Mae West: Pre-marital Sex

MAE WEST came to the attention of Tinseltown ninety years ago in 1932. Step into the Time Machine with me for a long, leisurely ride. This is Part 32.
• • Mae West in Hollywood 1932 – 1943 • •
• • Mae West: The re-shot ending • •
• • Andy Goulding wrote: The re-shot ending, originally intended to feature a pre-marital sexual encounter, was replaced by a wedding scene.

• • Andy Goulding wrote: It seems naive at best to imagine such a scene could convince audiences that Mae West’s character was a virgin up until then, but the interference of the PCA was clearly driven less by plot credibility than by a desire to banish West from screens altogether.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: Amidst the resulting rubble of the storyline, it is the musical numbers that really stand out in “Belle of the Nineties.”
• • Mae West: How Duke Ellington’s Orchestra altered the musical numbers • • …
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Blueprint Reviews U.K.; posted on Friday, 3 December 2021.
• • On Tuesday, 31 October 1933 • •
• • Headlines on this date emphasized the big box office Mae's movie was doing. For instance, "West Bubbles Hub [Boston] for $47,000" was circulated by wire on Tuesday, 31 October 1933.
• • On Tuesday, 31 October 1933 in New York World-Telegram • •
• • Mae West told Douglas Gilbert, a vaudeville reporter, "Women much prefer to be feminine, believe me."
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Did Mae West enjoy kissing onscreen?

• • "You've gotta have romance, and what's romance without some kissing?" Mae West remarked. "And unless kissing is real, it doesn't look real. When I kiss 'em, I give 'em something to talk about."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "If I am told to take out a line, then I take it out without argument."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A Hollywood columnist mentioned Mae West and her play “Klondike Lou.”
• • Mike Connolly wrote: Mae West and Steve Cochran are paging Peter Ustinov to do a rewrite job on their new play, "Klondike Lou," and act in it, too. …
• • Source: The Desert Sun; published on Friday, 31 October 1958
• • 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 18th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past eighteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 5,100 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eighteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 5,110th 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 and in 1947 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Scrappy Charm

MAE WEST came to the attention of Tinseltown ninety years ago in 1932. Step into the Time Machine with me for a long, leisurely ride. This is Part 31.
• • Mae West in Hollywood 1932 – 1943 • •
• • Mae West: Leo McCarey eroded the scrappy energy • •

• • Andy Goulding wrote: And Leo McCarey (a wonderful director who was about to embark on one of the greatest runs of films of the classic Hollywood era) brings an element of class to the direction.
• • McCarey’s more polished approach diminished the scrappy charm • •
• • Andy Goulding wrote: But McCarey’s more polished approach ends up eroding the scrappy charm of the earlier West films and this is exacerbated by a slight but noticeable drop in energy from Mae West.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: Perhaps her enthusiasm for the material was worn away as she was forced to cut and re-shoot chunks of the film.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: It must be said though that "Belle of the Nineties" (1934) does have a comparatively dull plot, a fairly conventional traipse through a love triangle that descends into a violent but rather hurried climax.
• • Mae West: The re-shot ending • • …
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Blueprint Reviews U.K.; posted on Friday, 3 December 2021.
• • On Saturday, 27 October 1934 • •

• • Picture-goer, Britain's publication for film fans, discussed the costumes designed for Mae West for her latest movie "Belle of the Nineties" in their issue dated for Saturday, 27 October 1934.
• • On Sunday, 27 October 1935 • •
• • Which actresses would be most popular in 1936? The L.A. Times weighed in on the merits of Mae West, Katharine Hepburn, and Jean Harlow in an article printed on Sunday, 27 October 1935.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Variety couldn't stop printing articles about "I'm No Angel" starring Mae West. "Mae West Opera Wows Newark — Cops House Record, $28,000, and Held Over" ran in Variety during October 1933.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "When you tell people a play is naughty, then they rush to see it. I can't help that, can I?"
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A book chapter on another actress mentioned Mae West.
• • Brian Kellow wrote: Tired of having her achievements overlooked, Ethel got a little testy with the Hollywood press when it was suggested that her performing style owed something to Mae West's. Although they occupied different floors of the Ravenswood, West had not been particularly friendly, and Ethel got even by telling reporters that it was she who had started the Mae West vogue, not the other way around.
• • Brian Kellow wrote: "I was singing 'Eadie Was a Lady' all dressed up with the wiggly hips an' everything before Mae West's first picture, Night After Night, came out," Ethel said, ". . . so I shall always claim Mae sailed to glory on my vogue."
• • Brian Kellow wrote: In fact, Mae West's style was fully evolved by the time of her big stage successes of the 1920s, long before she hit Hollywood. But Ethel's rewriting of history was a good indication of her defensiveness over her treatment in Hollywood. ...
• • Source: "Ethel Merman: A Life" (Chapter 5) by Brian Kellow [Penguin Books; Reprint edition; 28 October 2008; 352 pgs]
• • 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 18th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past eighteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 5,100 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eighteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 5,109th 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: 50 Parrots

