Mae West: Strictly Vital

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 5 of 16 segments.
• • “Mae West: Don't Call Her Lady” • •  
• • Mae West: Torrid talking pictures • •

• • Ben Maddox wrote: Underneath the platinum wig she dons for camera purposes is no baby face, but a challenging, openly alluring countenance.  
• • Ben Maddox wrote: Her eyes are not extraordinary, but they are emphatically come-hithery. There's a taunting curve to her lips.    
• • Ben Maddox wrote: She's got the most peculiar rhythm to her walk and a shape which is one of those good old-fashioned feminine figures.  
• • Ben Maddox wrote: Not strictly beautiful — strictly vital.
• • Mae West: Her crowning attribute • • …  
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Picture Play; published in the issue dated for April 1933.
• • On Wednesday, 18 March 1936 • •
• • Variety reviewed "Klondike Annie," calling the motion picture "chic" and starting the critique on the front page. But the man-on-the-aisle objected to several elements therein. "Miss West is handicapped by having to wear rather dowdy dresses in about half the footage. In other portions she struts fine feathers and wears a set of furs that will make the women gasp," he commented on page 17.
• • Variety Magazine's issue was dated for Wednesday, 18 March 1936.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West turned over her business affairs to the New York lawyer known as Big Jim; her savings and her activities had come to the point where they needed special management.
• • Jim Timony proved to be the sagacious manager Mae needed, and with his advice and grooming their associations became more and more profitable for both.
• • 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 Connecticut newspaper mentioned Mae West.
• • “Sex” by Mae West • •
• • Is Mae West chastened by her recent visit to the police station? She is not! She says she is going to go right on talking out loud in the theater, giving the people what they want.
• • “Sure, I know what audiences like,” she says. “And when it comes to sex portrayals I know my onions. My play is true to life. And how can anybody suppress truth?”
• • Mae West added, “I believe that whatever is, is fit material for the theater.”  …
• • Manchester Evening News (Manchester, Conn.); published on Tuesday, 1 March 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 4,953rd 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 1933 • •
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Mae West: Naughty Newbie

Depending on the person who wielded the pen, 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 1 of 16 segments.
• • “Mae West: Don't Call Her Lady” • •  
• • In its introduction, Picture Play wrote: HIP, HIP, HOORAY! Mae West is the most refreshing personality to enter the movies since Heaven knows when! She doesn't try to be grand, she has no cultural chatter, no so-called philosophy, and she doesn't pretend to be a lady. She just works hard "building up her personality" and making herself talked about. Read her frank and unadorned interview on the opposite page. You'll like her for it.
• • Ben Maddox wrote: Mae West actually courts gossip and your worst innuendoes are sweet music to her ears. Here's why the screen's newest naughty gal can afford to be like that.
• • Mae West: Call her savage • • …  
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Picture Play; published in the issue dated for April 1933.
• • On Tuesday, 14 March 1939 at Madison Square Garden • •
• • The Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions • •

• • In mid-March 1939, Mae West flew home to NYC with her entourage, which included Jim Timony and Boris Petroff, to keep her company while she watched the Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions at Madison Square Garden.
• • In the ring was Billy Speary, one the most highly-heralded Golden Glovers in the world. Speary was a former flyweight and bantam National A.A.U. champ, winner of two Eastern and Inter-city crowns, and the veteran of an international campaign. The diminutive Welshman had thrilled thousands in Canada, South America and this country with his masterful boxing.
• • Sportscasters noted that Billy Speary would be making “his first appearance as a bantam before a New York throng.”
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Buxom Mae West of the films, a woman of many diamonds and few words, after many denials has finally admitted she married Frank Wallace, New York actor, 26 years ago.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "They talk about me being married. Would any woman in danger of a husband dare get furniture like that? It's very ladylike and would be plain ruined if some man put his big shoes on it. I don't waste money that way."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Screenland Magazine mentioned Mae West.
• • Mae West is so much the embodiment of a type that any blonde in London is humorously addressed by that screen name. After all, what does it matter for under the skin we're all brothers and it doesn't make any difference how we enjoy make-believe. …
• • Source: Screenland; published in the issue dated for August 1941
• • 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 4,949th 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 • • on 14 March 1939 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Hair Experiment

In 1934, Picture Play, piqued by a New York newcomer’s meteoric rise, pondered this: “Is MAE WEST a Fizzle? A bold discussion of an important question!” This is Part 18 of 29 segments.
• • Is Mae West a Fizzle? • •
• • Mae West: Hair style concerns • •
• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: Ruggles viewed her critically and he answered she looked OK.
• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: Mae was satisfied. Work began. She did four scenes or more.

• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: Then, while waiting for the cameras to be set up for another shot, she began to experiment with her hair.  
• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: She brushed it back and off one ear and the effect pleased her.
• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: She told Ruggles she meant to wear her hair like that in the next shot.
• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: This, however, would not do.
• • Mae West: Ruggles explained her scenes would not match if a hairstyle alters • • …
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Picture Play; issue dated for May 1934.
• • On Monday, 10 February 1936 in Hollywood • •
• • Joseph Breen wrote to Paramount Pictures about Mae West and "Klondike Annie" several times before he agreed on Monday, 10 February 1936 to the film's release.
• • On Tuesday, 10 February 2009 • •
• • A book about Mae West "She Always Knew How: Mae West, A Personal Biography" by Charlotte Chandler was published in its hardcover edition (336 pages) by Simon and Schuster on Tuesday, 10 February 2009.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Despite the robust box office sales for "My Little Chickadee," and the advance word that predicted a sure-fire box office hit, the Hollywood Reporter held to their narrow opinion that "the story doesn't amount to much" and printed their sniggling sarcasm about the gags being “thin.”
• • The trade papers did emphasize that the considerable loyalty of Mae West's followers and the strong W.C. Fields' fan-base would create a demand at the movie houses.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Everyone wants to be Mae West. Why shouldn't I?"
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A fan magazine discussed an upcoming interview with Mae West.
• • In next month's Picture Play one of the shrewdest and best informed writers we know, Dorothy Herzog, the novelist, will discuss Mae West from every angle, including that of her future. She will describe Miss West on the set, what pleases her, what irks her, wherein she has genius, and in what particulars she is lacking [sic].
• • It is the best article [sic] ever written about her and we are proud to present it to our readers. …
• • Source: Picture Play; issue dated for April 1934
• • 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 4,800 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seventeen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,928th 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 • • Picture Play, issue dated for May 1934 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Rarely Alone

In 1934, Picture Play, piqued by a New York newcomer’s meteoric rise, pondered this: “Is MAE WEST a Fizzle? A bold discussion of an important question!” This is Part 16 of 29 segments.
• • Is Mae West a Fizzle? • •
• • Mae West: Grief-stricken, she missed a preview • •
• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: As it was, Mae was so grief-stricken over the little fellow's death that she missed the first preview of the picture, an unheard of remissness with her.
• • Mae West: Rarely alone on the set • •

• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: Mae is rarely alone on the set. Usually her manager, Jim Timony, and her style adviser, Boris Petroff, are with her.  
• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: Timony dates back to the old days when Mae was prancing in burlesque.  
• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: Boris Petroff is a more recent acquisition. He used to be a stage director with Paramount theaters.
• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: Mae wanted him with her as adviser. He is with her.
• • Mae West: Boris Petroff, style adviser • • …
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Picture Play; issue dated for May 1934.
• • On Friday, 8 February 1935 • •
• • Dated for Friday, 8 February 1935, the $3,500 allowance to James Timony was his 10% commission on Mae West's script for "Now I'm a Lady," sold to Paramount Pictures for $35,000. This was quite a sum in 1935 when most of the country was in the grip of the Great Depression.
• • On Monday, 8 February 1960 in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West got her star on the "Walk of Fame" at 1560 Vine Street on Monday, 8 February 1960.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Madame Wu's Garden in Los Angeles was a favorite of Mae West as well as the actor Cary Grant.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "She who hesitates is a damned fool."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A fan magazine reviewed a Mae West starrer.
• • “Go West, Young Man” (Paramount) starring Mae West • •
• • Preview Postscript • •
• • Modern Screen wrote: Those jools sported by La West are the genuine article, down to the last square-cut diamond, a fact attested to by the stalwart presence of three detectives on the set.  
• • Modern Screen wrote: Ever since Mae lost that batch of jewelry in a robbery, she's decorated with both detectives and diamonds.  . . .  
• • Source: Modern Screen; published in the issue dated for February 1937
• • 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 4,800 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seventeen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,926th 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 March 1933 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Jim in a Derby

MAE WEST gave various accounts about the inspiration for Diamond Lil and other particulars while still a Hollywood newcomer. Caroline Somers Hoyt interviewed Mae in January 1933. Her piece was published in the May issue, available to subscribers at the end of April. This is Part 12 of 13.
• • Bad, Bad Woman: Meet Mae West, a truly remarkable woman • •
• • Caroline Somers Hoyt spoke to Mae for Modern Screen • •
• • Mae West: Jim Timony wears a derby • •

• • Hoyt wrote: And then along came a lad whose last name is Timony. He's a brunette gentleman who wears a derby hat, smokes big black cigars, and doesn't mind getting hard-boiled when the occasion demands. You'll see him around backstage or wherever Mae is.
• • Hoyt wrote: Big Jim gives her plenty of good advice and Mae has liked him in a big way for a couple of years now.
• • Hoyt wrote: James Timony is what is known as a character.  
• • Hoyt wrote: Yessir, it's men that Mae knows best — and men who like her best. Then in Hollywood, she found she got on much better with the men than the women.
• • Hoyt wrote: Women sort of resent Mae. They know her reputation.
• • Mae West: Speaks a man's language • • ...
• • Caroline Somers Hoyt's 1933 interview concludes tomorrow with excerpt number 13.
• • Source: Modern Screen; issue dated for May 1933.
• • On Wednesday, 8 March 1978 • •
• • Mae West was discussed in a few news items prepared for Variety Magazine's issue dated for Wednesday, 8 March 1978.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •

• • Mae West turned over her business affairs to the New York lawyer known as Big Jim; her savings and her activities had come to the point where they needed special management. Timony proved to be the sagacious manager Mae needed, and with his advice and grooming their associations became more and more profitable for both.
• • 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 • •
• • An article in Modern Screen discussed Mae West.
• • Modern Screen wrote: We've finally run down those rumors about Mae West. There is a new Mae. Proof that satisfied us was that she no longer will ask the lads to come up and see her sometime. For she's given up that sixth-story apartment in Hollywood, and moved into a Beverly Hills bungalow.
• • Modern Screen wrote: And instead of lolling on white bear rugs in her leisure moments, Mae now devotes herself to raising vegetables in the back yard. It's all sort of beautiful. ...
• • Source: Modern Screen; published in the issue dated for July 1937
• • 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 16th 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 4,600 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fifteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,685th 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 • • Jim holds onto his derby and Mae holds his arm as they leave court in 1927; Jim in 1935 after another arrest • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest