Mae West returns to a role similar to the one in which she won international fame, in her new comedy, “Every Day’s a Holiday,” an original story by her. La West is a buxome belle of the nineties with an accent on the wisecracks. Charles Butterworth is in the big supporting cast. Usual shorts and Paramount news. . . .
• • Source: The Jewish Post [Indianapolis]; published on Friday, 14 January 1938

• • 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 4126th 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 • • driving to the funeral in 1930 • •
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