Mae West: A Breezy Story

On Saturday, 28 March 1936 MAE WEST was delighting her fans in New England.
• • Central Square Theatre • •
• • “Mae Day” comes early this year, but we are referring to Mae West’s days which start on  Saturday. The days are 4 in number and the occasion is “Klondike Annie” with Victor McLaglen as the conqueror of the “West," in a breezy story of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast and the fabulous Alaskan Gold Rush.
• • On the same program is the latest Zane Grey story, “Nevada” with Larry “Buster” Crabbe, Kathleen Burke, Monte Blue, and Raymond Hatton. . . .
• • Cambridge Sentinel (Massachusetts); published on Saturday, 28 March 1936.
• • On Wednesday, 28 March 1927 • •
• • In March 1927, in reaction to the Broadway aspirations of Mae West's play "The Drag," the New York State Legislature passed a law banning all depictions of homosexuality on the stage.
• • "Sex" had already run for 339 performances • •
• • After the Grand Jury's indictments ended, the courtroom trial began in earnest on Wednesday, 28 March 1927. First on the agenda was jury selection.
• • A few days later, Norman Schloss would open the case for the defense, pointing out the most obvious details: that "Sex" had already run for 339 performances, and it had been seen by more than 325,000 patrons, including members of the police department and their wives, by judges of the criminal courts, by seven members of the district attorneys’ staffs, and by citizens of the city who showed no moral impairment. A Broadway “play jury” had previewed the show, and belated prosecution was unreasonable.
• • The prosecutor would argue that the play "Sex" was obscene and he would be calling a series of detectives who became courtroom actors.
• • Sergeant Patrick Keneally of the Midtown Vice Squad seemed to relish reciting the more ribald lines from "The Drag," and imitating the walk and gestures of "the fairies" on stage.
• • The full-length stage play "Courting Mae West" dramatizes the trial and other matters leading up to it — — and, of course, the colorful aftermath.
• • On Thursday, 28 March 1935 • •
• • Mae West was invited to party with the King of England during his jubilee in 1935.
• • The newspapers followed this story, announcing a few times that Mae West would definitely attend the party in London. However, it was not to be — — and the busy performer would not sail for Great Britain until after World War II when she toured in "Diamond Lil."
• • "Lord Byng Talks with Mae West" • •
• • According to The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser:  In 1935, Mae West was invited to the jubilee celebration of King George V in London, over the teacups at Paramount studio in Hollywood today by Lord Byng, British hero of Vimy Ridge. The actress entertained Lord and Lady Byng at tea on the set of her picture, and was in her usual good form saying, "Have another cup, dearie" to his lordship and "Two lumps, darling" to her ladyship. ...
• • Source: Article:  "Lord Byng Talks with Mae West" in The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser; published on Thursday, 28 March 1935.
• • Note: Julian Byng, 1st Viscount Byng of Vimy Ridge, died one month after the royal festivities on 6 June 1935.
• • On Saturday, 28 March 1936 • •
• • It was a jolly weekend in Princeton, NJ. The Arcade Theatre announced (on page 3) that it would be offering "Klondike Annie" starring Mae West today, Saturday, 28 March 1936.
• • Source: The Daily Princetonian; published on Saturday, 28 March 1936.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Hattie McDaniel also co-starred with Mae West in "I’m No Angel," with Shirley Temple and Bill “Bojangles” Robinson in "The Little Colonel," and with Paul Robeson in "Showboat."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "I was Snow White but I drifted."
• • Quote, Unquote • •

• • There was a lovely display ad in a Palm Springs paper for a show starring Mae West.
• • At the Hotel Sahara in Las Vegas — —Now Playing in The Conga Room,  Mae West and Company — — for reservations see your local travel agent!
• • Source: Item in Desert Sun; published on Saturday, 28 March 1959 
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 11th anniversary • •
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past eleven years. The other day we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 3,400 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3407th 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 1959 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC  Mae West

Mae West: El Paseo

It was on Monday, 29 December 1975 when Craig Russell was appearing as MAE WEST in Palm Springs, California.  Let's go back in time.
• • For the Sophisticated Adult! Al Anthony and Friends present . . . From the Plaza Hotel in New York and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas — — Impressionist Extraordinaire — — Craig Russell and Company — — You’ll meet: Judy Garland, Louis Armstrong, Talullah, Mae West, Carol Channing, Marlene Dietrich, and Hollywood’s Brightest Stars!!! . . .

