Mae West: Johnny Mercer

MAE WEST did not discuss her husbands in her memoir "Goodness Had Nothing to Do with It" — — even though she was legally married twice.  However, she did portray the oft-married blushing bride Marlo Manners, who enters a posh London hotel lobby on the arm of her sixth husband in "Sextette" [1978].
• • There is an impressive rendition of "Hooray for Hollywood" by a large cast of performers. The iconic song was written by Johnny Mercer, who died in the month of June — — on Friday, 25 June 1976 — — from a brain tumor at age 66.
• • Unlike Mae West, the singer—songwriter has been honored by the United States Postal Service with his portrait placed on a stamp in 1996. Amazing who gets on an American postage stamp and who does not, eh?
• • Born in Savannah, Georgia, Johnny Mercer [18 November 1909 — 25 June 1976] was an American lyricist, songwriter, and singer. Though he is best known as a lyricist, he composed music, too. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others. From the mid-1930s through the mid-1950s, many of the songs Mercer wrote and performed were among the most popular hits of the time. The prolific musician wrote the lyrics to more than fifteen hundred songs, including compositions for movies and Broadway shows. He received nineteen Academy Award nominations, and won four. Mercer was also a co-founder of Capitol Records.
• • "Hooray for Hollywood" • •
• • "Hooray for Hollywood" is a film song first featured in the motion picture "Hollywood Hotel" [1937], a number that has since become the staple soundtrack element of any Academy Awards ceremony. Curiously enough, "Hooray for Hollywood" is even frequently played during non-American movie ceremonies, e.g. the French César Awards. The popularity of the song is notably due to the lyrics by Johnny Mercer, which reference the American movie industry and satirize the illusory desire of many people to become famous as actors. 
• • Richard A. Whiting [1891 — 1938] composed the music, then had a heart attack at the height of his fame. Very sad.
• • On Friday, 25 June 1926 • •
• • It was on Friday, 25 June 1926 that Mae West appeared with Al Jolson — — as well as Houdini and other entertainers (such as George M. Cohan, Fanny Brice, the Marx Brothers, Ann Pennington, Hazel Dawn, Eddie Foy, etc.) — — at the Polo Grounds on West 155th Street in Manhattan's Washington Heights area. The fundraiser was for the benefit of the United Jewish Campaign.

• • On Monday, 25 June 1956 at Idlewild Airport • •
• • When Mae West took a TWA flight from Los Angeles to New York City, her plane landed at Idlewild Airport on Monday, 25 June 1956.  She waved to fans, who were thrilled to greet her as she disembarked with Charles Krauser.  The fight in her dressing room in Washington, DC had suddenly brought "Mr. California" into focus.
• • On Thursday, 25 June 1970 in The N.Y. Times • •
• • "Myra Breckinridge" opened in wide release on June 24th.
• •  An article written by Howard Thompson was printed in The N.Y. Times on page 54 on Thursday, 25 June 1970:  "Mae West, 76, Still Finding New Generations of Fans." A wonderful piece by Mr. Thompson.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • By this time we needn't worry about Mae West's progress. 
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I have had to do my share of outsmarting men through necessity."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article on Asprey mentioned Mae West.
• • According to Jenny Johnston for the Daily Mail: A bona fide British institution, Asprey can trace its history back to 1781 and has been a presence on upmarket New Bond Street since 1847. It's held a Royal Warrant from every British monarch since Queen Victoria awarded it one in 1862, and everyone from Mae West to the Beckham family has been a customer.  . . .
 • • Source: Article written by Jenny Johnston for the Daily Mail (England); published on Friday, 27 June 2014
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 10th anniversary • •    
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during this past decade. The other day we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 3,200 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3208th 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 1956 • •
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Mae West: Backstage Meelee

MAE WEST was in the headlines on June 30th. Chaos reigned but wasn't it an ego boost, too?
• • "A Member of Mae West Troupe Accused of Striking Blow" • •

Landing at Idlewild Airport, NYC

• • Washington, June 29 (AP) — A municipal court jury today deliberated less than 15 minutes before returning a verdict of guilty in the assault trial of Charles (Mr. California) Krauser, 210-pound performer with a troupe headlined by Mae West. Krauser was accused of hitting a fellow performer, Miklos (Mickey) Hargitay, during a meelee last June 6 in Miss West’s dressing room backstage at the Casino Royal.
• • Judge Armond W. Scott postponed sentencing until he returns on September 20th from a trip abroad. Penalty on the charge could be $1,000 fine or a year in jail.
• • Krauser remained free on $300 bond.
• • Source:  Syndicated feature rpt in The Kansas City Times;  published on Saturday, 30 June 1956.
• • On Sunday, 30 June 1935 • •
• • Frank Wallace was quite a talker when a news man was present.  He told the New York American that Timony began living with Mae West and one day he pulled over in a "fine, big automobile" with Mae inside, happily wrapped up in a fur coat.  "He said I ought to realize my marriage to Mae was a fizzle and that she could not afford to be married because there was a future waiting for her in show business." 
• • The newspaper ran a long interview with the washed-up vaudevillian in their issue dated for Sunday, 30 June 1935.
• • On Wednesday, 30 June 1937 • •
• • The Straits Times in Singapore was up to date with Mae West, in their own fashion. On Wednesday, 30 June 1937, this was the headline on page 12: "Mae West Comes East to Singapore." 
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • By the way, Mae West is now working on her new contract by the terms of which she gets $100,000 a picture. They also say that the curvaceous one also gets about half that amount again for providing her own story and, be it known, Mae won't stand for anybody's writing stories for her pictures but Mae.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Very few people know my secret ambition to be a lion-tamer. It began when as a child my father took me to my first circus at Coney Island. Through the years I mentioned it very rarely and only to intimates. The response to my enthusiasm was mainly negative and uninspiring. People were incapable of understanding unless they themselves felt the same driving fiery compulsion I had toward lion-taming."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A movie review focused on Mae West.
• • "'I'm No Angel' at State Today" • •
• • The Sandusky Register wrote: With all the traditional fireworks of the old wild west shows, Mae West appears here, on Sunday, in her new picture "I'm No Angel," opening a four day run at Warner's Ohio. Mae West has given herself the difficult task of bettering her first picture, "She Done Him Wrong," which lifted her to the top of the cinematic ladder.
• • It is a modern jam, concocted by Miss West herself, presenting her in the picturesque characterization of a rowdy, wise-cracking carnival dancer and singer. She becomes a lion tamer, has nerve enough to put her head in the lion's mouth, and becomes a sensation in a New York circus. There she captivates society millionaires.
• • Mae sings five "scorch" songs • •
• • She sings five "scorch" songs, dances a glorified shimmy number known as "the midway," wears tights, enters a cage with savage lions, and wisecracks. Her supporting cast is headed by Cary Grant as her "tall, dark, and handsome" sweetheart.  Kent Taylor, Edward Arnold, Gregory Ratoff, Ralf Harolde, Dorothy Peterson, Gertrude Michael, Russell Hopton, and William B. Davidson also have prominent roles.   . . .
• • Source: Review (on page 2) written for The Sandusky Register (Ohio); published on Sunday, 12 November 1933
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started nine years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2946th 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 • • at Idlewild Airport in 1956 • •
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Mae West: Muscle Men Mix

Singapore was slinging the shaky status up-dates about the "Mae West Revue" at its overseas subscribers, emphasizing that MAE WEST was maintaining her silence.
• • "Mae West silent as muscle men mix" • •

• • Washington, D.C., Friday —  "Mr. Universe," sporting a black eye and limping, yesterday filed assault charges against a fellow muscle man who knocked him out in Mae West's dressing room.
• • Mickey Hargitay, Budapest-born weight lifter who came to the USA eight years ago filed the charges against Chuck Krauser. Both are members of the Mae West troupe which is making a night club appearance in Washington.
• • Krauser pleaded self defence.  ...
• • Miss West sat in silence throughout the hearing before the charges were filed. ...
• • Source: A.P. article printed on page 2 in The Straits Times (Singapore); published on Tuesday, 9 June 1956.
• • This Associated Press piece is interesting because it also noted a few tantalizing tidbits about statements other performers offered to reporters while Mae West deliberately shielded herself, enrobed in silence.
• • "Krauser ... holds no title" • •
• • Unlike the American accounts, the articles designated for overseas readers were sure to add a saucy slap such as this one: Chuck Krauser, 33, is a former wrestler who holds no title except what might be unofficially bestowed for belting out "Mr. Universe" in — — as witnesses described the fracas — — three fast punches.
• • On Tuesday, 9 June 1956 • •
• • "Mae West's Muscle Men in Fist Fight" • •
• • Washington, June 7 — Two muscular members of a night club troupe headed by Mae West got into a fight in her dressing room last night, police reported, and one of them received hospital treatment as a result.
• • Police said Mickey Hargitay, 26-year-old "Mr. Universe" filed an assault complaint against Charles Krause, 24-year-old "Mr. America". .... The fight came during a news conference, police said.  Miss West reportedly was discussing plans to replace "Mr. Universe" in her show.  Officers quoted Krause (sic) as saying he hit Hargitay when "Mr. Universe" ignored Krause's suggestions that he "stop making remarks" about Miss West. She was said to have escaped injury in the row.  . . .
• • Hargitay has been seen often with Jayne Mansfield, a New York actress. "I'm that way about Mickey because he's a sincere, sweet, lovable guy and not because he has such an outstanding physique, said Miss Mansfield, who has quite a physique herself.  Marriage is not imminent, she said, but hinted it could happen. ...
• • Source: Article: "Mae West's Muscle Men In Fist Fight" published on page 23 of The Miami News on Thursday, 7 June 1956.
• • There are other news accounts that speculate on the motives of the men in the "Mae West Revue." Frankly, I was hoping that at least one article would have mentioned Mary Birge (a.k.a. Mrs. Mickey Hargitay) going after her two-timing husband with a wooden rolling pin. 
• • On Monday, 7 June 1926 in NYC • •
• • In Manhattan, on Monday, 7 June 1926, District Attorney Joab Banton announced the formation of a "play jury," volunteer citizens who would attend every play and vote on whether it met civic standards of decency.  Each jury would be made up of 12 adults. This "play jury" process came to an end after Mae West was arrested on 9 February 1927.
• • On Saturday, 7 June 1952 • •
• • In Hollywood, on 7 June 1952, Mae West made a check payable to her secretary Larry Lee, who also provided editorial help to the actress. Christie's sold it in 1999.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • When Mae West discussed parting with Libby Taylor, her longtime maid,  Mae said, "When she began wanting me to wake her up in the morning, I told her she'd better stop being a maid and give her all to the public."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A news item in Queensland mentioned Mae West.
• • Sydney — Mae West's new picture "Klondyke Annie" has been banned by the Federal film censorship. It cannot be exhibited in any Australian State. In New Zealand, however, the film was permitted to be released.
• • It is competent (sic) for the film exchange concerned to appeal to the Appeals Board against the decision of the censorship. ...
• • Source: Article: "Klondyke Annie — Mae West Film Banned" was printed in Townsville Daily Bulletin (Queensland); published on Monday, 25 May 1936
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2666th 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 • • at New York's Idylwild Airport in June 1956 • •
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