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The TV movie "MAE WEST" was broadcast in 1982, thirty years ago. Louis Giambalvo was cast in the role of George Kane.
• • Born in the Sunset Park area of Brooklyn, NY, Louis Giambalvo is celebrating a birthday today; his birthdate is on 8 February 1945. When he was in NYC, he was active in the Greenwich Village theatre circles. The actor is regularly seen on TV shows in guest roles as well as in motion pictures. In 1979, Louis Giambalvo moved to Los Angeles.
• • We hope Mr. Giambalvo is having an amazing birthday celebration today!
• • The cast for "Mae West" [1982] • •
• • Ann Jillian ... Mae West
• • James Brolin ... Jim Timony
• • Piper Laurie ... Matilda West
• • Roddy McDowall ... Rene Valentine
• • Louis Giambalvo ... George Kane
• • Chuck McCann ... W.C. Fields
• • Harold Fong [1911 — 1982] • • 
• • Mae West was surrounded by a diverse number of nationalities when she filmed "Sextette" [1978].
• • Born in February — — on Wednesday, 8 February 1911 — — Harold Fong was seen briefly as the Chinese Kitchen Chef. A bit part player often cast as a menial or in an ethnic role, Fong was featured in 74 projects either on the small screen (in one TV series or another) as well as on the big screen such as: a naval aide, a Japanese, a clerk, or a captain of a patrol boat — — all of which he played in 1944 in Hollywood when he was 33 years old. His two final appearances were in "Up in Smoke" and "Sextette," both released in 1978, after which he retired.
• • On 1 June 1982, Harold Fong died in Los Angeles. He was 71. Unfortunately, little more is known. Nevertheless, it is still the right thing to give him his due here and memorialize his passing.
• • On Tuesday, 8 February 1927 • •
• • The date was Tuesday, on 8 February 1927. Mae had staged a midnight "sneak preview" of "The Drag" at Daly's 63rd Street Theatre, reported Variety Magazine; invited attendees included city officials and several respected physicians, who had been expected to give the play an endorsement.
• • Forty-one weeks into a sellout run of "Sex," Jimmy Walker happened to be out of town and the acting Hizzoner, holier-than-thou Joseph V. McKee, decided to send in the cops. Because of "holy Joe" getting her arrested, and brought to Jefferson Market's Police Court, Mae West wound up spending the night of February 9th in Jefferson Market Jail.
• • After a trial in the Jefferson Market Courthouse during March 1927, Mae West wound up convicted of "corrupting the morals of youth." She was sentenced to ten days in the Women's Workhouse on Welfare Island.
• • "I expect it will be the making of me," she told reporters, and it was: it made her a household name.
• • But "The Drag" died in Mae's dreams and did not open. Battling her with legal maneuvers, hefty fines, an expensive court battle, and dreadful jail cells, the censors and politicians made their point: there would be no gays on Broadway.
• • Dated for Friday, 8 February 1935 • •
• • Calling James A. Timony the manager of Mae West for 25 years, and the person who "guided her to success," The N.Y. Times's obituary for the Brooklynite also noted that he "received major credit for her development from a relatively obscure singer and dancer into an internationally known prototype of the American siren."
• • Clearly, their long-term arrangement took various forms during the 38 years of their partnership from 1916 — 1954. Each derived benefits from this relationship and one example is this signed check.
• • Dated for Friday, 8 February 1935, the $3,500 allowance to James Timony was his 10% commission on Mae's script for "Now I'm a Lady," sold to Paramount Pictures for $35,000. This was quite a sum in 1935 when most of the country was in the grip of the Great Depression.
• • On Monday, 8 February 1960 in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West got her star on the "Walk of Fame" at 1560 Vine Street on 8 February 1960.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "No gold-digging for me. I'll take diamonds! We may be off the gold standard someday."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article on local entertainment in Brisbane's cinema mentioned Mae West.
