Mae West: RKO Boston

In 1927, New York University co-eds invited MAE WEST to the prom. In 1938, Harvard’s Ivy League magazine editors asked her to come up sometime to Cambridge, Massachusetts. We were not there but now we can enjoy her remarks together.
• • Mae West Tells a Few Things to Reporters in Boston • •
• • Radiant in all her buxom splendor, brimming over with her famous "sex personality," platinum-haired Mae West surged into Boston yesterday and at the CRIMSON'S invitation expressed her desire to see Harvard as it really was.
• • Amidst flashing emeralds and pink chiffon in her dressing room at the RKO Theatre, Mae admitted she didn't go in much for purity, but what other people made out of her use of the English Language was more or less up to them.
• • Lacking her usual "umphy" drawl, she floundered when asked if college men make good lovers. "I guess I haven't been around enough."
• • Censors College Girls • •

• • If a college girl, on the other hand, is too concerned about her figure she might as well throw her books away, Mae believed. "When a girl is at school her mind should be on her studies. It's physical culture that takes care of the beauty angle.”
• • Should "Birth of a Baby" be censored? She'd rather not say. "I don't care to look at them. After a mind has developed to a certain extent, it should know about these things."
• • No, it's not always the handsomest male who is the sexiest. Among Hollywood actors she picked George Raft as scoring high in sex personality, "But if I just look at a man, they think it's something else."
• • Boosts Her Cuteness • •
• • Charlie Chaplin had it, too. A form of sympathy, a certain cuteness was in his twiddling of a woman's skirt. Mae thinks she has this kind of cuteness and gets a big kick when everyone laughs.
• • "Robert Taylor has charm, but he is not sexy," explained Mae. “Taylor appeals to the flappers, but not to the women who are a little smart — you know what I mean."
• • Mae had an explanation for Clark Gable's appeal, too. According to Mae, Gable puts himself over by force, "by wrestling with the women."

• • The curvy star just can't figure out why she's criticized. She empties churches, thousands flock to see her. "But many people think that because there is such a big box office there must be something wrong."
• • Diminutive little Assemblyman Francis X. Coyne of Dorchester, Mass., sponsor of a bill to tax the real estate of Universities which hire communists or fascists, was at the train station to greet the actress as she deboarded in orchids and gray foxes.
• • Note: The RKO Boston Theatre was a movie theatre in Boston, Massachusetts, located at 616 Washington Street, near Essex Street in the Boston Theater District. It opened as the Keith-Albee Boston Theatre on Monday, 5 October 1925.
• • Source: The Harvard Crimson; published on Wednesday, 20 April 1938.
• • Photo: Mae West relaxes backstage after arriving in "bean town" by train (April 1938).
• • Photo: Boston chef James Braddock feeds Mae West backstage on Thursday, 21 April 1938.
• • On Sunday, 13 May 1956 • •
• • Blonde bombshell Jayne Mansfield encountered the very handsome Mr. Universe 1956 Miklos (Mickey) Hargitay on Sunday, 13 May 1956, while attending a performance of the "Mae West Revue" at the Latin Quarter night club in Manhattan.
• • Twenty months later, Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay wed on 13 January 1958. They had three children and, alas, would divorce in 1964.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Despite numerous protests against the "Advertising Bally-hoo of Movie Trailers," I say a big bouquet to them! I should never have gone to see Mae West, Otto Kruger, Katharine Hepburn, George Arliss, and — believe it or not — Greta Garbo, were it not for one of these "coming events."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "People with careers are too busy to spend enough time on their marriage. I have seen several marriages which should have been happy fail — chiefly because of that lack of time."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Boston Herald mentioned Mae West.
• • Jed Gottlieb wrote: Yes, decades-old movies can be burdened by expected flaws, (Where are the people of color? Where is anyone from the LGBTQ community? Why is that 27-year-old woman head over heels for that over-the-hill 57-year-old man?)
• • Jed Gottlieb wrote: But contrasting expectations, writer/actor Mae West and director Howard Hawks (who both worked with Cary Grant [1904 - 1986] extensively) offer a decidedly progressive outlook.
• • Jed Gottlieb wrote: With Grant, who was more than a decade younger than West, as her love interest, Mae West made two pictures in 1933, “She Done Him Wrong” and “I’m No Angel,” that championed the working class while attacking traditional power structures. …
• • Note: Born in 1904, Cary Grant was eleven years younger than Mae West, born in 1893.
• • Source: Boston Herald; published on Sunday, 7 February 2021
• • 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 4,993rd 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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• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in Boston, April 1938 • •
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Mae West: Star Chick

