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It was early Spring 1924 when MAE WEST was touring in vaudeville. The 30-year-old performer met a charming local stringer for the magazine Variety: Bud Burmester. He interviewed her, then things heated up pretty quickly.
• • On Saturday, 22 March 1924, R.A. Bud Burmester, a 34-year-old resident of Harris County, Texas, applied for a marriage license in Texas for a forthcoming marriage to the actress. Nothing came of it. However, his name would re-surface eleven years later. Pull up a chair. It's a long story.
• • "Fort Worth Man Declines To Affirm Marriage With Screendom's Mae West" • •
• • United Press International wrote this: FORT WORTH. April 24 (UPI)— R. A. Burmester of Fort Worth, Texas declines to discuss in specific terms a marriage license he applied for.
• • Mae West bristled when told about the report that county clerk had on file at Houston, Texas a marriage license issued in 1924 bearing her name and that of R. A. Burmester. "That's the ninth man I'm supposed to have married this year," scoffed the actress. "Will It never end? I was In a New York show at that time, so it must have been my marrying double."
• • The license [shown above] was issued at Houston in 1924, bearing his name and that of Mae West. "Yes!" was his answer to a query whether he had ever known the movie star.
• • "When, where, and how well?" he was asked.
• • This he would not answer. Burmester was a newspaper reporter in Houston In 1924 when Miss West came there on a vaudeville tour. He has been promoter, theater manager, boxer, and fight impresario. Now he is a publicity man. Theater men in Houston said the marriage authorized by the license — — which came to light there yesterday — — was never performed. The county clerk said no return ever was made on the document. Any minister or Justice of the Peace who performed a marriage ceremony would have been required to make the return.
• • While Burmester would not commit himself as to his personal connection with the license, he expressed decided opinions on Miss Mae West herself, and the license matter in general. "Mae West is a lady and an artist in the truest sense," he said. "She worked hard to raise her status to its present height. Her eminence In the theater and on the silver sheet were brought about entirely by her own efforts. She never got a break from anybody. She is entitled to the greatest admiration and respect."
• • Asked about the claims of Frank Wallace, Burmester said, "I consider it unsportsmanlike for these petty larceny grafters to attach themselves to her skirts and thus attempt to mine some publicity, saying they romanced her in Minnesota. They are after some reflected glory." . . .
• • Source: Item in The Lubbock Morning Avalanche; published on Thursday, 25 April 1935.
• • On Wednesday, 25 April 1934 • •
• • Britain's publication Evening Standard had a "London after Dark" column. On Wednesday, 25 April 1934 they published this feature on page 9: "I'm No Anna" Says Mae West.
• • On Thursday, 25 April 1935 • •
• • It was on a Thursday that Mae West's latest motion picture was released in the USA on 25 April 1935.
• • An enormous international cast was assembled to do justice to Mae West's ambitious screenplay "Now I'm a Lady" centered around the main character Cleo Borden, who wishes to be part of the tony horsey set. Script approval was granted, at last, by the Hays Commission on 1 April 1935. Produced by Emanuel Cohen Productions (as Major Pictures), the 74-minute comedy was released on 25 April 1935 under the new title "Goin' to Town."
• • On Thursday, 25 April 1935 in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune • •
• • "Mae West Still Denies Rumors" was the headline in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune [Florida].
• • HOLLYWOOD, Calif., April 25 — Associated Press — There may be a forgotten man in Mae West's life, but Mae went right along denying it today. "When I get married," said Mae, a little weary over the hub-bub over a marriage she swears she never experienced, "I'll concentrate on it. And I'll be the first to announce it." ...
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West is coming back into the news. It is believed she has formed a new producing unit, and also that she contemplates impersonating the Russian Empress, Catherine the Great, on the screen.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "You mustn't think that I'm the terrible woman everyone makes out."
• • Mae West said: "First there's a guy named Frank Wallace, and then another guy named Wallace and now, what's his name — — Burmester? That makes nine this year."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article from a British correspondent mentioned Mae West. Columnist Greville Bain's "Cinema Chronicle" discussed all of her up-coming motion pictures.
• • "Mae West to Play 'I'm a Saint'" • •
• • (By Air Mail From London) • •
• • Greville Bain wrote: Whatever one may think of Miss Mae West, every one must admit that she is irrepressible, although a little while ago there was a prediction that she had almost run her course, then the matter of years was raised against her. There were rumours of marriage a quarter of a century ago, but Miss West denied the marriage and repudiated the husband. . . .
• • Source: Article printed in syndication and featured in The Queenslander (Brisbane); published on Thursday, 20 June 1935
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started nine years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2900th 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:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • marriage license in April 1924 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC Mae West
On Thursday, 25 April 1935, MAE WEST was not wiggling. She was squirming. In her heart, the Brooklyn bombshell knew perfectly well that she married Frank Wallace in 1911 but she had never formalized their separation legally. Mae booked a job in another city and quietly walked out on her astonished bridegroom.
• • Bigamy • •
• • Bigamy is the condition of having two husbands (or two wives) at the same time.
• • The screen star was a bigamist when she took a second man, Guido Deiro, for her lawful spouse in 1913. However, since the Italian accordionist had another songbird lined up for a walk down the aisle, their marriage was terminated legally.
• • On Wednesday, 14 July 1920, Mae West filed for a divorce from Guido Deiro [1886 — 1950], charging him with abandonment. Having moved back with her parents in Queens, Mae filed her petition at the local courthouse in Jamaica.
• • When their divorce became final on Tuesday, 9 November 1920, 34-year-old Guido quickly wed his third wife, singer Ruby Lang, 28 years old.
• • When confronted with her 1911 vows, Mae chose to deny it — — refuting the "rumors" for two years. Was anyone fooled? Let's see.
• • Mae West Impatient as 'Marriages' List Grows • •
• • HOLLYWOOD, April 24 (By United Press) — — Mae West, curvesome lady of the screen, today called for a showdown to settle the somewhat confusing question of her spinsterhood. "I've got a sense of humor," she said. "Nobody can say I haven't. But this thing is going too far."
• • Patience Is Worn Thin • •
• • Mae's patience became a little worn when she was interrupted while saying "no" to reports of her marriage to one Frank Wallace and asked to explain, if she could, a report that a Mae West married one R. A. Bud Burmester in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1924.
• • "It's a lousy publicity gag, that's what it is," said Miss West, "and I'm not getting anything out of it. If this thing goes any further, I'll call for a real showdown."
• • Mae was not pleased by the persistent questions. "First there's a guy named Wallace, and then another guy named Wallace and now, what's his name — — Burmester? That makes nine this year." Miss West continued to deny reports that she married a Frank Wallace in Milwaukee in 1911 and she characterized the reported marriage to Burmester in Fort Worth in 1924 as "absurd."
• • "I was in a New York show then," she affirmed.
• • Pressed for further explanation of her variously reported marriages, the actress sighed. "Who knows?" said Mae. "Maybe I was the original Dionne quintuplets."
• • Source: United Press interview rpt in San Bernardino Sun; published on Thursday, 25 April 1935.
• • Tomorrow's post will feature yet another marriage license with Mae's name on it.
• • On Thursday, 24 April 2008 • •
• • Goldmine Magazine featured Mae West on Thursday, 24 April 2008.
• • Goldmine Magazine said: Mae West did it all, even 45s. Mae West was sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll before there was sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. After Mae West, the rest of us just tried to keep up.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Frank Wallace, a bald, middle-aged hoofer, admitted today that he was the original husband of one Mae West. He married her in Milwaukee back in 1911 (or was it 1909?)!
