Mae West: Underdog at Heart

Jill Watts, biographer of MAE WEST, distinguished professor at CSUSM, and talented author of books on Father Divine [1879—1965] and Hattie McDaniel [1895—1952], which has inspired a bio-pic about the Oscar winner, has kindly consented to an exclusive interview with The Mae West Blog. This is Part 18.
• • where female friendships were forged • •
• • JILL WATTS: It seems like her friendships with women were forged with those who had backgrounds or struggles that resonated with her personal history.  One thing I do know, generally Mae liked underdogs and always considered herself one.
• • MW BLOG: QUESTION #6: There are numerous fan clubs for Marilyn Monroe, etc.  So why do you suppose there are no Mae West Fan Clubs in existence?
• • JILL WATTS: ANSWER #6: Another interesting question. That is something that I hadn’t considered before.  I guess there could be numerous reasons. 
• • JW: First, Mae had been gone from the scene for years. Her heyday was in the 1930s, although she remained professional active up until really late in life. 
• • JW: Second, Dolly Dempsey was really the keeper of the flame and had Mae’s blessing in terms of running her fan club.  She passed away since I finished my book.
• • Why doesn’t Mae West have a fan club? • •  . . .
• • This exciting interview with Prof. Jill Watts will be continued on the next post.
• • Recommended Reading: “Mae West: An Icon in Black and White” by Jill Watts [Oxford University Press; paperback edition, 2003]; 400 pages.
• • On Wednesday, 24 August 1921 • •

• • With "The Mimic World of 1921," the Shuberts had hoped for a big hit and especially since this revue was inaugurating the family's new roof theatre that featured a restaurant and a promenade overlooking Central Park.
• • Mae West wore a daring black velvet dress onstage, "cut at either side to display her bare hips," wrote Women's Wear [Wednesday, 24 August 1921], quaking under such a sartorial shock. Jack Dempsey must have liked what he saw because he went to Mae's dressing room on opening night — — and the two hit it off big-time.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • "Mae West Type of Posture Is Hit by Doctor" was a health how-to, informing readers that Mae's posture and the "society slouch" for women, and the military carriage for men, were condemned as menaces to health by Dr. Olive B. Williams of Worcester, Mass.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: “I am captive to myself.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • UPI mentioned Mae West.
• • A thought for the day: In the movie "Klondike Annie," Mae West said, "Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before." . . .
• • Source: The Almanac from UPI; published on Tuesday, 20 August 2013 
• • The evolution of 2 Mae West plays that keep her memory alive • • 
• • A discussion with Mae West playwright LindaAnn LoSchiavo — — 
• • http://lideamagazine.com/renaissance-woman-new-york-city-interview-lindaann-loschiavo/

• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 14th anniversary • •  

• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past fourteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 4,000 blog posts. Wow!  

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fourteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4031st 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/
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• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1921 • •
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Mae West: And WIGGLED

MAE WEST appeared on the cover of Broadway Brevities wearing one of her most seductive costumes from "Mimic World." In Act I, Scene 2, Mae's character was Shifty Liz. In Act I, Scene 5, she was cast as Madelon, a patron at the Cafe de Paris. In Act I, Scene 10, she portrayed Cleopatra in the skit "Shakespeare's Garden of Love." Act II also featured "An Interlude with Mae West" featuring the vivacious vaudevillian in a dress with that controversial (ahem) "detachable" strap; during the second half of the Program, she shimmied garbed as an Oriental dancer called "Our lady of Fatima."  
• • And Wiggled • •
• • Billboard's man-on-the-aisle, who did not care for the material much, nevertheless singled out Mae: "Yes, Miss West certainly wiggled. And Wiggled. AND WIGGLED." (This is an unedited comment from Billboard.)  Theatre Magazine printed a photo of Mae West, leaning with one hand on a glowing orb, one hand holding up her strapless dress, and the caption writer credited Mae with "the invention of the shimmy."
• • With "The Mimic World of 1921" the Shuberts had hoped for a big hit; this revue also inaugurated their new roof theatre that featured a restaurant and promenade overlooking Central Park. However, the show opened to mixed reviews from a number of top critics. Mae West wore a daring black velvet dress onstage, "cut at either side to display her bare hips," wrote Women's Wear [24 August 1921] in shock.
• • The enormous cast included performers hired mostly for background appeal such as the sisters Lebanon and Portland Hoffa, who died in the month of December.
• • Portland Hoffa [25 January 1905 — 25 December 1990] • •
• • Born in Portland, Oregon on 25 January 1905, Portland Hoffa had parents who must have named their offspring according to geography.  
• • Like her cast mate Mae West, actress Portland Hoffa also toured in vaudeville as a comedienne and dancer. One of three sisters, she is remembered best as the stage and radio partner of her first husband, Fred Allen. Portland met Fred Allen while performing in "The Passing Show" in 1922 and joined him in his vaudeville routines.
• • Portland Hoffa died in Los Angeles on Tuesday, 25 December 1990. She was 85.
• • On Monday, 23 December 1929 in Los Angeles • •
• • Mae West took her "Diamond Lil" cast to the West Coast where she hoped to meet with Hollywood producers who would help bring the popular stage play to the silver screen. After a booking in San Francisco, Mae moved to her final California destination: Los Angeles. An article about Mae was published in The L.A. Times on Monday, 23 December 1929.
• • On Tuesday, 23 December 1947 • •
• • On Tuesday, 23 December 1947, the Loew's State Theatre offered its last vaudeville show. Dave Apollon, who appeared in 1922 with Mae West in "Ginger Box Revue," closed with a performance on his mandolin.
• • On Sunday, 23 December 1984 • •
• • "West and Owney Had a Hot Romance" was a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the bootlegger and Cotton Club owner Owney Madden, who was Mae's lover, written by film critic Kevin Thomas and printed in The Los Angeles Times on 23 December 1984.
• • On Sunday, 23 December 2007 • •
• • In a year's end round-up that assessed the Bay Area theatre scene in 2007, reporter Pat Craig ranked the Berkeley, California revival of "Sex" by Mae West at the Aurora Theatre in the top ten. Successfully staged and with an appealing cast, "Sex" had been held over.
• • The final performance of "Sex" at the Aurora Theatre, with Delia MacDougall as Margy Lamont (the Mae West role), was on Sunday, 23 December 2007.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Asked about Owney Madden, Mae West said: "Very sweet and very vicious."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article on foreign pens mentioned Mae West.
• • Moderator wrote: For a long time, Danitrio has been thinking of coming out with a pen that's similar to "Mae West" but something that's more portable. As you know, Mae West shape pens are popular here, but they are all clipless and not very portable. Well, This one still retained the lovely curve, but now fitted with a clip, it is much more portable. ...
• • Source: Item on Fountain Pen Network; posted on Wednesday, 23 December 2009
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2524th 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/
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• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1921 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
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