Mae West: Wilder

MAE WEST, wrote a New York City film critic, is her own plot. Having spent years grooming and custom-tailoring her public image, Mae West only wanted to play the roles that would magnify that persona, a screen presence that was resourceful, triumphant, alluring, and youthful.
• • Curiously, Billy Wilder wanted Mae West to play Norma Desmond in "Sunset Boulevard," a full-length feature released in August 1950. Billy had always found Mae West's image irresistible, ever since he had seen her early motion pictures for Paramount. In their commissary (and over at Lucey's), Mae and Billy had often chatted and swapped naughty narratives.
• • Billy Wilder was shocked to find Mae West more insulted than flattered at the chance to play a faded, eccentric, reclusive movie star. Shows you how much he knew about women, eh?
• • Born in Sucha, Galicia, Austria-Hungary during the month of June — — on 22 June 1906 — — Billy Wilder entered the film industry in 1929 as a screenwriter, penning numerous scripts for German films until Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933. Wilder immediately realized his Jewish ancestry would cause problems, so he emigrated to Paris, then the USA.
• • Billy Wilder [22 June 1906 — 27 March 2002] was a journalist, filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer, whose colorful career spanned more than 50 years and 60 films.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West: Al Hirschfeld

Many pens, pencils, paintbrushes, and pastels have swirled around the famous face and figure of MAE WEST, especially when she brought her revival of "Diamond Lil" to Broadway and played there from 1949 — 1951.
• • One illustrator who had sketched Mae West in 1940 for The New York Times when she was starring in "My Little Chickadee" also got a second chance to draw her for that newspaper a decade later. Since he was born during the month of June — — on 21 June 1903 — — a few words will be said.
• • Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Al Hirschfeld [21 June 1903 – 20 January 2003] was a Jewish caricaturist best known for his simple black and white satirical portraits of celebrities and Broadway stars. After he relocated to New York City, he took classes at the Art Students League.
• • After his cartoon appeared in the Times, Al Hirschfeld autographed and sold a limited edition of his etching of Mae West; the original sketch was done in pencil and its dimensions were 14 1/2 inches x 19 inches.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West: Gregory Ratoff

Gregory Ratoff and MAE WEST did not always see eye to eye.
• • Ratoff was related to Mae thanks to his shifty cousin Vladimir Baikoff, who was the actress's brother-in-law and Beverly's second Russian husband.
• • Born in Samara, Russia in April — — on 20 April 1897 — — the 25-year-old actor first sailed to the USA in 1922. A year later Gregory Ratoff wed actress Eugenie Leontovich. He returned to New York in July 1925 on the SS Mauretania with his Russian-Jewish mother, deciding to settle in.
• • As an accent piece, he was harmless. Gregory Ratoff played Tira's New York City lawyer Benny Pinkowitz in "I'm No Angel" [1933]. And many fans remember the amusing scene in which Mae West and Ratoff are discussing the breach-of-promise suit.
• • In early 1943, when "Catherine Was Great" was being hammered out, Mae got a visit from Ratoff. He wanted her to star in a new film for Columbia Pictures to be called "The Heat's On," which he would direct. To arouse Mae's interest further, he hinted that he might also produce her newest extravaganza rushing to Broadway.
• • After many delays and disruptions, "The Heat's On" was released 9 February 1944 to jeers, sneers, and razzberries.
• • For the record, "Catherine Was Great" had its live mainstage premiere on 2 August 1944. The show closed on the Gay White Way on 13 January 1945.
• • Gregory Ratoff's most famous screen role was his portrayal of the producer Max Fabian who feuds with star Margo Channing (Bette Davis) in "All About Eve" [1950].
• • Director, actor, and producer Gregory Ratoff contracted leukemia and died on 14 December 1960 in Switzerland.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West: Rona Barrett

MAE WEST's friend Rona Barrett turned 71 years old this month. Her birthdate is 8 October 1936. Born (like Mae) in New York City, Rona Burstein was intelligent, ambitious, and starstruck enough by 13 years old to begin a fan club for a fellow landsman — — Jewish crooner Eddie Fisher.
• • During the 1950s, Rona Barrett began penning an entertainment news column which appeared in newspapers around the country. By the time she launched a broadcast career, she was becoming as famous as the Hollywoodites she covered. She became the go-to-gal for gossip, taking over the throne that once belonged to Louella Parsons and Hedda Hopper. Instead of Hopper’s hats, Rona's trademark was her silvery-blonde poodle bob.
• • Rona Barrett hosted her own primetime TV specials and series along with publishing three successful magazines, including Rona Barrett's Hollywood, Rona Barrett's Gossip, and one about daytime TV.
• • She played herself in the Mae West movie "Sextette."
• • She also spoke about the Brooklyn sexpot for a TV documentary — — "Mae West: An Intimate Portrait."
• • Rona Barrett liked to call herself "a pussycat — — with an iron tail."
• • Happy Birthday to Rona, now cultivating lavender [Lavandula] on her California ranch.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West: Houdini

MAE WEST appeared on the same bill with Houdini occasionally.

• • Born Erik Weisz in the month of March, the Hungarian-American magician took the stage name of Harry Houdini.
• • Harry Houdini [24 March 1874 – 31 October 1926], the popular escape artist and stunt performer (as well as a debunker of sham spiritualists and an amateur aviator) is in the news this month. A recent book about his life raised the suspicion that the physically fit vaudevillian was murdered, perhaps by poison. His body, buried in November 1926 in Queens, New York, is being exhumed.
• • On 25 June 1926, Mae West appeared with Houdini on the same stage for the last time. The star of "Sex" was performing with the magician and other entertainers (such as George M. Cohan, Fannie Brice, the Marx Brothers, Al Jolson, Ann Pennington, Hazel Dawn, Eddie Foy, etc.) at the Polo Grounds on West 155th Street in Manhattan's Washington Heights area [zipcode 10032].
• • The fundraiser, organized for the benefit of the United Jewish Campaign, was staged by Mae's old dancing teacher Ned Wayburn.
• • Happy Birthday, Houdini, born on March 24th.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Polo Grounds • • where Mae performed in 1926 • •
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Mae West.