Mae West: Hats Away!

MAE WEST and millinery: what a delightful pairing.
• • In her memoir, "Goodness Had Nothing to Do With It," Mae West revealed that custom millinery had always been her passion and her only real extravagance (aside from diamonds and furs). “I sometimes take my hats out of the closet and amuse myself for an hour or so before a mirror.”  
• • Mae added, “Then I put them away again. It may have some psychological meaning. I have never bothered to analyze it. Why try a head-shrinking technique on anything so delightful?”

• • Jon Tuska wrote: "Hats were one of Mae West's obsessions, greater even than her penchant for monkeys as pets."
• • Hollywood gossip columnist Hedda Hopper, an Olympian when it came to hat collecting, mentioned Mae's fancy headgear.
• • "Mae West — — there'll be plumes!" • •
• • Syndicated columnist Hedda Hopper wrote: For a beauty who has almost made a career of incredible lids, there is Carmen Miranda and her Inverted fruit basket. Ditto for Mae West's Diamond Lil chapeaux, large and lavish. Although Mae goes tropical in "Tropicana," you can bet your ol' gray bonnet ostrich feathers will be sticking out of every crevice.
• • Source: "Looking at Hollywood" by Hedda Hopper rpt in Chicago Tribune; published in 1943.
• • On Monday, 5 April 1954 in The N.Y. Times • •
• • A devout Roman Catholic, Jim Timony carried rosary beads and began each morning by going to Mass. Mae accompanied him during this daily ritual. For decades they went everywhere together — — on cross-country trains, on the Queen Mary, in Mae's "house car," and in limousines.
• • The New York Times obituary, alas, reported his age incorrectly when they announced his death on Monday, 5 April 1954 from a heart attack at his Hollywood home. According to his obit, Timony had been in retirement for five years due to poor health.
• • Calling James A. Timony the manager of Mae West for 25 years, and the person who "guided her to success," The Times 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."
• • The Mae West Blog is saluting James A. Timony — — celebrating his life and successful partnership with the Empress of Sex.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West in “She Done Him Wrong” created a furore in Paris, convincing the French that the hefty bosom, the opulent hip, and the glittering façade were the natural attributes of women and due for a comeback.
• • Thanks to Mae West, a tidal wave of correspondingly big gestures rolled in: enormous bags, huge blobby crystal bracelets and rings, mammoth hats, and cigarette cases bigger than the Lucky box for 50. In other words — and in a coconut-shell — inflation.
• • In Her Own Words • •

• • Mae West said: "Other people collect paintings to hang on their walls... for me, hats are works of art."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Fan magazine writers often mentioned Mae West and her millinery.
• • No, mystery has replaced pep as the chief feminine allure. The new models simply ooze it.
• • Even Mae West goes mysterious in her "dining out" costume.
• • That's mostly because of that hat. It's huge. It is the largest black hat you ever saw and it has the flattest of crowns.
• • Mae’s black gown is of tulle and gently falls to the floor in a demurely wicked line. …
• • Source: Modern Screen; published in the issue dated for September 1933
• • 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 4,965th 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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• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1936; Gunter Hotel in 1939 • •
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Mae West: James Arthur Timony

James Arthur Timony was the legal counsel and business manager of MAE WEST from approximately 1919 until his retirement in 1949. Timony admitted he gave up a Broadway legal practice to go with Miss West, seeing great potential there.
• • Timony, who had Irish ancestry, was born in Brooklyn, NY on Saturday, 7 June 1884. (This date is also noted on his draft card.)
• • A devout Roman Catholic, Jim Timony carried rosary beads and began each morning by going to Mass. Mae accompanied him during this daily ritual. For decades they went everywhere together — — on cross-country trains, on the Queen Mary, in Mae's "house car," and in limousines.

Always at her side: "Big Jim"

