Mae West: Spends Her Money

Depending on the person who wielded the pen, the fan magazine Picture Play could worship MAE WEST in fragrant ink or scold her. A year before publishing Dorothy Herzog’s skeptical sourness [May 1934], the zine printed a much more enthusiastic feature by Ben Maddox [April 1933] emphasizing Mae’s work ethic and down-to-earth side. This is Part 9 of 16 segments.
• • “Mae West: Don't Call Her Lady” • •  
• • Mae West: Claims she earned $5,000 a week in 1932 • •

• • Ben Maddox wrote: "I got $5,000 a week for 'Night After Night.' I have a four-year contract with Paramount for two pictures a year at an increased rate. No, it doesn't seem an awful lot of money to me. When I produced my own stage plays," added Mae, "my percentage was often about $10,000."
• • Ben Maddox wrote: "What do you do with all your money?" I demanded.
• • Ben Maddox wrote: "Well, I save quite a bit. I've a place on Long Island to keep up. And I spend it" — she paused and finished vaguely — "for things. Oh, yes, I had to spend a lot on trials. Sixty thousand for one and forty for another."
• • Mae West: Hot-Cha shows • • …  
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Picture Play; published in the issue dated for April 1933.
• • On Tuesday, 24 March 1970 in Look Magazine • •
• • "Raquel Welch, Mae West Talk about Men, Morals, and Myra Breckinridge," on page 45 in Look Magazine's weekly issue dated for Tuesday, 24 March 1970.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Hollywood columnist Walter Winchell wrote: Orchids and a bonus to the P.R. mind who thought up this amusing manner of getting the Mae West banned title into print: "It Ain't No Sin," it says, to see Mae West in "Belle of the Nineties."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "A lotta issue over a little tissue."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A newspaper mentioned World War II pin-up favorites such as Mae West.
• • "Mae West and Betty Grable — — Choice for Jap Pin-ups" • •
• • The United Press wrote: Movie actresses Betty Grable and Mae West rank high on the enemy's preferred list of Western beauty.
• • On Peleliu, it was curvacious Miss Grable who adorned most Japanese barracks. A photograph of the French screen beauty, Danielle Darrieux was found hanging over the bar in the Japanese officers' club. It was inscribed: "To part in World War II.  It is the caterpillar track war machine — — the tank. My Friends in Japan."
• • On another Pacific island, a reporter spotted a prominent photograph of sultry Mae West, wrapped up in a fur and lying on a silky throw and signed "come up and see me if you are ever in beautiful California." ...
• • Source: U.P. article rpt in The Neosho Daily News (Neosho, Missouri); published on Saturday, 24 March 1945
• • 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 4,957th 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 1932 • •
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Mae West: Extortioner

On Wednesday, 31 March 1943, Australians were reading about an extortion plot that targeted MAE WEST and Betty Grable. The criminal (who turned out to be star-struck teen) demanded  $100,000  from Miss West. There was an investigation and he got caught instead.
• • "Blonde Poses as Actress" • •
• • "Teenage Extortioner Trapped" • •
• • New York, March 30 (A.A.P.) — — How a blonde impersonating the film actress Betty Grable was engaged to trap a would-be extortioner was described in the Hollywood Federal Court when Russell Alexanderson, l8, pleaded guilty to a charge of having demanded 130,000 dollars (£40,625) from Miss Grable and the actress Mae West.
• • Attorneys said that Miss Grable received two notes, one demanding $25,000 dollars in uncut diamonds and the other $5,000 dollars in cash under the threat of death. The notes were signed "The Leopard" and "Snowy Baker."
• • Alexanderson demanded $100,000 dollars from Miss West.
• • The blonde kept an appointment with Alexanderson, and the police closed in on him.
• • The Judge postponed sentence until April 5th.
• • Article rpt in The Sydney Morning Herald; published on Wednesday, 31 March 1943.
• • On Sunday, 31 March 1912 • •
• • The end of March signaled the beginning of excitement down at "The Corner" [Seventh Avenue and 42nd Street]. The New York Times announced on Sunday, 31 March 1912 that "Mae West and Her Boys" would take the stage at Hammerstein's Victoria.
• • On Thursday, 31 March 1927 • •
• • On Thursday, 31 March 1927 it was reported in The New York Times that Sergeant Patrick Keneally of the Midtown Vice Squad, whose testimony was heavily flavored with a thick Irish brogue, quoted long passages from Mae's play "Sex" from memory. Moreover, "frequently, under the instructions of the Prosecutor," explained The Times, "assuming poses to demonstrate the manner in which members of the cast delivered their lines," Sgt Keneally gave the jury box quite a show.
• • On Monday, 31 March 1930 in The N.Y. Times • •
• • The N.Y. Times ran this headline to keep readers up to date on the "Pleasure Man" trial at the end of March 1930: CLASH MARKS MOVE TO FREE MAE WEST; Nathan Burkan Demands Details in Play Indictment — — Wallace Calls Motion Ridiculous. TWELFTH JUROR CHOSEN Then Panel Is Excused as Counsel Argue Over Terming Actress "Star of Case." Sales Manager Picked as Juror. Wants All Indecency Specified.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • In due time, Mae is moving to a beach house she recently purchased to escape the smog.  We sit in this room and Mae answers my questions about how she keeps her figure: yoga exercises, Iong walks, specially prepared fat-less foods.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Many of our famous lawyers, doctors, bankers, and judges are homosexualists."
• • Quote, Unquote • •

