Showing posts with label Gaby Deslys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gaby Deslys. Show all posts

Friday, February 24, 2012

Mae West: Sleuth

Biographers who have written about MAE WEST have downplayed her comments that her father ran "a big detective agency" in New York City. Maybe John West's undercover enterprise did not enjoy longevity nor a splashy ad in the phone directory, however, occasionally the names of his private investigators did make the paper.
• • An item published in the Saturday, 24 February 1912 issue of the New Jersey Morning Telegraph noted "Show Girl Heard Smacks in Newark, N.J."
• • A New Jersey reporter wrote: May (sic) West, a former show girl, now a detective, figured prominently as a witness in the hearing today before Vice-Chancellor Stevens in the cross-suits for divorce brought by George M. Rusling and Nettie R. Rusling. The husband alleges infidelity and the wife charges abandonment. Rusling names A.D. Tooley, a Brooklyn restaurant keeper, as correspondent.
• • According to Miss West's testimony last March, she was called upon to don her gum-shoes and solve a deep mystery. She was employed in the Rusling home (58 South 13th St.), as a maid. Mrs. Rusling, according to the testimony, did not know that Miss West was a sleuth or she would have fired her in a minute.
• • Well, Miss West kept her ears open and, she said, heard loud smacks on several occasions. ...
• • Source: New Jersey Morning Telegraph, issue dated Saturday, 24 February 1912.
• • Toasting "Mae West" at the Roosevelt Hotel • •
• • The site of the first Academy Awards, the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles has developed a new signature cocktail inspired by, and named after, a silver screen legend. Matthew Biancaniello, the hotel’s mixologist, has created a Hollywood-themed cocktail only available throughout "red-carpet season" — — a tangy, spicy "Mae West." Naturally, since Mae was "a hot tomato," Biancaniello's drink recipe includes Japanese pepper-spiced St. Germain, Hendrick’s gin, and yellow heirloom tomato juice strained into a glass and garnished with red peppers.
• • Celebrate Oscar season with a "Mae West" at the Roosevelt Hotel. The cocktail is $15.
• • Paul Novak [24 February 1923 — 14 July 1999] • •
• • Born Chester Rybinsky in Baltimore on 24 February 1923, Mae West's live-in lover was thirty years her junior.
• • They met and became acquainted when Charles Krauser, George Eiferman, Irvin "Zabo" Koszewski, Dick DuBois, Dominic Juliano, Joe Gold, Armand Tanny, Gordon Mitchell, and Mickey Hargitay were among the star bodybuilders in West's chorus for all — — or part — — of the show's three-year run.
• • Chuck Krauser changed his name again, becoming Paul Novak — — Mae's main man for the next 24 years. In a rare statement to the press, he once said: "How did she ever pick me — — just a wrestler and roustabout?"
• • Enjoying Novak's companionship and constant concern for her diet and welfare, Mae West survived until the age of 87, when she had a series of strokes. On 22 November 1980 she died in her sleep, with Novak, age 57, at her bedside.
• • Afterwards, Paul Novak quietly married. He lived in Santa Monica, California with his wife and died at 76 years old.

• • On Saturday, 24 February 1912 at the Winter Garden • •
• • Ambitious, bold, and 18 years old, Mae West, unfortunately, got on the wrong side of Gaby Deslys by trying to upstage her. Uh-oh! The 30-year-old diva got the teenage upstart fired before opening night in Manhattan..
• • "Vera Violetta" opened on 20 November 1911 at the Winter Garden Theatre.
• • Offered in repertory with "Undine," the musical remained on Broadway through the Christmas holidays, closing on the last weekend in February on 24 February 1912.
• • On Saturday, 24 February 1934 in Calgary Daily Herald • •
• • The legal battles Mae West fought made headlines all over.
• • After facing down the man who robbed her in Hollywood on 18 September 1932 in a courtroom, Mae was shocked and horrified to learn that stick-up-artist Harry Voiler [1891 — 1974] was released on bail in Miami during February 1934.
• • There was indignation in the interviews she gave. Mae told the news media: "It's time someone in Hollywood — — speaking very frankly — — showed what is known as intestinal fortitude. They threaten us in the picture colony under penalty of having acid thrown in our face. And they don't stop at acid threats either. They threaten to kill. It's time someone called their hand. And if it has to be me, I'll do it."
• • Mae's quotes appeared in an article printed in the Calgary Daily Herald on Saturday, 24 February 1934.
• • On Thursday, 24 February 2011 in Canada • •
• • In British Columbia, Canada, Kitimat Public Library showed the Mae West classic feature "My Little Chickadee" [1940] on their wide 10-foot screen on Thursday, 24 February 2011.

• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I hate writing but I have to because no one seems able to do it for me. Stories are my trouble. That's why I only make one picture a year."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article about the former V.P. Dick Cheney mentioned Mae West.
• • Maryland blogger Robert Morrison wrote: Dick Cheney probably never met Mae West. For younger readers unfamiliar with one of Hollywood’s original blond bombshells, I’ll simply say: sailors in World War II called their large life jackets Mae Wests. (This is a family blog, after all.)
• • Robert Morrison wrote: Mae West famously said: “Marriage is a great institution, but I’m not ready for an institution.” How strange that Mae West had a better understanding of civil marriage than a former Vice President of the United States, a man who was twice elected to national office by pro-family voters. ...
• • Source: Blog Post: "Unlikely Enemies: FRC at War with Dick Cheney Over Gay Marriage" written by Robert Morrison for opposingviews.com; posted on 23 February 2012
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2219th 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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Saturday, February 11, 2012

Mae West: Gaby Deslys

MAE WEST got on the wrong side of Gaby Deslys.
• • "Vera Violetta" opened on 20 November 1911 at the Winter Garden Theatre.
• • Offered in repertory with "Undine," the musical remained on Broadway through the Christmas holidays, closing in February on 24 February 1912.
• • Ambitious, bold, and 18 years old, Mae West had been assigned the second number in Act I. Backed by the chorus, Mae [as Mademoiselle Angelique] was to sing "Angelique of the Opera Comique," a song whose lyrics were written by Melville Gideon to music composed by Louis A. Hirsch.
• • During the out-of-town previews, Mae had the brilliant idea of performing this second number — — a few minutes into the show — — wearing an elaborate headpiece. Intentionally, the Brooklyn teenager was mistaken for Gaby Deslys (who played Mme. Adelle de St. Cloche) and the audience applauded wildly. Thus when Gaby Deslys finally did appear onstage for the sixth song, the audience did not realize that "Madame de St. Cloche" was the star.
• • The 30-year-old diva got the teenage upstart fired before opening night in Manhattan.
• • Looking back with regret, Mae said, "I should have waited until the Winter Garden premiere before I tried that maneuver." After the head-on collision with Gaby Deslys, Mae West's part as Miss Angelique from the Opera Comique was awarded to Kathleen Clifford, who also worked with Mae on Broadway in "A Winsome Widow" [April — September 1912].
• • Gaby Deslys [4 November 1881 —11 February 1920] was a dancer, singer, and an actress. Her celebrity rose thanks in part to the overheated tabloid gossip about Portugal King Manuel [1889 — 1932] and his affair with her when the handsome monarch was 20 and she was 28. The young ruler is thought to have given Gaby Deslys a pearl necklace worth $70,000 after first meeting her in July 1909 in Paris. More gifts soon followed. Thus she became notorious and enormously popular during the 1910s, earning $4,000 a week in the United States.
• • Known for her dancing, she was featured doing the Turkey Trot and the much more controversial Grizzly Bear, a dance banned in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. Harry Pilcer choreographed the Gaby Glide, which they would perform together in "Vera Violetta."
• • Most unfortunately, Gaby Deslys contracted a severe throat infection caused by influenza in December 1919. She was operated on several times as her doctors tried, in vain, to eradicate the infection, on two occasions without the use of an anesthetic. Surgeons were inhibited by Deslys' demand that they not scar her neck.