• • The Courier-Mail editors wrote this: The new star, Mae West, will be seen at the Tivoli to-morrow in "She Done Him Wrong." Curves, comedy, and song — — all Mae West's repertoire has been added to this gay story of a diamond-loving lady of the gay '90s. The "come up and see me sometime" girl is original and merry in a story she wrote herself, and her two songs, "Frankie and Johnny Were Lovers" and "Haven't Got No Peace of Mind," will also be heard. The cast includes Cary Grant, Owen Moore, Gilbert Roland, Noah Beery, and others. Mae West brings a totally new style of comedy to the screen, and "She Done Him Wrong" has been acclaimed wherever It has been screened.
• • Source: Article: "Tivoli Theatre" in The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld) on page 14; published on Thursday, 8 February 1934
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2203rd 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 • • 1978 • •
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Mae West.
MAE WEST worked with a large cast in "The Heat Is On" [1943] and one British character actor was born 17 years before her.
• • Born in Brighton, East Sussex, England in the month of March — — on 12 March 1880 — — Boyd Irwin appeared for 17 years on the stage in both his homeland and Australia. The bit parts player was seen briefly in 138 shorts and feature films between 1915 and 1948, including two with Alfred Hitchcock during the 1940s.
• • In "The Heat Is On," Boyd Irwin was cast as Dr. H. Snyder.
• • After a busy career, Boyd Irwin retired in California. He died on 22 January 1957 at age 76 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles.
• • Remembering Beverly West • • 
• • In the month of March, we honor Mae's younger sister Beverly.
• • In March 1924, Variety noted a new act listed on Manhattan's stagebill: "Beverly West and Co., Piano and Singing." While not mentioning that she was Mae West's sister, Variety's reviewer admitted that "she puts over her numbers acceptably." Proctor's 58th Street location had engaged Beverly and her musicians. In 1895, F.F. Proctor had built his playhouse, Proctor's Pleasure Palace Palm Gardens, on 154 East 58th Street, New York, NY in midtown on the eastside [now zipcode 10022]. During the same interval (mid-March in 1924), Mae West was trouping in vaudeville in Texas.
• • Born in Brooklyn on 8 December 1898, Beverly died two years after her older sister on 12 March 1982.
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • "It’s not what I do, but the way I do it. It’s not what I say, but the way I say it." — — Mae West
• • "Right now I think censorship is necessary; the things they’re doing and saying in films right now just shouldn’t be allowed. There’s no dignity anymore and I think that’s very important." — — Mae West
• • Source: Famous Quotations — quotedb.net; posted on 12 March 2011• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • with Timony and Beverly on 22 Feb. 1935 in Arcadia, Calif. • •
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Mae West.
MAE WEST's life was explored on the small screen in 1982 with "Mae West" — — starring Ann Jillian and directed by Lee Philips. 
• • Born during the month of January, Lee Philips [10 January 1927 — 3 March 1999], a prolific actor and director, helmed the TV movie when he was 55 years old.
• • Handsome and clean-cut, the native New Yorker graduated from Adelphi College and studied with Harold Clurman. His career began on Broadway. In 1957 he was cast in Hollywood's "Peyton Place," playing the decent, sensitive heartthrob Dr. Michael Rossi opposite Lana Turner's Constance MacKenzie. Afterwards, his career transitioned towards directing with credits ranging from the TV soap opera version of Peyton Place to the Dick Van Dyke Show.
• • It was on 2 May 1982 that the TV drama "Mae West" had its TV premiere with Ann Jillian in the title role. The two-hour program was re-broadcast on ABC television at 9:00 PM on 14 August 1984 (following the excitement of the U.S. Olympics).
• • Remembering the May 1982 production, New York Times critic Richard F. Shepard had these comments two years later. Shepard wrote: ''Mae West'' was originally seen in 1982, long enough ago in these fast-moving times to almost qualify the show as a revival rather than as another summer re-run. It is reasonable programming, a show about a torrid actress in matching weather. It is also a drama that is satisfactory television, not earth-shaking, but one that is particularly admirable because it gives us a chance to see Ann Jillian portray the immortal Miss West.
• • Miss Jillian is not only good to look at, she is also a formidable actress who catches the essence of Miss West: not only the swaying hips but also the precise intonations that could load a phrase with the sort of innuendo that drove censors to blue-pencil conclusions.
• • Actually, E. Arthur Keen's screenplay, directed by Lee Philips, is reminiscent of one of those Alice Faye — Don Ameche — Tyrone Power movies in which the stars age ever so slightly over 30 years. This is not an objection, because it doesn't really matter. When things go through a somewhat tedious and mawkish period, they are perked up by a song and a crisis. ...
• • In 1999, Lee Philips succumbed to progressive supranuclear palsy and died in Brentwood, California.• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/________
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • "Mae West" director • • Lee Philips in 1957 • •
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Mae West.
Woody Eney appeared in a TV bio-pic about MAE WEST.
• • Born in Canberra, Australia during the month of June — — on 8 June 1937 — — Woody Eney was cast in the role of Warden Schleth in the small screen biography "Mae West" [1982] when he was 45 years old. In that docu-drama, Ann Jillian portrayed Mae West, who had died two years before the script was written.
• • Who was Warden Harry O. Schleth? • • • • During April 1927, Mae West was confined to the Women's Workhouse on Welfare [currently renamed Roosevelt] Island. Reporters scolded Prison Warden Harry O. Schleth for granting the Broadway star some privileges and pandering to a celebrity by taking her for evening drives, letting her dine with him in his private quarters, and so on. In real life, Harry Schleth — — who called Mae "a fine woman" during her exit interview from the jailhouse — — was not from down under, so it's curious that Mr. Eney was chosen for this role and not an American.
• • Though Woody Eney has lent his voice to animated films, his resume more often notes his versatility as a character actor.
• • Between 1976 and 1993, he has appeared in several dozen productions including onstage in an Obie Award winning drama, numerous TV projects, and some small-screen biographies about controversial women. Woody Eney is best known for his participation on TV shows such as "Rags to Riches" and "Friendly Fire" and family fare including Disney's "Homeward Bound: the Incredible Journey" [1993].
• • The Mae West Blog wishes Woody Eney a very happy 72nd birthday today!• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
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Mae West.
In 1982, she portrayed MAE WEST as a bouncy child. 
• • Born in California on 11 July 1975, Bridgette Andersen embarked upon an acting career in her youth — — not unlike Mae.
• • By her 7th birthday, Bridgette was buzzing and busy. First she was cast in the TV movie "Washington Mistress" [1982]. Later that year, Bridgette Andersen appeared in her most memorable role as the title character in "Savannah Smiles," followed by roles in "Family Ties," "Remington Steele," and as a young Mae West in the TV bio-pic of the actress' life.
• • In 1983, she appeared in a horror flick and a few short-lived sit-coms and was nominated twice for a Young Artist Award.
• • Though she worked steadily throughout the mid-1980s in feature films and on the small screen, by 1987 the 12-year-old was much less in demand.
• • Unlike Mae West, Miss Andersen was not close to her family. As a teen, she became addicted to heroin and that put more distance between her career aspirations and contact with loved ones. Reportedly, she was trying to clean up and get back on track by 1997 when she was employed by Erewhon Health Food Store in Los Angeles, California.
• • In the month of May — — on 18 May 1997 — — her stardusted dreams ended with a fatal overdose of alcohol and drugs. Bridgette Andersen was 21 years old.• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • Bridgette Andersen played young Mae • •
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Mae West.
Ruth Donnelly was in one classic screen gem with MAE WEST.
• • How many remember the character actress as Aunt Lou in "My Little Chickadee" [1940], directed by Edward F. Cline?
• • Born in Trenton, New Jersey on 17 May 1896, Ruth Donnelly began her stage career at the age of 17. In 1914, her Broadway debut brought her to the attention of George M. Cohan — — who proceeded to cast her in numerous comic-relief roles. Though she made her first film appearance that same year, her Hollywood career began in earnest in 1931 and lasted until 1957.
• • Ruth Donnelly died in New York City during the month of November — — on 17 November 1982.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
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Mae West.
When she was 32, Ann Jillian portrayed MAE WEST in a woeful made-for-TV movie [1982] that actually got her an Emmy nod — — if not an actual award. Though it is partially the fault of the excruciating dialogue and partially the fault of the director, watching Ann Jillian mince around as Mae sends my cringe reflex into over-drive.
• • Remember the part where she is in the courtroom defending her play by sassing the judge, and wearing a foolish hat?
If anyone bothers to recall, Mae West was right in style during the 1920s with bobbed hair and a tight-fitting cloche — — not some precariously balanced party hat. And Mae's line about trying to conceal her contempt [swiped from her movie "I'm No Angel"] betrays the seriousness she brought to her own defense. Deplorable. And let's not even discuss that boorishness with Roddy as "Rene Valentine." Get the barf bag, Edna.• • Born on 29 January 1950 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Ann Jillian is now a breast cancer survivor for more than 23 years. She will be sharing her personal battle with the disease with luncheon guests at the first Northeast Hospital Foundation’s “In the Pink of Health” luncheon — — on Friday 17 October 2008.
• • WHERE: Houston Airport Marriott Hotel, 18700 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Houston, Texas
• • INFO: 281-540-7700• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
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Mae West.
During her live stage show (featuring a dozen bodybuilders), MAE WEST would sing "Criswell Predicts [and It's Gonna Come True]." Well, who goes to Las Vegas seeking the truth?
• • Now and then a prediction by Charles Jared Criswell (a.k.a. Jeron Criswell King) — — known by the single name Criswell — — would be accurate. For instance, he stated in 1963 that something would happen to President John F. Kennedy in November of that year that would prevent him from running for re-election.
• • More often his forecasts sounded outrageous such as his announcement that his friend Mae West would win a presidential election in the United States and land on the moon with Criswell and George Liberace (the pianist's brother).
• • A syndicated columnist, radio, and TV personality, Criswell was born in August — — 18 August 1907 in Princeton, Indiana and became intrigued by the media while working for a local newspaper as a teen.
• • By 1965, Criswell was a regular guest on The Tonight Show (with both Jack Paar and Johnny Carson) making his silly predictions.
• • He died at age 75 on 4 October 1982.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • none • •
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Mae West.
Mae West's friend Roderick McDowall was born in London on 17 September 1928.
• • Perhaps you remember seeing the lanky Englishman when he played the female impersonator Rene Valentine in "Mae West" [1982], a made for tv bio-pic. McDowall also received credit for [gulp!] "Technical Details" — — which is astonishing since his choices in his scenes with the Brooklyn bombshell all seem false.
• • Moreover, his rift on the elegant Julian Eltinge misses the point; Roddy McDowall looks more like one of Cinderella's ugly step-sisters than the Broadway star of "The Fascinating Widow."
• • Shouldn't someone have noticed that the bawdy over-the-top drag queen Mae most adored was the campy cut-up Bert Savoy — — not the inscrutable Mr. Eltinge?
• • Anyway, one happy fella was Richard F. Shepard, whose New York Times review said: "Roddy McDowall is persuasive as a female impersonator who puts Miss West on the path to stardom by fixing her stage personality and appearance; he is almost scholarly and calm, the lifelong friend and confidant" [Richard F. Shepard, NY Times, 14 August 1984].
• • Directed by Lee Phillips, the 1982 bio-pic also featured Ann Jillian as Mae West, James Brolin as Jim Timony, et al.
• • Decide for yourself how watchable Roddy McDowall is in this scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVZflfidfy4
• • The actor died of lung cancer in California on 3 October 1998.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • none • •
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Mae West.
During the 1950s, MAE WEST developed a professional relationship with two men who were born (like Mae) in the month of August — — but who didn't take tea together.
• • In 1955, while working on her new album The Fabulous Mae West, Mae West recorded a rather lame song — — "Criswell Predicts" — — about a rather lame psychic.
• • Who's this Criswell character?
• • All but forgotten, Jeron Criswell King [18 August 1907 — 4 October 1982], who was born Jeron Criswell Konig, was known by his stage-name The Amazing Criswell. Criswell was Mae's personal psychic for awhile. Curiously, Criswell was most famous for his inaccurate, bizarre, and hilariously improbable predictions. One prediction was that Mae West would be president — — another forecast was that Mae West would fly to the moon with Liberace.• • "Criswell Predicts" was written — — at Mae's request — — by Bob Thompson [a native Californian who was born on 22 August 1924 in San Jose].
• • In the mid 1950s, Bob Thompson toured with Mae West and her entourage of musclemen. Impressed by Bob, Mae West demanded that he be her piano teacher.
• • After building a musical reputation playing with a big name like Mae West, Bob Thompson got his big break in 1958 with a record deal from RCA. Thompson was signed alongside Esquivel, Billy May, Nelson Riddle, and a crop of other musicians destined to be Hollywood stars.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • none • •
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Mae West.
It was on 2 May 1982 that the TV drama "MAE WEST" had its small screen premiere starring actress Ann Jillian in the title role. The two-hour program was re-broadcast on ABC television at 9:00 PM on 14 August 1984 (following the excitement of the U.S. Olympics).
• • Remembering the May 1982 production, New York Times critic Richard F. Shepard had these comments two years later. Shepard wrote: ''Mae West'' was originally seen in 1982, long enough ago in these fast- moving times to almost qualify the show as a revival rather than as another summer re-run. It is reasonable programming, a show about a torrid actress in matching weather. It is also a drama that is satisfactory television, not earth-shaking, but one that is particularly admirable because it gives us a chance to see Ann Jillian portray the immortal Miss West.
• • Miss Jillian is not only good to look at, she is also a formidable actress who catches the essence of Miss West: not only the swaying hips but also the precise intonations that could load a phrase with the sort of innuendo that drove censors to blue-pencil conclusions.
• • Actually, E. Arthur Keen's screenplay, directed by Lee Philips, is reminiscent of one of those Alice Faye — Don Ameche — Tyrone Power movies in which the stars age ever so slightly over 30 years. This is not an objection, because it doesn't really matter. When things go through a somewhat tedious and mawkish period, they are perked up by a song and a crisis.
• • Miss Jillian generally resembles Miss West in this undertaking, but she is too pretty and not quite as pasty-faced as the original came across in her films. No matter. We know she is the unflappable Miss West when she delivers those great lines that are the heart of the piece. As, when a judge finds her guilty of corrupting the morals of youth in her 1927 show, ''Sex,'' she retorts, ''That's what they got Socrates for, ain't it?'' Or when the checkroom attendant, in a Mae West film, exclaims,''Goodness, what beautiful diamonds!'' and Miss West rolls hips and eyes and says, ''Goodness had nothing to do with it.''
• • The settings range in costume and prop from early 1900's to late 1940's, from vaudeville to stage, from Broadway to Hollywood and back again. The continuing thread is her love affair with her manager [Jim Timony], played in a noble vein by James Brolin. It is very sad, but don't take it to heart. Roddy McDowall is persuasive as a female impersonator who puts Miss West on the path to stardom by fixing her stage personality and appearance; he is almost scholarly and calm, the lifelong friend and confidant. . . .
Source: The New York Times [14 August 1984]
Byline: Richard F. Shepard• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
______Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xmlMae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • none • •NYC
Mae West.