As a child actress, MAE WEST was often cast in the role of Little Lord Fauntleroy, a stage play based on the beloved Victorian Era children's novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
• • Also a child when he began his acting career, Frederick Cecil Bartholomew [28 March 1924 — 23 January 1992] was cast in the title role for a big-screen adaptation of "Little Lord Fauntleroy" [1936]. 
• • Freddie Bartholomew and Mae West both made an appearance — — as cartoon characters — — in "A Star is Hatched" [1938]. This animated short was an amusing satire on "A Star is Born" [the 1937 version starring Janet Gaynor] but with a chicken cast and a rooster named Emily [sic].
• • "A Star is Hatched" [1938] • •
• • Synopsis by Merrie Melodies: Emily the rooster [sic] aspires to be a Hollywood actress and travels to California to follow her dreams.
• • Released on Saturday, 2 April 1938, the playful storyline is punctuated with recognizable caricatures of many Hollywood screen stars of the 1930s, including John Barrymore, Freddie Bartholomew (as a newspaper boy), Charlie Chaplin, W.C. Fields (as a traffic cop), Clark Gable (as a streetcar conductor), Greta Garbo, Dick Powell, Edward G. Robinson, and, yes, busty Mae West.
• • The Mae West scene gets started as the cameras pan through a sound stage but the audience sees a dressing room with an odd-looking door. It turns out that Mae West is in there. She steps out of the dressing room (and she is able to fit through the curves on that door). As she steps out, we hear "Frankie and Johnny."  The music used is the 1908 version by Bert Leighton [28 December 1877 — 10 February 1964].
• • Supervision: Friz Freleng  [1906 — 1995].
• • Producer: Leon Schlesinger  [1884 — 1949].
• • Starring: Mel Blanc (Director Yelling 'Cut'), Ted Pierce (W.C. Fields/J. Megga Phone/Movie Guide\Hick) and Berneice Hansell (Baby Chick).

• • On Sunday, 2 March 1913 in NYC • •
• • It was on Sunday, 2 March 1913 that Mae West began a one week booking at Hammerstein's Victoria in the theatre district on West 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue.
• • On Wednesday, 2 March 1927 in Variety • •
• • More details about the February 9th raid at Daly's Theatre on Broadway, and the political punching behind it were explained in Variety Magazine in their issue dated Wednesday, 2 March 1927.
• • Dated for Wednesday, 2 March 1927 • •
• • Auctioned off in 2002 was a Bowery and East River National Bank check for Moral Producing Corporation, dated Wednesday, 2 March 1927, made out to Harold Spielberg for the sum of $500.00, signed in black ink by Mae West. Note that Mae West was signing in her capacity as (yes) President of the Moral Producing Corporation.
• • Dated for Monday, 2 March 1936 • •
• • Will Hays and Joseph Breen continued to exchange letters regarding disputes over "Klondike Annie" and Breen wrote again to Hays on Monday, 2 March 1936. This censorship file must weigh a ton.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • In radio, "while censorship by station managers continues as a part of the accepted set-up," the Union notes that the Federal Communications Commission for the first time assumed such powers in criticizing the Mae West — Charlie McCarthy sketch.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "She who laughs lasts."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An Indianapolis paper mentioned Mae West.
• • "Harvey Brooks, Former Composer for Mae West, Writing for Bob Crosby" • •
• • Hollywood, Feb. 27 (ANP) — — With a heavy schedule of new films awaiting his opportunity to start in on them, Harvey Brooks, famous composer, is busy on the music for Bob Crosby’s band which starts in a new picture for Columbia studio in a few days.
• • In spite of his long career in West Coast musical circles, Brooks attracted much greater attention several years ago as a composer for Mae West’s pictures than ever before.  ...
• • Source: Item in Indianapolis Recorder; published on Saturday, 1 March 1941 
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 11th anniversary • •
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past eleven years. The other day we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 3,300 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3389th 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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• • Photo: • • Mae West • • as a cartoon in 1938 • •
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Mae West: New York Roof