• • She died in Paris in the month of February — — on Wednesday, 11 February 1920. She was only 38 years old.
• • Swan Bed • •
• • Have you heard about her swan bed? Gaby's gilded bed, carved in the shape of a gigantic swan, was acquired at auction by the Universal Studios prop department, and was used in the silent film "The Phantom of the Opera" [1925]. In 1950 it was featured again in "Sunset Boulevard" as the bed of Norma Desmond.
• • Three years after "Phantom," Diamond Lil was lounging in her swan bed reading The National Police Gazette on the stage of the Royale Theatre in April 1928. Could Mae have gotten the swan bed idea from Gaby?
• • John Edwin West, Jr. [11 February 1900 — 12 October 1964] • •
• • Born in February — — on Sunday, 11 February 1900 — — in Brooklyn, John Edwin West died on 12 October 1964. He was 64. Mae made arrangements for the body of her beloved kid brother to be sent back to Brooklyn to the family crypt.
• • Two weeks later, Mae — — who hated to think about death — — made a Will.
• • Mae West and Hitler!! • •
• • The British tabloid, The Daily Mirror well and truly cornered the market in bizarre accounts and articles meant to amuse rather than to educate, and peculiar human interest stories. One early example was their front page headlines that wondered “What would have happened if Hitler had married Mae West?” — — yes, so incredibly preposterous.
• • On Saturday, 11 February 1933 in The Los Angeles Daily News • •
• • The Los Angeles Daily News ran an article on "She Done Him Wrong" in their weekend edition on Saturday, on 11 February 1933.
• • On Saturday, 11 February 1933 in The N.Y. Times • •
• • Film critic Mordaunt Hall wrote: Mae West is to be seen at the Paramount in a hearty and blustering cinematic cartoon of the devilish '90s. With the haughty strut and the nasal twang which are the principal assets of her repertoire, she filled the screen with gaudy humor. Illustrating the troubled career of Lady Lou, whose heart is bigger than her sense of decorum, she rhymed "amateur" with "connoisseur" in one of her beer-hall ballads and, on the whole, gave a remarkable suspicious impersonation of Diamond Lil. In fact, "She Done Him Wrong," with a few discreet cuts and alterations, is the same "Diamond Lil" without which no bibliography of Miss West's literary works would be complete.
• • Mordaunt Hall continued: Most highly prized of the Bowery belles, Lady Lou is notable both for her beauty, which is ornate, and for her wit, which is not dull. Although her reputation is nightly torn to bits by the pious in the mission next door to the saloon where she holds court, district leaders and other local Napoleons fight for her favors. Despite the title, she did nobody wrong. While her man is doing a "rap" she has to live, and she has chosen a good location. "My career is diamonds," she says, and men fight for the privilege of adding to her collection of jewelry. . . .
• • On Friday, 11 February 1977 in Bookviews • •
• • Mae West said: "Hiring someone to write your autobiography is like hiring someone to take a bath for you." Mae's comment was quoted in Bookviews, on 11 February 1977.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I'm still looking for the right man. My trouble is, I find so many right ones, it's hard to decide." [quoted in Earl Wilson's column in The N.Y. Post during February 1949]
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article in the Cape Gazette discussed Mae West.
• • The Delaware-based Arts & Entertainment Editor wrote: "Everyone has this idea of who Mae West was," says theatre director Dana Peragallo.
• • Source: Cape Gazette [Lewes, Delaware]; posted on 11 February 2011
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2206th 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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Friday, April 29, 2011

Mae West: Harry Pilcer

In 1911 MAE WEST first met dancer Harry Pilcer when both were involved with Ned Wayburn's productions at the short-lived showcase in Times Square, the Folies-Bergere. Mae, then 18 years old, was cast in "A La Broadway," which alternated with "Hello, Paris," which featured 26-year-old Harry Pilcer.
• • Born in New York, NY in the month of April — — on 29 April 1885 — — Harry Pilcer made his stage debut at the age of fourteen. In 1912 he began a high-profile partnership with the French diva Gaby Deslys [1881 — 1920]. They met during rehearsals for "Vera Violetta," shortly after he was tapped for the role of Andrew Mason. Mae West was in the cast as well, but gamely attempted to upstage Gaby and was soon shown the door.
• • Harry impressed his lady love by inventing the "Gaby Glide" for her, which they danced in "Vera Violetta" [1911 — 1912]. When the show closed, they continued to work and canoodle together. Rumor has it that, when the French performer died at age 38, Harry was wilting at her side.
• • After 1920, Harry quickly recovered his balance. He would partner for the next ten years with that iconic beauty with the million dollar legs, Mistinguette; tour the circuit of European music halls, Parisian cafes, and Berlin cabarets; appear on Broadway until 1922; make seven motion pictures (from 1915 — 1946) and choregraph musicals for Hollywood directors as well.
• • He spent his later years in the south of France. After World War II, he found work as an M.C. in high-end French gambling dens at LaBaule and Cannes. He had just concluded a show at the Ambassador Casino on the French Riviera on 14 January 1961 when he had a fatal heart attack at age 75.
• • Image: song sheet from "Vera Violetta" [1911] with Gaby and Harry.
• • Ms. Mamerow as Mae in Greater Green Bay • •
• • Barb Mamerow, dressed as Mae West, greeted people on Wednesday, 27 April 2011 during the Attraction Showcase hosted by the Greater Green Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau in Shopko Hall in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin.
• • PHOTO CREDIT: Evan Siegle/ Press-Gazette
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Jeffrey Kirkpatrick leads off his review with Mae on his right side: To borrow the old and overused Mae West line, when Tom Welling is good, he's good; but when he's bad, he's better. ...
• • Source: Article: "Smallville Review: Leaving It All Behind" written by Jeffrey Kirkpatrick for TV Fanatic; posted on 15 April 2011
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004.
You are reading the 1915th 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 • • Barb as a Mae look-alike, 2011 • •
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Monday, March 21, 2011