MAE WEST came to the attention of Tinseltown ninety years ago in 1932. Step into the Time Machine with me for a long, leisurely ride. This is Part 30.
• • Mae West in Hollywood 1932 – 1943 • •
• • Mae West: Targeted by the purity police • •

• • Andy Goulding wrote: Mae West’s attitude to the increased authority of the PCA was to be made clear by a satirical publicity stunt in which 50 parrots were trained to squawk “It’s a Sin” [sic], which was originally to be the film’s title.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: The PCA hit back by demanding a title change, thereby rendering the time and effort spent training the birds useless.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: Given how pointedly the PCA targeted West, it’s a wonder “Belle of the Nineties” is even as good as it is.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: West managed to slip plenty of her trademark double entendres past the censors.
• • Mae West: Leo McCarey eroded the scrappy energy • • …
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Blueprint Reviews U.K.; posted on Friday, 3 December 2021.
• • On Thursday, 26 October 1995 • •
• • "Mae West and the Men Who Knew Her" [57 minutes] — — the VHS format was released on Thursday, 26 October 1995.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • King-siding at Mae's sensational nightclub debut in Las Vegas was laughing boy, Johnny Ray — — once again with his ex — — Marilyn Morrison.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "After I was called a sex symbol and the studios saw how much money my films made, they wanted others."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A newspaper in Texas mentioned Mae West.
• • "Mae West Ideal of Columbia Frosh" • •
• • New York, October 25th — Mae West is the dream girl of Columbia University freshmen, the annual survey by Columbia students announced today. Questionnaires filled out by 325 freshmen showed a staggering majority for Mae West as the one woman qualified to make a freshman happy today. …
• • Source: The San Antonio Light; published on Thursday, 26 October 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 18th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past eighteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 5,100 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eighteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 5,108th 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  
• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1934 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: The PCA Police

MAE WEST came to the attention of Tinseltown ninety years ago in 1932. Step into the Time Machine with me for a long, leisurely ride. This is Part 29.
• • Mae West in Hollywood 1932 – 1943 • •
• • Mae West: “I’m No Angel” surely worked its magic • •
• • “BELLE OF THE NINETIES” (75 mins., 1934) • •

• • Mae West’s role was Ruby Carter • •
• • Andy Goulding wrote: Not long after the triumphant “I’m No Angel,” the Hays Production Code was fully enforced.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: The code had been around for years already, it’s influence dogging Mae West’s progress in making her early films.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: But by mid-1934, approval by the newly-created Production Code Administration [PCA] was required if a film was to be released at all.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: “Belle of the Nineties,” West’s fourth film, found itself under the watchful eye of the PCA and reportedly the film practically had to be made twice in order to accommodate the PCA’s demands.
• • Mae West: Targeted by the purity police • • …
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Blueprint Reviews U.K.; posted on Friday, 3 December 2021.
• • On Tuesday, 25 October 1932 • •
• • Variety reviewed "Night After Night," the motion picture debut of Mae West.  A display advertisement for the film was printed in Variety's issue dated for Tuesday, 25 October 1932.
• • On Wednesday, 25 October 1933 • •

• • Under the headline "Chicago Likes Her" was a smiling portrait of Mae West by George Hurrell. The caption explained that "I'm No Angel" was in movie-houses in The Windy City during that week. The Chicago Herald and Examiner ran the coverage on Wednesday, 25 October 1933. 
• • This is one of the pictures George Hurrell took during a photo session with Mae West in 1933.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • "Hallelujah, I'm a Saint," a story by Marion Morgan and George B. Dowell, has been purchased by Paramount to provide additional material for the next Mae West starring picture. Mae will incorporate certain sequences of the newly purchased story and "Lulu Was a Lady," purchased two weeks ago from Frank Mitchell Dazey.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Sometimes I grow weary of fighting to keep faith with the public."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article about a funeral home mentioned Mae West.
• • "For Once, the Living Get the Roses at Campbell's" • •
• • NYC lawyer and journalist Bernard Stamler writes: With a client list that reads like a who's who of American celebrities — — Mae West, George Gershwin, Arthur Ashe, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis among them — — it is no ordinary funeral home. So when Frank E. Campbell, a genteel, nondenominational mortuary, decided to celebrate its 100th anniversary last week, it organized an extraordinary event: an open house with white roses for the ladies and refreshments served by tuxedo-clad attendants. New Yorkers turned out in droves. ...
• • Source: The N.Y. Times; published on Sunday, 25 October 1998
• • 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 18th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past eighteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 5,100 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eighteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 5,107th 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  
• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1933 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest