• • Born in Hillsboro Bridge, New Hampshire, Benjamin Franklin Keith joined the circus and eventually found his way to Bunnell's Museum in New York City when he was in his early twenties. After a number of experiences in the evolving entertainment industry, he hooked up in 1885 with Edward Franklin Albee II (who was selling circus tickets). Together they founded and ran the Boston Bijou Theatre, which opened in July 1885.
• • In the 1890s, Albee and Keith opened the Union Square Theatre in New York City, where Mae performed on 29 December 1912. She was also booked into several other houses controlled by B.F. Keith.
• • In late March — — on 26 March 1914 — — the little loved founder of the Keith circuit died in Florida, his 28-year-old bride nearby, perhaps already designing her stylish, well-cushioned widowhood.
• • Photo: since she had a "rough baritone" voice as a child, Mae West often played male roles. Here she is, at age 15, when she starred in "Little Lord Fauntleroy" onstage in 1908.
• • Mae West in South Florida • •
• • In early April, Sondra Steinhauer will offer a talk about Mae West as part of a mid-week women's event. Ms. Steinhauer, a former instructor at NYC's Fashion Institute of Technology, had been a lingerie designer for 35 years.
• • "It is a women's conference for women, by women to women. Mae West was an amazing dedicated woman and the blonde voluptuous sex symbol before Jean Harlow, Marilyn Monroe, and Madonna," said Sondra Steinhauer. "I did research through several sources and found she was born in 1893. God put Mae West in my brain and I'm going to deliver a fun, light and airy lecture that includes information on her writing in plays, producing them, and starring in them." ...
• • WHAT: The Women's Conference: Three Days of Lecturers for Women, By Women, Lunch and Fun! (Men Welcome, Too!) — — from April 6th — 8th, 2011.
• • WHERE: Temple Torah, 8600 S. Jog Road, Boynton Beach, Florida; T. 877-354-1077.
• • Tell them you heard about it on the Mae West Blog.
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Recapping the tempest-in-a-TV-teacup, David Hiltbrand reviews the outcome of "Dancing with the Stars" this week: ‘DWTS’ wisely saved Kirstie Alley for last, because they know most people tuned in to see her on the dance floor. She’s fashioned a second career as a self-mocking plus-sized woman. She’s like a manic Mae West. While she was better than expected last night, she also vamped too much. The girl can’t help it. ...
• • Source: Article: "‘DWTS’ debut: Who soared; who stiffed" written by David Hiltbrand for The Philadelphia Inquirer; posted on 22 March 2011
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 1880th 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 little Lord Fauntleroy in 1908 • •
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