Mae West: Barney Bernard

In 1911 MAE WEST's high-stepping antics got her fired from "Vera Violetta" when she brazenly tried to trump the star, French diva Gaby Deslys. However, she did enjoy rehearsing the big-budget musical with the charismatic Hebrew comedian Barney Bernard, who was cast as Morris Cohen. The actor had worked with Ned Wayburn (Mae's dancing teacher) and honed his craft in vaudeville.
• • Born in Rochester, New York on 17 August 1877, Barney Bernard had been on Broadway since 1907. He was cast (as Mr. Wiseheimer) in the "Ziegfeld Follies of 1908" as well as in other high profile shows. Fame found him during the wildly successful run of "Potash and Perlmutter" [1913]. In this new play launched on 16 August 1913, he originated the role of Abe Potash and kept audiences coming back for two years until September 1915. He reprised the role on film as well. Producer Samuel Goldwyn had first become familiar with Montague Glass' "Potash and Perlmutter" series of stories when he was a glove salesman. In 1923, he decided to make a film of the play; it was so popular that he filmed sequels as well.
• • The beloved star of stage and screen was 46 years old when he caught pneumonia. Barney Bernard died in Manhattan in the month of March — — on 21 March 1924 and he was buried in Washington Cemetery on Bay Parkway in Brooklyn, NY.
• • Mae West's "Sextette" on DVD • •
• • According to Eric Cotenas of Cineventures: On 19 April 2011, Scorpion Releasing will release two oddball pick-ups from, respectively, Crown International and Cinerama Releasing: starring the "Sin-Sational" Mae West (based on her own play) and . . . . In Sextette, Marlo Manners (Mae West) has just wed her sixth husband, but her attempts to consumate the marriage are disrupted by two ex-husbands, fans, reporters, an Olympic wrestling team, her agent, and more in this campy musical comedy. SEXTETTE also features Timothy Dalton (THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS), Ringo Starr (CANDY), George Hamilton (LOVE AT FIRST BITE), Tony Curtis (SOME LIKE IT HOT), Alice Cooper (MONSTER DOG), Dom Deluise (HAUNTED HONEYMOON), and Regis Philbin. ...
• • Source: Written by Eric Cotenas for his web site cineventures.blogspot.com
• • Happy Birthday, Timothy Dalton • •
• • Mae West's co-star and screen husband in "Sextette," Timothy Dalton was born in March — — on 21 March 1946. We wish the tall, dark, handsome, and very personable senior citizen the best returns of the day.
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Pennsylvania history teacher William Kashatus writes: Edie Adams [1927 — 2008] began working regularly in television with Ernie Kovacs [1919 — 1962], who was outrageously funny. The show, which was live and unrehearsed, was groundbreaking in the new medium of television. Edie developed an exceptional talent for impressions, imitating celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Mae West and Zsa Zsa Gabor. The duo performed such hilarious skits as "Ernie in Kovacsland" (1951) and "Kovacs on the Korner" (1952). But the show was short-lived, being too progressive for mainstream audiences. Kovacs and Adams married on Sept. 12, 1954 and became a popular couple in the Hollywood social circuit in the late 1950s. ...
• • Source: Article: "Kingston's Edie Adams made smoking sexy and fashionable in the '50s and '60s" written by William Kashatus for The Citizens Voice in Wilkes-Barre, PA; posted on Sunday, 20 March 2011
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 1875th 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 • • 1978 • •
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Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Mae West: Kathleen Clifford

A large cast of actors and actresses rehearsed with MAE WEST for "Vera Violetta," which opened on 20 November 1911 at the Winter Garden Theatre and continued to draw ticket-buyers through the Christmas holidays, closing in late February 1912. Unfortunately, the ambitious Broadway hopeful upstaged the musical revue's haughty French star, so she was dismissed.
• • After the clash with Gaby Deslys, Mae West's part as Miss Angelique from the Opera Comique was awarded to Kathleen Clifford, who also worked with Mae on Broadway in "A Winsome Widow" [April — September 1912]. Since the enchanting Miss Clifford died during the month of December — — on 28 December 1962 — — let's enjoy her company.
• • Kathleen Clifford • •
• • Born in Charlottesville, Virginia on 16 February 1887, Kathleen Clifford was an American vaudeville and Broadway stage and film actress of the early twentieth century.
• • As with "Baby Mae," Kathleen Clifford's career acting was initially built on the vaudeville stages as a comedienne. Renowned for her impersonations of men, Kathleen Clifford was often humorously billed as "The Smartest Chap in Town."
• • In January 1907, Miss Clifford made her Broadway stage debut at the Lincoln Square Theatre in the musical "The Bell of London Town." Clifford's stage credits were numerous and she snagged a variety of parts throughout the 1910s.
• • For example, a large cast was hired for the Florenz Ziegfeld musical production "A Winsome Widow" [staged on Broadway from April — September 1912]. Kathleen Clifford was hired to play a male role: Willie Grow. Mae West won acclaim as La Petite Daffy in the same production.
• • Switching to silent films in 1917, Kathleen Clifford made her screen debut in the William Bertram directed mystery serial "Who Is Number One?" opposite silent film actor Cullen Landis. She would appear in several high-profile roles throughout the late 1910s and early 1920s, most notably: opposite Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. in the comedy "When the Clouds Roll By" [1919].
• • With the advent of the talkies, Kathleen Clifford made one short sound film and then settled into semi-retirement.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Saturday, November 20, 2010

