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During the month of March 1924, MAE WEST was trouping through the southwest, where she had accepted a four-week contract to perform on the Interstate Vaudeville Circuit. Covering Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Arkansas, this was one of variety's least desirable routes and a far cry from the bath of light at Times Square.
• • Perhaps a motion picture promotional tour during the 1930s took her back to Tulsa — — because the new management of a local inn is displaying her portrait, claiming Mae slept there. Since they did not furnish gritty specifics such as which of the 600 rooms she booked, which floor she breezed through, or what year, you'll need to call them up and ask: T: 918-582-6296. [Do let us know!] • • Eighty-four years ago architect George Winkler designed the Mayo Hotel [at 115 W. Fifth Street, Tulsa, OK 74103], which went up in 1925, sparing no expense on the very cool marble and terrazzo flooring.
• • Unfortunately, the venue's guests since 1981 were mostly ghosts. An extensive renovation is under way, apparently, and new residents will start hanging their hats there by August 22nd. By Hallowe'en they ought to be in good spirits.
• • According to Macy Snyder, sales manager at the Mayo, workers are polishing the finials, spit-shining the doorknobs, and completing the $40 million renovation, equipping the landmark with 102 hotel rooms, 76 apartments, seven meeting rooms, and a new restaurant space. In 1980 the (then forlorn) Mayo was added to The National Register of Historic Places.
• • Tulsa World's Robert Evatt interviewed Ms. Snyder recently. Macy Snyder told him: "Those rooms will be unique as well because more than 100 different large photos of historic Tulsa and the Mayo's history, from famous guests to its recent reconstruction, will be scattered throughout the rooms and the hallways. ..."
• • The Mayo Hotel boasts of these famous connections, noted Robert Evatt: Oilman J. Paul Getty lived at the Mayo when he was a Tulsan. Mae West, John F. Kennedy, Bob Hope, Charles Lindbergh, Charlie Chaplin, and Babe Ruth are among its famous guests. Richard Nixon once spoke there. ...
— — Excerpt: — —
• • Article: "A milestone for the Mayo"
• • Byline: Robert Evatt, Tulsa World Staff Writer | Research by Hilary Pittman
• • Published in: Tulsa World — — http://www.tulsaworld.com/
• • Published on: 6 August 2009
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • none • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWestNYC
Mae West.
Wordplay wizards armed with pointy pencils faced off with MAE WEST this weekend.
• • New Yorkers got clues from Jim Horne, "Wordplay" blogger for The New York Times. In last week's column, Jim Horne teased crossword-addicts with his opening paragraph: “Honorary title bestowed on Bill Clinton, Muhammad Ali, and Mae West” has to be in serious contention for best clue of the year. Even better, the answer is outstanding too. I learn something with every crossword, and this little factoid is amazing. What do I need to do to become so honored? It’s my new personal mission. There is a lot to love in this collaboration by Doug Peterson and Barry C. Silk. ...
• • Jim Horne was referring to what is known as the Premium Crossword [or the Friday Puzzle for 17 July 2009] created by Doug Peterson and Barry C. Silk, a feature available to Times subscribers.
• • In Madison, Wisconsin, a local publication launched a quiz on July 5th, "Hidden in Plain Sight," challenging locals to I.D. local landmarks by their architectural details.
• • One photo showed a place where Mae West hung her hat once or twice in America's Dairyland. The Loraine, 131 W. Washington Avenue, completed as a $1.1 million hotel during 1924, was a chic structure converted 50 years later to a ho-hum state office building, then retro-fitted as a condo dwelling. In its heyday, The Hotel Loraine had been a hotspot whose notable guests included Mae West, Gloria Swanson, Ethel Barrymore, Dwight Eisenhower, Adlai Stevenson, Eleanor Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy.
• • We have a quiz: list seven NYC addresses where Mae West lived. You can't? Then come up on August 16th, enjoy the Mae West walking tour, and eyeball a few of these places yourself.• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • none • •
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Mae West.
Say "The Biltmore" and Mae-mavens will recall the infamous raid in 1928 of a gay play written by MAE WEST — — "Pleasure Man." But far from Times Square, out in California, there are fond memories of when Mae West and W.C. Fields performed at the Biltmore Theatre, once located inside the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles.
• • Richard Guzman mentioned this connection in his enjoyable article "Big Time at the Biltmore — — Historic Downtown Hotel Celebrates 85th Birthday" for the Los Angeles Downtown News. Apparently, this landmark [built in 1923 when Mae West was 30 years old] has attracted everyone from presidents to the Beatles to the actress who came to be known as the Black Dahlia.
• • According to Guzman, this hotel was the headquarters for John F. Kennedy during the 1960 Democratic National Convention, when he was nominated for president. In 1927, the venerable Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was founded there. And during that meeting, the Oscar was designed on a linen napkin.
• • Guzman writes: It was once the largest hotel west of Chicago. It opened with 1,000 rooms, its opulent grand ballrooms a mixture of Neoclassical, Moorish, Baroque and Renaissance styles. It was designed by Leonard Schultze and S. Fullerton Weaver, who also designed New York's Waldorf Astoria. . . .
• • The Biltmore Hotel, now known as the Millennium Biltmore — — and considered to be the most significant historic hotel in Los Angeles — — will be celebrating its 85th birthday this week. An invitation-only party on Thursday, 2 October 2008, is expected to attract 500 people.
• • Built in 1923, the Beaux Arts-style building is one of downtown's most recognizable structures. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.
• • Do read his feature to learn more about its intriguing history.
— — Source: — —
• • Article: "Big Time at the Biltmore — — Historic Downtown Hotel Celebrates 85th Birthday"
• • Byline: By Richard Guzman
• • Published in: Los Angeles Downtown News — — www.downtownnews.com
• • Published on: 29 September 2008
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • none • •
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Mae West.
Wouldn't you love to own a lavender feathered headdress that once adorned the head of Mae West? Robert Weisfeld yearned to — — and did.
• • A movie-maven since he was in elementary school, Robert Weisfeld always dreamed about collecting things that were once used, worn, or signed by the famous. Among his first teenage purchases was a hand-tinted poster of 1920s siren Jean Harlow. A black bonnet worn by Lillian Gish in the 1915 silent film “Birth of a Nation” is the oldest item in his possession.
• • The 53-year-old native of Abingdon, Virginia estimated that he has now amassed well over 500 bits of glitterati including Mae West's ornamental plumage, a “Kelly’s Heroes” military helmet autographed by Clint Eastwood, and a top hat of Fred Astaire’s. Footwear attracted his eye, too. He owns Betty Grable’s silver heels, three pairs of Jean Harlow’s size-3 shoes, and Bette Davis’ baby shoes.
• • For years, these keepsakes were in storage until his 80-year-old mother Martha had a brainstorm: put them on display.
• • Opened on 26 July 2007, Star Museum covers the 20-by-88-foot first floor of an 1865 building in downtown Abingdon, Virginia. Robert Weisfeld is planning for a seasonal rotation of his memorabilia, elements built around his appreciation of pop culture, Hollywood, and music.
• • Robert Weisfeld developed his collection as an adult living in Manhattan for almost 17 years. He scoured second-hand emporiums, thrift shops, antique stores, flea markets, and he attended the estate auctions of Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, and Rock Hudson. Eleven years ago, he returned to his Southern roots when he came home to be editor of the Virginian.
• • His collection has been insured for about $160,000. Not counting boxes of letters, newspapers, copies of Life Magazine, and photos, Weisfeld estimates he owns close to 1,000 unique bits that were once in the hands of a notable individual, for instance, actress Rosalind Russell’s $10.64 check for a 1947 electric bill and Richard Burton’s Roman shield from “Cleopatra.”
• • One showcase is arranged as if Marilyn Monroe had dropped her faux-leopard purse. Her wallet, sunglasses and paste chandelier earrings have slipped out, as well as a Las Vegas hotel swizzle stick, a pair of Frank Sinatra’s cuff links, and John F. Kennedy's White House matchbook.
• • The museum also genuflects to several musical and pop-culture personalities. Visitors will see clothing worn by Elvis Presley, Loretta Lynn's concert gown, and a 1949 Life Magazine cover signed by slugger Joe DiMaggio. But the museum’s focus — — from the photos on its walls to the evening gloves on view — — is the Hollywood studio heyday of the 1920s to the 1950s.
• • Come up and see Mae West in Abingdon, Virginia — — along with Jean Harlow, Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth, Fred Astaire, Janis Joplin, Loretta Lynn, and Elvis.
• • Collect even more Mae West memories on Friday evening 17 August 2007, when a guided tour will explore Manhattan's WEST-side during the "Mae West Side Story" walking tour. The event — — open to the public — — is timed to salute Brooklyn's own sexpot on her birthdate. [See the Annual Mae West Gala posting below.]• • Only 11 more days until Mae's birthday!
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1934 • •
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Mae West.