• • A WW2 site mentioned the Marines and a Mae West movie poster.
• • Marines pose in front of marquee posters in Bremerton, Washington circa 1934. The films showing are Lucky Devils (1933) and She Done Him Wrong (1933) starring Mae West and a young Cary Grant.
• • This image is a wonderful example of Sam Schutt's ability to capture the era in his photographs.  . . . 
• • Image:  courtesy of Steve Schutt
• • Source: Item on http://www.ussastoria.org; posted on unknown date
• • 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 3,400 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3410th 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 1933 or 1934 • •
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Mae West: Death Threats

In 1943 MAE WEST received frightening extortion notes and the police and the FBI got involved.
• • "Boy Held on Extortion Charge Says He Just Wanted to See Movie Stars" • •
• • Omaha Youth Arrested for Threatening Cinema Actresses • •
• • HOLLYWOOD, March 30 [U.P.]  — — Russell Alexanderson, 18, Omaha, Nebraska, sat glumly in his cell at the county jail today and said he sent extortion notes to Betty Grable and Mae West because he wanted to hobnob with movie stars.
• • The gangling youth, a farm boy who was to have been inducted into the Army tomorrow, pleaded guilty yesterday to threatening both Miss Grable and Miss West with death. Federal Judge Leon R. Yankwich said he would impose sentence on Monday.
• • "He demanded $100,000 dollars from Mae West" • •

• • Alexanderson's note to Miss West, revealed for the first time at his hearing yesterday, demanded $100,000  "under threat of your life or great bodily harm."
• • "Put it in a package," continued the note, "and bring it to 6233 Hollywood Boulevard, up to the sixth floor, Saturday, February 6th at 10:10 AM."  It was signed "The Leopard."
• • Federal agents said Miss West had ignored the note — — until Alexanderson's arrest in the Betty Grable case.
• • In letters signed "The Leopard" and "Snowy Baker," the youth demanded $25,000 in uncut diamonds and cash from Miss Grable on the pain of death.
• • Nabbed by FBI agents, who planted a blonde double for the actress on a Hollywood street corner, Alexanderson readily admitted sending the notes but explained that he only wanted to meet a movie star "face to face."  It is expected that he will be placed on probation for five years.
• • Source: Article by United Press rpt in The Mexia Weekly Herald (Mexia, Texas);  published on Friday, 2 April 1943.
• • On Saturday, 21 April 1934 • • 
• • Mae West on the front page of Picture Show Magazine thrilled her British fans.
• • What a beautiful cover of Picture Show Magazine with that celluloid couple, Mae and Cary Grant. This very collectible United Kingdom publication was dated for Saturday, 21 April 1934.  Mae was happy to promote her film "I'm No Angel" to the English movie-goers.
• • On Thursday, 21 April 1938 • •
• • SAINT LOUIS, April 21 (INS) — — Boys in their early teens prefer Mae West to Shirley Temple, but they would rather take part in some athletic event than to attend a movie.  ...
• • These were some of the conclusions drawn by officers of Optimist International, a service club with headquarters in St. Louis, on the basis of questionnaires answered by members of representative Junior Optimist Clubs in twenty-two cities scattered throughout the USA and Canada.
• • Source: Item on page 7 in The Kane Republican; published on Thursday, 21 April 1938.
• • On Monday, 21 April 1975 • •
• • Released in a hardcover edition on Monday, 21 April 1975 was "Mae West on Sex, Health and E.S.P." written by Mae West.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • As a child, Mae West sang popular songs and gave her imitations, being what was known on the vaudeville billboards as a "coon shouter."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "The score never interested me, only the game."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A Singapore newspaper mentioned Mae West.
• • The Straits Times announced:  Tonight at the Capitol at 6:15 and 9:15 — Positively last night of "I'm No Angel" with Mae West — A Paramount Picture —together with Henry and His Show of Wonders.,
• • Capitol Restaurant — — Enjoy a fine dinner and then see "I'm No Angel"!
• • Source: Item on page 7 in The Straits Times; published on Saturday, 21 April 1934 
• • 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 1,430 visitors. We reached a milestone recently when we completed 3,100 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3161st 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 1943 • •
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Mae West: Nebraska Numbskull

