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MAE WEST did a very long interview with celebrity reporter Mike Connolly, a columnist for the Palm Springs chronicle Desert Sun. Guess Mike was persuasive and quite handsome.
• • This is Part 2 of 3 excerpts. Hope you have been enjoying this personal glimpse of Mae.
• • "An Interview with Mae" — — written by Mike Connolly • •
• • What Mae would prefer playing is herself in the movie version of her new autobiography.
Producers Jim Geller and Murray Feil have already pitched her for it. She sees "Goodness" as a three-act screenplay with a child actress in the first act, a "Marilyn Monroe-type" midway, and herself at the grand finale.
• • Mae will be 68 years old next August 17th. She looks anywhere from 45 to 50 and, under certain lights, even younger. Her figure is great. I didn't ask her how she does it. The others had asked her that. I asked what she'll be doing professionally after her "Person-to-Person" TV show next Friday, in which the producers are hoping they’ll be able to show her bedroom in her home (the same one on the cover of her book) with its ceiling mirrors.
• • “I like TV,” she said. “I got a lot of good reaction to the Academy Awards show I did with Rock Hudson. I also have three writing projects going, or perhaps I should call them rewriting projects.
• • "One is a novelization of my 1926 play, 'The Drag.' They requested me not to bring it to Broadway after the try-out tour. It was 20 years ahead of its time. But now that we've had 'Compulsion' and 'Tea and Sympathy’ I think it’s high time for 'The Drag'," Mae continued.
• • "I'm also adapting two other stage plays of mine, ’Catherine Was Great’ and ‘Come On Up,' as screenplays.”
• • She showed me a gilt-edged, hand-tooled presentation copy of her autobiography, a gift from the publishers. "Pretty nice to have it all in a beautiful edition like this,” she sighed. “All my achievements and transgressions. That’s a big word for ‘sins.’ ” . . .
• • This concludes Part 2. Look for Part 3 on Tuesday, 13 October 2015.
• • Source: "An Interview with Mae" written by Mike Connolly for Desert Sun; published on Friday, 9 October 1959.
• • John Edwin West [11 February 1900 — 12 October 1964] • •
• • Though Mae had taken good care of her health, shortly after her 71st birthday she was hospitalized and her ailments were scrutinized. The diagnosis was diabetes.
• • As Mae was quietly convalescing at home, with Paul Novak at her side, she received the worst news. Her beloved brother John Edwin West, 64, had suffered a massive heart attack.
• • As he matured, her kid brother's career had stalled. More than once, he had turned to his movie-queen sister for assistance. But Mae also remembered how much she had counted on John's unfailing loyalty during her court trials. In 1930, for instance, when the "Pleasure Man" court trial had bankrupted her, and she was too upset to seek work, John supported his two unemployed sisters and set up a nice household for the three of them in an apartment building on West 57th Street (across the street from Carnegie Hall).
• • Born on 11 February 1900, John Edwin West died during October — — on Monday, 12 October 1964. He was 64. Mae made arrangements for her beloved brother's body to be sent back to Brooklyn to the family crypt.
• • On this day, we mourn and remember a good brother who loved his sister.
• • On Thursday, 12 October 1933 • •
• • The premiere of "I'm No Angel," starring Mae West was held on Thursday, 12 October 1933 in Hollywood. A triumphant date in Hollywood for the Brooklyn bombshell.
• • On Thursday, 12 October 1933 • •
• • Mae West is irresistible, as she sits at the counter, totally distracting the soda jerk in the animated feature "Soda Squirt" released in the USA on 12 October 1933.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • William Diehl, successful suspense author, saw the Hindenburg explode, had Mae West for a baby sitter, and served as Martin Luther King's personal photographer. (Mae "baby sat"?)
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I started it — — years ago."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A Palm Springs newspaper mentioned Mae West.
• • Mike Connolly wrote: Mae West is still wig-waggin Mickey Hargitay, erstwhile Top Banana in her muscleman lineup before Jayne Mansfield latched onto him (or did Mickey latch onto Jayne?) Anyway, Mae wants the Mick to sign that release showing he's no longer under contract to her.
• • Mike Connolly added: It's the same piece of paper she shoved at him when the "bust-up’’ came, saying. "Here, sign!” Mickey mumbled, “You know I can’t write.” And Mae said, "So do like you do when you cash those $250-a-week paychecks I’ve been making out in your name — — make an X!”
• • Source: Hollywood gossip column written by Mike Connolly for The Desert Sun; published on Monday, 12 October 1959
• • 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 3286th 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 • • at home in 1959 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC Mae West
MAE WEST made front page news on May 13th. The headlines read "Hollywood star Mae West to stock her new farm with horses." Let's enjoy this vintage article together, shall we?
• • "Mae West Buys Small Farm but She Won't Live on It" • •
• • Hollywood, Calif., May 13. Mae West has bought a 50-acre ranch but don't get the notion she's going rural. "The country air does something to you, but I'll take it in small doses," the blonde, healthy-looking screen siren said today. "No, I'm not going to live on the place. I'll just go out and look over the landscape once in a while."
• • It seems she hobnobbed so much with cows and chickens in her last picture, that she got the idea there to check this out — — some outdoor business involving the animals.
• • The ranch, near Tarzana, about 20 miles west of Hollywood, will be a home for horses.
• • Brother John West, Jr., and Mae own another 10-acre plot, originally purchased for her late father, John (Jack) West. It once was big enough for John West, Jr's small racing stable, but a degree of success stimulated him to add to his string. Hence, the new ranch. Miss West plans to build a large residence there soon — — a typically Hollywood ranch, that is to say, in other words, a hodge-podge of rusticism, penthouse grandeur, and Spanish gaudiness. ...
• • Source: page 1 article printed in The Harrisburg Telegraph (Pennsylvania); published on Thursday, 13 May 1937.
• • On Sunday, 13 May 1956 • •
• • Blonde bombshell Jayne Mansfield encountered the very handsome Mr. Universe 1956 Miklos (Mickey) Hargitay on Sunday, 13 May 1956, while attending a performance of the "Mae West Revue" at the Latin Quarter night club in Manhattan.
• • Twenty months later, Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay wed on 13 January 1958. They had three children and, alas, would divorce in 1964.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • "Mae West Film returns to the Strand" • •
• • "She Done Him Wrong," starring the one and only Mae West, plays through Thursday at the Strand. Fortunately, her pictures are not as boring as the stories circulated about her.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "You mustn't go away with the idea that men is the only subject I know anything about."
• • Mae West said: "The country air does something to you, but I'll take it in small doses."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Mohave Valley Daily News mentioned Mae West.
• • D.K. McDonald explained: As an outgrowth of the healing process, Bullhead City artist Sharon Haugen began making collages. “I started making decorations to go along with the theme of the luncheon,” Haugen said, referring to an annual alumni luncheon she hosts each year in Seattle. The luncheon themes explored the 1940s and 1950s, World War II, and last year, the 1920s.
• • D.K. McDonald continued: “The Roaring Twenties collages were made to be dimensional and were of the various personalities of the era including silent film stars like Charlie Chaplin, Mabel Normand, Fatty Arbuckle, Rudolph Valentino, Gloria Swanson, and the Ziegfield Follies, Mae West, Al Capone, and Babe Ruth ... there were 32 collages in that series.” Haugen said. “I have always had an interest in the Roaring 20s and silent films. In a past life I must have been a flapper . . .”
• • Source: Article for Mohave Valley Daily News; published on Wednesday, 7 May 2014
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started nine years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2912th 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 1964 with Mr. Ed • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC Mae West
MAE WEST cherished immutability. 
• • Charles Darwin may have challenged the fixity of species, however, Mae made up her mind that she would only play characters who were in their twenties — — women who were sexy, ambitious, sought after, in control, and decorated with diamonds.
• • The autumn of 1964 brought Mae face to face with her fears: mortality and mutability.
• • Though Mae had taken good care of her health, shortly after her 71st birthday she was hospitalized and her ailments were scrutinized. The diagnosis was diabetes.
• • As Mae was quietly convalescing at home, with Paul Novak at her side, she received the worst news. Her beloved brother John Edwin West, 64, had a massive heart attack.
• • As he matured, her kid brother's career had stalled. More than once, he had turned to his movie-queen sister for assistance. But Mae also remembered how much she had counted on John's unfailing loyalty during her court trials. In 1930, for instance, when the Pleasure Man court trial had bankrupted her, and she was too upset to seek work, John supported his two unemployed sisters and set up a nice household for the three of them in an apartment building on West 57th Street (across the street from Carnegie Hall).
• • Born on 11 February 1900, John Edwin West died during mid-October — — on 12 October 1964. Mae made arrangements for his body to be sent back to Brooklyn to the family crypt.
• • Two weeks later, Mae — — who hated to think about death — — made a Will.
• • Leon Errol [1881 — 1951] • •
• • Unfortunately, Mae West did not last too long when "A Winsome Widow" opened in April 1912. But during the rehearsals, she got to work with vaudeville mainstay Leon Errol, who was cast in the role of Ben Gay.
• • Born in Sydney, Australia on 3 July 1881, Leon Errol had a busy career as a variety artist, on Broadway, and in the cinema. He died in Hollywood, California in the month of October — — on 12 October 1951. On another occasion, Leon Errol will be discussed more fully.
• • On 12 October 1997 • •
• • On 12 October 1997, readers of the Orlando Sentinel read this intriguing news item [under the title "Author Uncovers The Real Diehl"]: You probably know that William Diehl is a successful suspense author, known for such best-selling novels as Primal Fear, wrote Sentinel Staffwriter Leslie Doolittle. But did you know he saw the Hindenburg explode, had Mae West for a baby sitter, served as Martin Luther King's personal photographer, had his throat slashed by three Mississippi racists, didn't start writing books until his 50th birthday, played a pimp in the Burt Reynolds movie based on his first best-seller and dedicated his latest novel, Reign in Hell, to his late dog? Mae West was his babysitter, eh?
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Considering what Sex got me, a few days in the pen 'n' a $500 fine ain't too bad a deal."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article about a Liberace biopic for HBO also mentioned Mae West.
• • Corinne Heller writes: Liberace, known for his flashy outfits as much as his music, never revealed his sexual orientation and successfully sued the UK tabloid The Mirror for implying he was gay in a 1956 article. When asked if he "indulged in homosexual practices," he said in court: "No, sir, never in my life. I am against the practice because it offends convention and it offends society."
• • Scott Thorson served as the entertainer's bodyguard, chauffeur, and confidant. Liberace was also linked romantically to women, including actress Mae West. ...
• • Source: Article: "Matt Damon, Michael Douglas to play lovers in Liberace biopic for HBO" written by Corinne Heller for On The Red Carpet; posted on 11 October 2011• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2081st 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 court in 1930 • •• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYCMae West.