• • Source:  Ad for the El Paseo show in The Desert Sun; published on Monday, 29 December 1975.
• • On Sunday, 29 December 1912 • •
• • In the Sunday morning newspapers on 29 December 1912, readers noticed that B.F. Keith was offering "Dinkelspiel's Christmas" along with "MAY WEST — singing comedienne" [yes, the newspaper spelled it "MAY WEST" in their 29 December 1912 ad].
• • The 14th Street theatre is, alas, long gone but we can only imagine how much fun we missed since, alas, we were not around to dial STuyvesant 3400 to reserve a ticket.
• • On Wednesday, 29 December 1937 • •
• • Variety did an article on the ill-fated broadcast Mae did on NBC: "Mae West Case Big Dilemma in Washington."  This piece was printed in Variety on Wednesday, 29 December 1937.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West plans a brand new act for her return to Lou Walters' Latin Quarter in New York in April.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:   "I'm going to change my tempo and work very, very fast. This picture needs a big lift to pick up the speed and wake an audience up."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The trade papers mentioned Mae West.
• • Major Pictures Corp., Production Line-Up for 1937-1938, 16 features released by Paramount.
• • Features set for production include: "Sapphire Sal:  Night of Mystery" — — Star: Mae West; director: Eddie Sutherland; star: Grant Richards;  producer: Emanuel Cohen. Type: "A Gay Nineties musical" . . .
• • Source: Item in Film Daily West;  published in July 1937
• • Note: the title would be revised to "Every Day's a Holiday" and released in the USA in time for Xmas on Saturday, 18 December 1937
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 11th anniversary • •    
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past eleven years. The other day we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 3,300 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3343rd 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 • • ad from 1975 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC  Mae West

Mae West: Lucky Watts

On Friday, 4 December 1936 MAE WEST was on page 1 along with her two racehorses:  Art Dillon and Lucky Watts.
• • "Horse Races Here Next Sunday" • •
• • Mae West, screen actress, has two favored horses competing in the Sunday races. The famous film star’s speedsters, Art Dillon and Lucky Watts will have W. E. Bakeoff driving them for a winning place at the Palm Springs Field Club. Considerable interest has been shown among local Palm Springs men, many of whom plan to purchase or lease some of the fine horses entered here Sunday so they will race under their colors.
• • Source: Item in The Desert Sun;  published on Friday, 4 December 1936. 
• • On Sunday, 4 December 1932 • •
• • It's more than amusing that Billy Sunday chose a Sunday to pay a visit to Mae West with his plain-faced wife. On 4 December 1932, Mr. and Mrs. Sunday posed for several cheeky photographs on the set of "She Done Him Wrong." In one shot, Billy is pretending to smash the set's saloon with a chair. Too funny.
• • On Monday, 4 December 1933 • •
• • Motion Picture Herald ran an article on Mae West, who had been robbed, in the issue dated for Monday, 4 December 1933.
• • On Monday, 4 December 1978 • •
• • Hollywood icon Mae West, still surrounded by young and handsome men and gorgeous bodybuilders, piqued the interest of the editors of People Magazine. They did a piece on "Sextette" in the issue dated for Monday, 4 December 1978.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Presenting "Go West Young Man" — — and make hey-hey while Mae shines!
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "It's what they see in my eyes that counts."
• • Quote, Unquote • •

• • A San Francisco nightspot mentioned Mae West.
• • The Golden Gate Night Club went big time recently when they offered “Female Impersonators.”  There were four of them and they were billed under the names of popular stage and screen stars. They were Bronze Mae West, Peaches Browning, Miss California, Miss Texas, Miss Petite, etc.  
• • The unique makeup and different personalities, together with clever showmanship, packed in the paying customers and the manager were all smiles.  . . .
• • Source: Item in Indianapolis Recorder; published on Saturday, 1 December 1934 
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 11th anniversary • •    
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past eleven years. The other day we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 3,200 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3326th 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 1934 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC  Mae West