MAE WEST often performed for free at charitable events such as this one in January 1912.
• • "Benefit a Success" • •
• • The benefit given in aid of the sufferers of the Equitable fire, on the New York Theatre Roof, on Jan. 18, was a big success, and the size of the crowd was a tribute to the cause of the management.
• • Pat Casey and Wm. Fox were the inceptors of the affair, and John Zanft and Harry Reichenbach shelled out the pasteboards. Among those who volunteered were: Claude Golden, the card king; Carrie Lillie, Fields and Lewis, Mae West and company, De Almo and Mae, Andy Rice, Evelyn Bennett, Dorothy Russell and company, in "Ambition;"  King and Mackay, Adele Ritchie, Weston, Fields and Carrol, Great Lester, and Billy Hall, a real fireman.
• • Item in The New York Clipper; published on Saturday, 27 January 1912.
• • On Monday, 27 January 1930 in The Brooklyn Eagle • •
• • The death of Matilda Delker West was reported in The Brooklyn Eagle on Monday, 27 January 1930. A heartbreaking loss for her daughter Mae, who was born and bred in Brooklyn, where her mother introduced her to the vaudeville circuit.
• • On Friday, 27 January 1933 in the USA • •
• • The red carpet premiere of "She Done Him Wrong" took place in Hollywood on Friday, 27 January 1933. What a great day for Mae West.
• • On Thursday, 27 January 1938 • •
• • Frank S. Nugent, The New York Times man-on-the-aisle, gave his review of "Every Day's a Holiday" on page 17 [N.Y. Times on Thursday, 27 January 1938]. Nugent didn't care for the motion picture per se but seemed to appreciate the live music played by Benny Goodman and his orchestra that was part of the New York Paramount Theatre's stage show.

• • In contrast, Variety's headline was "Benny Goodman — West Boffo B'way for $57,000" [Variety on 2 February 1938]. Considering this tally was done during the Great Depression, ticket receipts totaling $57,000 at the box office in NYC would indicate that Mae West definitely attracted a full house in her hometown.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • He drew a laugh as he concluded his talk by saying in the words of Mae West, the buxom movie favorite, “Come up 'n see me sometime.”
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:   "You learn to get along in life by studying life."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An Irish publication mentioned Mae West.
• • We strive for originality, but perhaps old phrases should, like Mae West's discarded lovers, be given a new chance with someone else.  . . .
• • Source: The Dublin Review of Books; published on Monday, 14 January 2013 
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 11th anniversary • •    
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past eleven years. The other day we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 3,300 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3364th 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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• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1938 • •
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Mae West: Applesauce Angst

MAE WEST, held responsible for Arch Obler's Garden of Eden skit, faced another mess when Jane Storm sued the actress. "Love and Applesauce" was a skit written by Miss Storm. Oh, my!
• • "Writer of 'Applesauce' Sues Mae West" • •