• • Calling James A. Timony the manager of Mae West for 25 years, and the person who "guided her to success," The N.Y. Times 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."
• • According to his obit, Timony had been in retirement for five years due to poor health.
• • When he suffered a fatal heart attack in Los Angeles on Monday, 5 April 1954, he was 69. Mae West took this loss hard, she told reporters.
• • He was buried in Brooklyn’s Holy Cross Cemetery on Monday, 12 April 1954. The long-term bachelor was interred with his parents, Thomas and Mary Campbell Timony.
• • On Thursday, 5 June 1952 • •
• • "Mae West to Open Summer Theatre" was the headline on Thursday, 5 June 1952 in a New Jersey newspaper.  Herbert Kenwith was announcing the world premiere of "Sextette," a play written by Frances Hope and adapted by the movie queen.
• • Source: Article: "Mae West to Open Summer Theatre" (on page 4) of the Raritan Township and Fords Beacon, published on Thursday, 5 June 1952.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Paramount is negotiating with Mae West for her stage play, “Diamond Lil.” If the deal comes through, then Miss West will be starred.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Do I love Jim Timony? Yes. We love each other like Potash loved Perlmutter or like Montgomery must love Ward. Like two old business cronies."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A newspaper mentioned James A. Timony and Mae West.
• • George Lait wrote: While she was featured in the musical play, "Sometime," with Ed Wynn, Mae West made the acquaintance of a man who has since played an all-important part in shaping the career which for la West, has amassed fame, fortune, diamonds and film stardom.
• • Her Business Manager • •
• • George Lait wrote: He was James A. Timony, "Big Jim," a successful lawyer in New York with an intimate knowledge of show business and politics. "Big Jim" knew "everybody" on the Great White Way, and it was to him Mae turned over her business affairs, which had come to the point where they needed special management. Timony proved to be the sagacious manager she needed, and with his advice and grooming their associations became more and more profitable for both.
• • George Lait wrote: Mae West had saved money throughout her career in the show business and this money they invested in real estate bonds and stocks. Realty slumps, stock market crashes came and went, but through "Big Jim's" foresight and keen business sense, Mae pulled through it all with a profit
• • This close business association still exists. (Another Dispatch Tomorrow) . . .
• • Note: This successful partnership with his death on Monday, 5 April 1954 at age 69. [James, born in 1884, attended the best schools and a respected law school …]
• • Source: Syndicated content written for Central Press rpt in The News-Messenger [Fremont, Ohio]; on  Tuesday, 12 December 1933  
• • 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 15th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past fifteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 4,400 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fifteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,490th 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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• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • traveling on the Union Pacific Streamliner, March 1933 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Patoka, Indiana

After the fact, MAE WEST recalled that  her former personal chauffeur, Ray Charles Wallace had threatened to kill himself.  Depressed, the 44-year-old African-American World War 2 veteran had huddled under a quilt in the backseat of the screen star's Cadillac for his final (and fatal) nap. Then there was this headline on Thursday, 17 February 1955.
• • "Probe into Suicide of Chauffeur for Mae West" • •
• • Authorities yesterday were investigating the apparent suicide of Ray Charles Wallace, 44, personal chauffeur for actress Mae West.  His body was found Tuesday in Miss West's Cadillac limousine on a farm near Patoka, Indiana.
• • Miss West, currently appearing at a Chicago night club, said she could give no reason for Wallace's death. Her manager, Vincent Lopez, said Wallace left Miami on Feb. 7 to drive the car here.  Lopez said Wallace called him several times en route to complain of having "lots of trouble." Lopez said he notified Indiana state police Sunday to be on the lookout for Wallace.
• • Coroner Robert Kendall termed the death suicide.  He said a hose ran from the exhaust pipe to the car's interior.  In the car was a sealed metal box bearing Miss West's name. Miss West, who flew here from Miami, said she didn't know what the box contained.
• • Source: article in Chicago Tribune;  published on Thursday, 17 February 1955.
• • On Saturday, 17 February 1951 in Los Angeles • •
• • In Los Angeles on February 17th, Pete Ermalinger, manager of the Biltmore Theatre, was negotiating for "Diamond Lil" the Mae West starrer currently in Texas.
• • "Hollywood Biltmore Seeks Lil Date" was the headline and the piece was datelined Hollywood, Saturday 17 February 1951. The popular show starring Mae West was, at that time, onstage in The Lone Star State.
• • Here's Mae looking ravishing in her Lil costume in 1951. She did bring the show to Los Angeles for an acclaimed run at the Biltmore.
• • This item ran in Billboard Magazine on 24 February 1951.
• • On Monday, 17 February 2003 in Sun-Sentinel • •
• • Reporting on an upcoming Gem and Jewelry Show in Fort Lauderdale on Monday, 17 February 2003, The Sun-Sentinel wrote that pieces owned by Mae West would be on display and available for purchase.
• • The Florida editors noted: Pearls, rubies, and diamonds will be among the sparkling pieces displayed at the upcoming International Gem and Jewelry Show.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Morgan Conway may be the heavy in Mae West's "It Ain't No Sin."
• • At the Friday Nite Hollywood Legion Fites [sic] some of the old faces have returned — —  like Mae West and Jim Timony.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "So this is the place where a leaf falls up in some canyon and they tell you it's winter."
• • Quote, Unquote • •

• • The Daily mentioned Mae West.
• • "Mae West Sick" • •
• • New York, Feb. 17th (A.A.P.) — — Mae West collapsed on the stage at Rochester last night, but the show went on. She was unable to continue with the third act of the play, 'Diamond Lil.' It was presented without her.
• • Source: News item (on page 1) in The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Australia); published on Saturday, 18 February 1950 
• • Image: This was a generic program cover that Mae West used for the out-of-town bookings for the revival of "Diamond Lil" (not the cover of Playbill)
• • 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 3,300 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3379th 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 1950 • •
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Mae West: Midget Village

Like all the top screen stars of her era, MAE WEST attended the ambitious fair known as the California Pacific International Exposition, which opened in San Diego on Wednesday, 29 May 1935.  One of the most popular attractions built for the Fairgrounds was The Hollywood Motion Picture Hall of Fame. All the fan magazines sent reporters. Editorial coverage began appearing in magazines, for their September and October issues.
• • The Midway awaits. Let's follow in the footsteps of Mae West, shall we?
• • "Getting in personal touch with favorite Fair personalities" • •
• • Tom Kennedy wrote:  While I was wondering whether I should take a look at "Life," for adults only, too, the loud speakers on the midway announced that Mae West was entering the Fairgrounds if anyone were interested — — and it seems that just about fifty million people were.  Mae arrived in a little something in white and a train (I've seen better places for trains), and when her car was stopped at the gate, she hopped a chair and told the boy — — whose face had one of those beatific there-is-a-Santa-Claus expressions — — to take her to the Motion Picture Hall of Fame. When it comes to loyalty, Mae West is right there.
• • Tom Kennedy explained:  Mae was with the faithful Timony, and two bodyguards and two Pinkerton detectives (furnished by the Fair just in case), but if you think Mae was trying to dodge her public, then you have another think coming to you.  She signed everything from autograph books to a bag of peanuts. About the thousandth autograph, Timony got a little uneasy and whispered to Mae that it was time to duck.
• • "Listen," said Mae, "these are the people who pay to see my pictures. I'm going to sign autographs as long as they want me to." And she did, despite the fact that one adoring fan ripped the sleeve out of her dress.  
• • Mae West asked to see the midgets • •
• • Tom Kennedy reported:  After she made a personal appearance at the Motion Picture Hall of Fame, Mae asked to see the midgets, so she was driven over to the Midget Village and you would have died laughing if you had seen Mae clambering into a midget house.  The furniture being too small, she had to sit on the floor with dozens of midgets gathered about her.  The midget who impersonates Mae West in the show climbed up on her lap and I overheard this  priceless bit of conversation: "Miss West," lisped the little Mae West, "I hope they write a newspaper story about us and say that you're my mother."
• • "Oh, no, oh, no," remonstrated Mae, "not that."  . . .
• • Source: Article for Screenland written by Tom Kennedy; published in the  October 1935 issue.
• • On Wednesday, 4 September 1935 in Hollywood • •
• • Joseph Breen wrote to John Hammel on Wednesday, 4 September 1935, complaining (again) about the script for "Klondike Annie" and Mae's dialogue.
• • On Friday, 4 September 1987 in California • •
• • "I'm No Angel" starring Mae West was screened on Friday, 4 September 1987.  This iconic comedy was selected for the series "Paramount Pictures: 75 Years." Mae West's director was Wesley Ruggles.  Audiences enjoyed it at the UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive during Labor Day weekend. 
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • The past five years, however, have seen an explosion of critical interest in Mae West, not simply in her status as a camp-and-vamp Hollywood icon, but in her controversial work as a playwright and novelist, her experimentation with sexually and racially coded performance styles.  
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "All my pictures have made big money.  And I wouldn't take on any project unless it was right for me."
• • Quote, Unquote • •

• • A book on musical theatre mentioned Mae West.
• • Theatre chroniclers Gerald Martin Bordman and Richard Norton wrote:   Robert Baral in his history of the genre, Revue, contends that Mae West's exaggerated mannerisms were derived from Bert Savoy's flamboyant technique and that her famous "Come up and see me sometime" [sic] reflects Savoy's "You musssst come over!" ...
• • Source: From the book "American Musical Theatre: A Chronicle" written by Gerald Martin Bordman, Richard Norton (Oxford: Oxford University Press);  published on 1 March 2010
• • Note: Bert Savoy [1888 — 1923] was an American entertainer who performed in drag
• • 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 3,200 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3260th 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 • • in 1932 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
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