Mae West: Tiger’s Inamorata

It was the MAE WEST motion picture, “Belle of the Nineties” [1934] that helped Joe Breen consolidate his position as an administrator, according to the authors of “The Dame in the Kimono.” What a fascinating insider’s look. This is Part 8 of 9 parts.
• • Mae West: “I’ll cool it off!” • •
• • Leff and Simmons wrote: “If they think it’s too warm,” Mae West purred, “I’ll cool it off.”
• • Leff and Simmons wrote: Mae West and Paramount must have reasoned that other censors would follow the New York lead, for Manny Cohen suspended not only the New York premiere but the national release of the picture until he could make the requested cuts.

• • Leff and Simmons wrote: For the next month, Manny Cohen worked on the motion picture; he even shot a new conclusion that showed the Tiger Kid (Roger Pryor) and his inamorata exchanging wedding vows.
• • Leff and Simmons wrote: Variety called the “benefit-of-clergy finale” an “obvious curtsey to Joe Breen.”
• • Mae West: Uproar over “objectionable pictures” • •  …   
• • This brief excerpt from the book will be concluded on the next post.
• • Source: “The Dame in the Kimono: Hollywood, Censorship, and the Production Code” by Leonard J. Leff and Jerold L. Simmons [University Press of Kentucky, Paperback; 6 July 2001].
• • On Wednesday, 20 April 1927 • •
• • Bruce Gould's article "'Sex' on Trial" was printed in New Republic on Wednesday, 20 April 1927 on pages 246 — 248.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •

• • Louella Parsons wrote: Mae West got herself a movie job. Yes, indeed! She signed a contract with William Shapiro who brought Bobby Breen to the coast. Shapiro, at one time associated with Sol Lesser, has obtained capital to finance the Mae West movie.
• • Now here's the part that to me should even make the sphinx smile. Shapiro has an option on John Barrymore's services and is trying to get him to play opposite La West.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: “Brains are an asset, if you hide them.”
• • Mae West said: “My play 'Sex' was a work of art.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • National newspapers mentioned Mae West.
• • "Mae West Starts on Jail Term" • •
• • "Found Prison Inmates 'Very Interesting' on First Night" • •
• • The Scranton Times wrote: Mae West, star and coauthor of "Sex," with two negresses and three white women as fellow passengers, left Jefferson Market women's prison today in a prison van for the workhouse on Welfare Island, where she will serve nine days of the ten-day sentence imposed yesterday for giving an obscene play. ...
• • Note the words “in a prison van.”
• • Note: The stage play “Courting Mae West” dramatizes Mae’s prison trials.
• • Source: The Scranton Times; published on Wednesday, 20 April 1927
• • 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 4,976th 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/
________
Source: https://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml  
• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • onscreen in 1934 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Manny and Mayhem

Manny Cohen had MAE WEST under contract. This article takes us backstage to witness the unraveling of their relationship with Paramount Pictures during the mid-1930s.
• • In 1926, Paramount Pictures hired Emanuel Cohen away from Pathe, putting him in charge of its own shorts division.
• • By 1932, just six years later, Manny Cohen was placed in charge of production for all of Paramount's films. While this sounds fancy, it was not much of a promotion since Paramount was then deeply in debt and hemorrhaging cash from a long line of money-losing pictures.
• • However, Emanuel Cohen would soon turn the film company around. By 1935, Paramount was more profitable.
• • But ego reared its ugly head in the form of head-butting between Adolph Zukor and Emanuel Cohen.
• • Major Pictures turned out Mae West films • •

• • Ever shrewd and forward thinking, Cohen formed his own production company in a partnership with the studio. His unit, Major Pictures, turned out several Mae West films as well as Bing Crosby musicals.
• • Paramount and Cohen Part • •   
• • Cohen held personal contracts for Mae West, Bing Crosby, and Gary Cooper • •
• • In 1938, Film Bulletin wrote: The long-standing feud between Adolph Zukor and Emanuel Cohen has finally ended as was expected. Cohen's contract, which had a year and one-half to run, was terminated by mutual agreement this week and the producer leaves the lot immediately.
• • Film Bulletin wrote: Cohen announced that he will institute legal proceedings against the company and charged that Adolph Zukor deliberately obstructed him since he assumed control of production at the studio.
• • In 1938, Film Bulletin wrote: Manny Cohen was particularly valuable to Paramount when the deal was made because he held personal contracts for the services of Mae West, Bing Crosby, and Gary Cooper.
• • Film Bulletin wrote: Bing Crosby and Mae West now belong to Par [sic], and Cooper is contracted to Samuel Goldwyn.
• • Note: The N.Y. Times ran an article on Friday, 6 March 1936: “Mae West Quits Paramount Studio.”
• • Note: Adolph Zukor [7 January 1873 ― 10 June 1976]
• • Note: Emanuel Cohen [5 August 1892 ― 9 September 1977]
• • Source: Film Bulletin; published on Saturday, 15 January 1938.
• • On Saturday, 8 April 1933 • •
• • Mae West says she swaggers because she just had to attract attention to herself some way. That was all part of a fascinating interview that appeared in The Scranton Republican on Saturday, 8 April 1933.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • When the hue and cry over censorship arose, Mae West seemed to be the personal worry of most fans and Hollywood as well. Their fears were needless.
• • Mae wasn't and isn't worried.
• • Mae doesn't care if she quits to-day. Every dime (and there are millions of 'em) she has made on the stage and in pictures is carefully invested in government bonds and diamonds.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "A man's kiss is his signature."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A New Zealand paper reviewed a Mae West motion picture.
• • At the Majestic: “Now I’m a Lady” starring Mae West.
• • In spite of the conversation that has lately centered about Mae West, there has been no suggestion that she was intending to become a lady.
• • But her statement: "Now I'm a lady," is only meant to bear out a typical West gesture, as will be realised by those who see the film version of that statement, which began a season at the Majestic Theatre yesterday.
• • First of all, she wins a wealthy husband in a dice game, but succeeds to his property merely through the marriage agreement.
• • Her attention is then engaged by an English engineer, a man of social standing, who does not hesitate to tell her where her faults are.
• • Miss West decides she must have the man; she feels also that she ought to become a lady.
• • Under erratic tuition, of which she takes no notice, she begins to make of herself a fit wife for the Englishman. …
• • Source: The Press (New Zealand); published on Saturday, 31 August 1935
• • 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 4,968th 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/
________
Source: https://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml  
• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • with Manny Cohen in 1934 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Espouses Passion

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 15 of 16 segments.
• • “Mae West: Don't Call Her Lady” • •  
• • Mae West: Must have time to rehearse • •
• • Ben Maddox wrote: “I told the executives a dramatic star might get by just reading the words off a blackboard as she sang. But the public expects me to be perfect. I must have time to rehearse so I can sing with feeling."

• • Ben Maddox wrote: The stage's prime exponent of passion, she has never married [sic].
• • Ben Maddox wrote: "Too busy to settle down as a little woman. Producing shows and building up a personality is plenty for one person to tackle.”
• • Mae West: Packs a punch • • …   
• • Image: Mae West rehearsing with her drama coach Boris Petroff on the set of "I'm No Angel." Travis Banton dressed Mae. She is shown wearing Tira's court scene costuming.          
• • This will be concluded on the very next post, the sixteenth.
• • Source: Picture Play; published in the issue dated for April 1933.
• • On Wednesday, 1 April 1942 • •
• • On 1 April 1942, Lou Walters opened The Latin Quarter in Manhattan. During the 1950s, Mae brought the Mae West Revue there twice. Actress Jayne Mansfield was at a ringside table during one performance, staring at the handsome musclemen hired by Mae.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • 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 screen star to make two more pictures with the studio, the first one to start on Wednesday, 1 April 1936 — — and the second to start on Wednesday, 1 July 1936.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "People just don't eat right. For breakfast, I have sliced apples and raisins. Or fruit with a syrup made of powdered almonds, milk, and honey. At night all I have is a salad. During the day I drink carrot juice."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A newspaper mentioned Mae West.
• • April 9-13, 1939: For five days, Atlanta audiences had the rare opportunity to see Hollywood’s highest paid female star, Mae West, in person. The Mae West Revue played at the Paramount Theater on Peachtree Street.
• • On a Wednesday evening between shows, City Councilmember Howard Haire and Lillian Everett of the Atlanta Parks Department invited Mae West to the “Battle of Atlanta” show in the Cyclorama at Grant Park.
• • “It is the best history lesson I ever had,” said Mae West, “and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. If there had only been something like this in Brooklyn, I might have been more interested in history when I went to school.” …
• • Source: Wire Service news rpt in Atlanta Intown; published on Friday, 1 April 2011
• • 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 4,963rd 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/
________
Source: https://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml  
• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • on the set in 1933 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Adios, Paramount

On Saturday, 14 March 1936 the current issue of Motion Picture Herald was discussing a major upset in the film career of MAE WEST. Did Paramount Pictures do her wrong?
• • Paramount vs. Mae West and Mae West vs. Paramount • •
• • Motion Picture Herald wrote: The end of Mae West's career at Paramount Pictures studio at this time is not news either to Broadway nor to Hollywood Boulevard, but the technicalities of the abrogation are. 
• • Motion Picture Herald wrote: Associated Press reporting last weekend that "Mae West and the Paramount Pictures studio in Hollywood are jointly accusing each other of voiding her contract."

• • Motion Picture Herald wrote: And out of a welter of conflicting statements and what-not only one fact seemed clear — that Mae West would make her next picture, and the one after that, for another company, presumably Emanuel Cohen's Major Pictures.
• • Motion Picture Herald wrote: A Paramount studio statement in Hollywood was said by Associated Press to have charged Miss West with being guilty of "an anticipatory breach of contract," adding, "an executive who would not be quoted said 'the studio does not waive any of its rights to her services'."
• • Motion Picture Herald wrote: Murray File, reputedly one of Mae West's representatives, was said to have explained to reporters in Hollywood that "Miss West notified Paramount six weeks ago her contract had been abrogated by the studio when it failed to have a picture ready for her last July."
• • Motion Picture Herald wrote: Mr. File further explained that the new Mae West deal with Manny Cohen called for Mr. Cohen to pay the star some $300,000 each for two pictures, starting on April 1st.
• • Motion Picture Herald wrote: The score here is even. Paramount apparently not wanting to continue producing Mae West pictures, and Mae evidently desiring a change to Manny Cohen.
• • Source: Motion Picture Herald; published on Saturday, 14 March 1936.
• • On Monday, 9 March 1936 • •
• • It was inside their weekly issue dated for Monday, 9 March 1936 that readers could read a review of "Klondike Annie" printed in Time Magazine.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Emanuel Cohen's new Major Productions is finally set for production for the new year, making four features, the first starring Bing Crosby, the second starring Mae West.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Be a pal, ladies. If you're not, they'll find their pals elsewhere."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Motion Picture Herald mentioned Mae West as "The Frisco Doll" in 1936.

• • Motion Picture Herald wrote: "Klondike Annie," the Mae West picture, which was booked into the Chicago theatre for a two-weeks engagement, did not come up to expectations at the box office and plans for the second week were dropped, "Colleen" being set in instead, with "Annie" moving to the Garrick for the second Loop week.  
• • Motion Picture Herald wrote: Hearst newspapers carried no advertising on the picture nor did they carry any editorials current with the showing.
• • Motion Picture Herald wrote: Local film critics gave this new motion picture a thorough "panning." …
• • Source: Motion Picture Herald; published on Saturday, 28 March 1936
• • 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 4,946th 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/
________
Source: https://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml  
• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • attending Emanuel Cohen's party, December 1934 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Sapphire Mystery

MAE WEST had been hiding her real birthdate from Hollywood insiders. On her driver's license, Mae stated that her year of birth was 1900.  Eventually, of course, the truth would come out when a Minneapolis court clerk discovered Mae's 1911 marriage license. But in 1934, Mae's secret was still safe. She would have smiled had she read this on Friday the 13th.
• • "Mae West is thirty-four years old," reported Lester E. Foote in the Muncie Post-Democrat (Muncie, Delaware County) on Friday, 13 July 1934.
• • On Friday, 13 July 1934 • •
• • The Advocate (in Tasmania) printed an article on 13 July 1934 about Mae West's newest motion picture.
• • "Mae West at Burnie Theatre" began this way: Mae West, claimed to be the most spectacular figure on the stage or screen to-day, will be seen at the Burnie Theatre to-morrow night in her first Paramount starring picture, "She Done Him Wrong," a melodrama which she herself wrote. "She Done Him Wrong" is a story of a section of New York during the "gay nineties," with its collection of cabarets, "tough" men and frivolous women.
• • In July 1937 in The Film Daily • •
• • "Sapphire Sal — Night of Mystery" • •

• • In July 1937, Emanuel Cohen announced in The Film Daily that Mae was making a new motion picture for Major Pictures Corp. The title, said Cohen, was "Sapphire Sal — Night of Mystery." Starring Mae West and Grant Richards, and directed by Eddie Sutherland, the story was being written by Jo Swerhing.
• • Naturally, the title would be revised to "Every Day's a Holiday" and released in the USA on 18 December 1937. 
• • Was someone hoping to confuse Mae West fans into thinking Sapphire Sal was a follow-up to her Diamond Lil success? In 1949, even the Nassour Brothers were toying around with a few "bejeweled" film titles for Mae. Personally, we favor Platinum Patty or Topaz Tootsie.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • 1944 — Mae West adds to the wartime summer heat with her bawdy comedy "Catherine Was Great," which co-stars West and Gene Barry.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:   "Keep a diary and someday it'll keep you."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A trade paper mentioned Mae West.
• • Mae West’s Wild 9.5-Inch Double Decker Heels: A Look Inside FIDM’s Vault Of Historical And Hollywood Footwear • •
• • Charlie Carballo wrote: Why don’t you come up and see Mae West’s heels sometime? . . .
• • Source: Item in Foot Wear News: posted on Wednesday, 15 June 2016 
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 12th anniversary • •
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past twelve 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 twelve years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3485th 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/
________
Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml   
Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1937 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC  Mae West