Mae West: August 16th Revisited

MAE WEST was born in the Bushwick area (Kings County) on Thursday, 17 August 1893. Men and women came from near and far to commemorate the Brooklyn bombshell in her hometown. The attendees who journeyed to the Italian American Museum (155 Mulberry Street) on Thursday, 16 August 2012, came from as near as Mott Street, Mulberry Street, and Spring Street and as far away as Milan, Italy.

• • The drawing card was a poster in the window that announced: "Meet Mae West's Secret Italian Husband," a multi-media presentation by LindaAnn Loschiavo.  Frank Busso, Board Member of the American Accordionists' Association, enchanted the audience by playing the music of Guido Deiro.  Many thanks to their amiable and beautiful president, Linda Reed, for coordinating the participation of Mr. Busso, who is a past president of AAA and now serves the organization as their treasurer.

• • Dr. Joseph Scelsa, founder and president of the Italian American Museum, was delighted with the turn-out, which set a new attendance record here.  "And do you know what an achievement this is for the month of August?" said Dr. Scelsa with immense appreciation.  "If this were September or October, we would have had to turn away dozens more."

• • As a few latecomers rushed to fill out their raffle tickets on August 16th, there was a short quiz on local Italian Americana.  Attendees had to answer questions like "What was this building before it became the Italian American Museum?" and "Which Italian hero has a statue in Washington Square Park?" and "Which NYC detective, slain by the Mafia in Sicily, has a park named for him?" The correct answers were awarded with a free copy of L'IDEA  Magazine, courtesy of Editorial Director Tiziano Dossena.

• • Raffle Winners on 16 August 2012 • •

• • Coincidentally, the four lucky raffle winners were all female. Phyllis Matera won a Mae West deck of cards; Greta Minsky got a hand-colored photo of Mae West taken in 1934; Carmela Busso was thrilled with her new book "The Films of Mae West" by Jon Tuska; and Elizabeth Inserra, who had to stand during the event, went home with a rare 1936 caricature of Mae West, professionally matted and ready for framing. 

• • The evening concluded with a Reception. Frank Busso entertained the assembly with his accordion and there was even some dancing. One attendee showed off her vintage snapshots of the late Pietro Deiro and his son. A few nice folks made suggestions about getting the play Courting Mae West produced. Many people lingered, conversing with new friends.
• • If you missed the fun on August 16th • •
• • This delightful presentation will be offered again in August 2013.  This grand occasion will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the American Accordionists' Association as well as the 100th year commemoration of Mae West meeting the irresistible Guido Deiro in August 1913. The 75th Anniversary Gala has been scheduled and will be held at The New Yorker Hotel on 34th Street.  Details to come.

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2427th 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: Fun on Mulberry St.

The Big Apple's legendary hometown gal MAE WEST, the Brooklyn bombshell, will be commemorated on Thursday, 16 August 2012, on the eve of her birthday, in New York City at the Italian American Museum.  Attendees will learn about her brilliant Italian husband and their passionate years together. 

• • Located on the corner of Mulberry and Grand, the museum is solidly in the heart of Little Italy.  Mae loved Italian food and often dined at Giolitto's with Guido and Pietro Deiro and their vaudeville brethren.  She also dined at Mamma Leone's on their homemade lasagna.

• • Special Mae West themed prizes will be awarded during the Raffle.  Italian wine will be poured at the Reception. Come up.

• • • • WHAT: "Meet Mae West's Secret Italian Husband — a multi-media presentation" 

• • • • WHEN: 6:30 pm on Thursday, 16 August 2012

• • • • WHERE: Italian American Museum: 155 Mulberry Street (at Grand St.), New York, NY 10013

• • • • Suggested donation of $10 per person helps support the museum

• • • • Phone number for publication: (212) 965-9000

• • • • Subway: B or D to Grand Street station; N, Q, J, Z to Canal Street station

• • On Tuesday, 16 August 1927 • •

• • The 1927 edition of the Ziegfeld Follies opened on Tuesday, 16 August 1927.  The show was staged at the New Amsterdam Theatre, 214 West 42nd Street, New York, NY.  Irving Berlin recommended Ruth Etting and she was hired.  (That must have been a nice paycheck, too, because the show ran for 167 performances.)

• • Mae West noticed newcomer Ruth Etting in the Ziegfeld Follies.  Mae said: "The curtains opened, and here was this girl. Not what you’d call a classic beauty — — but unusual. She had a sex quality that seemed to mesmerize the audience. And when she finished singing, they just kind of went crazy."

• • On Sunday, 16 August 1964 • •

• • An article "Return Engagement" appeared in The New York Times on Sunday, 16 August 1964. Plans were then in the works for Mae to be featured on the TV sit-com "Mister Ed" for a second episode. Mae was to have played a saloon keeper. This TV project fizzled out, it seems.

• • In Her Own Words • •

• • Mae West said: "You only live once. But if you do it right, once is enough."

• • Quote, Unquote • •

• • An article about Mae West listed 1893 as the date of her Hollywood debut. Huh?

• • Hutchinson, Kansas-based columnist Sheila Lisman wrote: Celebrating someone's birthday can take your mind off the heat for a time. How about remembering Mae West on her birthday August 17? She made her Hollywood debut in 1893 and acted in vaudeville before she was in movies. She was quite a lusty old gal. As she once said, "When I am good, I am very, very good, but when I bad, I am better."  ...

• • Hey, Sheila.  A little fact-checking never hurt a reporter.

• • Source: Column "Some hot dates" written by Sheila Lisman, Community columnist for Hutch News; posted on 27 July 2011

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2396th 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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• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
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