Mae West: Beijing Loves Mae

MAE WEST is part of the month-long motion picture festival curated by Pop-Up Beijing. Their fascinating theme is: "International Women's Day: A Month of Strong Women!"
Pop-up Beijing invites movie fans to join them on Tuesday, 29 March 2016, 7.30pm, for ‘She Done Him Wrong’ (1933), starring Mae West. They added: "In the Gay Nineties (that would be the EIGHTEEN Nineties!), a seductive nightclub singer contends with several suitors, including a jealous escaped convict and a handsome temperance league member."
• • Get details from  hello (at) popupbeijing (dot) com
• • Tell them you heard about it on The Mae West Blog.
• • On Tuesday, 1 March 1927 in Olean Evening Times • •
• • "The Drag" — an exposition of psychopathic conduct . . . • •
• • In their issue dated for Tuesday, 1 March 1927, The Olean Evening Times took Mae to task for "Sex" as well as "The Drag," which the reporter Virginia Swan described as "an exposition of psychopathic conduct." Was Mae West chastened after the arrest? "Sure, I know what audiences like," Mae assured the news reporters. "And when it comes in sex portrayals, I know my onions. My play is true to life. And how can anyone suppress truth?"
• • On Sunday, 1 March 1936 • •
• • On Sunday, 1 March 1936 The N.Y. Times mentioned that Mae West confirmed she planned to go to Columbia Pictures with Emanuel Cohen, even though Paramount Pictures declared it had exercised its option and wanted their star to make two more pictures with the studio, the first one to start on 1 April 1936, and the second to start on 1 July 1936.
• • On Tuesday, 1 March 1960 • •

• • "Goodness Had Nothing to Do with It" by Mae West was released on Tuesday, 1 March 1960.
• • On Tuesday, 1 March 1960 Mae West was a special guest on "The Red Skelton Show" on CBS-TV. In a parody of "Person to Person" (1953), Mae West is interviewed about the three gentlemen who did not appear in her autobiography, "Goodness Had Nothing to Do With It": Cauliflower McPugg, San Fernando Red, and Clem Kadiddlehopper (all played by Red Skelton). 
• • Mae fans know that her husband Guido Deiro is one of the men who did not appear in her book in any sort of a truthful way. She only refers to a "Mr. D" and is coy about a few creaky details.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Here comes the lady who made the nineties gay, Mae West in her latest picture "Every Day's a Holiday" — — as the gal that men forget to forget — —and look who she's doin' wrong!  Edmund Lowe!
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "It's all a lot of strudel!"
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A New Zealand radio program mentioned Mae West.
• • Bob Dylan is covered by many others including Mae West, Jimi Hendrix, John Corigliano and in the recent release "Lost on the River" by The New Basement Tapes.  ...
• • Source: Item from Radio New Zealand; posted on Sunday, 29 March 2015
• • 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 3388th 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 1960 • •
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Mae West: Upward Thinking

MAE WEST did a fascinating interview in March 1960, discussing her philosophy of "upbeat thinking."  Let's revisit this and learn her secrets — — including how to appear tall when, in fact, you are barely five feet (or sixty inches).
• • "Mae West — — Upbeat Gal" • •

• • Mae West has as many gems of feminine advice as Diamond Lil had rocks and she's much quicker to share them. The amazing Miss West is generous with her wisdom on anything from how to hold a man ("in your arms, of course") to the ground rules ("Love thy neighbor. But not  thy neighbor's husband!") to how a woman can appear taller than she really is.
 • • "people think of me as a tall woman ..."  • •
 • • "Lots of people think of me as a tall woman," she confided with pride. She stood up to demonstrate, striking the pose that has launched a thousand imitations — — one hand on hip, the other waving an invitation to unseen admirers. "Actually, I'm only five feet, five inches tall in my nylons." [sic] Mae added,  "This is a medium altitude for a woman. But I have tricked some fool people into thinking I'm as willowy and long-legged as one of those six-foot showgirls."  The moment she stands up, the famous actress reveals her high-wattage aura and, by holding her chin high, she appears to be looking down at the world. 
• • "I never gesture downward," Mae said in explaining her "look tall" secrets. "I always move up with my arms, hands, and my shoulders. It's always up, up, as in 'Come up and see me sometime'!"  To prove the difference, she suddenly dropped her arms, let her head sag and relaxed her shoulders. Instantly, the change took inches off her height and added years to her age. "Wardrobe," Mae points out, "can also contribute to the upward look."
• • Her flamboyantly feminine costumes are designed to focus attention on the bustline, shoulders, and face. "But I think a woman with really pretty shoulders should show them off," and she casually rearranged the lace of her bare-shouldered hostess gown. Another trick to adding stature is accomplished by the arrangement of her long, platinum hair, which she usually wears in an upsweep." 
• • Finally, Mae confided, "I think upward. Unpleasant thoughts drag you down. I won't have it." . . .
• • Source: The Ottawa Journal (Canada); published on Saturday, 5 March 1960.
• • On 10 March 1926 in Variety • •
• • A news item noted that a new play by "Jane Mast" (Mae West) called "Sex" was coming to Broadway. This announcement ran in Variety's issue dated for 10 March 1926.
• • On Saturday, 10 March 1934 in Australia • •
• • Staring Mae West, "I'm No Angel" had its Sydney opening at the Prince Edward Theatre on Saturday, 10 March 1934. This successful 87-minute comedy (9 reels) ran for eight weeks in Australia.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West's stage plays were banned in Philadelphia due to their content. In 1932, a theatre owner in Philadelphia questioned Paramount's decision to use her in their films, feeling their is no place for such "filth on the screen."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:   "I've got three generations of fans. I have the grandparents and the parents, and now I have the kids. Isn't that just great?"
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Times Recorder mentioned Mae West.
• • "Mae West, W C. Fields in 'My Little Chickadee' at the Liberty” • •
• • Mae West and W. C. Fields, two of the most celebrated figures in the entertainment world, are at the Liberty theater today in their new starring picture, Universal's "My Little Chickadee." Heralded as one of the outstanding screen combinations of all time, the curvaceous actress and the flaming-nosed punster blend their colorful personalities in a rip-snorting comedy of frontier days. The story is said to be alive with rootin'-tootin' action played against a background of romance, skullduggery and music. Mae West is seen as a glamorous big-city belle who stirs up a mess of trouble when the boys of the wild and woolly frontier start to vie for her affections. Among "the boys" is W.C. Fields, as a medicine man and card sharp, who is completely captivated by Mae and strives throughout the film to claim her for his very own. One of the strongest supporting casts of the year was assembled for the production.  ...
• • Source: The Times Recorder (Zanesville, Ohio); published on Sunday, 10 March 1940 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started nine years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2866th 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 • • circa 1960 • •
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Mae West: Jack Elliott

MAE WEST sang a very memorable song on TV (no, not just the duet with Rock Hudson) — — and the lyrics were written by Jack Elliott.

• • Jack Elliott [6 August 1927 — 18 August 2001] • •

• • Born in Hartford, Connecticut in August — — on 6 August 1927 — — his birthname was Irwin Elliott Zucker. During the 1950s he was a jazz pianist in Paris and New York City. Judy Garland brought him to the West Coast  to become an arranger for her television show.

• • During his long career, Jack Elliott worked as an arranger, a conductor, a composer,  as well as a lyricist.
• • Nice To Have a Man Around • •
• • He teamed up with composer Harold Spina to co-create several chart-toppers — — including "It's So Nice To Have a Man Around the House," made famous in 1950 by Dinah Shore, and most memorably performed by Mae West when she guest-starred in March 1960 on CBS-TV's "The Red Skelton Show" wearing a gorgeous red gown. The song ends with this cynical quip: "Though it's two to one you'll wind up with a louse."

• • Jack Elliott died in Los Angeles from a brain tumor on 18 August 2001.  He was 74.

• • Arthur Fields [6 August 1888 — 29 March 1953] • •

• • Mae was close to her 19th birthday when she was invited back by Oscar Hammerstein for a seven-day booking that began on 6 August 1912 at Hammerstein's Victoria. She shared the stagebill with several acts — — including the inimitable Fields and Carroll.

• • Half of the team was Arthur Fields [born on 6 August 1888] who hailed from Philadelphia, where he started out in life as Abe Finkelstein — — and who toured for years with Harry Carroll. Arthur Fields was just 11 years old when he turned pro, booking singing engagements in Utica, New York and then branching out to Coney Island.

• • Sadly, in March 1953, after a long career, Arthur Fields had a stroke and went under the care of the Littlefield Convalescent Home in Largo, Florida. Most unfortunately, the institution had a fire, which ended his life at the end of March — — on Sunday, 29 March 1953. He was 64 years old.

• • On Tuesday, 6 August 1912 • •

• • In 1912 a teenage Mae West was invited to perform again at Hammerstein's Victoria. The singing comedienne was booked for a week-long engagement that began on Tuesday, 6 August 1912.

• • On Monday, 6 August 2012 • •

• • A classic by Mae West is being released by the TCM Vault Collection. "Belle of the Nineties" starring Mae West will be available on Monday, 6 August 2012.

• • Save the Date: Thursday, August 16th • •

• • Thursday, 16 August 2012 will be the next Mae West Tribute in Manhattan and the evening affair will start at 6:30 pm at 155 Mulberry Street.  This year Mae-mavens will enjoy an indoor event (ahhh, air conditioning), music written by Mae West's Italian husband will be played, and attendees will be seated.

• • At the Reception, Italian wine and light refreshments will be served. The ever-popular Mae West Raffle will offer rare prizes once again to a number of lucky attendees. The public is invited.

• • Mae West was born in Brooklyn, NY on Thursday, 17 August 1893.

• • Closest MTA subway stations: Grand St. or Canal St.

• • In Her Own Words • •

• • Mae West said: "The man I don't like doesn't exist."

• • Quote, Unquote • •

• • An article about Mae West's divorce was printed in August.

• • A.A.P. wrote:  Los Angeles, August 5 ( A.A.P.) — The film star, Mae West, has divorced Frank Wallace, whom for years she had insisted she had never married. She later admitted that they were married in 1911.

• • Source: Article: "Mae West Divorced" written by A.A.P. for The Courier-Mail in Australia; published on Friday, 6 August 1943

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2386th 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 • • 1960 • •
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