In 1943, a teenager from Nebraska tried to extort $100,000 from MAE WEST under the code name of "Snowy Baker."
• • Though many Mae-mavens are aware of the troubles Mae had during the mid-1930s, when different thugs either robbed her or threatened to throw acid in her face unless she paid a sizable ransom, the 1943 case is much less known (but no less disturbing).
• • It was April 1943 when many newspapers printed a front page scoop about Russell Alex- anderson, 18, Omaha, Nebraska.  The foolish farm boy, about to be inducted into the Army, was wearing a uniform all right — — prison stripes — — as he sat glumly in his cell at the county jail and admitted he sent extortion notes to Mae West and Betty Grable because he wanted to hob-nob with movie stars.
• • "Blonde Poses as Actress — — Extortioner Trapped" • •

• • NEW YORK, March 30 (A.A.P.) — — How a blonde impersonating the film actress Betty Grable was engaged to trap a would-be extortioner was described in the Hollywood Federal Court when Russell Alex-anderson, 18, pleaded guilty to a charge of having demanded 130,000 dollars (£40,625) from Miss Grable and the actress Mae West.
• • Attorneys said that Miss Grable received two notes, one demanding 25,000 dollars in uncut diamonds and the other 5,000 dollars in cash under the threat of death. The notes were signed "The Leopard" and "Snowy Baker."
• • "He demanded $100,000 dollars from Mae West" • •
• • Alex-anderson demanded $100,000 dollars from Miss West. 
• • The blonde kept an appointment with Alex-anderson, and the police closed in on him.  The Judge postponed sentencing until  April 5.
• • Source: Article rpt in The Sydney Morning Herald; published on Wednesday, 31 March 1943.
• • On Friday, 15 April 1927 • •
• • Taking advantage of the legal woes of his sister-in-law Mae West and the scene his wife made at the Arcade Hotel, Beverly's Russian husband Sergei Treshatny obtained a divorce on Friday, 15 April 1927.  Well, somebody had a nice weekend, eh?
• • The play "Courting Mae West" dramatizes aspects of Beverly's relationship with Sergei, her divorce, and her hot — cold bond with her older sister Mae.
• • On Tuesday, 15 April 2003 • •
• • On Tuesday, 15 April 2003, a paperback edition was published of this popular biography: "Mae West: An Icon in Black and White" by Jill Watts. This is a must-have title for any Mae maven. The scholarship done by Prof. Watts is masterful (even though she never successfully proves her thesis that Mae West had black ancestry via her grandfather).
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • During the 1920s, a common real estate ploy to increase land values and publicize the area was the community sponsored beauty contest.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: “[The gay community] are crazy about me ’cause I give ‘em a chance to play."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A book on vaudeville stars mentioned Mae West.
• • Edward Watz wrote: Paramount would likely have been the ideal showcase for Bert Wheeler and Bob Woolsey's talents, since they were the one movie lot specializing in comedy, with the Marx Brothers, W.C. Fields, Mae West, Maurice Chevalier, Burns and Allen, Jack Oakie, Charlie Ruggles, and Mary Boland parading before the camera at that time.   ...
• • Source:  Page in this book  "Wheeler and Woolsey: The Vaudeville Comic Duo and Their Films, 1929—1937" written by Edward Watz; published in April 2001
• • 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 1,430 visitors. We reached a milestone recently when we completed 3,100 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3157th 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 • • diamonds Mae offered to the WW2 defense effort, 1943 • •
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