Mae West: Coney Island Kootch

Let's reflect on an American songwriter whose amusing way with a song intrigued a very perky Brooklynite long before she became MAE WEST.
• • Born in July, Harry Von Tilzer [8 July 1872 — 10 January 1946] was known for his popular slightly naughty novelty songs such as "Mariutch Make-a the Hootch a-ma-Cooch in Coney Island" [published in 1907 but probably written earlier] — — about the savvy Italian girl who became a side-show sensation when she realized you didn't need feet in order to dance.
• • "Mariutch" was performed by an aspiring vaudevillian "Baby May, Song and Dance" when her parents would enter their daughter in amateur contests in Brooklyn. Her rendition of this Italian dialect number often won a prize and no doubt the seductive wiggling helped generate applause.
• • "Even as a child," Beverly told a reporter, "my sister's songs were risque."
• • What we are not told is who taught a little girl how to shimmy and be sultry onstage. Nor is there a West family recollection in print about which parent chose the sheet music, helped "Baby May" rehearse it, or coached her on the Italian dialect pronunciation. Could it have been Matilda, raised in Bavaria, with her heavy German accent? Or was it John West, raised near the docks on Avenue D in Manhattan, who sparred and boxed with Italian immigrants and other ethnics and, therefore, could imitate them?
• • Focused also on the bright lights and the marquee was Harry Von Tilzer, who was born in Detroit under the name Harry Gummbinsky (which he shortened to Harry Gumm before later taking the "Von Tilzer" monicker under which he became famous). At age 14 he had joined a traveling circus, where he took his new name. He began playing piano and calliope while creating new tunes and incidental music for shows. After writing many songs (often in partnership with Andrew B. Sterling), hits that were performed by well-known vocalists, Harry Von Tilzer achieved his share of good fortune.
• • Harry's niece Frances Gumm went on to fame as the renamed Judy Garland.
• • Mae, eternally inspired by her childhood visits to Coney Island, began her famous motion picture "I'm No Angel" [1933] with a kootch dancer in a side-show. She named the character Tira but it's clear how this got started years before.
• • If you like frisky songs, come up and see Mae on her annual birthday celebration in New York City on 14 August 2010. Tickets are now on sale — — www.TheGaudyGirls.com — — and you'll enjoy their bawdy, gaudy, naughty way with a song.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
________
Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1907 song sheet • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC
Mae West.

Mae West: Mariutch March 5

Taken as a child to Coney Island amusement parks, MAE WEST was enthralled with Bostock's lions. But years before her lion-taming fantasies surfaced, the stage sensation known as "Baby May, Song and Dance" performed the famous risque song about "Mariutch (Make-a the Hootch-a Ma Kootch) Down on Coney Isle" — — about a girl who discovers you don't need feet in order to dance.
• • In 1933, the 40-year-old Brooklynite morphed into a non-Mediterranean Mariutch for the opening scene of "I'm No Angel," which merely hints at the fearsome shimmy capability of the curvy sideshow hip-swinger called Tira.
• • Starting on the 5th of March, this vintage blockbuster hit can be enjoyed this week in London, England. If they were only selling salt water taffy down at the BFI Southbank, it would all be too delightfully "Kings County" authentic.
• • WHAT: "I'm No Angel," written by and starring Mae West
• • WHEN: March 5th — 11th, 2010
• • WHERE: BFI Southbank: Belvedere Road, South Bank, London SE1 8XT; T. 02079283232.
• • Tell them you heard about it on the MAE WEST BLOG.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
________
Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • none • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC
Mae West.

Mae West: Von Tilzer

His life ended In January so it is time to reflect on American songwriter Harry Von Tilzer [8 July 1872 — 10 January 1946] who helped launch MAE WEST's career. One of his popular novelty songs — — "Mariutch Make-a the Hootch a-ma-Cooch in Coney Island" — — was performed by "Baby Mae" when her parents entered their daughter in amateur contests. Her performance of this Italian dialect number often won a prize.
• • Von Tilzer was born in Detroit under the name Harry Gummbinsky (which he shortened to Harry Gumm before later taking the "Von Tilzer" monicker under which he became famous). At age 14 he joined a traveling circus, where he took his new name. He began playing piano and calliope while creating new tunes and incidental music for shows. After writing many songs, performed by well-known vocalists, Harry Von Tilzer achieved wealth and fame.
• • Harry's niece Frances Gumm went on to fame as the renamed Judy Garland.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
________
Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Mae West
• • Photo: Mae West • • song sheet • •
NYC
Mae West.