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When MAE WEST performed onstage, she was outstanding and memorable. A Pittsburgh college student recalled being an usher when "Diamond Lil" delighted the ticket-holders during April 1950 at the storied Nixon Theatre. Let's enjoy this together.
• • "Nixon Theatre was spectacle itself for young usher" • •
• • Vincent DiRicco recalled: April 1950 holds special memories for me. I watched the legendary Mae West perform at the Nixon Theatre Downtown in “Diamond Lil.” More significantly, it marked the end of that grand and beautiful theater at the corner of Sixth Avenue and William Penn Place.
• • Vincent DiRicco continued: When the curtain came down on the final performance of “Diamond Lil” on April 30, one of the city’s finest playhouses closed its doors for good. The site had been sold to the Aluminum Company of America to make way for construction of Alcoa’s corporate headquarters.
• • Vincent DiRicco explained: Then a college student, I ushered at the Nixon on evenings and weekends. It was my first extended exposure to live stage shows and marked the beginning of a love of the theater that remains strong to this day. What a showplace the Nixon was! . . .
• • Source: Article "Storytelling: Nixon Theatre was spectacle itself for young usher" written by Vincent DiRicco for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; published on Wednesday, 20 May 2015.
• • On Friday, 3 June 1911 in The Clipper • •
• • The New York Clipper (a.k.a. The Clipper) was a weekly entertainment newspaper published in New York City from 1853 to 1924. It reviewed many forms of artistic endeavor from the circus to vaudeville to the legit. Two items in The Clipper, on 3 June 1911 and on 2 September 1911, covered "A Florida Enchantment." This touring show featured "a little French adventuress" played by Mae West and "young Goldberg" played by Frank Wallace, who became her husband in April 1911. The Clipper applauded their "coon shouting." Mae sang a number "Tiger Love," backed by a burlesque chorus and also delighted the reviewer when she made "several changes down to full tights with good effect."
• • This is just one of her vaudeville performances where Mae showed off her skill in "coon shouting," a talent she had practiced from childhood. It was very popular on the variety circuit in those years.
• • On Wednesday, 3 June 1936 • •
• • The Straits Times wrote an unfavorable review of "Klondike Annie" and ran it on Wednesday, 3 June 1936. Not realizing how the censors affected the script, the critic from England blamed it all on her. Unfair, of course.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West, the most spectacular figure in the current Broadway theatrical world, makes her debut as a screen star in Paramount's "She Done Him Wrong," a lusty melodrama which she herself wrote.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I never understood drinking. It isn't good for your looks, and it cuts down on what you are. I never wanted to cut down on what I am."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A syndicated newspaper series discussed Mae West.
• • "Mae West in Roads of Romance" • •
• • Harry Lee and Winfield Meggs wrote: One of the funniest of her suitors was a giant prospector from Alaska, who came to see her play the starring role in "Diamond Lil" every night for weeks, and haunted the stage door after the performance was over. Mae playfully christened him "Dangerous Dan McGrew" and had to threaten to shoot him to shake him!
• • "A swell guy, too!" Mae says. . . .
• • Source: Article: "Mae West in Roads of Romance" by Harry Lee and Winfield Meggs, Side Glances columnists and illustrators for The Winnipeg Evening Tribune; published on Friday, 1 June 1934
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 10th anniversary • •
• • Thank
you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during this
past decade. The other day we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a
milestone recently when we completed 3,100 blog posts. Wow!
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3192nd 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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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1928 • •
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MAE WEST covered the rock and roll dance hit "Twist and Shout" on her album "Way Out West" [1966].
• • Philip "Phil" Medley [9 April 1916 — 3 October 1997] • • 
• • Philip "Phil" Medley was an American songwriter notable for his composition "Twist & Shout," which he wrote along with Bert Russell [Bertrand Russell Berns 1929 — 1967]. The song was made famous by both The Isley Brothers and The Beatles.
• • Born in the USA in the month of April — — on 9 April 1916 — — Medley also wrote the doo-wop classic "A Million To One" for Jimmy Charles and co-wrote the chart-topper "If I Didn't Have a Dime" for Gene Pitney with Bert Russell.
• • Philip Medley died at age 81.• • On Sunday, 9 April 1916 in Pittsburgh • •
• • The Pittsburgh Leader announced that Mae West would be appearing at Pittsburgh's Vitctoria Theatre. Biographer Jill Watts noted: "Without Frank Bohm's careful attention, she had, in one year, gone from being a headliner in big-time vaudeville to performing in cheap, third-rate burlesque."
• • On Monday, 9 April 1928 on Broadway • •
• • "Diamond Lil" written by and starring Mae West opened at the Royale Theatre in NYC on Monday, 9 April 1928. It would be her defining role.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Diamonds is my career."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A newspaper item in April mentioned Mae West.
• • Fiona Maddocks wrote: To err is human but it feels divine, as Mae West might have explained the goings-on in Parsifal. The six flower maidens provided good aural light relief and visual colour in this spooky male-brotherhood world. . . .
• • Source: Review: "Parsifal" written by Fiona Maddocks in The Guardian [U.K.]; published on 7 April 2012
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2265th 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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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1966 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
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Shows about MAE WEST will take place this month in The Keystone State and in England.
• • Ceri Dupree Honors Mae West in the UK • •
• • If you are in Great Britain, and you enjoy live performances filled with flashy costumes, comedy, and music, then this show might suit you. Opening the Fall season at Loughborough Town Hall this week on 9 September 2011 is the over-the-top showman Ceri Dupree dressed to spill and thrill. In his new show ‘The Ladies I Love,’ Ceri Dupree creates impersonations of everyone from Mae West to Lady Gaga and Shirley Bassey, with spectacular send-ups and heartfelt tributes galore. ...
• • WHERE: Loughborough Town Hall: Market Place, Loughborough, LE11 3EB United Kingdom
• • Mae West in Pittsburgh on 12 September 2011 • •
• • Actress Karen Durham will present her one-woman skit about Mae West in the Whitehall Borough Library's Second Chapter Cafe from 1:00 — 2:00 PM on 12 September 2011 and this event is free.
• • WHERE: Whitehall Borough Public Library, 100 Borough Park Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15236; Tel. 412-882-6622.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West wrote this: "A man's kiss is his signature."
• • During a trip to the Rockies, Mae West told Central City reporters this: "I brought sex out of the back room. I gave it a shove with personality. I can order a cup of coffee on the stage, and the censors will be on my neck!"
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • As they film a new version of "The Great Gatsby," Mae West's name was mentioned.
• • From Down Under, reporter Amy Harris writes: Once considered the ultimate status symbol in the 1930s and owned by the likes of Mae West, Al Capone, and Howard Hughes, the Duesenbergs were reportedly sourced from an American auto museum and shipped to Australia for the four-month Gatsby shoot. It is understood the actors took their first driving lesson in one of the vintage roadsters yesterday as pre-production continues on the $150 million 3D epic, which will be shot mostly at Sydney's Fox Studios. ...
• • Source: Article: "The car's the star but Leo will be a great Gatsby" written by Amy Harris for The Daily Telegraph [Australia]; posted on 26 August 2011
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2043rd 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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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1934 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC
Mae West.
