Mae West: Is Once Enough?

"You only live once," MAE WEST used to say, "but if you do it right, once is enough." And at least once every year on August 17th, certain MAE-mavens come together in her honor.
• • There they are — — heavy with giftbags and light of heart — — standing in the lobby of Mae West's former residence on West 57th Street [New York, NY 10019].
• • This year's walking tour — — labelled the "Mae West Side Story" — — explored the actress's wild WESTside. Intrepid explorers set out with NYC historian LindaAnn Loschiavo, and visited three of Mae West's exotic former homes; a speakeasy where the actress socialized with bluebloods and red-blooded gun-toting gangsters such as Legs Diamond, Larry Fay, Owney Madden, "Feets" Edson, Texas and Tommy Guinan; ancient vaudeville theatres; venerable Broadway houses; and more.
• • Participants, who came from as far away as Great Britain and California, enjoyed the experience of being chez Mae where, after the final stop, the group returned to raise a flute of bubbly in her honor — — under her own roof. It was a special thrill for all, and a perfect finale to Mae's day.
• • Mae West always said, "I was born on a cool night on a hot month so I knew I could expect surprises." As the walking tour paused for a drawing of raffle prizes around the fountains at Columbus Circle, a sign flashed the New York City temperature: 62 degrees F — — on Friday 17 August 2007. Mae was in the air.
• • Photo courtesy of Mae-maven Conrad Bradford [not shown in the picture].
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West Gala fans • • 2007 • •
NYC
Mae West.

Mae West: Wild WEST-side

Hollywood Icon Sneaks into the Spotlight
Come up and see Mae in her hometown.

In August, on the actress's birthday — — Friday evening on August 17, 2007 — — the Annual Mae West Gala will present a picture-perfect walking tour: "Mae West Side Story." At each location, Mae-mavens will be treated to rare vintage photographs that show the building as it looked decades ago when Mae West (1893 — 1980) was inside.
• • Leading this tour is New York City historian LindaAnn Loschiavo, who is organizing a colorful Mae West exhibition with The Museum of the City of New York, and whose latest play "Courting Mae West" is heading to an off-Broadway theatre shortly.
• • This year, the August 17th tour will focus on Manhattan's vibrant theatre district, where Mae's WEST side will be explored during visits to more than a dozen sites between West 50th Street and West 63rd Street. As a special treat, participants will stop at three addresses where the blonde bombshell hung her famous hats. Other locations include her dance school, the jewelers who created the expensive "Diamond Lil" dazzlers, legitimate theatres, and vaudeville houses, along with the speakeasies and night spots where she socialized and made whoopee with Rudolf Valentino, George Raft, Al Jolson, Ruby Keeler, Texas Guinan, Barbara Stanwyck, and other celebrities.
• • Secretive and image-conscious, the Brooklyn bombshell carefully covered up her private life, which included frequent partying at gangster-owned clubs, a hushed-up marriage to an Italian accordionist, sances behind curtains, brief sub-lets in trophy apartment houses, and multi-racial love affairs.
• • In the past, guests of these yearly Mae West events have included playwright Sam Shepard, actress Jessica Lange, broadcaster Joe Franklin, ballplayers from the New York Yankees, well-known screenwriters, and a diverse group of Mae devotees who travel cross country to The Big Apple during the dog days of summertime.
— WHO — WHAT— WHEN — WHERE — COST — SUBWAY —
• • Festivities kick off on Mae West's birthday August 17, 2007. The public is invited.
• • TIME: "Mae West Side Story" tour begins at 7:00 PM -- ends 8:30 PM.
• • PLACE: Tour begins on Broadway at West 50th Street [NE corner].
• • SUBWAY: BMT to Broadway -- West 49th Street station
COST:
• • VIP tickets: $25 per person - including tour and reception and giftbag — and all VIP tickets must be pre-paid by August 15, 2007.
• • TOUR ONLY: $15 per person (cash only) — buy tickets on Friday evening August 17 for tour only — $15 tickets do NOT INCLUDE PARTY nor GIFTBAG.
• • Sorry, no exceptions and no refunds. Advance payment via PayPal.
• • EMAIL: Email payment to PayPal: comeupseeMAE (at) aol.com.
• • Updates and past party pictures are online.
• • URL: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com
• • Sponsorship/ giftbag and MEDIA inquiries are welcome.
• • Source: PRWEB.com
• • Only 16 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 • • 1932 • •
NYC
Mae West.

Mae West: Sun in Leo

MAE WEST was born on 17 August 1893 under the zodiac sign Leo (the Lion). Those who have their Sun in Leo are born between July 23rd to August 22nd.
• • Why not spend Mae's birthday with her? Go on the "Mae West Side Story" walking tour and visit three of her former homes in NYC. [See the Annual Mae West Gala posting below.]
• • Did Mae West read horoscopes? Yes. She would have related to an astrological forecast such as this one: "As a lion, you let out your roar, Walt Whitman's "barbaric yawp" that inspires and uplifts others. You too are untamed, untranslatable. You do not blend into the woodwork, but rather you take over and exude warmth, generosity, with a deep desire to understand others. You are energy, a force that dominates, and at its worst you can be destroyed by a lack of fulfillment.
• • The Sun is most radiant when it resides in Leo, bringing with it pageantry, ceremony, the creative spirit, and the artist. Both fixed and fiery, impulsive yet stubborn, Leo is wrapped in certainty and absolutes that need expression.
• • Leo-people frequently find release for their energy on the stage, enjoying the star role, or being the director or writer. In any case, the Leo is a visionary who goes with the flow in a receptive, never relaxed, way. Brilliant, cocky, defiant of authority, Hollywood is full of Leos who strongly emerge with the statement: "I am different! I am me!"
• • At their weakest, Leo-people can be too dogmatic, which can be augmented with attention to flexibility. Your sensitivity is a double-edged sword, for you can also be hurt easily. You like to be worshipped, though this may be unrealistic. Your partners must remember that you are the king (or queen). You enjoy being wined and dined, seduced — — you enjoy sex. Your expansive nature makes you broad-minded, faithful, and loving. This translates into being very ambitious, and you thrive on a career that involves creativity, emotion, and organization. Your natural sense of drama needs to be accentuated. You would be at home in the courtroom, operating a theater — — anywhere on stage and in-charge — — you make excellent employers. You excel at working with the public, in front of people — — an actor, orator, speaker, CEO would all be easy for you. No menial job would do for you. ...
• • Only 24 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 in lion-tamer garb • • 1933 • •
NYC
Mae West.