Mae West: Dynamic Debut

In 1932, Paramount’s speakeasy movie was adapted from Louis Bromfield's story "Single Night" but the dialogue that was added by MAE WEST made this motion picture memorable and secured her first contract.
• • "Night After Night" ― reviewed by Picture Play in February 1933 • •
• • George Raft's "Night After Night" gains immeasurably by the presence of the famous Mae West.
• • A new phase of night-club life is admirably pictured here, with a new set of characters, new motives, and new situations.  
• • Yet the result is not quite as strong as might be anticipated.  
• • There is enough merit, however, to make the film above the ordinary.

• • It concerns George Raft as the proprietor of a glittering resort that once was a handsome residence and Constance Cummings as the girl who used to live there.
• • Mae West: Her debut saved this dull 1932 motion picture • • …
• • This three-part review will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Picture Play; issue dated for February 1933.
• • On Tuesday, 28 February 1933 • •
• • An article on Mae's staying power — — "Paramount's Unusual 3d Week for Mae West" — — was printed in Variety on Tuesday, 28 February 1933.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Here’s a little lowdown: Mae West is trying to get Clark Gable for her leading man in her next picture. Hotcha!
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "The guy's trying to cash in again! I got a new picture out and he's pulling the same stunt he pulled the last time one was released." [Mae’s comment was in reference to Frank Wallace’s legal ploys on Friday, 28 February 1936.]
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Modern Screen mentioned Mae West.
• • Paramount kills Mae West's prize fights • •
• • Mae West's pet entertainment is prize fights. Swanky parties, formal dinners, premieres and the like hold no interest for Diamond Lil. She likes action!  
• • But evidently Mae was getting a little too noisy ― or something.  Anyway, the studio has shut down on Mae's fun. The order is: No more prize fights. …
• • Note: Modern Screen Magazine, 100 Fifth Avenue, New York City.
• • Source: Modern Screen; issue dated for July 1933
• • 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 17th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past seventeen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 4,900 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seventeen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,939th 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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• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1932 • •
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Mae West: Los Angeles Lesbians

In 1934, Picture Play, piqued by a New York newcomer’s meteoric rise, pondered this: “Is MAE WEST a Fizzle? A bold discussion of an important question!” This is Part 29 of 29 segments, the finale.
• • Is Mae West a Fizzle? • •
• • Mae West: A corking motion picture • •

• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: Either "It Ain't No Sin" will be a corking picture or Mae will come to after its release to discover she tried to bite off more than she could manage to the downfall, not the betterment, of her career.
• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: That she failed in the way others have failed before her and for practically the same reasons, and that her stellar light in the film firmament has begun to fade to the dirge of "another flash in the pan is dying out."
• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: I hope I'm wrong about Mae West. I hope she continues to be what we expect her to be.  
• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: But I have very serious doubts. Have you?
• • Note: In 1941 Picture Play ceased publication when it merged with Charm Magazine.
• • Note: Memphis born Dorothy Herzog, who began writing for fan magazines during the silent screen era, also penned the “Behind the Scenes in Hollywood” column. Though little is known about her, she had once been a notable fixture among Tinseltown stars and wannabes. Dorothy Herzog even wrote the plot for one silent film: “Coney Island” (1928).
• • Los Angeles Lesbians • •
• • From Lynn Kear’s biography on the self-destructive, suicidal actress Evelyn Brent: “Evelyn Brent's life and career were going quite well in 1928. Brent [1895–1975] was happily living with her lesbian lover, writer Dorothy Herzog, following Evelyn’s divorce from film producer Bernard P. Fineman [1895–1971].” The female lovebirds enjoyed frequent meals together at Hollywood's Montmartre Café before switching over to the Embassy, a private club limited to 300 members, and “paying dues to insure their privacy and social position within the film colony,” according to one book reviewer.
• • Herzog wrote a scandalous book “Some Like It Hot” (Macaulay Company, 1930), banned in Boston, in Canada, and not permitted to be circulated by lending libraries. She wrote other potboilers, too, such as “Intimate Strangers” and “Undercover Woman,” and dedicated them to Brent under her real (birth) name. Presumably, these titles sold well enough since Herzog retained the enthusiasm of her editors at Macaulay.
• • During the 1920s, Dorothy Herzog also worked as a film critic for the New York Daily Mirror.
• • This opinionated article written by Herzog has now been concluded. Let us know if you enjoyed it.
• • Source: Picture Play; issue dated for May 1934.
• • On Tuesday, 25 February 1913 • •
• • The announcement that "Mae West, the comedienne" was appearing at the Grand ran in the Atlantic Journal on Tuesday, 25 February 1913.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • The controversy over the latest Mae West film is gathering volume and velocity.  
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I cut down on physical sex when I'm writing or plotting a play."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Photoplay mentioned Mae West.
• • “Why Was Hollywood Jealous of Mae West?” • •
• • No star in Hollywood has been more miserably treated by the Cinema City than this famous blonde. Usually, Hollywood admires success, but in this case Hollywood resented it.
• • Here is the inside story, never before told in a movie magazine.
• • All of the absorbingly interesting feature articles described above and many, many more appear in the big March [1935] issue of Movie Mirror, the great movie magazine edited direct from Hollywood.
• • If you have not already done so, by all means get your copy today and see for yourself why Movie Mirror is fast becoming America's most popular movie magazine regardless of price. …
• • Source: Photoplay; published in the issue dated for February 1935
• • 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 17th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past seventeen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 4,800 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seventeen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,938th 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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• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1934 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Clever Enough

In 1934, Picture Play, piqued by a New York newcomer’s meteoric rise, pondered this: “Is MAE WEST a Fizzle? A bold discussion of an important question!” This is Part 28 of 29 segments.
• • Is Mae West a Fizzle? • •
• • Mae West: A good supporting cast is necessary • •
• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: It takes an interesting, fairly plausible story that is different from previous stories in which the star has appeared.  
• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: Comparison, even with oneself, is dangerous. It also takes good work from a good supporting cast.
• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: Is Mae clever enough to understand this?
• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: It is my opinion that the new story Mae West has written for herself will answer this and all such questions.
• • Mae West: A corking motion picture • • …       
• • This will be concluded on the next post, which is part 29.
• • Source: Picture Play; issue dated for May 1934.
• • Paul Novak [24 February 1923 — 14 July 1999] • •

• • Born Chester Rybinsky in Baltimore on 24 February 1923, Mae West's live-in lover was thirty years her junior. He entered physique contests as Chuck Krauser.
• • They met and became acquainted when Charles Krauser, George Eiferman, Irvin "Zabo" Koszewski, Dick DuBois, Dominic Juliano, Joe Gold, Armand Tanny, Gordon Mitchell, and Mickey Hargitay were among the star bodybuilders in West's chorus for all (or part) of the show's three-year run.
• • Chuck Krauser changed his name again, becoming Paul Novak, Mae's main man for the next 24 years. The Mae West Blog remembers him on his birthday, February 24.
• • On Saturday, 24 February 1912 at the Winter Garden • •
• • Ambitious, bold, and 18 years old, Mae West, unfortunately, got on the wrong side of Gaby Deslys by trying to upstage her. Uh-oh! The 30-year-old diva got the teenage upstart fired before opening night in Manhattan.
• • "Vera Violetta" opened on 20 November 1911 at the Winter Garden Theatre.
• • Offered in repertory with "Undine," the musical remained on Broadway through the Christmas holidays, closing on the last weekend in February on 24 February 1912.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • "I'm an occidental woman in an Oriental mood for love," sings the curvaceous Queen of Innuendo, Mae West, sporting a bespangled pseudo-Chinese headdress in the 1936 film "Klondike Annie." The scene is classic West and pure Hollywood kitsch.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "It's like this. The women don't razz me because I don't make 'em jealous. The only censorship directed at me comes from men because intelligent men resent my satire.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Jet Magazine mentioned Mae West.
• • Miss Louise Beavers is in Chicago for a Chez Paree engagement with Mae West. …
• • Source: Jet; published on Thursday, 24 February 1955
• • 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 17th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past seventeen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 4,800 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seventeen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,937th 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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• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • together at the airport in 1956 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Tricky Pronunciation

In 1934, Picture Play, piqued by a New York newcomer’s meteoric rise, pondered this: “Is MAE WEST a Fizzle? A bold discussion of an important question!” This is Part 27 of 29 segments.
• • Is Mae West a Fizzle? • •
• • Mae West: Tricky pronunciation • •
• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: Unlike the stage productions, motion pictures have to survive the stern eyes of censors.  
• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: Tricky pronunciation doesn't always pass the censors. To cut a scene because of this seriously hurts a film, interfering as it does with the story's continuity of action.
• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: Mae has also to be reminded of this.

• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: Mae West is a genius at making wisecracks, but it takes more than wisecracks to justify six reels of celluloid.
• • Mae West: A good supporting cast is necessary • • …
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Picture Play; issue dated for May 1934.
• • On Wednesday, 23 February 1927 in Variety • •
• • On Wednesday, 23 February 1927, Variety sympathized with Mae West and the others whose Broadway shops were closed down due to a contagious censorship epidemic.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • This never happened before in Hollywood: The day before Mae West was expected back from the East Coast, a large group of movie theater owners in Southern California called at Paramount studio and demanded the pleasure of meeting the train and giving Mae a rousing welcome.
• • "We want to show our appreciation to Miss West for the marvelous picture she has given us to show in our theaters . . . it's the first one in a long time that has made our friends stand in line at our box-offices!"
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: “I was aware of the changing times and I studied audiences and acts to discover all the secrets of show business.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Picture Play mentioned Mae West.
• • Mae Can Wear Paste, Anyway • •
• • Diamond Lil may have been robbed of her precious jewels since she came to the West Coast, but there are compensations. For she, namely Mae West, looks forward to a really sparkling film career. Paramount thought so when they signed her. …
• • Source: Picture Play; issue dated for June 1933
• • 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 17th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past seventeen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 4,800 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seventeen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,936th 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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• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1933 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: More Generous

In 1934, Picture Play, piqued by a New York newcomer’s meteoric rise, pondered this: “Is MAE WEST a Fizzle? A bold discussion of an important question!” This is Part 26 of 29 segments.
• • Is Mae West a Fizzle? • •
• • Mae West: “Nobody else gets the laughs!” • •
• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: Likewise James Cagney and many other top-notchers.  
• • Note: In 1936, it was widely reported that Mae West said (to Hollywood director Henry Hathaway): "Nobody gets laughs in my pictures but me, see?"

• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: Mae was warned to be more generous in both her pictures.
• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: Will she remember to be generous to the cast in "It Ain't No Sin"?
• • Mae West is cautioned often about her Brooklyn pronunciation • •
• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: Mae has to be cautioned frequently about pronunciation.  She has a tricky way with words.
• • Mae West: Tricky pronunciation • • …
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Picture Play; issue dated for May 1934.
• • On Saturday, 22 February 1947 • •
• • "Come On Up" opened 22 February 1947 • •
• • The show "Come On Up" starring Mae West opened in Los Angeles, California at the Biltmore Theatre on Saturday, 22 February 1947.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West has announced that she will be getting an armored limo to protect Jim Timony and herself.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "In my pictures I never took a man from another woman or pursued another woman's husband. That was all part of my plan to keep women audiences happy. Women don't like to be reminded of the fact that their man might stray after something like — — well, you know what I mean."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Palestine Post mentioned Mae West.
• • Hollywood Day by Day • •
• • The Palestine Post wrote: The first great wave of the talkies threw up a host of new stars, from Marie Dressler to Jackie Cooper but now there is a dearth. Think over the new big names of Hollywood, made in the last eight months, and only a few come to mind.
• • The Palestine Post wrote: There is Mae West, but she was already a famous stage star. Then there is Katharine Hepburn who has carved out a unique place for herself on the strength of her performances in only three films. And lastly comes May Robson whose performance in “Lady for a Day” has put her in the Marie Dressler class in one jump.  …
• • Source: The Palestine Post (via United Press); published on Tuesday, 21 November 1933
• • 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 17th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past seventeen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 4,800 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seventeen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,935th 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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• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • lobby card in 1934 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest