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On July 28th, MAE WEST was in the headlines and fogging up the eyeglasses of newspaper readers everywhere.
• • "Mae West Is a Column for Men" • •
• • "Stag Lines out of the Sahara" • •
• • Las Vegas, Nevada, July 28. Mae West opened a two-week stand at the Sahara Hotel last night, selling the same kind of sexy entertainment that launched her career 30 years ago. Although it would seem they were made for one another, this was the first time Miss West and Las Vegas have met professionally.
• • She appeared with half a dozen muscle men, including Richard DuBois, Mr. America of 1954, and a large crowd seemed to like what it got. This consisted of double entendre dialogue and some songs, notably "Frankie and Johnnie," which Diamond Lil sang with Dick DuBois. The 60-year-old Miss West wore a black sequined gown which fully covered the bosom but left bare a not-too-trim midriff.
• • Other guests at the Sahara said the actress . . .
• • Source: The Plain Speaker (Hazelton, PA); published on Wednesday, 28 July 1954.
• • On Friday, 28 July 1922 • •
• • For the out-of-town try-outs of her new show "The Ginger Box Revue" in Connecticut on July 28 and July 29th, 1922, Mae West had polished her parody of O'Neill's tragic hero.
• • Backed by a dozen chorines (the Stoker Girls) and a black orchestra, Mae sang, “Eugene O’Neill, You’ve Put a Curse on Broadway” and bellowed “Yank-style” lines including, “She don me doit! Lemme up! I’ll show her who’s an ape.”
• • On Tuesday, 28 July 1931 in NYC • •
• • An agreement between Mae West and Howard Merling (signed by both of them) acknowledged his help with background research for her novel and stage play "Babe Gordon." Additionally, there was a receipt, written by Howard Merling, noting he received the sum of $500 dollars from Mae West on Tuesday, 28 July 1931.
• • On Tuesday, 27 July 1954 in Vegas • •
• • On Tuesday, 27 July 1954 Mae West opened at the Congo Room. This exotic night spot, inside the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas, offered patrons a full supper with a live performance of "The Mae West Revue" onstage.
• • On Wednesday, 28 July 1954 in Variety • •
• • "Odds Are Sex-to-1" • •
• • Variety was awestruck by "this magnificent herd of males" and such a refreshing new concept. The article "Odds Are Sex-to-1 Mae West Makes Her Point in Las Vegas" was printed on page 3 in Variety on Wednesday, 28 July 1954.
• • Save the Date: Wednesday, August 13th • •
• • Wednesday, 13 August 2014 will be the next Mae West Tribute in Manhattan and the event will start at 6:30 pm at 425 Sixth Avenue. The theme will be: "Mae West in Bohemia — — Gin, Sin, Censorship, and Eugene O'Neill."
• • Details: August 13th event
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • During this time, Hal Roach also employed director Leo McCarey, whose contribution to Hollywood includes guiding Laurel and Hardy, and directing screen legends like Gloria Swanson, Mae West, and W.C. Fields, to name only a few.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I did not change my way of life. I harmed no one. I had a philosophy, an idea of how to live fully and in my way. I believed in it as fully and as strongly as I believed in being an American."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article in Flower Bomb Songs mentioned Mae West.
• • Colin wrote: Somebody's Chyldren, led by David Clark Allen, had two songs, 'I'm Up' and 'Marionettes' on the 'Hellcats' soundtrack released on Tower Records in 1967. They were also Mae West's backing band on her 'Way Out West' LP. . . .
• • Source: Flower Bomb Songs; posted on Wednesday, 28 July 2010
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 10th anniversary • •
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during this past decade.
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2966th 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 1954 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
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George Eiferman was selected by MAE WEST to tour with her show, the Mae West Revue. 
• • Born in Philadelphia on 3 November 1925, George Eiferman served in the Navy during World War II and then distinguished himself in the sport of bodybuilding. In 1947, Eiferman snagged the Mr. Philadelphia title in his hometown. He was one of a number of handsome hunks who displayed an impressive physique at Muscle Beach in Santa Monica, California and he went on to win the Mr. America competition in 1948.
• • As Mr. America, he was often invited to speak to high school assembly groups, encouraging teens to consider health and fitness as a lifestyle. Recruited in 1954 by Mae West, he became part of the original group of musclemen in her sold-out innovative stage show, a huge hit in its day.
• • Afterwards, in 1962, George Eiferman went on to be crowned Mr. Universe, a prestigious worldwide bodybuilding competition. Relocating to Las Vegas, during the 1970s and 1980s, Eiferman owned a number of local health clubs. "He'd be working out half the time he was there, or sitting at the smoothie bar and socializing," said his son, Shawn Eiferman, also of Las Vegas. "He walked around, answered questions, and just socialized."
• • George Eiferman had been married and divorced four times to three different women. He had one son Shawn and one daughter Leah. "My father was a workout fanatic," his son recalled. "It's a lifestyle for people who have been doing it for that long. He'd get up, brush his teeth, pay the bills, and go work out." After retiring in 1990, Eiferman spent the next decade visiting area health clubs as the "Ambassador of Fitness."
• • The longtime Las Vegan died of heart failure in the month of February — — on 12 February 2002. He was 76.
• • Eubie Blake [7 February 1887 — 12 February 1983] • •
• • In 1919, Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle were booked in the same Harlem showplace on 125th Street as Mae West, Keith & Proctor's Vaudeville Theatre.
• • Born in Baltimore in February as James Hubert Blake [7 February 1887 — 12 February 1983], Eubie Blake was an American composer, lyricist, and pianist of ragtime, jazz, and popular music.
• • In 1917 he became assistant conductor to Jim Europe at The Clef Club. After Jim's death in May 1919, Eubie forged a vaudeville team with Noble Sissle.
• • In 1921, Eubie Blake and long-time collaborator Noble Sissle wrote the Broadway musical "Shuffle Along," one of the first Broadway musicals to be written and directed by African Americans.
• • Eubie Blake continued to play and record into his later years. He died in Brooklyn, NY in February — — on 12 February 1983. He was 96.
• • On Sunday, 12 February 2012 • •
• • The TV series Hollywood Biography did a segment on Mae West. "Mae West and the Men Who Knew Her" [episode #507] will be broadcast two more times on Kentucky Educational TV. The KET air-dates have been announced:
• • KET: Sunday, 12 February 2012 at 4:00 am EST
• • KET2: Monday, 13 February 2012 at 9:00 pm EST
• • Kentucky Educational Television: KET provides educational, informational, and arts and cultural services for the home, the school, and the workplace via Kentucky’s statewide public television network, multichannel digital broadcast, original video productions, print, community outreach, and the World Wide Web.
• • On Saturday, 12 February 1949 in Billboard • •
• • Saturday night with Mae West as Diamond Lil at the Coronet Theatre, wow. Billboard reviewer Bob Francis was in the crowd on her opening night (5 February 1949) and recorded his fascinations in a lengthy, generously detailed piece that was printed the following week on Saturday, 12 February 1949 in Billboard Magazine. Bob Francis had an exceptional perspective, since he had seen the show in 1928, too.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Personality is the most important thing to an actress’s success."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article on Style Bistro nodded at Mae West.
• • Tanya wrote: Giambattista Valli never ceases to enchant with his exuberantly frivolous collections. His spring couture line was heavily infused with retro glamour and standout feminine detailing (think Audrey Hepburn with a touch of Mae West). ...
• • Source: Article: "Fashion Forecast: Wrapped Up With a Bow" written by Tanya for Style Bistro; posted on 7 February 2012
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2207th 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 • • Dick DuBois (hugging Mae) and George Eiferman, 1954 • •
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Mae West.
Born in the Bronx on 4 March 1933, gorgeous Richard DuBois caught the eye of MAE WEST in 1954. The 6-foot-one stunner — — who had just won his "Mr. America" title — — was hired to be the lead bodybuilder for "The Mae West Revue." 
• • Off the set, 21-year-old Dick DuBois and the 61-year-old Brooklyn bombshell enjoyed a steamy relationship. (When DuBois left the show, Mickey "Mr. Universe" Hargitay took his place as the lead gladiator.)
