Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Mae West: Fantasy Abound

Like MAE WEST, Diane Arbus was a native New Yorker. An Australian stage play, inspired by their Los Angeles meeting and photo session, was widely reviewed. To commemorate Arbus’s untimely death, age 48, in the month of July, let’s ponder some of those critiques.
• • Let’s hear from another Australian drama critic now. This is Part 6 of of 10 segments.
• • In Stephen Sewell’s charming “Arbus and West,” feminism boils to the surface • •
• • Mae West’s quips dominate • •
• • Sandra D’Urso wrote: Quippy one-liners dominate the first act: “If you’re a photographer,” West says to Arbus, “I’m a monkey’s gynaecologist.”
• • Sandra D’Urso wrote: Discussion about what is real and what is fantasy abound. Arbus seduces West with her poetic interpretation of life but repels her in equal measure. West and Ruby agree to unravel the mystery of Arbus: what does she want, why does she insist on capturing the truth, the ugly side of humanity?
• • Sandra D’Urso wrote: By the end of the first act we see Mae West in a state of rapture.
• • Mae West in a state of rapture • • . . .
• • Sandra D’Urso’s review will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: The Conversation; published on Wednesday, 6 March 2019.
• • On Friday, 30 July 1937 • •
• • The headline read: "Marriage of Mae West — Court Order Sought." And the legal battle was ever so much longer than their relationship.
• • Los Angeles, July 28 — A petition by Frank Wallace, a vaudeville performer, for an order decreeing that he and Mae West, the film star, were still man and wife, was refused by the Court today. The Court was satisfied, however, that the two had been married on April 11, 1911.
• • July 2004: Mae West Blog launches • •
• • What are we up to, writing about the Brooklyn-born bombshell for fifteen years now?
• • We’re here to keep Mae mavens up to date, correct errors, celebrate each revival of a play she wrote, post the latest Westian stage and book reviews. And answer our fan mail!
• • The light’s still on. Come up and see Mae every day.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • “Mr. Ed, TV's talking horse, will have a few words with Mae West. The results may be almost calamitous!” Arthur Lubin told the newsmen. “She is incredibly modest, almost shy. Mae's a real pro and always knows her lines."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "If a picture of mine didn't get an X rating, I'd be insulted."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Motion Picture Herald mentioned Mae West.
• • Al Sindlinger, publicity director, explained some new tricks in Hollywood.  …
• • Another interesting gag of Mr. Sindlinger's was used in connection with a Mae West trailer, and involved nothing more than an extra speaker mounted above the proscenium arch. The trailer, picture and sound, went off as usual, except that when Mae West said, "Come up and see me some time," an alert stagehand saw to it that her voice came from way up yonder. It was good for more than a laugh — it was worth telling friends about. …
• • Source: Motion Picture Herald;  published on Saturday, 8 February 1936
• • 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 15th anniversary • •  
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past fifteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 4,200 blog posts. Wow!  
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fifteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4267th 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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• • Mae West • in 1932

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