• • Los Angeles — Jan 18 [UP] —Mae West's "Adam and Eve" radio broadcast last December 12, which resulted in protests and led the National Broadcasting Co. to ban the use of the actress's name in broadcasts, had a new aftermath today — a copyright infringement suit.
• • United Press explained: Jane Storm, writer, filed suit in federal court here against Miss West, Don Ameche, the broadcasting company, and others, claiming they lifted act 1, scene 2 from her play "Love and Applesauce."  She asked damages in excess of $10,000 and an accounting of all profits.
• • United Press concluded: "Miss Storm thought she had a clean play until she heard it over the radio," said Ralph W. Smith, her lawyer.
• • Source: Article: "Writer Sues Mae West" printed by The Cornell Daily (Ithaca, NY); published on  Sunday, 19 January 1938.
• • Dated 19 January 1889 in the city of Brooklyn • •
• • It was Saturday, 19 January 1889, in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY, Battling Jack West and Tillie Delker took their wedding vows before a local minister with Jack's sister Julia West acting as maid of honor.
• • California biographer Emily Wortis Leider wrote: If they knew about it, Matilda's family almost certainly would have attempted to thwart her impetuous marriage at age eighteen to John "Battlin' Jack" West, a cigar-chomping, street-smart tough. The marriage certificate of Tillie Delker and John West, dated January 19, 1889, in the city of Brooklyn — — a separate city then, not yet a part of metropolitan New York — — lists the groom's age as twenty-two, his birthplace as New York City, and his occupation: "mechanic."
• • Emily Wortis Leider explained: His parents' names are entered in the appropriate slots: Father, also John West, a native of New York (the U.S. Census for 1920 contradicts this, naming Newfoundland as his father's birthplace); and Irish-born mother, Mary Cobley, a misspelling of Copley. Copley is also the name listed for one of the witnesses (E. Frances). The second witness was Julia West.
• • Emily Wortis Leider continued: The presence of two witnesses standing up for the groom and none from the bride's family supports the theory that while his family favored the marriage, hers did not. Perhaps the young couple's decision to marry had been made in such haste there wasn't time to arrange a full-tilt Event. Perhaps, fearing obstruction, Tillie didn't inform them of the wedding until afterward. Very likely, Tillie's father [Jacob Delker], a former chemical engineer at a sugar refinery in Germany, Mae claimed, who had a liquor business in 1892 and whose occupation in the 1900 census was given as "salesman — — coffee" disdained the modest earning capacity of a mechanic son-in-law. ...
• • Source: Chapter One of "Becoming Mae West" written by Emily Wortis Leider [NY: Farrar Straus Giroux] — — an excellent biography, highly recommended to all.
• • On Friday, 19 January 1973 • •
• • Released theatrically in the USA on Friday, 19 January 1973 was a frisky color cartoon starring Mae West — — "Kloot's Kounty." This Old West styled animated feature was written by John W. Dunn, who created the storyline: Mae West comes to visit Sheriff Kloot. It seems that her sheep are missing — — and she says Chief Crazywolf has taken them. Sheriff Kloot rockets into action but, by the end of the toon, he looks as if he has been hit by a rocket.
• • On Monday, 19 January 1981 in The N.Y. Times • •
• • Readers of The N.Y. Times opened their newspaper on Monday, 19 January 1981 and they read this startling headline: "Mae West Left Million, Mostly to Her Sister." A reporter based in California filed the story for Reuters, which was date-lined from Los Angeles.
• • Los Angeles, January 18 — Mae West, who died in November [1980] at the age of 87, left $1 million, according to her will filed in court here.
• • Paul Novak, a former ''muscleman'' in her stage act who was her constant companion for the last 25 years, was not mentioned in the will, filed on Friday in Santa Monica Superior Court.
• • A petition for probate estimated the value of Miss West's personal property at $1 million with an annual income of $50,000. She left the bulk of her estate, including her jewelry, to her sister, Mildred West. Other bequests included one for $3,500 to the Mae West Fan Club of Ontario.
• • Miss West, unlike the character she played on the screen, led a quiet private life and invested much of her money in property.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West, Don Ameche and the National Broadcasting Company today were named defendants in a $10,000 damage suit filed by Joan Storm, writer, who charged that Miss West's famous "Adam and Eve" broadcast on Dec. 12 was plagiarized from her play "Love and Applesauce."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "My sister's husband is the kind of guy whose accent has an accent."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A rather boring book mentioned Mae West.  Yawn.
• • Brett L. Abrams wrote:  Actress Mae West twice tried to bring groups of “fairies” to the Broadway stage, drew condemnation and/or official repression.  . . .
• • Source: Section in the book "Hollywood Bohemians: Transgressive Sexuality and the Selling of the Movieland Dream" written by Brett L. Abrams [McFarland, 19 August 2008]
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 10th anniversary • •    
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during this past decade. Yesterday we entertained 1,430 visitors. 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3095th 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
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • with James Braddock in 1938 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
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