• • Though DuBois was in a few films, he eventually abandoned his show business pursuits to become an evangelist, his wife said. He spent the last 19 years preaching as pastor of Gospel Lighthouse in West Los Angeles.
• • The striking native New Yorker Richard DuBois died in a Santa Monica hospital in the month of September — — on Wednesday, 26 September 2007 — — at Saint John's Health Center, his wife Marcy said. He was 74 years old.
• • In September, we remember George Raft • •
• • Mae West told a reporter that she almost married George Raft [26 September 1895 — 24 November 1980], a native New Yorker and an actor most closely identified with his portrayals of gangsters in crime dramas of the 1930s — 1940s.
• • When the studio was casting Raft's new feature "Night after Night," the role of Maudie Triplett, a former gal pal, was to be offered to a well regarded actress and night club personality: Texas Guinan. Raft suggested Mae West for this minor role, and Mae's three little scenes set the so-so film on fire. "Mae stole everything but the cameras," admitted George Raft.
• • One of his final film appearances was in "Sextette" (1978) with Mae West. He played himself in a brief cameo that went like this:
• • MAE WEST: "Why George Raft, I haven't seen you in 20 years. What have you been doing?"
• • GEORGE RAFT: "Oh, about 20 years!"
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said this: "Ten men waiting for me at the door? Send one of them home — — I'm tired."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • It seems that Mae West was mentioned in a recent stage review.
• • Aubry D'Arminio writes: Joey Arias, with his Bettie Page haircut, dominatrix straps, and Thierry Mugler gowns, does the singing, which includes selections from Holiday, the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and a hiccupy version of ''All By Myself'' that's part-Marilyn, part-Liza. (There also some original songs, by composer Alex Gifford.) Mae West, Gloria Swanson, Joan Crawford, Charles Manson, Clark Gable, and Lassie also show up to pay tribute to Arias in an amusing newsreel interlude projected on the stage. ...
• • Source: Stage Review "Arias with a Twist" reviewed by Aubry D'Arminio for Entertainment Weekly; posted on 21| September 2011.
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2065th 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 • • with Richard DuBois, 1954 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
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Mae West.
MAE WEST starred in the motion picture "Go West Young Man" [1936].
• • Film editing was done by Ray Curtiss who was born on 17 February 1896 in California. Ray Curtiss died at age 69 in Los Angeles in the month of March — — on 17 March 1965.
• • Happy St. Patrick's Day • • • • An Interview with Steve Rossi — Part Two • •
• • Interviewer Kliph Nesteroff writes: I understand that your first major show business gig was in a Mae West revue. 
• • Steve Rossi replies: Yes, I did that in 1953. I had just turned twenty-one. I had been playing the lead in several operettas in university; Desert Song, Oklahoma... I got signed to the Civic Light Opera Company by Edwin Lester, who was the head of that in Los Angeles. Mae West saw me in "Vagabond King" at the Carthay Circle. She came backstage with her manager. They told me they wanted me to play a straight man and singing role in her new show Muscle Men. She had ten muscle men in the show and then she had Charlie O'Karn as director and choreographer of the show. She didn't like his ideas, so she fired him and asked me to help her put the show together (laughs). Which I did. In fact, I wrote the opening song for her and it was a huge hit. It was called "Everyone Knows It's a Man's World." I directed the number and we had ten guys on pedestals. You'd step on a pedal and it would turn them around. They were just wearing G-strings and they were all greased up behind a screen. Before she came down the staircase, this was at The Sahara Hotel, she'd walk down... there was no introduction, just her walking down in the spotlight. She walks down to the front to a little raised area in front of the orchestra. ...
• • Continue reading Kliph's interview and find out what else Steve Rossi says about Mae West: http://classicshowbiz.blogspot.com/2011/03/interview-with-steve-rossi-part-two.html
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • City Historian Mark Simonson writes from Oneonta, NY: The Molinari's menu had no date but appears to be of post-Prohibition vintage. Molinari's was once found on South Main Street. The most expensive item on the menu was a "Porterhouse Steak" for 75 cents. One half of the inside menu is food, the other half lists adult beverages. The "Bonded Whiskey Highball" and "Brandy Egg Nogg" were the most expensive drinks, at 45 cents. I chuckled at cocktails called "Boop-Oop-a-Doop" for 25 cents and a "Mae West" at 35 cents. One has to wonder what was in a "Molinari's Special," at 35 cents. ...
