Mae West: Failed Ostriches

MAE WEST kept the ostrich farms prosperous by reviving the fashions of the 1890s, observed a Sunday columnist on 29 April 1934. But eventually, according to this reporter, the screen siren failed the flightless bird. Publisher Martin Quigley once ranted and railed against the screen siren, exclaiming that she was "a symbolism of attainable sex, garnished with ostrich plumes of the red plush parlor period."
• • All right now. Let's see what's behind this squawking.
• • "Mae West and Sally Rand Fail Ostriches" • •

• • Columnist Kirke Simpson wrote: The combined charms of Mae West and Sally Rand have not saved a formerly famous and profitable ostrich farm near Pasadena, California. Once said to be worth $500,000, the farm was recently put on sale to pay $132 in delinquent taxes.
• • Kirke Simpson explained: From a herd (or is it a flock?) of more than 200 ostriches, the number has dwindled to about fifty. Their sad fate cannot be blamed on the ostriches. They did not hide their heads in the sand, but trouble overtook them just the same.
• • Kirke Simpson continued:  Although the ostriches have always had many admirers, it was wearing their plumes, not just looking at the birds, that made the ostrich farm profitable. When styles in women's hats changed and feather boas and fans went out, the ostrich farm was doomed. Perhaps the doom is only temporary. One never knows about feminine fashions.  . . .
• • Source:  Article "A Washington Bystander" written by Kirke Simpson in San Bernardino Sun; published on Sunday, 29 April 1934.
• • On Sunday, 29 April 1928 • •
• • Percy Hammond's lengthy article about Mae West's career and her latest drama "Diamond Lil" was titled “The Rewards of Virtue” — — and it led off his syndicated coverage of the theatre scene.  His positive review was first printed in The New York Tribune on Sunday, 29 April 1928.
• • On Friday, 29 April 1938 in the Boston Herald • •
• • Beantown readers were treated to this titillation on Friday, 29 April 1938, announced with a boldface headline: "Clutching, Squealing Crowd Greets Mae West with Mob Scene Here."
• • The Boston Herald reporter wrote: Complete with the publicized curves and husky, slurring accents that have made her practically a symbol of what she is pleased to call “the sex personality,” Mae West crashed into Boston yesterday morning through a clutching, squealing crowd of 3000 eager admirers who turned the South station into a mob scene.
• • The Boston Herald reporter noted: Cries of pain mingled with shouts of “There she is!” and “Give us a smile, Mae!” as the mob, in a surging onslaught, trampled on toes and barked shins to get closer to the object of it all. The plump blonde actress, in a trailing satin dress, with make-up thick on her features and a huge bunch of orchids clutched in a heavily jeweled hand, gave them the smile and was taken off to the Ritz-Carlton, where she is staying while appearing in person at the RKO Boston Theater this week.
• • On Saturday, 29 April 1950 in Pittsburgh • •
• • Pittsburgh's Mayor David Lawrence and Mae West shared the stage of the Nixon Theater on Saturday night, 29 April 1950, after the final performance of her play, "Diamond Lil." The 47-year-old playhouse was booked for bulldozing, making way for the new headquarters of the Aluminum Company of America.  Tsk.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • It has taken a bit of time for some producers to realize that the single name of Shirley Temple or Will Rogers or Mae West contains more sales talk than "a super-special with an all-star cast." Temple and Rogers and West are quantities that can be visualized by exhibitors as well as by their patrons.
• • Not so with "stupendous production" and "stellar cast." They are just high-sounding phrases that leave the reader cold and unimpressed.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I may be old, but I'm not that old. I've sat on more laps than a napkin."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article written by Percy Hammond praised Mae West (finally).
• • "Mae West Turns Good in 'Diamond Lil' — Play Is Recommended" • •
• • NEW YORK, May 5 — Theatre critic Percy Hammond wrote:  After suffering the twinges of disgrace for a time. Miss Mae West is now enjoying the comforts of respectability. . . .
• • Percy Hammond continued: Associations with the wardens, the gaolers, her culprit sisters in a local calaboose made her a good girl, it seems, for as soon as she was liberated, she set out to earn the rewards of virtue.  ...
• • Source:  Theatre by Percy Hammond rpt in The Pittsburgh Press; published on Sunday, 6 May 1928
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started nine years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2902nd 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 1935 wearing ostrich-trimmed robe • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC  Mae West 

Mae West: William Copley

MAE WEST was painted by William Nelson Copley [24 January 1919 — 7 May 1996].

• • On Tuesday, 2 May 1995 Christie's in New York City sold a signed Mae West portrait by artist William Copley for $15,525. Painted in 1966 at the height of the Pop Art movement, "Mae West" was done in acrylic paint on a large-format canvas (59.1 x 44.9 inches) that was signed and dated CPLY — 66.

• • Born in New York in 1919 and adopted by a publishing mogul in 1921, Copley was educated at Yale University.  Only after he opened his own gallery in California in 1947 did the art patron, writer, and publisher begin to paint for himself. His works as an artist have been classified as late Surrealist and precursory to Pop Art.  Copley's colorful cartoon-like canvases have appeared in several museums. 

• • In 1992, due to health complications, Copley settled in Key West, Florida with his sixth and final wife, Cynthia Gooch. He died there on 7 May 1996 from complications he suffered after a stroke.  The painter was 77.

• • Ramfis Diaz [22 February 1963 — 15 May 2011] • •

• • Ramfis Diaz was born in Arizona on 22 February 1963; his maternal grandfather was an orchestra leader.  Set on being a musician, 9-year-old Ramfis started piano lessons.

• • Ramfis scored soundtracks for local indie films and worked on recordings of his own.

• • Ramfis always had two passions: his music and the massive Mae West collection he gradually acquired, including thousands of original Mae West movie stills and candid pictures.. He also owned carnival chalkware statues — — and perhaps his most rare and treasured keepsake was a Mae West lamp that was produced for a short period of time in the early 1930s. Very few of these are currently known to exist.

• • Around 1994, Ramfis, then a 31-year-old musician, instituted a yearly tradition of having a festive open house in the Hollywood area to honor Mae West on August 17th.

• • Sadly, this popular West Coast Mae-maven died at 3:00 AM on Sunday morning, 15 May 2011 in Los Angeles.  He was 48. We mark the first anniversary of his passing.

• • On Wednesday, 15 May 1935 in Variety • •

• • In his sarcastic review of "Goin' to Town" movie critic Abel wrote:  "He's a Wicked Man But He Loves So Good" and "Now I'm a Lady" are two numbers, done more or less incidentally, and distinguished principally by the brass work in the orchestrations.

• • Abel noted: Star endeavors to square the general script inanities by a tongue-in-cheek treatment, but it's done too McCoy to impart any other impression. Role gives her ample opportunity to strut a flock of glad rags. Variety invariably found a way to slam Mae.

• • On Wednesday, 15 May 1935 in the N.Y. Mirror • •

• • "Back in 1909 I was playing as a single at the Canarsie Music Hall in Brooklyn on the Fox circuit . . . One day after my performance a swell-looking woman came around back stage and told me she had a daughter who was a comer.  She had seen my act, she said, and thought I could help her kid," Frank Wallace told the reporter from the New York Mirror.

• • The kid was a sweet 16-year-old brunette named Mae West. Frank and Mae immediately began rehearsing in the cellar of the West's Bushwick Avenue residence — — or so he claimed to recall (because other records dispute that address). 

• • On Saturday, 15 May 1948 • •

• • Mae West and Jim Timony boarded the Queen Mary on Saturday, 15 May 1948 at Southampton, England for a return voyage to New York City, arriving in their home port on 19 May 1948.

• • On Friday, 15 May 1964 • •

• • Conservative Catholic publisher Martin Quigley owned the trade journals Motion Picture Daily and Motion Picture Herald.

• • Mae West was interviewed by journalist Martin J. Quigley for Motion Picture Herald. The article appeared in the Friday, 15 May 1964 issue of this popular fan magazine devoted to the doings (and undoing) of the major screen stars.

• • In Her Own Words • •

• • Mae West said: "I'd rather be looked over than overlooked."

• • Quote, Unquote • •

• • An article on a camp classic mentioned Mae West.

• • Susan Dunne wrote: There's never been another movie like "Myra Breckinridge," and many people think that's a good thing. But that kind of legacy is what camp classics are made of. Rex Reed, the film critic, stars as Myron Breckinridge, who wants a sex change. He gets one courtesy of a whacked-out doctor, and becomes Myra (Raquel Welch). Myra heads to Hollywood, to go into the biz, to claim an inheritance from her uncle (John Huston), and to teach university classes. Her uncle's friend is a horny seventy-something talent scout, played by Mae West.  ...

• • Source:  Article: "Camp Classic Good For Laughs" written by Susan Dunne for The Hartford Courant; published on 15 May 2008 

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2301st 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 • • 1940s • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYCMae West.

Mae West: Lee Phelps

MAE WEST worked twice with Lee Phelps, who appeared in almost 650 motion pictures between 1917 and 1953 and received his wages but very little advancement or screen credit.
• • Born in Philadelphia in the month of May — — on 15 May 1893 — — Lee Phelps made his home in Culver City, California where several studios were based and where castings directors sent out a daily call for extras. He often played a cop, a guard, a bartender, a deliveryman, or a face in the crowd. Greta Garbo fans may remember when she ordered a whiskey in "Anna Christie" [1930] — — and he served it to her.
• • His Irish face and shiny pate can be spotted in "She Done Him Wrong" [1933] as a saloon waiter-singer and also (in a small comic moment) during "I'm No Angel" [1933] as a sideshow spectator who leers at kootchy-koo dancer Tira. Working right up to the end, Lee Phelps died in Los Angeles, California on 19 March 1953. He was 59 years old.
• • On 15 May 1964 • •
• • Mae West was interviewed by journalist Martin J. Quigley for Motion Picture Herald. The article appeared in the 15 May 1964 issue of this popular fan magazine devoted to screen stars.
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Howard Simons writes: Mae West may have said, “Too much of a good thing can be wonderful,” but even she knew better. Anyone who is drowning in money had best consider it is still drowning, and that is a fate to be avoided. . . .
• • Source: Article: "The Condition of the Financial Sector and the Limits to Money" written by Howard Simons for Minyanville: posted on 9 May 2011
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 1931st 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 • • 1933 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC
Mae West.