Mae West: November 1911

MAE WEST was cast in "Vera Violetta," a musical that opened in November on 20 November 1911 at the Winter Garden Theatre.
• • Most of the music was prepared by composer Edmund Eysler who was born in Vienna [on 12 March 1874]. The lyricist for "Vera" a show set in Paris, France was Harold Atteridge.
• • Mae West was assigned the second number in Act I. Backed by the chorus, Mae [as Mademoiselle Angelique] was to sing "Angelique of the Opera Comique," a song whose lyrics were written by Melville Gideon to music composed by Louis A. Hirsch.
• • During the out-of-town previews, Mae had the brilliant idea of performing this second number . . . a few minutes into the show . . . wearing an elaborate headpiece. Intentionally, the Brooklyn teenager was mistaken for Gaby Deslys (who played Mme. Adelle de St. Cloche) and the audience applauded wildly. Thus when Gaby Deslys finally did appear onstage for the sixth song, the audience did not realize that "Madame de St. Cloche" was the French-born star.
• • Gaby Deslys got Mae West fired before opening night in Manhattan.

• • Looking back with regret, Mae said, "I should have waited until the Winter Garden premiere before I tried that maneuver."
• • Despite introducing the Gaby Glide, a new dance choreographed for her by Ned Wayburn, Gaby Deslys was not as successful in this show as crowd-pleaser Al Jolson.

• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Monday, April 30, 2007

Mae West: Grace La Rue

Before April ends, it's time to squeeze in Mae West's dear old friend Grace La Rue.
• • Born on 23 April 1880 in Kansas City, MO, Grace La Rue was a major musical comedy star during the first two decades of the 20th century. In "The Honeymoon Express" the winsome actress introduced the song "You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)" to an enraptured British audience at the London Palace on 4 August 1913.
• • During the Broadway run of that musical, however, cast member Al Jolson recorded that song for Columbia Records. During the number onstage one evening, Jolson went down on one knee and cried: “Gimme, gimme, what I cry for.” This created a sensation. When the audience wouldn’t let him sing anything else, he gave them one chorus after another — — even dismissing the cast altogether while Gaby Deslys was still on stage. The exasperated French diva quit the Winter Garden show, and Grace La Rue replaced her.
• • In 1919, Grace wed actor Hale Hamilton, and they toured together in vaudeviille.
• • Retired and residing in California, Grace LaRue — — age 48 — — made a brief appearance as Frances in She Done Him Wrong [1933] as a personal favor to Mae West.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1933 ad • •

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Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Mae West: Angelique Comique

It was 1911 when 18-year-old MAE WEST was cast in a new musical slotted for the Winter Garden on Broadway: "Vera Violetta" (starring Gaby Deslys and Al Jolson).
• • Most of the music was prepared by composer Edmund Eysler who was born during March in Vienna [12 March 1874]. The lyricist for "Vera" - - a show set in Paris, France - - was Harold Atteridge.
• • Mae West was assigned the second number in Act I. Backed by the chorus, Mae [as Mademoiselle Angelique] was to sing "Angelique of the Opera Comique," a song whose lyrics were written by Melville Gideon to music composed by Louis A. Hirsch.
• • During the out-of-town previews, Mae had the brilliant idea of performing this second number . . . a few minutes into the show . . . wearing an elaborate headpiece. Intentionally, the Brooklyn teenager was mistaken for Gaby Deslys (who played Mme. Adelle de St. Cloche) and the audience applauded wildly. Thus when Gaby Deslys finally did appear onstage for the sixth song, the audience did not realize that "Madame de St. Cloche" was the French-born star.
• • Gaby Deslys got Mae West fired before opening night in Manhattan.

• • Looking back with regret, Mae said, "I should have waited until the Winter Garden premiere before I tried that maneuver."
• • Despite introducing the Gaby Glide, a new dance choreographed for her by Ned Wayburn, Gaby Deslys was not as successful in this show as crowd-pleaser Al Jolson.

• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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• • Photo: • • Mae West • • none • •

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