• • Source: Column "Interesting mail from Croatia, Florida, Otego and Cooperstown" written by Mark Simonson — The Daily Star, Oneonta, NY; posted on 12 March 2011
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • with Richard DuBois, 1953 • •
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Mae West.
MAE WEST images are admired in France amid the memorabilia in a unique movie museum.
• • According to Vivian Thomas: In movie-mad Paris, the Cinémathèque Française and its founder, Henri Langlois, have been cultural icons since the 1930s. . . .
• • Vivian Thomas explains: Founded in 1936 and the first institution of its kind, the Cinémathèque is dedicated to rediscovering, restoring and conserving old movies and making them available to the public. Realizing that films, considered disposable commodities, were fast disappearing, Henri Langlois became the first film preservationist, starting with silent movies and begging, borrowing and literally stealing films to create his collection. . . .
• • Serpent-topped headdress worn by Mae West • • • • Vivian Thomas adds: Early engravings of cityscapes twinkle with tiny pinholes of light and hands-on exhibits abound: turn a wheel and a seagull flies, spin a dial and a ballerina twirls, rotate a handle and dancer Loïe Fuller flutters her shimmering multicolored scarves like silken butterfly wings. Film posters from all over the world adorn the walls and costume displays sparkle with a serpent-topped sequin headdress worn by Mae West and Louise Brooks's spangled silver flapper dress. . . .
• • Cinemaphiles and armchair travelers will find many interesting details here — — so check out this fine article.
• • In Paris, Cinémathèque Française is presently located at 51 rue de Bercy.
— — Excerpt: — —
• • Article: "The Cinémathèque Française"
• • Byline: Vivian Thomas
• • Published by: France Today
• • Published on: 1 January 2011
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1954 with Richard DuBois • •
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Mae West.
The MAE WEST Revue would have turned 55 on 27 June 2009. 
• • In April 1954, Jim Timony had suffered a fatal heart attack, leaving Mae without a steadfast, faithful manager by her side for the first time since 1917. Despite being hospitalized in 1950 for heart failure, and physically declining during the early 1950s, Timony had been laying the groundwork for a new Las Vegas hotel — casino called "Mae West's Diamond Lil Casino." His death put an end to this desert tribute but the idea of appearing in Nevada's most glamourous venues ignited Mae's daydreams.
• • By the early 1950s, Marlene Dietrich, Frank Sinatra, Danny Thomas, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., and other big names had all played Vegas. So why not Diamond Lil? Soon Mae was sashaying through the fanciest casinos. Eventually she signed with the Sahara, who agreed to give her $25,000 a week — — a whopper of a payday. There was only one teeny obstacle: the 60-year-old Brooklyn bombshell had to come up with a concept.
• • After Mae was introduced to the newly crowned Mr. America of 1954 — — supremely gorgeous Richard DuBois — — her fantasies got fired up. Instead of the usual extravantly costumed showgirls, West selected a bevy of bodybuilders to accompany bawdy songs such as "I Want to Do All Day What I Do All Night." George Eiferman, Irvin "Zabo" Koszewski, Dick DuBois, Dominic Juliano, Joe Gold, Armand Tanny, Gordon Mitchell, Mickey Hargitay, and Charles Krauser were among the star bodybuilders in West's chorus for all (or part of) the show's three-year run. The act, which ran a little over half-an-hour, also featured a lusciously decked out Mae being attended by her onstage maid Louise Beavers, and being waltzed around by Steve Rossi.
• • As the young Apollos paraded onstage, Mae would announce: "I've got something for the girls — — boys, boys, boys!" Whereupon the females in the audience would rush up to crowd around the guys, recalled Steve Rossi. "It was sensational, almost a riot. It took 20 minutes for people in the audience to go back to their tables."
• • On 27 June 1954, the Mae West Revue would debut at the Sahara's Congo Room and remain there for almost three weeks.
• • In 1957, the long-running sold-out stage show would close in Las Vegas — — again at the Sahara.• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1954 • •
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Mae West.