• • "Mae wasn't a blonde in those days," he said. "The Mae I married in Milwaukee was a classy little brunette."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I just have to see a guy and I know at once if I'm going to like him. It may not be immediately — — but once you get to know a man there's always a nice side of him somewhere."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A newspaper column in Singapore mentioned Mae West.
• • Singapore editor wrote: Have you ever done any humorous writing?
• • Horace replied: Not much but I know a really good Mae West story.
• • Singapore editor wrote: No, Horace. Mae West is much too dangerous material for an inexperienced writer like you to deal with. So you better leave her to me. ...
• • Source: Humor column in The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser; published on Saturday, 25 April 1936
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started nine years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2899th 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:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • marriage in April 1911 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC Mae West
MAE WEST is a character in a rollicking new project afoot in Honolulu. Maybe she'll sing her wonderful "Hula Lou," a tune by Jack Yellen and Milton Ager.
• • According to Brian Lee Sackett, Producing Artistic Director of Kaua‘i Repertory Theatre Company, they will offer a complimentary concert reading of “Hawaii’s Comic History,” a 90-minute comedy that will feature over five dozen historical figures performed by three actors. These characters include President Obama, who was born in Honolulu, along with Mae West, The Marx Brothers, Abbott and Costello, FDR, Don Ho, Elvis ["Blue Hawaii"] Presley, the goddess Pele, Queen Lili‘uokalani, Ozzie and Harriet, Bob Fosse, Gilligan, Captain Cook, and a boatload of notable names. The characters will offer an entertaining trip through 1,700 years of Hawaiian history. A formal production of this musical comedy will be staged this coming autumn. Reservations required.
• • WHEN: Wednesday evening, 8 June 2011 at 6:30.
• • WHERE: Aston Aloha Beach Hotel in the Historic Ali‘i Theater.
• • Mae West's Hawaiian Eyes • •
• • During her marriage to handsome Guido Deiro — — a popular accordionist also in demand as a recording artist — — Mae became aware of the financial rainbows that brightened the lives of the top singers and musicians. But as her own career prospects continued to sink during 1923 and 1924, and since no record companies pursued her, Mae gamely trouped on and continued to entertain the southwestern wheel of the vaudeville circuit — — trying to sell sheet music with her picture on the front cover. Which swings the conversation around to "Hula Lou."
• • Holy Honolulu! Not for Mae the gooey romantic yearning numbers such as "My Hawaiian Melody" nor "Honolulu Eyes." Nor would she have ever chosen a lightweight love ballad such as "Honolulu Honey" nor a harmless hula tempo such as "Hawaiian Sandman." The girl had gumption and looked for lyrics suitable for a flirt, a self-confident seductress who could put across a sultry kootch onstage. Could any chart-topper be as suitable for the singing comedienne as this come-hither bragging and posing?
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The date was 8 June 1979. Vincent Canby, then the film critic of The New York Times, pursed his lips and gave "Sextette" starring Mae West a sound spanking.
• • Vincent Canby wrote: The story, based on a play written some years ago by Miss West, is about a world-famous movie star and her attempts to consummate her sixth marriage to Sir Michael Barrington (Timothy Dalton) despite repeated interruptions by former husbands, lovers, dress designers, secret agents, publicity people and delegates attending an international peace conference just upstairs. It's a plot that Miss West has often favored, and it freely reprises a lot of lines from earlier pictures. The movie was directed by Ken Hughes ("The Small World of Sammy Lee," "Cromwell," and so on), a fellow you might think had better things to do than to prop up the Tower of Pisa. In addition to Mr. Dalton, "Sextette" features a number of other people who, in happier circumstances, are decent actors. These include Tony Curtis, George Hamilton, Ringo Starr, George Raft, and the incomparable Dom DeLuise. There are some original songs and some old ones, a couple of which sound as if they'd been lip-synched by Miss West to old recordings . . . .
• • Source: Film Review, The N.Y. Times; published on 8 June 1979
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 1955th 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:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1924 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC
Mae West.
